A Soldier Life - 454 - Pinch Negotiator

Chapter 454: Pinch Negotiator

I walked down the ramp slowly. “Sounds like they gave you the keys to the kingdom,” I said in greeting to my old friend.

Maveith approached in two quick strides, and we clasped wrists with a slap. I thought he was going to embarrass me by hugging me in front of everyone. Instead, he squeezed my arm to confirm I was real. “Raelia?” he said, looking over my shoulder and up at the deck.

“She went to see her parents, and I was invited to meet them, but I haven’t gotten around to it,” I said.

“She sent me one letter when you were in Godok. She invited me to Bartiradia as well. We have no one on Stone Mountain Island capable of message sending, but we have heard the spell is no longer working,” Maveith said gravely.

“That is the truth of it, but there are other ways of sending messages,” I replied, releasing our shake.

One of the older goliaths behind Maveith interrupted our reunion. “Since there is no conflict, I suggest we retreat with your guests inside for a reception.

“Yes, Oberth,” Maveith said, rolling his eyes at me.

I looked up at the deck and saw the somewhat amused High Sentinel. Lesna peeked around Benito, looking apprehensive at the large gray reception. “Blaze! Benito!” Maveith greeted the two ex-legionnaires as they descended the ramp. He gave both men a massive hug, and I felt a slight pang of jealousy that they got a hug and I didn’t. “You must meet my daughters!” He turned back to me. “Eryk! I have two beautiful daughters!”

“You work fast,” Blaze commented with a smirk.

Maveith sighed. “Myra says I work too hard.” They he broke out into a grin at his joke. “Come! We can eat and talk after you meet my daughters!”

Brief introductions were made as the Sentinel delegation followed the nine goliaths off the pier and into the city and the council hall. A large spread of meats, cheeses, and tropical fruit was laid out for everyone. The Sentinels, used to simple fare, eagerly attacked the various offerings.

Maveith had disappeared but returned holding a wrapped baby, and a small goliath girl following him. He swept up the child off the floor and hurried over to us. “My firstborn, Zina,” he said, handing the confused girl to me. “This is your uncle Eryk.” I held her in one arm, and she gave a shy smile. She would be two years old now, if I'm correct, and was already almost as big as Lesna. Cradling the newborn, Maveith introduced his other child, “This is Eshka. She is named after you!”

I put down Zina and looked at the baby. The large pale-gray-skinned baby was dribbling milk from her mouth, but had bright green inquisitive eyes. An irate Myra came storming into the room. She had on formal attire, but the wet spot on her chest told me she had been breastfeeding just seconds ago. Seeing Maveith’s pride in his children, I felt slightly jealous. “This is my adopted daughter, Evie,” I said, pulling Evie from Baelira’s protective shadow nearby.

Maveith crouched to Evie’s level, grinning madly. She didn’t shy away as she had seen Maveith in the dreamscape, and his facsimile was very close to his real personality. “You and Raelia adopted! That is fantastic news! She is very adorable!” Evie frowned at being called adorable.

“Raelia doesn’t know,” I said a little sheepishly. Maveith arched his eyebrow in surprise.

Myra retrieved Eshka from Maveith as he introduced himself to Evie. “I am Maveith, Evie. You are welcome in my home and anywhere among my people.”

“Can we spar?” Evie asked with a crooked smile, wanting to prove she wasn’t adorable. She wore her thin short sword on her belt, and she had fought Maveith many times in the dreamscape; now, she clearly wanted to test herself against the real Maveith.

“Ah, she has been learning to defend herself,” I said, pulling Evie away and pushing her toward Baelira. I gave Evie a nod to confirm she would have her chance against Maveith, and she grinned. “We should talk privately so I can tell you why we are here.”

Maveith nodded, patted Evie and Zina on their heads, and led me to a private room. Once the door closed, Maveith asked, “Was that the golden-haired child Neoma told you that you needed to save?”

I coughed, not remembering how poorly the rescue went. “Yeah. I think so. I am going to have to have a word with the seer as I didn’t save anything and ended up as a Death Sentinel,” I said grouchily. “You didn’t destroy the dungeon?” I asked hopefully.

“The seer is dead,” Maveith said and fell heavily into a protesting chair.

“What?” I was concerned by his reaction. Neither of us really liked the seer much but he looked distraught.

“Assassinated by serpent men from the other side of the world,” he growled.

“The Nashasari were here?” I asked, stunned.

“You know of them? Yes. We killed three, but three others got away. We think they sailed to Godok, but our envoys set there were ignored and no search was done,” Maveith sighed. “What business do the Death Hunters have with my people?” Maveith said, his tone transitioning into a more formal one as a leader of his people.

“I am one of them. I came here to talk with the seer, and petition your council for your dungeon. Is the dungeon still open?” I asked again.

Maveith looked briefly concerned. “Yes. Do the Death Hunters know about it? Is that why you are here? To take over the dungeon?”

“They are actually Death Sentinels—the Watchers of the Isle of the Dead. The Death Hunters are their agents on the continents that hunt the undead—really one in the same.” I said, and stopped trying to differentiate. “We are not here to take over your dungeon, and I have not told them about it. But war is coming with Nashasari, and the aether restoration potions made from the golden figs could be a massive boon to stop them.”

“War?” Maveith asked, concerned. I spent an hour telling him about my travels and rescuing Evie before taking her to the Death Hunters to control her necromancy. He had heard legends of Sanctuary and interrupted me frequently with questions. A few goliaths came to check on us, but Maveith always dismissed them and asked us not to be disturbed.

When I finished my tale, Maveith was deeply troubled. “Demons are loose and trying to bridge their world to ours? Most serious indeed, Eryk. I am sure Master Alchemist Karrun will put the alchemy college to the task of preparing as many potions as possible.” His face brightened, “you should see the Alchemy College! It has a beautiful view of the bay, Eryk. It is not quite finished, but it will be a jewel of my people.”

“Maveith just don’t give away the potions. You should at least get something in return. The Death Sentinels have vast warehouses of weapons, armor, artifacts, and supplies. What do you need?” I pushed.

“If the fate of my people hangs on the success of the war, nothing is required in return,” Maveith stated firmly. “The Death Hunters are known to be honorable and defend the living.”

I rolled my eyes at my friend’s nobility. “Well, I convinced them to stop here because I told them the goliaths would join the fight,” I said. “If your people are not willing, that is fine.”

Maveith got a serious expression. “I can explain it to them as you have to me. I cannot guarantee our warriors will answer the call. If they do, I will send our warship after pirate season.”

“Warship?” I said, confused.

“Yes, it is almost complete, and we have three hundred sailor-warriors to crew it. We lack powerful weather and water mages to catch the pirates, but just having the sails visible, we hope it will scare them away.” Maveith snarled, the veins bulging in his neck.

“Now see, we have something the Sentinels can trade. The Salty Widow has twice as many mages its needs. I am sure Fenlorian would be willing to leave some behind. Can I also get a supply of golden figs for myself, before we leave?”

Maveith’s eyes brightened. “Do you still have your collector? We could go clear the dungeon. I have been searching for a collector for over a year.”

A big smile crossed my face. “See, the Sentinels have something you need. Fenlorian brought his lesser collector with him, and the artificers on Sanctuary can make you more.” 

Maveith’s smile matched mine. “That would be a fair trade for access to the dungeon and potions.”

“Let me do the negotiating, friend,” I said, standing and patting his shoulder.

We returned to the party, and the Sentinels looked stuffed. Maveith immediately called his advisors into a private meeting to inform them of what I had told them. I walked over to Fenlorian, who held a plate of fruit and small triangular sandwiches. “Did the negotiations go well?” he asked seriously.

“Did you tell anyone else why we were here?” My eyes scanned the crowd for Benito, but he was missing.

“No. It appeared you had everything in hand,” Fenlorian replied.

“They are willing to offer aid, but the price is uncertain. I have been given permission to reveal that the ingredients for the aether restoration potion are found in the dungeon on this island,” I said softly.

Fenlorian put down his plate. “And that is why you wished to stop here?” I nodded, and he went introspective. “How many potions and at what price?” he asked, betraying eagerness.

“Even though Lord Maveith is a friend, he needs to look after his people—one hundred gold worth of goods for each potion. And collectors must be included among the goods—at least five collectors,” I said seriously.

“We only brought one with us, but if they can wait, we can deliver more. As for the goods, the stores of Sanctuary are open.” Fenlorian said in commitment.

“That is not all. The Goliaths have only one warship, lacking the water and weather mages needed to boost its speed. The pirates of the archipelago are going to become active soon. He wants assistance from our mages,” I added.

Fenlorian frowned. “We do not become involved in the conflicts of the races.”

“Then don’t. Do not have them fight, just use their magic to move the ship,” I countered.

Fenlorian picked up a glass of juice and took a sip. I could tell the idea souring him, but we were about to get involved in fighting the Nashasari soon, so wasn’t the oath already broken? “Agreed. I will leave behind five mages to help the goliaths defend against the pirates.”

We were discussing what the goliaths might want from Sanctuary stores when a goliath came into the room. “The Lord Protector apologizes but he will be in council the remainder of the evening. He will have a formal audience with you tomorrow after your requests have been debated.”

Having some recognition among the goliaths, I wrote a note for Maveith so he knew what I had already negotiated. We were then shuffled off to sleeping accommodations. Having my own room for once is welcome. I lamented not getting the shields from Lepidus before we left, but he said he needed more time. I could have them sent to Nausis before the war eventually. I assumed the warehouses of Sanctuary would be emptied for this war effort, so there should be several trips.

My room had a steaming bath already prepared, and I would have to thank Maveith tomorrow. With privacy, I did something I had not done in a long time. The elven tablet reader appeared from my space and I activated it.

Physical

Strength (+3/+2) 77/88

Power (+4/+0) 90/97

Quickness (+1/+0) 71/75

Dexterity (+0/+0) 68/75

Endurance (+3/+0) 94/99

Constitution (+1/+0) 67/73

Coordination (+1/+2) 70/84

Mental

Intellect (+4/+0) 52/58

Reasoning (+1/+1) 59/63

Perception (+1/+0) 63/65

Insight (+1/+0) 50/54

Resilience (+2/+0) 62/71

Empathy (+0/+0) 26/26

Fortitude (+3/+0) 80/90

Magical

Aether Pool (+8/+7) 38/40

Channeling (+4/+0) 55/67

Aether Shaping (+3/+1) 16/17

Aether Tolerance (+2/+3) 54/59

Aether Resistance (+1/+0) 20/22

Prime Aether Affinity Space

Minor Aether Affinity Time

Elemental Magics (Common)

Fire 0

Air 0

Water 20 (+13)

Earth 51 (+5) Earth Speak

Lightning (Energy) 17 (+9)

Spirit (Healing) 26 Self Healing

Nature (Plant) 0

Unaffiliated Magics (Uncommon)

Charm (Mind) 25 (+2) Fortress Mind

Illusion 15 Aether Sight

Clairvoyance 0

Protection (Guardian) 35 (+5) Air Shield

Necromancy 0

Celestial (buff) 0

Abyssal (debuff) 0

Rare Magics

Space 101 Dimensional Pocket

Time 90 Slow Aging

Displacement 80

Materialism 9

Worlds 88

Void 22 Purify Body

Convergence 74 Essence Assimilation

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