Character Conversations: Ties That Unravel (Amatus and Idir) (Patreon)

People filtered in and out of the Silken Sands as Amatus checked the logs and ledgers from the guild, some stopping by his table, either to give him morsels of information or to just share a greeting.

Only one sat down.

Amatus didn't even bother to look up, already knowing who was casting a shadow over his papers.

The familiarly inked hand of Idir snatched a paper from in front of him, and Amatus finally looked up, already tired.

"I barely recognized you with your face in those papers like that," Idir grimaced at the writing and notation on the paper and frowned before putting it face down on the table. "I miss when you couldn't read."

Amatus scoffed at that and leaned back with his arms crossed, finally giving Idir his attention.

"Oh yes, if I were to track my decline, I think it all started when I became literate."

"You're laughing but it's true. You always thought you were smart but once you started," Idir picked up a paper and crumpled it. "Once you started this shit, you stopped being any good to anyone."

At this Amatus just narrowed his eyes and snatched the paper back. The still-wet ink on it staining both men's hands.

"What do you want Idir? You come into my territory, without my permission, so I'm guessing you're seeking death."

Idir chuckles and smiles, his grin both wistful and unkind. "I think about it all the time. I sent you off to rob some old high-born fool who thought it would be wise to move to the edge of Lower Cusmo and what did you do?"

"What do you want Idir?"

"You came back empty-handed, but your head was full of how to betray me!" He slammed his head against the table and others turned their heads toward the sound but quickly snapped them away once they saw who made it.

Amatus slowly reached his hand into the fold of his cloak where his dagger was secured and raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to do this here?"

Idir's eyes panned down at the movement, before slowly going back up to his face.

"Do what?" He asked as if his previous anger never existed at all. "I just came to tell you to expect a visit from Sutek. Please be kind to the boy. After all, he had to pick up the slack after you left."

Idir stands up from the table and stretches with a grunt, looking bored. "Oh, and one more thing. I'd watch that favorite duckling of yours. Wouldn't want some stray wild dog to snatch up such a cute baby bird."

After Idir left, Amatus tried to go back to the task at hand, but the rustling of papers was unable to drown out the lingering sound of that cold barking laughter.