A Soldier's Life - 347 - I'm Not Crying, You Are Crying (Edited 2-18-25 +350 words)

Chapter 347: I'm Not Crying, You Are Crying 

I placed the small brooch on the table. It depicted a majestic bird with spread wings made from tiny rubies and diamonds. “It is a dungeon artifact,” I said, and the seer’s interest flagged. She would have no past to delve into, making it harder to read the object. She picked it up and held it in her hands, closing her eyes.

She shook her head and placed it on the table. “Elves are normally highly resistant to spells with a charm affinity. This brooch negates their protections, making them susceptible.”

I had paid for my reading, and that was not enough of an explanation. “Just elves or everyone? What did you see?” I pressed.

Namao looked at me. Probably determining if she told me more, if it would change something she had seen. “Just one of the possible fates of this artifact. A tall, beautiful human woman with onyx hair and steely gray eyes. She used this in conjunction with her magic to control an elven general.” I wanted to ask further questions on the artifact, but her look told me she was done with this artifact. I only knew one mage that matched that description, Mage Ona of the Telhian Empire. She had been gifted Traeliorn’s amulet to greatly enhance her charm affinity—but why would I give her this?

She interrupted my musings, “If you’re done, I need some rest.”

I smirked. “No, I am not.” With some pettiness, I pulled magebane and placed it on the table, followed by the demon bowl, followed by the golden ring of influence, followed by the black jade chalice, followed by the dreamscape amulet, followed by a pathfinder axe, and finally, orc’s torment. Namao’s eyes had gone from amused to wide to shocked. “Didn’t you foresee this?” I waved my hand at the assembled artifacts a little smugly. I would get my value even though I already knew some of these artifacts' functions.

“No,” she said flatly. She looked at the collection and picked up the golden ring first. I had been told it was a merchant’s ring and helped you convince another of your point of view.

As Namoa played the ring in her hand, she smiled and then frowned. “A dungeon artifact, but it has a rich history. Worn by three different dark elves, once taken by force and once handed down to a child. This ring helped the Shriarvi House rise to immense prominence. It magnifies the wearer's charisma, making everything they say seem reasonable.” She handed me back the ring with a cryptic warning, “Be careful in using it. Most people do not like being tricked.”

She took the hand axe next and didn’t spend much time on it. “Another trophy from one of your enemies. It will never dull or rust.” She dropped it with a thud onto the table. Her hand hovered over the other artifacts, pausing at the demon bowl before touching the hilt of magebane. She narrowed her eyes at me after a brief moment. “You already know this weapon’s function?” I shrugged. She gave me an irritated look. “It poisons the aether in the victim, making it uncontrollable.”

It may have been a bad idea to place items whose effects and abilities I already knew. I reached for and grasped the black jade chalice that made elven ambrosia—a smooth, thick, strong whiskey. I gave a weak smile as it disappeared. Then I did the same with the dreamscape amulet. I wouldn’t learn anything new anyway since it was a dungeon artifact. That only left the demon bowl and Orc’s Torment. Although I knew what Orc’s Torment did, I wanted to learn about its past.

The seer nodded unemotionally and looked between the sword and the bowl. She finally reached for Orc’s Torment. I prefaced her reading, “I know what it does, but I want to know its past.” The seer nodded as she grasped the worn hilt.

Namao took a moment with her eyes closed. She looked far more fatigued than when I entered her hut. Her voice seemed to echo from the past, “Forged by a great smith and wielded by many over the centuries, it has slain countless foes, including a formidable orc warlord—a great leader among his people. Orc blood strengthens it and helps it endure through the ages. Its destruction was falsified for another similar-looking blade. But the man who salvaged it, soon perished, and its purpose was lost until you wielded it. It has many possible future fates, among them, ending your life.”

I narrowed my eyes. “So, I should destroy it?”

“That thread is just one of many I glimpsed. Do as you wish with it,” she waved dismissively. The seer might be deceiving me into destroying the blade, or perhaps hiding it away somewhere to not use it. I pulled the blade toward me, the sheath scraping across the table. “Is this the last one, then?” She indicated the black bowl.

I nodded and made the blade disappear. “It is a dungeon artifact,” I preempted her reading.

“I do not like the feel of it, or its appearance.” She reached tentatively for the bowl, brushing her finger along the porcelain rim. Runic writing abounded in the images of fighting demons on the surface. It appeared fragile, but I knew it was not. Tilting her head in puzzlement, she closed her eyes, her way of concentrating her gift. She began shaking her head. “Destroy it. It’s a foul device, not of this world.”

“What does it do, seer? I can make my own decisions,” I stated irritably. She glanced toward the door, and I wondered if she would call for help, but her gaze returned to me.

“Very well. It creates abominations. Fill it with the blood of a creature, feed it aether, and then anything that drinks all the blood will have its nature blended with it. Destroy it,” she said harder. “I do not see anything good coming from this device,” she said earnestly and pleadingly. She slammed the ornate bowl on the table, perhaps thinking it would shatter. It just left a dent in the wooden table. “Now go, I’m tired.” She glanced one last time at the bowl with hatred and used the table to help her stand. The old goliath seer turned her back to me and walked heavily toward what I assumed was her bedroom.

I took the bowl, and it felt ice cold to my touch. Why would the dungeon give such an artifact? It was only dangerous if it was used. I sent it to a corner of my dimensional space. I would consider Namao’s words, but there was no rush to destroy the artifact.

I walked back to the beach and toward the trail. I was half-expecting the seer to yell to the goliaths on the beach that I carried a cursed artifact and to stop me with force, but the seer never emerged. When I reached the walls of Eternis, nothing seemed different. No goliaths were celebrating in the street at the dungeon being found or Maveith’s return. I followed the docks to the inn we had stayed at before, and the proprietor, Lazarin, addressed me, “Your elf mistress and her griffin have paid for your prior room. She is in the baths below with the griffin. They have been rowdy, if I have to clean up a mess of feathers…” He let his words hang in the air. I tossed him a dungeon silver and went to join them.

Baldo had made quite a mess; water and feathers were scattered around the recessed tub. He preened himself, then ducked into the water, shaking before preening again. Raelia appeared to have finished her bath and was waiting for Baldo to be done. He chirped happily at seeing me, but I was not keen to join him in the filthy water. Raelia wore a contented smile as she watched the griffin while I sat beside her.

“How did it go with the Council?” I asked.

“They have locked Maveith down again. I snuck away after I determined he would be fine on his own,” Raelia said tiredly.

“Fine on his own?” I said cautiously.

“They are interrogating him about everything related to the dungeon. They sent golden figs and tea leaves to the alchemists, and Maveith gave them his shield, helm, and gauntlets for examination,” she said.

“Then they will keep the dungeon?” I asked.

Raelia turned, her robe intentionally opening slightly as she teased me. “No consensus was reached in the hour I was there. The options discussed before I slipped away were sealing the dungeon again, attempting to destroy it, delving into it themselves, or calling on the Adventurer’s Guild to manage it.”

“Goliaths hate the Adventurer’s Guild,” I snorted.

“Hate is too strong a word. They don’t respect adventurers, but the Guild has been around for two thousand years. They do acknowledge the good it has done over that time. Still, I agree that the goliath people wouldn’t welcome the Guild to their island lightly.” We got a spray of bird-scented water as Baldo shook again. I would have to give Lazarin another silver.

“Did Maveith mention anything about his plans?” I asked softly.

Raelia looked at me apologetically. “He plans to start a family with Myra. He is nervous and excited. He was hoping we would stay on Stone Mountain Island with them, but he knows better. You better not leave without saying goodbye to him.” She elbowed me harder than needed.

“We will start looking for a ship tomorrow. It should take a few weeks to secure passage.” I was happy for Maveith, but it felt empty because I was a selfish person. I had Raelia, but Maveith was my loyal anchor. Konstantin was an irritating mentor whom I would miss if he were gone, but I would not mourn his absence. I stood up abruptly. “I'm going to take Ginger for a run on the beach,” I announced.

“Why don’t you wait till morning?” Raelia smirked. “The bed would be cold without you.” I almost said she could snuggle with her griffin, but knew she would do just that to spite me. I returned to the room with Raelia and a wet griffin.

The next morning, I did take Ginger for a long run on the beach, rubbed her down, and let her rest. Although she was confused, she liked the sandy beach, surf, and warm weather. When she nudged me for an apple, I gave her a fig instead. She huffed in disappointment but sniffed it. After a test bite, she nearly took my hand while reaching for the rest. She seemed to like the figs even more than the apples. She pressed her muzzle into me, begging for another one until I scolded her. Once she calmed down, I gave her a second fig. After she finished it, I placed her back in my dimensional space and walked back to Eternis.

I was not surprised to find Konstantin was waiting for me at the gate. “Is Gilda okay?” I asked as I approached.

“She lives, and surprisingly has not gotten herself into any trouble,” he said, while spitting some seeds. “Your elf told me you went riding? I haven’t seen a single horse on the island.” He cocked his brow. That was a lie. We had seen a dozen horses pulling carts in the cities and on the trails.

I ignored his implication. “What do you want to discuss?” He clearly sought me out for a reason.

“If you plan to stay, I can take the essences back to Castile.” That caught me off-guard. Konstantin thought I might stay. The island could be described as paradise if you discounted the deadly manticores, predatory cats, and enormous snakes.

I grinned, “And let you take all the credit?”

“Good. I booked us passage on the Lucky Equilibrium. It sails in five days for Godok. From there, we can book passage across the ocean to Gramney.” He pushed off the wall he had been leaning against and walked through the gates.

Six days. It felt too soon—too immediate. Later that day, I found Maveith trapped in a room surrounded by servants and food. “Eryk! Have you come to rescue me?” he asked, amused. Then he chuckled, “I hope you are hungry.” He handed me a plate he had made for himself.

I picked at the meats, cheeses, and fruits. “Has the Eternis Council made a decision?” I delayed telling him we were leaving.

“No. They were debating the merits of each course of action and had asked all the clan heads to come to Eternis to deliberate. It may take weeks to come to a decision about the fate of the dungeon,” Maveith said with a deep sigh.

“Raelia and I are headed back to see Castile,” I said, ripping the Band-Aid off. He didn’t look surprised and nodded solemnly. He reached into his shirt, produced the amulet of insight, and unhesitantly extended it to me.

I took the large sapphire stone amulet slowly. “The ship leaves in six days. Maybe we can visit your father together, and he can show me the proper way to tan a hide?”

“Are you saying I was a terrible teacher?” Maveith replied, sounding offended. Before I could respond, he laughed loudly. “My father would love to meet you. Zorana would be upset if you didn’t also say farewell to her. I just need to escape my prison,” he winked conspiratorially.

Raelia, Baldo, and I joined Maveith the next morning as we traveled to the village where he grew up. Maveith’s father appeared much healthier and more lively during our visit. He also taught me the proper methods for skinning, rehydrating, dehairing, pickling, tanning, degreasing, stretching, and drying a hide. Although this information might be something I never use again, I cherished the time spent with Maveith and his father. Zorana was much happier and took pleasure in cooking large meals for all of us. Raelia had time to train Baldo and take short flights with him, building his endurance.

In the evenings, I helped Maveith build a house for Myra and him. My dimensional space created perfect blocks. Of course, Maveith didn’t want anything too massive. We laid a foundation of stone, built stone walls, and the second floor would be made of seasoned lumber. Overall, the house would be about 5 yards wide and 15 yards deep. The second floor would have three bedrooms—for his future family that he got more and more animated talking about as we worked on the house.

We even built a small single-room stone guest house for me for when I visited. I considered it more symbolic than anything, but I was happy to put in the effort. It all ended too soon, and Maveith walked back with us to Eternis.

Konstantin and Gilda waited for us at the stone docks. Even in common clothes, the citizens recognized Maveith and gave him gestures of respect. The Lucky Equilibrium was a schooner with both a fore and an aft mast. The merchant crew was dark-skinned and spoke a language I suspected was a derivative of Hindi.

I embraced my friend, my arms not able to encircle his torso. “Don’t weep, Eryk. Our friendship is forged in stone, and I am sure your goddess of fortune will have us cross paths again.”

“I’m not crying; you're crying,” I said, wiping my cheek. Then, I bounded up the ramp to the deck. It was only a small tear.

Maveith stood on the docks when the lines were cast off, and two members of the Eternis Council flanked him to bid us farewell as well. We had been rewarded with a large chest of gold in a private ceremony. No announcements regarding the dungeon’s discovery would be made until they decided on a course of action.

Maveith yelled as the ship drifted away from the dock, “If you need me, you know where to find me.”

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