A Soldier's Life - 120 -

Chapter 120

In the morning, we made our way to catch up to the company.  I was having some trepidation about answering questions about my miraculous survival.  No one had seen the dead wyvern, and I probably should not have told Maveith I had poisoned the beast as he had trouble with the idea of lying.  I also should not have healed all my injuries.  Maybe if I returned like I had been put through a meat grinder, they would have thought my escape was more probable.

I paused to check the ground and read the passing of the company, “Maveith, these prints are dry near the stream.  I don’t think we are going to catch them today.  They are going to beat us back to Sobral.  Do you want to detour to your cabin?”

Maveith contemplated before answering, “We can make the Citadel by dark.  I think perhaps we should do that.  Your company will want to know you are alive as soon as possible.”

I thought I would be fine with Castile and the others in the company, but I was slightly worried about High Mage Zyna’s reaction to seeing me alive.  She was obviously much more important and had more sway as a First Citizen.  I didn’t argue with Maveith, and we slightly increased our pace to make the Citadel by dark.  In the end, we arrived a few hours after dark.  The gate guards let us through after conferring with their captain.  I assumed word of my return would reach Castilevia, the gate captain.

I went to the northwest tower to sleep in the bed there.  The four beds we had hauled up here were still there, and Flavius and Konstantin occupied two.  Only a dim glowstone lit the room.  I backed out into the stairway and stopped Maveith from coming up the stairs.  I whispered, “Maveith, I want to play a little joke on Konstantin.  Can you help?”

Maveith did not look like he wanted to play along, so I added, “Just pretend you can not see me or hear me.  I want Konstantin to think I am haunting him from beyond.”

Mavieth processed what I said, “Like an apparition?”  I nodded and motioned him to be quieter as his deep voice echoed around the stone stairs.

I had Maveith go in first, and both Flavius and Konstantin stirred to see the goliath before getting up.  Konstantin mumbled, “Did you find anything left, Maveith?” I moved into the archway of the stairs and just stood there.

Maveith was quiet, trying to decide what to say. He rumbled, “I did not find a dead body.”

Konstantin rolled over to look at Maveith, “The wyvern ate him. I told you would find nothing.” I wanted to jump up and down and draw Konstantin’s attention to me but remained quiet.

Flavius said in a low tone, “Your loyalty and bravery to look for your friend is admirable, goliath. Get some rest. The pain of loss will be temporary.” That was surprisingly nice for Flavius to say. Maybe the news of Sebastian’s death had loosened him up a little.

I scuffed my feet and nearly broke into a grin as Konstantin rolled over to look in the archway. His eyes slowly widened in surprise and fear. He rolled off the bed and was drawing his runic blade, “Revenant!!”  He yelled.

Flavius turned and reached for his own weapon. “Maveith, arm yourself!” Flavius yelled.

Maevith turned slowly to face the door, “What?  I don’t see anything unusual.” The grin on his face told me he was enjoying this. I am the other was doubting my joke was going over as well as I had hoped. Both experienced legionnaires looked ready to kill me.

I put up my hands, “Don’t kill me. I have had a really bad few days.”

“Maveith, did you bring back an animated corpse,” Konstantin rasped at the goliath.

“What? I don’t see anything. Is something wrong?” Maveith said mechanically, enjoying the game.

“Joke is over, Maveith,” I said hotly. “They might actually kill me if they think I am some undead creature.”

Maveith nodded, “I didn’t find a dead Eryk. I found a live Eryk,” Maveith said triumphantly.

Konstantin looked incredulous at Maveith, “Impossible. Eryk or whatever you are, move to that wall.” He pointed with his sword. “Flavius, go get Castile,” he ordered. After I moved out of the stairway, Flavius rushed off to get Castile.

I was seeing the downside of my joke going awry. After Flavius left, Konstantin did not relax; instead, he moved to the stairs.  “What happened then? I saw the wyvern lunge at you. You were as good as did.”

This was a lot harder than I thought it would be in my mind. “The Elven High Mage Traeliorn was controlling the wyvern. That was how he fooled Master Mage Sebastian. He talked to me.”

Konstantin’s eyes narrowed some. “And how are you alive? Did you bargain with him?”

Well, at least Konstantin was not calling me a liar—a traitor, yes—liar, no. I leaned against the wall. “Why don’t we wait till Castile gets here so I don’t have to explain things twice?” That would also make sure I didn’t actually change my story.

Konstantin just turned to Maveith and said, “Where did you find him?”

Maveith answered, “I was following the trail to the wyvern, and I found him bathing in a shallow stream on the way. He said I sounded like a goblin when I snuck up on him.”

Konstantin rubbed his forehead like he was getting a headache. He still had his runic sword in his hand, ready to defend himself. I knew he hunted various creatures in the Hounds that could change shape, so I was not too surprised he was skeptical I was me. He studied me, “If it is you, Eryk, I am glad you are alive, but things are not good. Master Mage Sebastian was a very important mage in the Empire. A favorite of the Emperor. His death is going to have consequences.”

Castile arrived in a nightshirt with her boots on a moment later.  She was breathing heavily like she had run here. Her eyes went wide, “Dragonshit. It’s true.”

“Don’t get excited. I am still not sure it is actually our lost legionnaire. He might be an undead or a shapeshifter,” Konstantin said doubtfully. “He has not told me how he survived.”

Castile looked me up and down, “Well, I am sure it will be an interesting story. Let me confirm he is not an undead.” Konstantin’s grip tightened on his sword as Castile closed her eyes. Flavius was in the archway for the stairs and was also ready to respond.

When Castile opened her eyes, she spoke, “Not an undead, and his aether core is familiar. I think it is legionnaire Eryk. Now, Eryk, please explain.”

Konstantin relaxed visibly, which I was glad about. “The summoner was controlling the wyvern. Not the apprentice summoner we were chasing, but Traeliorn Kelran.” Castile’s eyes rose skeptically. “The mage talked to me through the wyvern.”

Castile settled into a chair. Falling heavily, “It would make sense. We learned the wyvern was attacking a village far to the north. It suddenly stopped and flew hard south. The apprentice must have communicated with Traeliorn and asked for help.” Castile was thinking hard. She finally looked up. “What happened to the wyvern then?”

“It is dead.” I knew they would want more than that, “I poisoned it when it attacked me. I…” I looked at Konstantin, Flavius, and then Maveith to my left. Castile knew I could heal, but they did not. “I was mortally wounded.” I thought about lying and saying I had healing potions, but that would just lead to more questions. “I was barely able to heal myself—it took me over half a day since I have so little aether.”

Castile nodded slowly. Konstantin was exasperated, “You have a healing spell form?”

Castile gave him a sharp look, “He can only heal himself.” A look of realization came across his face as he pieced things together.

He whispered to himself, “The aqueduct…the run…”

Castile focused on me, changing the focus, “Did you get Sebastian’s collector?”

“Did I what?” I asked, perplexed. Then I remembered that Sebastian had a collector. I had not thought about searching inside the wyvern for Sebastian’s body. “No, I did not. It was not on his body when the wyvern ate him. It must have been on his drake. The wyvern killed the drake, too. It might still be there.”

Konstantin sheathed his blade, realizing how foolish he looked. “I can get there and back in three days,” he volunteered.

Castile considered Konstantin’s offer, and Flavius extended his services, saying, “I can go with him.”

“Yes. Recover Sebastian’s body for the Emperor. Get the collector if you find it. I will send a message to High Mage Zyna that the wyvern has been killed,” Castile said, still thinking.

“The High Mage is not in Sobral?” I asked.

“No, High Mage Zyna rode hard to a portal to get back to the capital. She needs to explain Master Mage Sebastian’s death,” Konstantin interjected.

“Will Octavian cause you trouble again?” I asked, concerned.

“Unlikely,” Castile said. “High Mage Zyna was in charge of the hunting party. The fault is with her. If they choose to investigate, you and Konstantin may have to go before the Truthseekers.”

Even from the grave, Sebastian was still causing me anxiety. I nodded to Castile. Konstantin started packing for his expedition. Flavius joined him. “What do you need me to do?” I asked, still feeling under the microscope. I had a feeling Konstantin and Flavius were going to go over the battle site with a fine toothcomb. I did not leave any evidence that I could remember.

Castile stood and smiled, “Rest, Eryk. I am sure the company is going to be shocked to see you at breakfast. Once Konstantin and Flavius return, we will take the company to the Ruins of Caelora.”

“Shit,” escaped my mouth before I could hold it in. “The Scholar found enough evidence the dungeon is in the city?”

Castile arched her eyebrow, “You are remarkedly well informed. Yes, there is a dungeon near Caelora called the Shimmering Labyrinth. Maybe even inside the city. Scholar Favian is still not sure if it is viable. It was still being delved when the city fell some fifteen hundred years ago, so we are assuming it is.”

“How are we going to deal with the specters?” I said, concerned. I already had a nightmare about our company being ambushed inside the city, and now it was coming true.

Castile smiled tightly, “The Duchess has managed to get fifty runic arrows, three runic blades, and a kettle of souls.”  I thought the Duchess was poor. That sounded like a major investment.

Castile left the room, and Konstantin and Flavius left in the middle of the night, saying they couldn’t waste time as there was always a chance someone could loot the corpses.  In the morning, I went to breakfast in the barracks early. Lirkin was prepping the breakfast for the company, and I hid and waited.

A lot of low-keyed conversations were happening at the table. When everyone was sitting at the table and eating, including Castile, Adrian, and Delmar, I walked out and sat at the table next to Benito, “Can you pass the potatoes?” I asked innocently.

“Sure thing, Eryk,” Benito said, taking the potato bowl and taking two for himself before handing me a bowl. Benito kept eating away, but silence slowly spread throughout the dining table. Delmar and Adiran’s grins told me they had already been informed of my resurrection. Benito was obvious as he kept eating until Felix elbowed him. “What was that for?” Benito whined.

Felix said with all seriousness, “There is a dead man sitting next to you.”

I took a bite of the potato, “I can assure you. The rumor of my demise has been greatly exaggerated.”