“For fun?” Astrid repeats, mildly aghast. Simply can’t imagine it: all that darkness, stale air, cut off from the sky. “Not really, no. We build into the mountains for shelter, a bit, but not too far in: you still need fresh air, you still need to get out if the rock collapses on you. Any dealings with dwarves I’ve had, it’s not been this deep.

“Maybe some idiot here or there likes caving, but mostly not. Like, you always run the risk a tunnel might connect to the Deep Roads and then you’re gonna get eaten by darkspawn.”

Her gaze is still locked ahead, trying to follow the twists and turns of the path, the dim shadows surrounding them. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned darkspawn.