Side conversations

@mathias0077

After several hours of labor, the conversation between the two men comes slowly, born more from shared effort than any need to fill the silence. Antonius pauses to drive the shovel into the loose earth beside the latest grave, straightening his back with a weary groan before taking a drink from his waterskin. The fading light catches the sweat and dirt smeared across his face, making him look less like a priest and more like the watchman he once was.

He glances over at Dell, who is busy working the mattock through another stubborn root.

"My thanks again for the help," Antonius says, his tone sincere. "Most would have found an excuse to be elsewhere by now." He gives a faint smile before looking out toward the darkening forest, he falls quiet for a few moments, returning to his digging before speaking again.

"You mentioned the Boundary Wardens of Agaden Reach before." Antonius drives the shovel into the earth and levers out another heavy clump of dirt. "I've known city watches, temple guards, and soldiers, but not many Wardens." He plants the shovel and rests both hands on the handle. "How does a man end up riding the borders and wild places instead of settling behind walls? Were you born to it, or did the Reach find you the way the Watch found me?"

Dell will pause for a minute and listen to Antonious's question"My twin brother Chase was recruited by the Wardens because of his skill in the wilds. Our father taught us from the time we could talk about the wilderness and hunting and tracking."Dell stops for a minute to take a couple more swings at a stubborn root. "Chase took it very naturally. I am okay at it but when the Wardens recruited Chase I went along also and found I had a different skill set. Stealth and infiltration is my thing. I joined the Shadows which is the covert arm of the Wardens. I figured out the plot that Chase exposed and then had to flee. He stare off thinking of Chase"That is why I am here. To find Chase and tell him the Wardens are all dead except us and Agaden Reach has fallen through the treachery he exposed."

He will then ask Antonious"How did you go from watch to cleric? Or was it the other way around?" He will then continue to dig as he listens.

Antonius listens in silence as Dell speaks, continuing to work the shovel into the earth while the rogue recounts the story of Chase, the Wardens, and the fall of Agaden Reach. He says nothing at first when Dell mentions being the last survivors, only nodding slowly as though he understands the weight of carrying such news. When Dell finishes and repeats the question, Antonius rests both hands atop the shovel handle and looks out into the darkening trees for a moment before answering.

"The Watch came first," he says at last, a faint smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. "Much to the disappointment of several priests, if memory serves."

He levers another shovelful of dirt from the grave before continuing.

"I was born in Hochoch. My father worked the docks hauling cargo and unloading river barges. Hard work, long days, and little patience for excuses. He taught me that if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing properly." Antonius glances at the neat graves they have spent hours preparing. "I suspect he'd approve of this, miserable as it is."

The cleric pauses to catch his breath before continuing.

"When I was old enough, I joined the city watch. It was honest work, and Hochoch always needed men willing to stand between ordinary folk and those who would prey upon them. I found I had a talent for it. Not the fighting—though that helped—but for seeing people as they were. Liars, thieves, murderers, victims. You learn quickly that most people are neither wholly good nor wholly bad."
The shovel strikes stone with a dull clack.
"What surprised me was how much of the job involved the dead. More than criminals, more than patrols. Recovering bodies from alleys, riverbanks, burning homes. Delivering news to families. Standing watch while priests performed their rites."

His voice softens slightly.

"Most watchmen dreaded those duties. I never did."

Antonius crouches to clear loose soil from the grave before continuing.

"One winter a fever swept through the poorer districts near the docks. The temples were overwhelmed and every pair of hands was needed. The Watch helped where it could. For weeks I worked alongside the priests of Wee Jas, burying the dead, recording names, helping families identify loved ones. It was grim work... but necessary."
A thoughtful look crosses his face.

"One of the senior clergy told me that I approached death the same way I approached law—with respect, order, and duty. She said I was already serving Wee Jas whether I realized it or not."

He chuckles quietly.
"I thought she was trying to recruit me. Turns out she was."

The grave is nearly complete now. Antonius steps down into it briefly to level the bottom before climbing back out.

"So for years I served both. Watchman by day, temple acolyte when duty allowed. Eventually I became a sergeant. Eventually I became a cleric. Then one day I realized the temple was asking more of me than the Watch ever could."

He plants the shovel firmly into the earth.

"The funny thing is, I never really stopped being a watchman. I still investigate deaths. I still hunt criminals. I still keep the peace where I can." His eyes drift toward the graves of the bandits. "My badge simply changed shape."

After a moment, Antonius looks back toward Dell and gives a small nod.
"And for what it's worth, I understand why you're here. If one of my brothers had vanished carrying the truth of a conspiracy that destroyed everything we'd sworn to protect, I'd cross every cursed forest in the Flanaess to find him too. Tell me about Chase it may give us clues on the path he maybe on?"

Dell listens to Atonious's background as he continues to work and is very impressed and even reminded of Chase a bit.

At he question of Chase he smiles and thinks where to begin." My brother was always gifted it when came to tracking and hunting which made him a perfect candidate for the Border Wardens." He stops for a second to take a draw of his waterskin and offer it to Antonious."Being born two minuets before me always made him feel like my protector. We grew up running the woods around our house and prcticing the skills bestowed apon us by our father. Chase was always better at tracking but I was superior in the stealth department which kinda created a stalemate in our hide and seek games. We also share a special bond I guess because we were born so close we can kind of sense each other the closer we get." Dell stares off trying concentrate a bit to see if he can get any sense of Chase but to no avail. He come back to the story"After we joined up I informed Chase that I had discovered the our enemy Mad King George had hired a large force of orcs to raid and burn and pillage around our village and a few others. Chase took a small band of towns men and defeated the orcs that had three times their number. I was able to give him the route so he could choose the best ground to defend. After that he was promoted to head warden and our boarders were never safer."

Dell will retrieve his water skin"All was well for a bit fight off raiders here and there but then I uncovered a plot against the Reach. I was on mission and discovered the our head councilor Joseph was in league with our enemy King George. I informed Chase and gave him the proof but asked that he take some time to get a few things secured before going to the council. He would have none of that. He went to councilman he thought he could trust and handed over the evidence and asked that he call a special session. But before that could happen Joseph framed Chase for the murder of said councilman. I was able to get him out before they came for him. But with Chase gone that was the beginning of the end for us. Within a few months all the wardens were gathered up and executed for treason. I was able to slip away before being caught. I like to think a few others did as well but I knew I had to come find him and let him know what has happened." Dell will bow his head abit and he says a silent prayer for the wardens." I am afraid once I tell him he will want to charge off to find whatever wardens he can and try to save our people."

Antonius accepts the waterskin with a grateful nod and takes a measured drink before returning it. He listens without interruption as Dell recounts the story, the rise and fall of Agaden Reach, and the burden he has carried ever since. The cleric's expression remains thoughtful throughout, his shovel resting across his shoulders as the last light filters through the trees.

When Dell finally falls silent, Antonius takes a long moment before answering.
"Your brother sounds like the sort of man people are willing to follow into danger," he says quietly. "Not because he ordered them to, but because they believed he would be standing in the front rank when the fighting started."

A faint smile touches his face.
"And from what you've told me, he sounds stubborn enough to ignore good advice from his younger brother when he should have listened."

The smile fades, replaced by a more solemn look.
"Do not underestimate what your actions meant to him, Dell. You speak of Chase's victories, his promotions, and his reputation, but every story you tell has your hand upon it somewhere. You found the routes. You uncovered the conspiracies. You brought him the truth even when it put you in danger." Antonius taps the handle of his shovel against the earth. "Men like Chase often stand in the sunlight. They become the heroes people remember. But heroes do not stand alone. I suspect your brother knows exactly what he owes you, whether he says it aloud or not."

He glances toward the growing row of graves.
"As for telling him what happened..." Antonius sighs heavily. "That is a harder duty."

The cleric studies Dell for a moment before continuing.
"If Chase is the man you've described, then he will blame himself. He'll think that if he had stayed, fought harder, trusted different people, or acted sooner, things might have ended differently. Men who carry responsibility often do."

He bends to lift another shovelful of dirt.
"My advice? if you wish to take it. Tell him the truth, but not all at once. Let him see that you survived first. Let him know he still has a brother before you tell him what he has lost. A man can endure terrible news if he knows he does not have to bear it alone."

Antonius pauses and looks directly at Dell.
"And when the time comes, remind him of something else. The Reach did not fall because Chase failed. It fell because traitors betrayed it. There is a difference."

The cleric returns to his work for a few moments before speaking again, his tone softer than before.
"You fear he'll want to charge off and save whoever remains. Perhaps he will. From what you've told me, I would be disappointed if he didn't."

A small chuckle escapes him.
"But first he will need to grieve. Then he will need a purpose. The best thing you can do is make sure he has both a brother and a path forward when that day comes."

With that, Antonius drives the shovel into the earth once more and adds, almost as an afterthought:
"Besides, if Chase truly is as protective as you say, his first concern will likely be why his younger brother wandered halfway across the Flanaess without him."

Dell listens to Antonious as he continues to work. He thinks to himself I am glad I came to help. Not did I help with the bodies but I was also helped by his words. "Well spoken Antonious. I may need your help convincing him once we find him." Dell chuckles"Well this looks complete. How about we get washed up a bit and grab some grub?"

The Priest gives a nod of agreement, "Thank you for the company, it made this more bearable." Antonius then gathers up the tools.