The Great Crestmaster

The young man and Aldrich walked over to the house in between, the young man went in alone and Aldrich waited outside.

He was actually a little nervous even though he knew what he was here to do. He just didn't know how to tell a man that his brother was dead.

Should he talk about Cazmer's oathbreak? It might seem like something that shouldn't be said but Cazmer was already dead, his family deserved to know the truth, right?

However, Aldrich didn't want Cazmer to be remembered as a madman. At least he didn't want to be the one to deliver this news.

Unfortunately there were many things that he did not want to do. Many things that he would rather not confront but here he was, it was something that he simply had to do.

Aldrich tried to think of how he should say it, but every time he tried to form some coherent thoughts they would scatter like sand castles in high tide.

A door opened, a man came out, he wasn't too old, maybe in his fifties, middle-aged. The young man Aldrich first talked to followed behind.

"Hello there, I'm Aldrich."

Oswoln smiled, "Hello there, how can I help you young man?"

"Uh, eh…" Aldrich didn't know what to say but first he had to talk to him alone, "I need to talk to you privately."

""Privately? What for?" Oswoln of course was puzzled by this sudden and strange request. ""Young man, look at you, you're not a child anymore. Stop with these pranks and find some work."

Oswoln sighed and shook his head as he was about to turn away and back to his house.

"Your brother."

Oswoln froze.

"It's about your brother." Aldrich said again.

"I don't have a brother." Oswoln looked at him and said firmly.

Aldrich didn't say anything he just looked him in the eye. In that atmosphere Oswoln's som was the first to break the silence.

"Da' let me teach this kid a lesson! You think you can come in here and spout this—"

""Enough!" Oswoln interrupted, "I will go with the young man and see what he has to say."

"What? But… fine."

Aldrich and Oswoln walked out of the neighborhood to a nearby hill, green with offshoots.

"How do you know my brother? You his son?" Oswoln asked.

Aldrich smiled warily, "I'm not. But I am the last person he talk to, he's dead."

There was a moment of silence before Oswoln snorted, "I knew he would die in a ditch somewhere. Is that all? You can leave then."

Aldrich didn't expect that coldness from Oswoln, he was unaffected by the news at all. He didn't even ask how his brother died nor did he seem interested in asking.

"No that is not all, he wanted me to give you this," Aldrich handed Oswoln the coin pouch, even if he didn't like Oswoln's attitude he was still going to do what he came here for.

He didn't come here for Oswoln's sake after all, he was here because he gave his word to Cazmer on that day and nothing was going to stop him from fulfilling his promise.

Oswoln took the pouch, opened it and snorted again, "what a cheap bastard! He was a Crestmaster and this is all he could spare?"

Aldrich already had enough of this but he held his tongue before but now this man crossed a line.

"At least you got something. Cazmer saved my life, I would appreciate it if you can at least not badmouth him." Aldrich tried to be as polite as possible.

He shook his head and turned around, walked a few steps and paused.

"Saved your life? What's the use now that he's dead? He… always had this thing about him, he could never sit in one place. I told him to forget about being a Crestmaster, lay low, settle down with me… but he didn't listen! And what did it get him? An early grave, is all."

Aldrich didn't know Cazmer nor Oswoln to either agree nor disagree. He didn't know what kind of situation it was, what sort of life they lived. But he knew some things.

"He saved me, and tried to save many others. I don't know how he lived but I know how he died. He is hero to me. He could have lived, I told him to run away, he didn't listen, he said he was ashamed to see you."

Oswoln snorted again but this time it came out like a sob, "yeah that's him alright, he never listens. And since when did that asshole have any shame? He could have come over to see his nephews at least right?"

"Maybe he was in trouble, he didn't want to trouble you too, probably." Aldrich recalled the Cazmer's hideout.

It was in the village, here, Cazmer must've come here at some point after being assigned the mission regarding Wakefield.

He… could have been here to check up on his brother, only from afar, he didn't get close, he didn't dare to.

"Fucking son of a bitch! He should have just died off without sending any word."

Oswoln cursed and from his place Aldrich could see his hands shaking, with his back turned he couldn't see his face, he could hear his tears falling down, Aldrich just didn't say anything for a long time.

Finally Oswoln talked, "you, what's your name, kid? I'm quick to forget?"

"Its Aldrich."

"Aldrich, good thank you for coming. It might not have been easy. One more thing, don't be like my brother. Find a place, a people, a home. Somewhere you hang your hat. Maybe, sometimes, mediocrity is not that bad."

Aldrich didn't say anything in reply, Oswoln left on his own but Aldrich stayed to admire the rising sun, the reflection of the light. The free seagulls swimming in the air, the breeze was calm.

"If only it were that easy."

Aldrich muttered to no one in particular.

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