noveltune Chapter 111: The Summoner
Chapter 111: The Summoner
Chapter 111: The Summoner
Konstantin’s body was a mess as we brought it into the barracks. The company huddled around as he was placed on a table and his body stripped. The smell of burnt flesh and charred leather was strong among the stink of days in the woods. His leather bracers had bite marks on them, and when removed, bloody, partially scabbed-over puncture marks were underneath. Lirkin checked the forearm, “Bone is broken. Get the healer in the city if someone has not been sent already.” Felix immediately took off at a run, his footfalls echoing on the stone.
Konstantin groaned, and Lirkin whispered to him, “You got back, you tough bastard. We will heal you in a day, and you can return to being your old cantankerous self.” Konstantin’s dry throat tried to speak. Lirkin leaned down and put his ear to the man to hear. Lirkin stood after listening and informed us what he said, “He found the summoner. It set a pair of hell hounds on him.”
A lot of whispers rang through the men as no one seemed to know what a hellhound was. Castile walked purposedly in at this moment with Adrian behind her. She answered the question I had. “A hellhound is an infernal dog, not from this plane of existence. It is a summoned creature that is a relentless tracker. Konstantin,” Castile stood over Konstantin, taking in his abused body and getting his attention, “are the hounds who pursued you dead?”
Konstantin painfully nodded his head in the affirmative. Castile nodded. “And the summoner? Is he dead, too?”
Konstantin shook his head negatively, not being able to speak loudly. Castile grimaced. She put his hand on his shoulder. “Everyone get some rest. I will wait with Konstantin for the healer and potions.” Adrian shuffled everyone away. As I walked away, I felt guilty for not going with Konstantin on his scouting mission. Maybe he would not be in such terrible shape if I had accompanied him.
I returned to the tower with Flavius and Maveith. Flavius talked as we went, “Summoners and hell hounds, bad omens. I guess we will be marching soon and hunting the summoner. Best to get some rest.” When we got to our tower floor, the empty bed we had brought up here for Konstantin was apparently going to be filled soon.
I lay down in my bed, and my mind flashed to Konstantin. I recalled his return. He was in terrible shape, but he also did not have his pack or his weapons. His artificed sword was missing, and I imagined it was out there somewhere, stuck inside some fiery beast. I did not use the amulet as I settled down tonight but did take an oblivion pill to stave off nightmares I knew would haunt me. If I didn’t, I would imagine myself looking just like Konstantin.
I was awakened in the morning by a familiar horse voice, “Eryk, you can sleep through anything. Get up. It is time for breakfast and some training.” Konstantin’s voice was raspy, but it was definitely him.
“Love you too, Konstantin. Glad you are not dead...or perhaps you are a revenant back from the dead to hound me.” I said, smirking at my joke.
Maveith laughed in his deep voice, “That is a good twisting of the words, Eryk. Hound because a hellhound almost killed him.”
I opened my eyes to see Konstantin standing over me, grinning. His face was gaunt, and his eyes sunken. “You look like an ogre just shit you out.” His grin faded.
“I am still fit enough to teach you a thing or two in the practice yard,” he rasped out with his dry voice.
“With what? I didn’t see your magic blade on you yesterday,” I said and immediately regretted it. Konstantin’s face fell in some remembered pain, and maybe it was too soon to be needling him.
He finally said, “I preferred my life over the blade. Still might be able to reclaim it if Castile marches us to hunt the summoner.”
Flavius was already dressed in his armor and at the table in the room, “So you found the elven summor, Traeliorn Kelran?”
Konstantin moved to sit across from him. “No, I don’t think so. The elf with the hellhounds appeared too young.” Flavius was about to interject, but Konstantin stopped him, “I know elves age really slowly. This one was young; he was no ancient and powerful sorcerer.” Flavius grunted in acceptance of his words.
I sat up in bed and looked out the window, and the sun was just turning the sky. I sighed and started dressing. I looked at Konstantin, “I can’t believe they healed you up, and you are ready to go again.”
“The summoner is a real threat, Eryk. Castile was doing a message sending to the Legatus Legonis office this morning. Most likely, they will order us after him,” Konstantin said seriously. Flavius nodded at the table in agreement.
“Is this normal?” I asked Konstantin, who was working on his second plate and apparently already aware of what Castile was going to say.
“Hunting an enemy mage within the Empire borders?” He asked with a cocked eyebrow trying to act like I asked a stupid question.
Flavius answered my question directly, “Usually, it would be three full mage companies hunting an enemy mage with two or three squads of Hounds in support to track the mage. High Mage Zyna is a powerful battle fire mage, but used to teach at the Mage College. I was not aware she could be called on for a hunt like this.”
Konstantin added what he knew while shoveling food in his mouth, “The Hounds already lost a squad searching for the summoner. I am not surprised Cornelius is not sending help. He would only have five squads left in all the Eastern Empire, and I am sure he is being kept busy around Macha countering the Bartiradian Rangers.”
Flavius exclaimed, “Just five! There should be ten in the east!”
Konstantin shrugged, “I talked to him after Macha. He lost two squads chasing down a rouge mage commander before Macha. One squad retired a few months back, and another is...not available. He has over twenty men in training,” he gave me a sidelong glance, “But none are ready to put into the field.”
Flavius relaxed some at the explanation, “It is one the most dangerous jobs in the Empire.” Konstantin just nodded but did not tell him he used to be a Hound. “But just five squads left?” Flavius shook his head in disbelief and left. He had to make a long trek to get our men out supervising the digging of holes.
I went to the tower with Maveith while Konstantin was forced to stay behind and eat the rest of his food. I packed quickly, thinking we were going to be gone for a while. Maveith just watched me, and I tightly rolled one of the weasel pelts inside an oiled tarp I used for my tent. I asked him, “Are you not going to come?”
Maveith sat on his bunk, sighing, “I was not asked to go.”
I looked at him sharply, “Maveith, do you want to come and hunt a powerful mage that can summon creatures of nightmares and legends?”
He put on a broad smile, “Yes! Traveling with you is always interesting.” He began to pack his things, and I shook my head in disbelief. If I had been given a choice, I most definitely would not be going.
We arrived in the courtyard, and Delmar had bundled food for us and a few changes of socks and undergarments. Mateo quipped at seeing the houseguards of the Countess, “Never got an apology from the Countess for kicking us out of our rooms.” Everyone laughed merrily.
Delmar smirked at Mateo’s comment, “Why don’t you carry the ration packs for the four men Flavius is retrieving.” He groaned as it was almost forty pounds. He did not end up carrying it, as Felix, Maveith, and I each took one of the four bundles.
We didn’t have to wait long before Castile was outside with Adrian. Adrian arched an eyebrow at me, “Thought you would be riding your horse, Eryk.”
“I can do that?” I asked, ready to bolt for the stables and saddle Ginger.
“Too late now,” he smirked as he was clearly joking.
Castile added seriously, “She would just be used to carry supplies, Eryk. Leave her behind. It is safer for her.” That ended any argument. We were soon walking down the road northwest along the river. We were going to meet up with Flavius and the others before following Konstantin into the Wilds to find the elusive summoner.