I don't think I met anyone named Eleven, but it was a chaotic escape! I'm Merrill. I'm sure I'll be easy to spot! I haven't seen any other elves since I've arrived; I seem to be the only one.

[ Oops maybe she shouldn't have said that, what if he won't treat an elf? Well, the jig would be up once he saw her. Either way, she'll try to abandon her awkward cot in the corner so that she's more visible. There's a place where the servants eat away from customers, so she'll find a table. Aside from her dingy clothes, her arms have several badly done bandages wrapped over her sleeves, some drying blood smudged through the yellowing fabric.

She seems chipper enough, though, fingers tapping anxiously on the table with one hand while gazing longingly at somebody's bowl of soup. Had she eaten today? She can't remember. ]

[ She would have happily explained! But leave it to Merrill to just assume that people know, because who doesn't? ]

Hm? Oh, yes! Hello!

[ Her leg gets caught on the stool in her hurry to get up, but she manages to untangle herself so that she can nod her head in greeting. ]

Thank you so much, Eleven. Hm, Eleven... Is that your real name? No, sorry, that must be rude. Anyway, if you like I have a cot that I've managed to block off with my sheet. For some privacy.

[ The last thing they need is everyone staring because of magic. Merrill isn't always the sneakiest, but even she knows not to shit where she eats, or...so to speak. Nobody in her old alienage home ever suspected her of being a blood mage, at least so far. ]

Yes!

[ Of course, she's also got several bruises all over, even a big one on her jaw, but that shouldn't be unusual for anyone who escaped the prison.

While he soaks his rags, Merrill tugs free her shoddy bandages (doing it one-handed is difficult!) and then yanks up one of the ruined sleeves to reveal several cuts; some hours older than others, some very recent. They're pointedly deliberate, not haphazard scrapes like she claimed or even injuries from battle, which would be far more chaotic than this. ]

Thank you so much for doing this... If I can repay you, I certainly will!

I think I angered somebody in the kitchen alre─

[ Merrill's back straightens with a snap as she yelps a little in surprise. She's used to worse pain, but it seemed to come out of nowhere! Antiseptic, what the fuck is that. She didn't see him use any herbs. ]

What did you do?!

[ Betrayed! ]

[ He looks sincere enough, and Merrill tries to relax again. Yes, he should have warned her! But if he is really a healer, then he might have put some kind of herbal tonic in with the water. She isn't used to stinging as a result, but she doesn't know every herb in Thedas and beyond, so she'll have to trust him. ​]

It surprised me, only. It doesn't hurt!

[ He must think her a child! Only the cuts don't seem to bother her too much, even with blood dribbling from fleshly cleaned wounds.

In the field there isn't time for this kind of care before using healing magic, so she's not really used to it, and feels awkward just sitting here not contributing anything. ]

Do you know of other mages among us?