A Soldier's Life - 304 - How To Win Friends And Influence Warlords (final edit 7-14-25)

Chapter 304: How To Win Friends And Influence Warlords I was seething internally as I walked next to Glasha, leading her pony. Orc attendant

Chapter 304: How To Win Friends And Influence Warlords

I was seething internally as I walked next to Glasha, leading her pony. Orc attendants rushed on the path with packs of goods and looked at me curiously. “Did you find the goliath you were looking for?” She asked calmly.

I bit down an angry retort and answered evenly. “She was among them, yes.”

Glasha nodded slowly and said more somberly. “While most warlords treat their slaves with veneration, Warlord Rhuuk is known for his proclivities with his slaves.”

My knuckles cracked as I made a fist. “What type of proclivities?” I was glad Maveith was not in my place, or I assumed he would not have been able to restrain himself.

Sensing my anger, Glasha tempered her response. “He seeks to assert his dominance over them in a number of ways.” She paused as she considered her next words carefully to not make me angry, but I had heard enough.

“Not for much longer. Can my companions join us?” I asked tersely.

“I have given it thought. The answer would be no.” I tensed before Glasha continued. “…but Warlords are allowed their attendant slaves. With you being a First, you should qualify as well. Tarnasha can announce you as Mynasha’s First and then we can summon your companions.”

I hesitated. Would brining Maveith here complicate things? It was his sister and he should be here. “They wouldn't be able to leave either,” Glasha said, seeing my contemplation.

“I will write them a note and explain it to them then,” I said coming to a decision.

“I can have it delivered when it ready.” Glasha said and motioned me down a narrow, winding path that led to a modest longhouse, its weathered wooden structure standing alone, devoid of any surrounding outbuildings. Unlike the bustling estates I had witnessed before, there were no slaves or orcs scurrying about outside.

“Is there a way to free Zorana without helping Mynasha?” I asked as we approached the longhouse.

Glasha stopped and I was not sure if she would tell me the truth or not. “If you had honor, you could challenge Rhuuk.”

I rolled my eyes. “How do I get honor?” I asked rhetorically.

Glasha chewed on her lip, her tusks showing. She snorted in thought about how to explain it. She had tried many times during the journey, but in the end, it seemed honor was reserved for warlords, clerics, and elites in their culture. “Honor is earned and bestowed by others with honor. It is extremely difficult for an outsider to accumulate honor. In the short time we have, I do not see that a feasible path.” Glasha said as she opened the squeaky door to the long house.

“My only recourse is to help Mynasha become the Supreme,” I said discontentedly. I was having thoughts of Warlord Rhuuk having an unfortunate brain aneurysm. It was smokey inside as wet wood burned in the center, and Mynasha and Tarnasha were trying to cook dinner in the haze. I suspected they were given only wet wood on purpose because I did not see a single attendant anywhere in the cavernous building.

Tarnasha stood, a bright, tusky smile on the old orc, “Eryk! You have come to join us. We don’t have much to offer, but please sit.” There were no chairs, just dirty blankets spread around the fire. I folded my legs under me and sat. Mynasha was studying me, some disbelief on her face that I had come.

“Well, I am here. Catch me up,” I motioned to everyone. Glasha tied her pony to a rail inside with the other two horses and came and sat with us.

Tarnasha spoke for the group, “The five Elders are waiting for Cleric Ottasha. If he confirms Mynasha’s slaying of the trolls, she will be allowed to be the sixth candidate. Ottasha may be the seventh, but he may have lost Warlord Krage’s support.”

“Of the other five candidates for the Supreme, the favored is Fioasha, and he has the support of three of the five Elders,” Glasha explained. “He is a powerful cleric with strong affinities in nature and earth. That is why the Elders choose the first trial to be capturing a pixie.”

It made sense the competition was rigged. “And his First?” I asked.

“Warlord Etus. He is the admiral of the northern fleet and well-liked among the populace,” Glasha stated while turning over the wood. “You have already met Cleric Jhuarkasha and his First, Rhuuk. Jhuarkasha’s strongest affinity is protection. I think Rhuuk hopes to be able to control Jhuarkasha from the shadows as his spine bends with the wind.” I nodded, as I had not had a favorable impression of either of them and Rhuuk was destined to die if what Glasha insinuated was true.

Tarnasha stirred his pot on the coals. Whatever type of soup he was making, it was sparse. Maybe they planned to starve Mynasha into failing. I pulled out candied nuts and handed the bags around. I had purchased them in Telha long ago, but they were still warm from the vendor I had purchased them from. My orc sponsors greedily consumed the salty-sweet treat.

“Cleric Anatasha challenged Mynasha’s claim of slaying the mountain trolls. It is likely she will be forced to withdraw her candidacy, but she does have one supporter among the Elders. The other two candidates are Cleric Nalgrasha and Cleric Sarkasha. Both are unknown factors as neither has support among the Elders,” Tarnasha supplied.

Glasha had finished her nuts and took a bowl of soup before talking, “Nalgrasha is a powerful weather mage, and Sarkasha is a skilled illusionist. The only concern I have about them is that they appear to be conspiring together.”

“And their Firsts?” I asked, crumbling up my empty bag and tossing it on the fire.

“Newly raised Warlord Batale stands with Nalgrasha, and Warlord Thaill stands with Sarkasha. Both have not earned much honor among the warlords,” Tarnasha supplied helpfully.

“Will I even be recognized to stand as Mynasha’s First?” I asked about the point of contention between Tarnasha and Glasha. The three orcs looked among themselves, with Mynasha looking the most uncertain.

“We will find out tomorrow evening,” Glasha finally said. “Warlord Melkos purged the trolls and ogres. I expect Cleric Ottasha and Warlord Krage are racing here as we speak.” Glasha stood and nodded respectively to me, “I will get word to the Adventurer’s Hall with your message.”

I nodded and puled out some paper and a quill and began to write. I tried to keep my words as obscure as possible in order not give anything away if the message was read. I told Maveith his sister was safe and alive. He could come only if he could restrain himself and stay unarmed. Slaves were not allowed to carry weapons.

I told Konstantin to take commence of the others and start looking for passage on a ship for all of us including two “future friends.” I rewrote the letter twice before folding it and giving it to Glasha. She left immediately to find a runner.

Seeing I was finished, the old man asked, whispering to me. “Do you have any more food?” Tarnasha asked wistfully. I chuckled and produced some elven bread and apple-berry dungeon jam. I looked at Mynasha, who looked apprehensive and hadn’t spoken much since I arrived. I offered her a steaming meat bun.

“What is this remarkable spread?” Tarnasha gasped on tasting it.

“Appleberry dungeon jam,” I replied, amused by the noises he made eating it. He must be feeling the aether bleed effect of the dungeon food, and it was also an excellent jam. The meat bun I gave Mynasha had dungeon bear meat and potatoes in it, but she didn’t seem to realize the benefits as she ate mechanically.

Tarnasha praised me. “Your talents are wasted on the battlefield, Eryk.” I handed him one of the hot meat buns in appreciation of his praise even though Maveith had made the jam.

I stood and started to make a place to sleep on the worn wooden floor. My earth pulse told me a massive rat nest resided under our shelter—at least thirty that I could count. I assumed it was going to be a fun night. As we all settled in, Tarnasha used his magic, weaving a complex spell form that caused all the rats and nearby creatures I could detect with my earth sense to flee. He let out a soft chuckle, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the rats where not there naturally.

When Glasha finally returned, it was late, and unhappiness was etched clearly on her face. My heart sank at the sight, and my mind raced with concern—had she been unable to contact my companions? “Your message was sent to the guild hall,” she assured me, her voice steady yet tinged with exhaustion. “I’m confident your companions will receive it shortly.”

“What is the problem now?” Mynasha asked sitting up. She had been trying to sleep but it was clear her adrenaline wasn’t letting her.

“Nothing,” Glasha said a little too tersely. She conceded eventually. “It is him,” she pointed at me. “Apparently, the Elders just passed a rule that only warlords can serve as a First for this Choosing! That is itself against the rules, as any change requires one year to take effect!” She growled then calmed. “I have been arguing with Elder Daccasha and Kytasha for the last three hours!”

I handed her a meat pie and skin of elven ambrosia. Hopefully, the elven whisky would help her calm down and sleep. This was mildly good news for me, as it meant I wouldn’t have to serve as Mynasha’s First. After Glasha spent an hour venting her rage aloud, the ambrosia finally knocked her out.

I remained awake most of the night, lying there prone and sending out earth pulses. A few patrols with mastiffs walked by our long house, but there was no excitement to be had. As dawn approached, I took the opportunity to get my few hours of rest. Glasha stormed off when she woke, and Tarnasha followed her to play politics.

The left me and the young cleric. “Where were you born?” I asked to break the silence of mid-morning.

“Why do you care?” She asked calmly, giving me her attention. She looked to have fully recovered from her lightning display and the long ride.

“Curiosity. You look a little different than most of the orcs I have seen.” I was trying to gently start a conversation to see if the powerful cleric was an otherworlder like me.

“A small settlement that you have never heard of,” she said while getting comfortable on the blanket and seemingly open to talking.

“Were your parents powerful clerics as well?” I asked while stirring the coals.

“No,” she said slowly, studying me. “Neither of my parents could use aether.”

“Isn’t that unusual? With you being so powerful?” I probed.

“I was adopted when I was a babe. I was found in a field of cabbage,” she admitted.

My mind was racing. Were infants also pulled into this world? I genuinely believed Mynasha was an otherworlder because of her rare convergence affinity. I kept the conversation going, asking about her childhood and how she discovered her magic. She probably thought I was just trying to get to know her and was very open. In reality, I was searching for clues.

I gave her lunch from my dimensional space, and before I knew it, I was also answering her questions, albeit with more obscrity. Mynasha was very interested in my own magic, but I didn’t reveal anything that she hadn’t already seen.

It was late afternoon when a thundering procession could be heard outside. We both went see the commotion, and dozens of riders were headed to the center of the valley. “I have to go and meet with Elders.” I made to join her, but she shook her head. “No, you need to remain here until you are recognized as my First.” Mynasha grabbed her small pack and raced down the path to join the others.

Left to my own devices, I took care of the three horses. Cleaning the floor and walking them around the building for a little exercise before staking them to graze after watering them. Even though I was fairly confident I was not being spied on with the obfuscation sphere and pulsing my earth speak, I only took magebane from my space to practice. It was well past sunset when my trio of orcs returned.

They were not alone. A smiling but anxious Maveith was leading his large black and Ginger. His smile creased his face, but he kept turning and searching as if his sister was about to jump out and surprise him. He looked odd to me with his unstrung bow on his back and the heavy hammer swinging from his hip.

We shook wrists, but Maveith pulled me in for a hug that squeezed the air from my lungs. “Don’t kill or this will be harder than it needs to be.”

Maveith released me, beaming. “I thought you were tougher than that.”

“Let’s not test the limits of my body. You came, so I am assuming you understand.” Maveith nodded, but I just hoped he would not forget when he saw Zorana.

I looked at the orcs and by the smiles on their faces, I assumed it had gone well. I didn’t even have to ask before Mynasha barked happily, “You are to be my First!”

This was no time for jokes or innuendos, so I just nodded. “How did it happen?” I asked while handing out food.

“It was a master display of guile and deceit!” Tarnasha said happily.

“Not so!” Glasha joked. “They were just ignorant of our human friend’s prowess.” She saluted me with her waterskin. “Warlord Krage spoke to Mynasha’s killing of the trolls. He then offered his support to serve as her First!”

“What? I am confused. I thought he was supporting Ottasha, and if he offered, why am I still Mynasha’s First?” I felt I wasn’t going to like the answer.

“Ottasha withdrew his candidacy. I think it was because Krage didn’t want to risk his honor supporting him,” Mynasha said excitedly.

“Eryk is a much better option,” Maveith said in support and I frowned.

“Cleric Anatasha also withdrew after her challenge to Mynasha’s honor was proven without merit!” Tarnasha added jovially. “Two candidates have already fallen from consideration!”

“You still haven’t answered my question,” I said, my voice tinged with irritation. I leaned forward, my voice tense. “Why isn’t Warlord Krage standing as Mynasha’s First?” My eyes narrowed, eager for clarification, as the weight of his title hung unwanted on me.

Glasha’s excitement dimmed as she explained, “When Warlord Krage offered to stand with Mynasha, the Elders panicked. He is a highly respected warrior and his support would have lent her candidacy far too much. So they pivoted. Fast. Suddenly, the human being her First was no longer controversial, and they formalized the decision on the spot.” She gave me a wicked smile. “Little do they know just how dangerous this human really is.”

Maveith laughed with them, and I was glad to see my friend could at least see the humor in this. “Great,” I offered with sarcasm.

“The First Trial begins at first light tomorrow. You two must be seen by the Elders leaving the grounds so they know you did not depart earlier. With five candidates, only the first three to return with a live pixie will be allowed to continue,” Glasha said excitedly.

“Can Maveith come with us?” I asked, drawing the goliath’s attention.

The two orcs looked to Tarnasha, who was the expert, having once been a member of the Elders. “It would be frowned upon, but permitted as long as he does not assist.”

“I wish to remain here,” Maveith said resolutely.

“Can you two keep him out of trouble?” I asked Glasha and Tarnasha seriously.

They both looked over at the towering goliath who tried to look as innocent as possible. I knew he was going to try to see his sister and was having my doubts in the wisdom of bringing him here.

Glasha slowly smiled. “I am came come up with a few things to keep him busy. He can carry my things while we spend the day gathering support for Mynasha among the warlords and clerics.”

One thing was for sure: I hated orc politics.

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