A Soldier's Life - 181 - Castile (Epilogue)

Chapter 181 Castile POV (Epilogue)

Castile observed the departure of legionnaire Eryk and the goliath from the safe room. Her curiosity about how the young legionnaire would kill the earth drake pulled on her to investigate. She considered sending out her all-seeing-eye to follow them, but the extra aether required in the dungeon was best conserved. She was fortunate to have such a hidden power in the company, but keeping the others ignorant was becoming a full-time job.

Flavius, in particular, was starting to ask too many questions. Adrian believed he would seek favor with a First Citizen or Praetorian Guard when they reached a city. She had her own ideas on how to protect the legionnaire, but first, she needed to protect herself.

Her gaze swept across the room, taking in the rest of the legionaries. Despite the looming danger of the summoner within the dungeon, a sense of camaraderie and determination radiated from them as they prepared. The summoner’s presence in the dungeon was a constant threat, and any attempt to flee would likely result in his swift pursuit.

Their best bet was to ambush him when he came out, but even that had a lot of risks. If the summoner controlled the dungeon creatures, he could send them out first to occupy the company and then exit and join the attack. Traeliorn’s reputation as the most powerful summoner on the continent overshadowed the fact that he was also a powerful battle mage. He hadn’t fought on the front lines in a century, but Castile had read the histories and knew how much of a threat he posed and how feared he had been when he fought the Empire.

The company’s best bet was to distance themselves from the summoner and reach the safety of a city as quickly as possible. Castile reflected and still felt the pain of all the men she had failed and lost on this assignment from Duchess Veronica. She wished she had never accepted it.

The young Lysander had been the first to fall in the under city. Lysander had grown up in the village of Modena, near where she had been born. He was a good lad, and his fate was not warranted, just like many of the conscripted legionaries in the Empire.

She chuckled to herself, remembering the times she had Delmar instruct him to add too much salt to the soup or intentionally burn dinner. He sabotaged his food preparation without hesitation and took the ire of the men for his poor cooking skills even though he was following her orders.

Then there was Delmar, who had also fallen to a wight. He was from the small town of Corsica and sent most of his pay to his ex-wife and children, hoping his children would grow up better than himself. As long as she lived, she would continue to send them the twenty silver a month that Delmar had.

At first, she had been suspicious that Konstantin had orchestrated his death, but after listening to a retelling of the combat and seeing Konstantin’s guilt, she decided he had not intentionally gotten Delmar killed. Delmar was an excellent swordsman; his sternness contrasted Adrian’s congeniality with the men. She had been fortunate to have him in her service. The Empire had arrested Delmar for withholding artifacts obtained from delving, and he chose conscription over a decade of labor in the Imperial quarries. She had helped him get his gambling problem under control and counted him as a friend and loyal subordinate.

Her heart ached, remembering the young Felix and his infectious smile. She frequently paired new legionnaires with him and Mateo due to their cheerful personalities. He was from—why couldn’t she remember? Oh, that is right, he grew up on the northern coast but couldn’t recall the small town because Felix had said it was too small to deserve a name. Felix didn’t have a woman but talked about his younger sister fondly. She would send her a letter detailing his bravery and some funds to help her.

Lucien, the horse master, was a good man and too decent a person to be forced into the life of a soldier. She thought he had an illegitimate child somewhere. She would check with Adrian as he knew all the men’s stories.

Lucien and Pavel had given their lives so that Bentito and Lirkin had a chance to live. Pavel never talked about himself, but if ever there was a pious man in the company, it was him. He would have done much better as an acolyte of one of the gods. He had become a legionnaire rather than starving on the streets of the city he was born in.

Soren and Cyrus were two of the more malicious men in her company. Both had killed men in anger and confided mostly in each other. She was not sad to see them go, but they had been her responsibility, so she failed them as well. If Adrian knew of any of their children, she would send them something.

Finally, there was Remus, the red-haired man from Amphia. A sailor and foreigner from Gregor’s company. He had been involved in a brawl at the Telha docks and found himself in chains. He was outspoken and, truth be known, a bit of an ass.

Seven more names were added to the list of men she would have to answer to when she went to Pluto’s realm for judgment. The list was getting much too long for her liking, one hundred and seventeen now. She sighed heavily.

Her eyes turned back to the corridor where legionnaire Eryk had left. A real honest-to-goodness other worlder. She was certain now. He just had too much naivety and far too much unrealized power in him. He was the key to her potential freedom. If he lived long enough, perhaps she could convince him to join the Hounds and eventually get close enough to destroy or switch her blood samples in the Archives. She kept nudging him in that direction—toward Konstantin’s circle, but it was probably more reckless on her part.

He did have the dreamscape amulet. She had never wanted to possess anything more in her life. Even though the created environment was a contrived fantasy, living in the dreamscape was the first time she truly felt freedom and control of her fate. Resisting her urge to request to use it was not easy, and she waited for him to offer it to her again. The boy didn’t realize that once they reached a city, it wouldn’t be long before a First Citizen requested the artifact.

Adrian sat across from her, and they started reviewing the mental and physical health of the men. Most of the men were healthy enough for a forced march. The question was whether they could get a head start on the summoner to reach a city. Armor rattled, drawing everyone’s attention, and a scream echoed down the corridor. The swearing yell became clearer: “The summoner is in the owlbear room!”

Everyone froze. “Benito!” Adrian barked, and the nimble legionnaire raced off to get the others sent to watch the harpy and earth drake rooms. The company rapidly began packing their gear, getting ready for the dungeon exodus on her order.

While the men prepared, Castile sent out her astral all-seeing-eye to scout. The damnable dungeon forced her to use far more aether than she preferred to send the astral scout down the corridors. If they had been lucky, the owlbear would slow the summoner. She doubted he would be slowed by it. Her eye reached the room, and she swore as the summoner was walking behind the owlbear, and his line of sight looked directly at her astral eye. In Elvish, he ordered the owlbear to run.

Castile snapped her vision back. Castile’s voice cut the air with an order, “Into the gate! Runic weapons lead! The summoner has controlled the owlbear!” Clinking red armored men scrambled forward into the exit portal. Men vanished rapidly as their numbers decreased.

The noise of the charging owl bear echoed in the room. She looked to Adrian, who was counting the men, “Just missing Eryk and the goliath.” She spun and could see them a few dozen yards down the corridor. For a moment, it looked like they might all make it before the owlbear, but fate prevented their complete escape.

The hulking owlbear burst into the room, and Castile tried to slow it down. Her wispy aether chains snaked across the floor and wrapped the red-eyed owlbear. They were a joke to the creature’s powerful frame. It tore the shadow chains like paper.

The owlbear screeched a piercing, sharp cry of challenge. The glowing red eyes meant it was a dire owlbear, far stronger than a normal one of its species. Its body was saturated with aether and much more powerful than any normal owlbear. Eryk entered the far side of the room, taking in the scene. He yelled at her, “Get into the portal!”

Castile looked at the foolish young legionnaire. Maybe he had a plan, but she thought even her entire company would have had difficulty with a dire owlbear. Maybe if they had time to ambush it, and only if there wasn’t one of the most powerful mages on the continent just behind it. Adrian was standing next to Kolm in front of her, ready to protect her from the owlbear’s charge. She looked at Eryk and nodded. “Adrian, into the portal.”

Adrian paused, not willing to leave Eryk. She recalled Eryk had stood with him against a giant ettin. A man’s stupid bravado. She yelled at him, “Move! Eryk will occupy it with his air shields and follow us.” Castile stepped into the back veil exit, Adrian and Kolm behind her.

The gray light of early morning hit her. The tavern was a pile of rubble, and the invigorating, fresh, cold air filled her lungs. The men were engaged with a handful of specters. Konstantin’s blade flashed sparks, and he got her attention, “Nine specters so far! Are you going to kettle them?” His sword sparked again on another specter.

Castile needed to decide on a course of action, “Form a defensive line around the exit! We will prepare for whatever exits!”

Adrian added an order, “Eryk and the goliath still have to exit! Identify your target before releasing your bow!” Chaos ensued as Castile used the kettle to end the specters, and the men formed a line facing the dungeon. Bodies parts of dead legionaries were everywhere with red-stained snow. The men’s feet packed the snow, and the specters were finally dealt with.

The goliath stumbled out of the dungeon, holding his side. A large patch of his soft abdominal leather armor was missing, and his flesh was pale in the early light. He stumbled past the four men in the shield wall. “Where’s Eryk?” Mateo asked the goliath as he passed his shield. He slammed the bottom of his damaged body shield into the snow after the goliath was safely behind him.

The goliath turned to face the oily black wall. “He is coming,” his deep voice informed the men while holding his side and drinking a potion. Castile moved closer to the goliath to talk quietly.

“What happened, Maveith?” She asked the tall, gray-skinned man.

Maveith seemed to be gauging his response, but Castile’s impatience showed through. He whispered, “The owlbear is dead, but the ice drake was rushing toward him. He will be victorious.” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

Castile processed the news. The dire owlbear was dead—one less threat. She looked round at the men, weighing options. “Adrian, get men over the wall. Clear an area on the other side, and I will utilize the kettle.”

Benito looked incredulous, “What about Eryk?”

Castile rebuked him a little too harshly, “We will wait as long as we can for him. We are not going back into the dungeon to aid him.” Castile mussed to herself that even if they did, they would not find him in time to help him.

“I will go look for him!” Benito chirped and started moving toward the oily wall.

Adrian barked at him, “Fool! You will not find him in time. He either exits soon or is most likely lost to us.” Castile was busy with the kettle of souls on both sides as they guarded the exit.

After almost an hour, she looked at Adrian. Their eyes met in agreement. Adrian announced, “Over the wall. We are leaving!”

Maveith, who had been fidgety, questioned the orders, “We should wait longer.”

Castile shook her head sadly, “We can’t wait. The summoner most likely prevailed and is probably gathering dungeon creatures to exit ahead of him.”

Mateo laughed half-heartedly, “Don’t worry. We will most likely get to the city and find Eryk already at the baths.” There was a chorus of agreements, and Benito was already starting a betting pool on when Eryk would reappear. Most likely, no one would ever collect on it as the dungeon would claim his body, but Castile didn’t stop the banter.

“I am going to look for him,” the goliath announced, pulling his hammer from his belt.

Castile was about to berate the goliath and order him to follow the company, but instead, she slowly nodded to the goliath, “When you find him, tell him he should stop trying to play the hero.” The goliath nodded and disappeared into the black entrance, and everyone held their breath, but nothing happened.

Adrian’s voice broke the silence, “Over the wall! I will not repeat myself!”

Packing the snow and crossing the small plaza to the nearest standing house was met with numerous specters emerging from the white banks. Konstantin and Flavius were in the lead and held them back for the most part. A few men were struck, but nothing serious as they smashed the door and entered the ancient shop. It was not long before they were back in the under city.

Konstantin did a quick sweep before reporting, “We should lay a false trail. That way is back to the library, which should lead to the city’s outer walls.”

Adrian was close, “If the summoner is following us, you should stop using the kettle. Let the specters reform and slow him and whatever creatures he controls.”

Benito was within earshot, “How will Eryk and Maveith follow then?” Mateo pulled him aside to explain the reality.

She agreed with the plan, putting away the kettle. They moved, using the hearth tree’s roots, to guide them. On a short rest, Konstantin approached Castile to talk quietly. “Flavius plans to report directly to the Legatus Legonis when we reach a city.”

Castile remained calm, “Why?”

“He thinks Eryk was an outworlder, and you knew about it. He is also certain Durandus’ collector was in Eryk’s possession. He found multiple minor essences in the goliath’s bags.” Konstantin informed her while studying her for a reaction. When Castile didn’t respond, Konstantin asked, “What do you want me to do about it?”

Castile was unsure if she could trust Konstantin. Flavius could put Castile in a compromising position and force another Tribunal in front of the Truthseekers. She looked Konstantin in the eyes. His weathered face was expectant. “Do what needs to be done.” He nodded and turned sharply.

An hour later, Konstantin came running from down a side corridor he and Flavius had been exploring. “A room full of wights! They pulled Flavius in! Move before they realize there are more of us!” Konstantin moved to lead, pulling the company with him.

Castile paused while the men rushed ahead, sending her all-seeing-eye down the corridor. Two turns later, she found the body of Flavius, his throat open and a large pool of blood spreading underneath him. His eyes were wide from shock. Damn it, Konstantin. The city would turn the corpse. Flavius would become a specter or maybe even a wight. A necromancer could commune with the undead if the Empire ever retook the city. A problem for another time.

They soon took stairs up into a tower guardhouse in the wall. The company stood on the wall, looking back into the city behind them. The snow-covered buildings and massive hearth tree looked almost serene, but they knew the truth. Thousands of specters remained, guarding the city from outsiders for eternity.

“We should be able to jump,” Konstantin’s voice interrupted the moment. “The snow looks to be over the height of a man, and it is just twenty-five feet or so.” He didn’t wait for Castile and jumped. Everyone looked over as he thudded into the snow and disappeared. He freed himself and started moving away from the city with his runic weapon drawn. Soon, the entire company was on the ground and pressing through the snow. Only two specters interrupted their progress.

When they reached a corpse of evergreens, they paused to look back on the city. It was just a bad memory now. She only had twelve men, and the Scholar left. Blaze noted a wyvern in the distant sky, but it looked to be keeping itself far away from the city. “Do you think it is tied to the summoner?” Adrian asked from her right.

“No. It is just circling in a lazy hunt.” She replied.

“Do you think Eryk is alive?” He asked a moment later.

Castile considered the question, “No. Get the men moving. We will march north and try to reach the capital as quickly as possible.”

Adrian hesitated before ordering the men, “I think you rested long enough. Two men out front breaking snow. Rotate every ten minutes!”

The path north was difficult. It was miles before the snow depth finally eased, making the trek slightly easier. They camped near the river with no fires, huddling together for warmth. In the morning, they marched along the old trade road that paralleled the river.

“Sail! River barge!” Wylie announced from ahead.

They managed to flag down the barge loaded with soldiers. When it beached on the bank, the captain of the unit reported to Castile, “Mage Commander. We are headed to the eastern border. Do you need a lift?”

Castile looked over her men. They were exhausted and cold, and it was over a hundred miles to the capital. The nearest city downriver was Parvas. But Count Coccus, Duke Octavian’s second son, ruled the city. Still, they had a portal to the capital. “Yes, you can drop us off in Parvas, Captain.”

Relieved men climbed aboard and collapsed on the barge. The regular soldiers gave them a wide berth, and most of the men were asleep in no time. Castile settled on the barge as it broke away from the bank. Adrian and she moved to get the news of the past months from the army captain.

“Where have you been, Mage Commander? The entire continent is about to erupt in war. The Esenhem Elves have taken Amaltalhos Isle off the coast. Most likely, they will invade the mainland soon. The news is that the Boutan Orcs are also preparing a fleet. Rumors have other nations mobilizing as well, but they don’t hold weight.” The captain explained.

Adrian was shocked, “Why?”

“The city of the Titans, of course. Rumor is Atlantium has been discovered in the swamps south of Macha.” Castile and Adrian made eye contact before settling down and pressing the captain for as much information as they could.

Hours later, they drifted peacefully under a light breeze. The crisp air had been warmed slightly by the water, but chunks of ice were drifting slowly by. The rushing water was a lullaby for most of the company. The serenity was broken as Benito started jumping at the front of the barge. “There he is! That red dot has to be him!”

The company stirred, and everyone moved to the bow to see what had gotten Benito so excited. As the craft moved closer, a person in legion armor was clearly walking on the high bank with a very tall person at his side. “I don’t think it is him. The armor looks to be in too good of condition.” Adrian whispered just to Castile.

Castile didn’t wait; she sent out her eye and returned it to her body a moment later. “It is him. Adrian. The boy survived again.”

“I will believe it when I see it. What do you think happened with the summoner?” He asked Castile as the barge moved closer.

“I am assuming Eryk killed him,” she said emotionlessly.

Adrian turned to Castile, doubt on his face. The barge grounded on the bank, and the men swarmed the two men. Castile let the reunion play out, failing to hide her own smile. One less person to add to her death role, although his survival may cause more problems down the line.

When things settled, Castile met Eryk with Adrian at her side. Castile asked quietly, “The summoner?”

“He will not be following us,” Eryk said flatly. Castile nodded slowly, relief flooding her face, but she did not press for details.

Eryk looked around the barge. “Where is Flavius?”

Adrian answered his question, “Konstantin said a wight got him in the undercity when they scouted our escape route together.” Eryk seemed stunned at the news, as he should have been. Flavius was an experienced scout, and maybe she would one day tell him that his death was to protect his secrets.

Castile exhaled a long breath, “The Empire is at war. The Esenhem elves landed on Amatalhos Isle, breaking the peace treaty that had stood for centuries. Word is the Boutan Orcs are also pulling together a fleet, but no one knows where they will land once they sail.”

Adrian continued for her. “Everyone is descending on the swamps south of Macha. It is even rumored the Emperor is planning to leave his palace.” Eryk gawked in surprise.

He stuttered slightly at the implication and had some worry in his voice. “Are we headed back to Macha then? Maybe we should have just stayed in the dungeon. It would have been safer.”

Castile couldn’t hide her smirk but also feared what was to come. At least with a multi-nation war, no one would be focused on her small company. “I won’t know our orders until I report to the Legatus Legonis in Parvas with a message sending.”

It was only half a day to Parvas, and the docks were full of soldiers and legionnaires. Adrian came back to report that the Legion Hall was packed and that the Legonis Legatus office was too busy to handle a report. The Telhian Empire was always on a constant war footing, but this was different. The Empire was being threatened and mobilizing for a long campaign.

Adrian said heavily, “The Empire is pulling most of the soldiers from the western Agorian front. The forts along the swamp will be left with just a husk of men. You can bet the trolls and troglodytes will take advantage. When all is said and done, you can expect the Empire to be much smaller at the end of it.”

“Let’s just focus on living to see the end of it, Adrian,” Castile rebuked him. “Is the Count aware we are here?”

“No. The portal opens at midnight to the capital. We should be able to leave the city before he learns you are here.” Adrian replied with hope.

Castile kept her company at the docks, but even then, Konstantin and Firth managed to wander off even with orders to the contrary. She realized both needed to report to their masters. They returned just in time to march to the central square and join the company through the portal.

Arriving in the capital was not normal. In their silvery armor, over one hundred of the Emperor’s legionnaires guarded the sunken plaza. Archers trained arrows on them before relaxing, seeing it was just wagons of supplies and a small Mage Company. Castile relaxed as no one was here to arrest her. She turned to Adrian and Eryk, “Get everyone to the Western Legion Hall. I will go and report directly to the Legions Legatus Office.”

Castile nervously made her way to the offices. She had prepared a report while waiting in Parvas; all she needed to do was wait and hand it over. The scroll detailed everything that had happened after they marched from Sobral City. She had prepared it with the Imperial Truthseekers in mind, confirming the details and answering questions before they could be asked.

She waited in a lobby to be dismissed, but she was asked to wait an hour later in the small conference room. Maybe they were just busy and couldn’t deal with her at the moment. The hours started to bleed together. She asked for a runner to inform Adrian she was waiting, but her request was denied.

Hours later, the door opened, and she was a bit shocked to find Konstantin enter. She was followed by a tall, older woman with graying black hair. She had never met Antonia Segreto, the merchant queen, in person, but Castile recognized her. A third person followed them inside, whom she also recognized from her escape from Macha. Cornelius, commander of the Eastern Legion Hounds. The door shut with authority, and she guessed Konstantin had betrayed her to his Praetorian Master.

Konstantin moved to stand in one corner of the room, his face blank. Cornelius moved to another corner, his face wearing the deceptive smile of an old man. Antonia sat across from Castile and introduced herself, “I am Antonia Segreto. I have been following your career since your time in the Mage Academy.”

Castile was on the defensive. “I am flattered. Why am I still here? Was my report incomplete?”

Antonia laughed, “Incomplete? It reads like a tragic play. Most would think it fiction and concocted for sympathy.” She gestured to Konstantin, “He confirmed every word of it was true. And Firth reported the same to Cornelius.” Castile’s head snapped around to each person, trying to puzzle things out.

Konstantin, sensing her discomfort, eased her fears. “You are not in jeopardy, Castile. They just want to talk.”

“Not in jeopardy yet,” Antonia had a smile blossom, correcting him. “If I continue, then you will be. The question is, do you want me to continue?”

Konstantin looked irritated, “Just tell her, Antonia.” He faced Castile. “They need you. They need your ability to unweave spell forms before someone can manifest their spells. You are the only one who can do what they need.”

Castile was confused, “Who do they need me to use my ability on?”

Antonia looked at Konstantin, “I hate it when you disrupt my delivery.” She turned to Castile and, in a conversational tone, said, “We need you on a special team to help kill the Emperor.”

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