Bann Ceorlic had returned to his estate in Southern a few days after attending the coronation. His son Agus came in from his usual sparring practice to greet his father.
There had always been an excessive amount of formality between the two, perhaps because the age gap that separated father from son was unusually large, the Bann being in his early sixties, his son only a few years from his twenties.
Agus noticed that his father seemed upset, if he had had more experience, he may have perceived that he was a little into his cups.
“Sit down lad,” said the Bann, “I have something to tell you…”
“The coronation, how—” said the boy.
“Never trust a Theirin,” began the Bann, “Never. This one… Maker assist us... Tongues were awag in Denerim that he is a bastard, be that as it may, but in my lifetime I haven’t clapped eyes on anyone with a greater resemblance to a typical Theirin…”
“Why?”
“He’s as pretty as a picture, the ladies were all sighing for him… Stupid women. Theirins tend to be good looking, both the males and the females, and most appear in character to be light-hearted, happy-go-lucky types, people fall for them as a result, they fall head over heels for them… They are seductive… And promiscuous. A Theirin will never settle for one lover when they can have two… This one has just married Queen Anora but it was clear he was also involved with his little Elven mage sidekick, the now so-called ‘Hero of Ferelden’.”
The Bann pulled out a stirrup cup and took a swig from it. He offered it to Agus, who shook his head.“Look at their recent history… Cailan making overtures to Empress Celene no less, and meanwhile bedding noblewomen left right and centre, plus the odd servant maid. Maric, his father and the father of this latest one, also had at least two lovers as well as being married to the beautiful Rowan Guerrin. Maric’s mother, Moira, allowed herself to be captured by Arl Rendorn Guerrin in order to seduce him and get him to join her madcap revolt… Even Calahad, torn between two women… They are manipulative, and have no quibbles about using their partners to forward their own ambitions.”
The Bann helped himself to another mouthful: “And above all, Agus, never, ever cross a Theirin. They will not stop until they have your blood… Maric killed one of his lovers, saying she had betrayed him, he also murdered your grandfather, the first Bann Ceorlic, Agus, he killed him on sacred ground, in a Chantry where he had been lured with promises of peace talks… Just over 200 years ago there were two of them, Sophia and Arland, well known for his casual cruelty, vying for the throne. Their rivalry provoked a civil war with plentiful bloodshed, which did not come to end until Arland’s forces slew Sophia… This one killed Tyrn Loghain, his late father’s sidekick, in the Landsmeet spattering his daughter with his blood, the same daughter whom he has now just married…"
"The Theirins…" The Bann was silent for a long while and then added: “Their shield is two rampant red Mabaris… I say one represents lust and the other, murder…”
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