Nemesis

The elf stopped in disbelief. There was the one who had ruined all of his hopes and plans for the future. The Hero of Ferelden was here in this dusty roadside tavern. Cammen's arms dropped and the dish he was drying smashed to the ground.

The humans all applauded derisively and the Hero glanced over at him and then returned to her companions. She had slept with Cammen. She had slept with his true love Gheyna and, more to the point, she had hunted to extinction every animal that had an acceptable pelt.

Cammen had tried to present a sewn together pelt of rabbit fur, but his clanmates laughed at him. In shame he had left the clan to wander the shem lands. In time he had fetched up here. And now his worst enemy had walked into the bar as though she didn't have a care in the world.

"You there, elf. Get back to work" Tim the barkeep snapped at him.

"Yes, ser, sorry ser." Cammen ducked his head and returned to his task. He discovered that drying tankards lent itself to sustained thought. He had a plan. He would get his due. The Grey Warden would pay and pay dearly. His plan required a bit more action than he was used to doing, but it was virtually foolproof.

He waited and polished, and washed and served and dried. Then the right moment arrived. Tim poured off another round of drinks for the warden's table. The only problem was Cammen couldn't be sure which one was hers. He coughed, then coughed again. He looked at them, they were all ale. He spat on to a bar spoon, then dipped the spoon into the nearest tankard. He bustled off.

"Here are your drinks!" he said with a smile and served them 'round. He handed the special tankard to the Hero and then went off to wash more dishes.

Revenge was his and it was sweet indeed. If his clan could only see him now...