Snippet #1368803

Antius listened attentively to the girl's tale, frowning in thought. So the rumors were true. Teyrn Loghain had returned from a disastrous loss at Ostagar with claims that the king was dead and the Grey Wardens were all traitors. He had put it aside as hearsay, the tales of drunkards at taverns, but the girl, Asmara, had just confirmed it. Ferelden was in grave danger. He sighed. Perphas Knight-Commander Gregoir would allow the Circle to free the country. The man was stern and a bit of a blowhard, but he was reasonable. Fanatical, but reasonable.

"For the record, I believe you over the Teyrn. The Grey Wardens would never play politics in the middle of a Blight, especially through the murder of a king that was enamored with them, or so the rumors say. But the truth is just as unbelievable. Loghain is a patriot beyond anything else. Killing the king and leaving Ferelden to face the Blight without Wardens is madness.... This is why I never studied politics. Magic is much more predictable and wondrous than the human heart. Even blood magic could, in theory, be turned to good use if it was focused on healing rather than destroying... But that's sacrilegious and would get me hung," Antius mused, shaking himself out of his lecture with a slight self-depreciating grin, "Sorry about that. Anyway-."

What he was about to say was interrupted by a loud greeting. Antius turned around and saw a warrior hailing the. No. He narrowed his eyes to look at the sword emblazoned upon his breastplate. Not just any warrior. A Templar. He tensed a bit, glancing at Asmara before nodding at the Templar. He'd have to think fast.

"Greetings. Feel free to join us by the fire. We are neither apostate, maleficarum, or abominations to fear you, Ser Templar," Antius told him, quickly shifting through his bag to produce two more cups, one for himself, and one for the Templar. He gestured at his side and poured the tea, his face not betraying the nervousness he felt. Not for himself, but for his friend. He couldn't tell him she was a Grey Warden, lest he believed Loghain and sought to kill or capture her. Nor could he say she was an Apostate for the same reason. Instead, he continued, "I am Antius Amell and this is Asmara. We're studying the old Imperial Highway. I found an old Tevinter tablet detailing some spells used to repair and maintain it."

He gestured at the said tablet and easily fell back in his earnest-scholar personality, "I think that, with this deciphered and a couple more years of study, we can unlock the secrets of using magic to construct roads or maybe even buildings. It will require much Lyrium, but I think the Chantry can spare it for a good cause, don't you?"

Chantry oversight was considered a nuisance at best by Antius. Really, having to wait permission to enact new and more innovative use for his talents grated on his nerves. The College of Magi invariably approved, but the Chantry was rather slow at distinguishing any new idea from blood magic in disguise. Personally, he believed the Chantry was trying to make a point about changing the status quo or something.