A Soldier's Life - 271 - Dinner Plans

Chapter 271: Dinner Plans

I found my way to Maveith’s side, leaning into him. In a harsh whisper to get over the ambient noise, I warned him. “Raelia might be in Artiria. If you can talk to her privately, try to convince her not to tell the others that she was with us in the dungeon.”

Maveith’s eyes were lively, a grin spreading on his face. He had befriended the griffin rider in the dungeon and missed her. At first, I thought he had an interest in her as a lover, but I believe she served as his surrogate. Protecting her from me was penance for abandoning his own sister. “Really? Raelia?” His deep voice was laced with excitement.

I was annoyed at his excitement and his failure to realize the implications. “The displacement mage hinted at it.” I nodded over at our companions, “They can’t know she was in the dungeon with us.” I had planned to reveal my capabilities to my comrades gradually, but this would be too much, too soon. Even if Castile already knew what I could do, she didn’t know about the elf.

“Raelia won’t tell them if you ask her not to,” Maveith grumbled softly.

“Why don’t you tell her not to tell them for both of us?” I patted Maveith on the back, confident she would listen to Maveith more than to me. The guards were starting to call for everyone to bunch together if they didn’t want to leave anything behind—whether that was luggage or a piece of their body.

Benito and Blaze came near me while Mateo was grinning madly while talking with a plain-looking young woman. I guessed it was a merchant’s daughter by the deep frown of the older man nearby, intently watching the interaction. Then again, maybe it was his wife. Mateo was definitely one of those who needed the discipline of the legion.

The human guards backed away, and the Elven Displacement mage circled their charge as she started her workings. From my understanding, all she was doing was setting the destination and pulling aether with the assistance of the runes running beneath our feet.

The teleport felt a bit different this time. There was a momentary bout of vertigo that had me stumble, and I was not the only one. Several merchants vomited or stumbled to the ground. The Elven displacement mage even fell to her knees, and I sensed something went very wrong. The courtyard around us felt familiar, and the mustard-uniformed guards nearby confirmed we were in Artiria.

Benito whined to my right, “I feel like I just got kicked between the legs. It's not the first time, so I know what it feels like.” Blaze was using his bow for support, and Maveith was helping Mateo to a seated position as he wavered on his feet.

I moved to the displacement mage as her guards screened her. “What happened?” I asked in Elvish, trying to get her attention as she recovered. This was a bad time to ask her name. Her response was vomiting on worn rune-scribed stones, and her guards drew their weapons on me.

She spat furiously to clear her mouth. “Don’t let anyone leave! Someone is carrying an anchor stone!” The Artirian guards surrounding the courtyard trained bows on us, and others leveled spears. My group looked to me for direction, and I signaled to stand down. Like proper soldiers, they did but remained ready to defend themselves clustering together.

Two elven mages in shiny black robes walked briskly into the courtyard a moment later. Each with a pair of guards. My fellow travelers parted to let them reach our displacement mage. I moved as close as I could and strained to listen. “We were almost sling-shotted back to Gramney. Somewhere among the travelers is an anchor stone that harmonized with the runes. I was barely able to hold the link and force us through.”

A black-haired mage spat on the ground, clearly angry. “We will find the offender, Maerlyn.” Soon, the mages were directing the city guards to search everyone. No one looked panicked and most were confused or recovering from the rough teleport.

I moved to stand with my companions and watched as they worked through the group. Blaze asked seriously, “Is there going to be a problem, Eryk?”

The guards were not aggressive but didn’t take no for an answer as they moved through the passengers. I watched before I responded to Blaze’s question. “No, not for us. From what I understand, the teleport almost failed because there is an anchor stone among the passengers. We are probably lucky to be alive.”

Benito whined a little, “It did feel like dying. My stomach still feels like it’s in my throat.”

They never got to us, finding the offending object in a merchant’s hand-pushed cart. One of the mages found it with a wand capped in soft-glowing green stone. Four city guards moved in to cuff the cart's owner as he proclaimed his innocence. The middle-aged human was defensive as they cornered him. “I didn’t know! It was among crates of curiosities I purchased in Gesedmuria!”

Two guards hauled away the merchant’s cart, but inspections didn’t stop there. Mateo was the first of our number to be inspected, and he did not like it. He was not accustomed to being a suspect after being a respected legionnaire for so long.

One mage stood back while the other asked questions, starting with recording his adventurer’s medallion number. The mage proceeded to hold the wand over his runic sword, which he claimed from the Primus. The wand’s light intensified the closer it approached the weapon. It was clearly a device for detecting artifacts.

Surprisingly, he didn’t ask for the weapon, but his companion noted the weapon in his books. This was similar to our customs inspection in Sanco, except it was conducted in the open. That was all the runic equipment he had, and they moved on to Blaze. Blaze was calm as the black-robed mages worked. They had him empty his pockets on a table as the device responded to something on his hip. Blaze complied, and the mage quickly pulled out the pink hair ring from the pile.

The wand-wielding mage inspected the artifact for much too long to my liking, before putting it back with the other things. The relief work was beautiful, depicting an elven hunting party pursuing elk. He also took an interest in Blaze’s sword, a blade forged by the Caelorian runic smiths. When it was drawn, the highly reflective steel caught the attention of the merchants and guards. The Caelorian artifact was just as much a piece of art as it was a weapon. ,Handing the blade back respectfully, he moved on to Benito.

Benito was all smiles as he was inspected, enjoying the attention. The only artifact on his person was his sword, and Benito was upset when all he did was log its existence. Benito’s blade was a runic weapon most likely forged by the hands of men. Maveith only had to show his adventurer’s medallion. They didn’t confirm if he had added any new runic equipment. My turn went just as fast but the inspector looked on me dubiously after recording my medallion’s number.

With the inspection completed, we were allowed to leave the courtyard and enter the city. The walkway was lined with local guards in their mustard uniforms, and I didn’t know if this was normal or because of the issue we had with our teleport. Exiting into the street, the others were gawking at the architecture and all the different elves. That was fortunate, as they didn’t notice the young elven woman among the throng leaning against a building across the street.

Raelia was barely recognizable in a long green dress highlighted with a tasteful silver chain. Her hair was pulled back, highlighting her sharp facial features. Her clean appearance added beauty to her youthful Elven face. We made eye contact, and I could see the corner of her mouth rise into either a smile or a smirk. I didn’t see a griffin, so maybe the egg had not been viable as it should have hatched by now. Or perhaps griffins were not allowed to roam in the city.

“Let’s get to the Adventurer’s Guild,” I announced to everyone with some forced excitement. “We can tour the city later. Maveith, why don’t you get us lunch?” Maveith was already beaming and anxious to go to Raelia. I ushered my companions away, Mateo and Benito, in a deep conversation comparing elven women to human women. The shock on Raelia’s face as I ignored her and walked away was memorable, and I suspected I would hear about it later.

I escorted Blaze, Mateo, and Benito to the Adventurer’s Hall and got us a few rooms. Fortunately, the local Guildmaster did not show himself when I checked us in. Inquiring at the desk, a helpful elf informed me two orcs were in the city and neither was attached to a group. I got their information and found Maveith entering the Hall.

Blaze was browsing postings while Mateo sat at the table sipping an Elven ale and conversing with three elves, two of whom were female. He only spoke Telhian, so he was revealing our origins. Benito played a solitary game resembling darts, and dropped them upon seeing Maveith. “Where’s the food?” Benito looked crestfallen, disappointed that Maveith had failed in his assignment.

“You can order something here, Benito.” I handed him a silver coin. The Adventurer’s common room was more of a bar than an eatery, but they did have a kitchen. That coin got Benito away from us so I could talk with Maveith.

“How is Raelia? Will she keep our secret?” I whispered to my friend.

“She is outside,” he exhaled slowly. “She is not happy with you for ignoring her, but I tried to explain.” I motioned for him to continue. Helplessly, he continued, “I don’t think I did a very good job of it.”

I sighed, “Stay here and keep the others inside. I will go talk with her.” Maybe sending Maveith had been a mistake.

I stepped out into the street to find Raelia in her fine dress with one of the city guards behind her. I reevaluated the young muscular elf in city colors. No, not a city guard, a bodyguard. His sharp eyes studied me like I was a villain. I approached them cautiously, “Raelia, long time no see.”

Confusion passed on her face at my turn of phrase. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts, “Your Elvish has improved. It no longer hurts my ears to hear you speak.”

Was she teasing me, or was she genuinely angry? I proceeded cautiously as it appeared she held some sway here by her dress and having a bodyguard. I kept my tone conversational, not playing into her provocation. “I see you made it to safety. How did you end up here and not in Bartiradia?”

Raelia hesitated before answering, and her tone had hints of sorrow. “I was exiled from Bartiradia. Well, I was not exactly exiled, just sent away so my failures wouldn’t stain my family. I am actually the Bartiradian Ambassador to Esenhem. Or at least one of them.” I was confused, as I would assume that an ambassador role was a step up from Ranger.

I switched to addressing someone with a higher station in Elvish, “Well, you do look the part and quite breathtaking in your dress. It accentuates your figure nicely.” Her cheeks flushed a little, and I think I had caught her off guard with the compliment and formal Elvish address. When she didn’t respond immediately, I continued, “Did Maveith talk to you about my companions?” I indicated the Guild Hall and eyed the elf behind her. I assumed she had already reported everything about me from our time in the dungeon and no one was arresting me, which was good.

“That you don’t want me telling them that I helped you escape the dungeon?” She said teasingly with a smirk.

I didn’t care to debate how much help she actually gave. I also wasn’t going to let her have leverage over me. “If you are going to tell them, then I can always just do it myself. We are all traitors to the Empire and can never return. I am sorry about the griffin egg.” I thought changing the subject might help my case. Maybe I could interview the orcs tomorrow, and we could get horses and ride out tomorrow to get away from any trouble she might stir up.

“What about the griffin egg? Baldo is doing well and nearly fifty pounds already.” Her eyes suddenly flared in annoyance, “You should have told me it was in the pack! If I hadn’t checked, the cold weather would have killed him. Are you such a fool that you have no idea how to care properly for an egg!?” Her teasing had turned to some anger in defense of the griffin, and I could already tell she was attached to it.

“Yes,” I said flatly, just agreeing with her rather than arguing. That left her speechless, as she clearly had expected some verbal sparring. Maybe she was even looking forward to it by her disappointment. “Baldo? That is a Telhian word? Why would you give an Elven griffin a Telhian name?” Baldo meant something like a foolish man. Wait, did she name the griffin after me?

“It just felt right,” she finally whispered to herself. “I can’t change it now. He has already imprinted the name.” There was an awkward silence between us before she finally asked, “Do you want to meet Baldo?”

“I am sure Maveith would. I did promise to find him a griffin big enough for him to ride.” I was steering the conversation away from me, but her eyes looked so hurt at my words that guilt forced me to change my mind. “But I have always wondered what baby griffins looked like.”

She latched onto my repentance, “It is settled then. We are at Regent Maeralya Glavien’s residence. We will expect you and your entire party.”

“I don’t think my friends can handle a dinner with someone of so high standing,” I said sincerely.

“You would reject the invitation of a Regent of Esenhem?” Raelia said, grinning playfully. This elf changed her emotions from sentence to sentence. She sighed, “Fine, I promise not tell them about our time in the dungeon together.”

“Why don’t we just not include them?” I said a little pleadingly.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. “Maveith said they were your friends. Besides, my Aunt has always wanted to talk with Legionnaires.” The onset of a headache signaled my growing unease as I imagined Benito and Mateo engaging in conversation with an Elven regent. As I envisioned a potential disaster, Raelia turned to me and spoke, “One of the Regent’s servants will come and collect you at sunset here.” With those words, she walked briskly away with the bodyguard trailing her, leaving me to consider the impending dinner.

I walked inside, a little numb, to find the group eating at a table. I moved and sat down with them, smiling weakly, “Good news. I have made dinner plans.”