A Soldier Life - 459 - Captive Audience (edit 9-27-25 +150 words)

Chapter 459: Captive Audience

Alhur’s cold stare actually made me pause. It reminded me too much of Konstantin, cool confidence in the face of danger. He looked at the potion but didn’t move to take it. “Drink it. If I wanted you dead, you would be dead. That wound on your hip was deep, and you could bleed out in the water.”

“Sorry we didn’t know you couldn’t swim,” Benito said unhelpfully.

“I can swim,” Alhur muttered quietly enough for only me to hear. He reached out, took the potion off the ice, broke the wax seal, sniffed it, and then drank.

“Good. Now, where is Raelia, and is she and my son safe?” I asked patiently.

“She is where she told you she would be, and the boy is fine,” Alhur said slowly. “What did you do to me?” He said accusatorily, obviously indicating the magebane poison.

“If you behave and answer my questions, I will answer yours at the end,” I said a little patronizingly. “How did Raelia get pregnant? I mean, I thought it was rare?” I stumbled a little bit.

Alhur’s gaze bore into me. “The dwarf healer thinks it happened in the dungeon,” Alhur said, steely.

I looked at Maveith because it could only have happened in one dungeon, given the timeline and the fact that it was the only dungeon we had been intimate in. Maveith arched his brow but didn’t say anything. “I need you to go back and tell Raelia I am coming, but I have other things to do first.”

Alhur’s eyes narrowed and drifted to Baelira. “So I overheard.”

I looked to Baelira, as well, and replayed what had been said at the docks. I chuckled. “I am not involved with her. Baelira is a friend.”

“Don’t play games with me. I saw how she touched you, human. Raelia is a child that you have seduced and sullied,” Alhur spat. I was confused about what they meant by Baelira touching me, but the elf woman was flushing. What did I miss? I focused on Alhur, dismissing it. This elf was a racist, but if he was part of the Caelorian elves, I couldn’t blame him — although he would not have been born when Caelora fell to the Empire, so likely a descendant.

“I thought Raelia was forty-something,” Benito offered unhelpfully, breaking my train of thought.

“Forty is like a teenager in human years for elves,” Maveith said, making it seem even more like I was the villain. Even Baelira looked a bit surprised to hear Raelia’s age.

I was frustrated from being attacked and decided to go on the offensive. I squatted out of Alhur’s reach and growled, “Raelia seduced me! And this is Raelia’s fault. If she had told me she was pregnant, I would have come right away. Instead, I’ve been chasing some obscure task given to me by the goliath seer!” I quickly added, “More recently, I've been busy trying to save the planet from a demon horde.” If Evie learned the only reason I helped her was because of the seer, she might not take it the right way. That was the reason I rushed to help the otherworlders, but I truly cared about her now.

Alhur narrowed his eyes, probably not believing me. “She deserves better than a human that will she will have to watch age and wither. I have known her since her birth. I trained her in the ways of the rangers. You are not worthy of her. Do her a favor and stay away. I will return and tell her you are not coming back. Go and save the world as you proclaim,” Alhur replied a little too calm and collected. I was beginning to think the elf might have had his own romantic inclination toward Raelia, and maybe that was why he was angry.

I paused and took a step back. “You're right. One of us will inevitably watch the other grow old and fade away.” I glanced at my companions, knowing I would have to do the same for all of them. “But it won't be Raelia, it will be me.” The confusion on their faces pained me, and I hesitated to share this revelation. “I have a spell that slows my aging. I will outlive Raelia,” I whispered softly.

The shock on my friends' faces was not surprising. It seemed I always had more secrets. But even more welcome was Alhur’s flummoxed expression. Baelira looked conflicted, and Evie… she looked betrayed. No, not betrayed, but I couldn’t quite read her reaction to the news.

Blaze broke the silence. “I don’t think so, Eryk. You are most likely to get yourself killed long before you reach a thousand.”

Benito, in an uncharacteristic understanding, yelled, “I bet you don’t make it to a hundred.” He eagerly looked around for any takers.

“I will take that bet,” Maveith said seriously and started laughing loudly, and I joined him.

I had clearly rattled Alhur, and I think he was trying to decide if I was telling the truth or not. I continued. “Like I was saying, there is a demon trying to open a gate to a world full of demons. I am willing to let you go to return to Bartiradia and spread the news.”

“I will accompany him,” Blaze announced. I held back a wince as I was trying not to send Blaze at all. I didn’t trust Alhur, and I didn’t want to put my friend in needless danger.

“If Blaze is going, I want to go,” Benito chirped.

“I guess I can go to make sure they all don’t get themselves killed,” Lesna added, sounding exasperated. I turned to stare at her in understanding. She was going wherever Benito was going. I gave her a slight nod of thanks, even though she turned me down yesterday.

I turned back to Alhur. “If any of my friends do not make it to deliver my message to Raelia, I will hold you responsible.” The elf had a conflicted look in his eyes, perhaps still unsure if I was telling the truth about my slow aging. I still didn’t trust him, but I was hoping that after talking with Fenlorian, he would understand the implications of what was happening in the world.

Alhur gathered himself. “I answered your questions. What did you do to me?” He asked calmly, but I could tell he was acting. Losing control of your aether was disturbing. I had dosed myself numerous times with magebane to practice accessing my spell forms while under its influence.

“Magebane poison. The effect will wear off in time,” I replied dispassionately.

“Where did you get…” he stopped and looked at my sheathed blade. “Are you going to release me now?” he grinded out.

“Free you from the ice? Yes. Release you? No. We are going to tie you up and deliver you to the High Sentinel. After Maveith and I are on board the ship sailing for the Heptarchy, will you be allowed to go free?” I stated, which clearly didn’t make him happy.

“I am going with you,” Baelira said.

“You can get to Elaro Melananin faster if you go with them,” I said, gesturing at Blaze and Benito.

“I am in no rush, and you obviously need someone to watch your back,” she indicated to Alhur.

“Where am I going?” Evie asked, somewhat shaken.

I didn’t want her to go with Alhur, but I was somewhat worried about what trouble I might get into on the way. Did I still need to protect her? Or did my protecting her put me where I needed to be—Sanctuary? “I would like it if you came with me,” I said after the briefest of pauses. Evie gave a sharp nod of relief. I guess she preferred to stay with me. “Alhur, hold up your hands—Benito, tie them together…”

I checked and reinforced his bindings. He probably thought we were going to march him back to the city, but this way was easier. The elf assassin disappeared. Blaze chuckled and Maveith shook his head. “That was easier than I thought it would be,” Benito said.

As we walked back to the city, we discussed the upcoming separation. Benito, Blaze, and Lesna would sail with Alhur to Bartiradia, present the evidence in the court, and then travel to Gramney to inform Castile and the others. They would have Elaro present the demon plot to the courts there and would wait for me and Maveith. We got to spend the night in the inn together, before we were summoned to the king’s court. Only Maveith, Baelira, and I answered.

When we arrived, High Sentinel and his council were already deep in conversation. It seemed this was a private audience since the king’s court was not present, but a dozen knights in polished plate armor stood along the walls. From the king’s troubled face, I guessed the High Sentinel was making progress. King Torvane was middle-aged with dark hair and caramel skin. He wore formal red robes, and his sword rested against his modest throne. His ancestry looked Hispanic, and I could see the weight of his rule in his eyes. From what little I knew, he was respected and a good king.

Fenlorian introduced us formally. “May I present Lord Protector and Arbiter of the Goliath People, Maveith Stoneskin. Seeker Eryk. Seeker Baelira.”

Maveith stood tall and performed a formal bow, while I mirrored his gesture. It was the first time I had been introduced to a king, but I didn't feel nervous after multiple battles of life and death. After the introductions, Fenlorian’s grave voice cut through the air. “Things are worse than we thought. Although the dungeons have regained control over their hosts, dangerous beasts from the Endless Dark continue to surface all across the continent. Trade has been disrupted, and fields are left unattended. The world is very different from what you left.”

I digested the news and was happy my companions were in cities. “Are the dungeons acting normally?” I asked. I had learned more about the dungeon pact in the Repository on Sanctuary, and the dungeons had to follow it if they were aware. But if the pact was somehow broken, that could spell disaster.

“Once they regained control, yes. But there are few delvers venturing into dungeons these days. There is too much to do on the surface. The Adventurers Guild has started training programs in every major city, but it takes years to cultivate great adventurers,” the king replied ominously.

This was terrible news because it would disrupt my plans to travel overland from the Heptarchy to the Telhian Empire. That journey would be mostly wild lands and was likely even more dangerous now. “What of the other continent?” I asked. The Salty Maiden was to sail east, dropping off Sentinels along the coast before heading to the other continent.

The king responded. “Word is slow to reach us, but the Mage Lords use two-way mirrors to communicate, and they are not affected. There is some upheaval, but nothing remotely like here, and their dungeons have been unaffected so far.”

“Chartering a ship to Petos, the Heptarchy's capital, seems more practical than crossing the Heptarchy Kingdoms to Queen Adelin’s court,” I said, visualizing the map. The journey from Petros to Skyliton, Queen Adelin’s city, would take about three days by ride, if necessary. Maybe we would get lucky and Queen Adelin would be in Petros, but the seven rulers only met once a year there.

The conversation shifted to planning, and Maveith’s guards were summoned as they prepared for the goliath militia’s arrival. King Torvane was willing to send three ships immediately to Stone Mountain Island to gather as many Goliaths as possible so they could begin integrating with his army. It was a shrewd move on his part; though he might sound generous, having Goliaths in his army would only strengthen his position in any alliance that formed. Maveith was too shortsighted to see this and eagerly agreed.

The discussion pushed well into the night, and I was mostly a spectator. When the war council finally ebbed, I took the opportunity to approach the king. “King Torvane, I have a large favor to ask of you.”

“Seeker Eryk, was it? How may I assist the Sentinels?” he replied respectfully. Two of his advisors edged closer to listen in, and I didn’t mind.

I have an agent of Bartiradia in my custody, mostly due to a major misunderstanding. As I mentioned in the planning, my people are heading to Bartiradia to talk to our friend and will escort him back home. His attitude toward me is somewhat—strained. I was hoping I could leave him in your prison until after I sail. He’s a mage, a ranger, and highly resourceful.

“We have a good relationship with the Bartiradians. They have an ambassador in the city. I can summon them immediately,” the king replied.

“After I leave,” I said, not wanting a headache. “My companions will come to the castle tomorrow, but tonight, can I leave him in your care?”

A short while later, I stood in front of an empty cell with two confused guards and three Nausis mages flanking me. “Are you going to teleport him in there?” The youngest mage asked.

“Something like that,” I said as Alhur appeared in the cell and dropped twelve inches to the ground. He was covered in mud, shivering, and dripping water as he landed nimbly and was immediately on alert. His hands were tied behind his back, but for the most part, he was well. He was quickly assessing his situation and soon found me with his disbelieving eyes.

“Alhur, it was a pleasure meeting you, and just a reminder, if anything happens to my friends, I am holding you responsible.” I turned to leave but paused and turned back. “Tell Raelia I am sorry, but I am coming as fast as I can. The king can confirm that everything I have told you is true and the absolute FUBAR out there.”

“What is FUBAR?” he shouted at me, but I was already climbing the stairs.

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