noveltune Chapter 99: Good Showing
Chapter 99: Good Showing
Chapter 99: Good Showing
Chapter 99
We rode through the gates of the city just before sunset. I had tempered my healing so my aches and pains would not need to be faked. Adrian registered our travel with the gate guards, and then we moved into the city. Adrian handed out orders. “Lucien and Blaze, go to the public baths. Do not head to Legion Hall until you at least smell bearable. Lucien, report the ettin kill at the Legion Hall.”
Lucien groaned, “That is right, the Legion Hall in Forgabua does not have baths.”
Adrian turned to me, “Eryk, go get a bunk room in the Legion Hall for you, Mateo, and Lucien. See if they have another horse we can borrow. I will take Decimus to an inn and stay with him tonight.”
Blaze asked, “Why don’t we all just stay at the inn? It would be more comfortable than the Hall.” He sounded hopeful.
Adrian considered, “Are you offering to pay legionnaire?” He leaned in close, “I am staying with him to ensure he does not change his mind about serving the Duchess. However, inns in the upper city should cost around two to three gold for five rooms. Still interested?”
Blaze countered, “Why does it have to be the upper city? An inn by the outer wall is just as good—and cheaper.”
“Because first thing in the morning, I am visiting the local Scholarium to recruit a Scholar for the Duchess,” Adrian replied slickly. “You all can wait for me in the Legion Hall.” Adrian trotted into the city smugly. I couldn’t blame him. Whenever I almost got myself killed, I wanted to pamper myself a bit too.
Lucien patted Blaze on the shoulder, “Let’s try and get the giant stink off of us and log the silver with the Legion Hall.”
“You don’t get to keep it?” I asked, confused as we parted ways.
“We do, but best to pay the taxes on it. Especially since we have to exchange the stamped merchant silver. We don’t want the Empire thinking we robbed some merchants,” Lucien commented.
It took me asking two people, a baker and then a wool merchant, to find the Legion Hall. I should have assumed it was near the Citadel. The Legion Hall was wood and reminded me more of a church on the outside. A high steeple challenged the Citadel to be the tallest building in the city.
The stables were in a secure courtyard in the back, and no one was available to help. I unsaddled Atlas, rubbed him down, laid hay in the stall, and filled his water trough from the well. I gave him an apple and hoped after the long, hard ride he could get some needed rest.
Entering the Legion Hall, it was a massive room with a high ceiling. The massive wooden posts supporting the structure were carved all the way to the ceiling. It was just like a church without the pews and large stained glass windows. I passed a few men lounging in padded chairs, their sweat stink lingering. The clerk at the desk waived me over, “Yes, legionnaire?”
“Three from Castile’s company for the night on Duchess Veronica’s business,” he quickly noted it down. I asked, “Have there been any monster attacks in the area recently?”
He looked from his book with a sour expression, “Always,” he said deadpan.
“Unusual activity,” I probed.
He gave it more thought, “A wyvern in Alhao and some manticores near Parvas. Are you tracking anything in particular?”
“No, we just encountered an ettin on the road from Lorvo. One of my companions will do the formal report.” I replied.
Then I remembered there was healing magic. Mage Sylvester came over and kneeled before his unconscious man. “It is fine. I have some lesser healing magic. He was sloppy with his footwork. I am Mage Sylvester, and Xavier did not mention that I have beaten him more than once in combat.”
“You are a fair swordsman, Mage Sylvester. But without your magic tricks, you would lose to me every time,” Xavier countered his claim with a grin. Sylvester healed the concussion, and the embarrassed man walked away. The other man did not seem willing to remind me he wanted to challenge me.
“I was enjoying watching you two. The conscript is a fast learner. Did I hear you say seven months?” The mage commander questioned.
Nodding, I answered, “Yes, but I have some competent teachers in Castile’s company.”
Sylvester looked surprised, “Mage Castile? Heard about her humiliation in Macha. Though, can not say I am sad to hear of Durandus’ death.”
I held my tongue in defending Castile as I was not sure how the mage would respond. “Durandus got himself killed. Castile had nothing to do with it.”
“I have no contention with Mage Castile. Who are you escorting for a Duchess?” Sylvester asked.
“You must have a spell form for listening,” I surmised. He had been on the other side of the courtyard when Xavier and myself had talked.
The mage put on a genuine smile, “How observant of you. Xavier took almost a week to figure it out. Please continue with swordplay.” He stepped back and did not press the issue of who I was escorting for a Duchess. I was glad of that as this was the first time I interacted with another mage company. I did not want to give away things I shouldn’t.
I spent the next two hours practicing with Xavier, never using my air shield. Xavier was good, and I kept healing his bruising strikes on me. It was getting late into the night, and everyone was exhausted. I even got some glancing strikes on Xavier as he fatigued. Mage Sylvester called, “That is enough for tonight. We patrol the eastern road tomorrow after mid-day meal!” The exhausted men almost collapsed.
“Thank you for your time,” Xavier said while wiping his face of crusted salt. “Truthfully, I did not expect much from a conscript. You have to be one of the toughest men I have practiced with in a while.”
“What he means by that is you can take a beating,” Solomon interrupted. “Just glad it was not me.” Xavier and Solomon left together to talk about their men.
I went up to the barracks rooms to find a sleeping Blaze. He stirred on seeing me, “We just got in. Had to wait for our clothes to be boiled in lye and dried. Lucien brought the horses over and will file the report for the ettin.” I pointed to the cold dinner, and Blaze said, “Thanks, but we ate at the baths.”
Lucien came into the room, “All set. They are going to send out a patrol to confirm, but word was sent to the Legatus Legonis office. The Hounds will probably be sent to see if they can find where it came from. Good news, Eryk, I have your share of the silver.” He tossed me a small cloth bag. “Nine gold, six silver.”
“Is Adrian getting anything?” I asked, moving the small pouch to my space.
“No, but he will always drink for free when I am around,” Lucien said, and Blaze nodded. “You were both ready to sacrifice yourselves so we could get away.”
I did not contradict them. I nodded and asked, “Any baths opened this late?”
Blaze chuckled, “They closed the baths when we entered. Should be baths on the other side of the city, but traveling the streets in the dark...” He left it unsaid.
I sighed, stripped, and took a prone position on the bed, rolling a blanket for a pillow. When my companions put out the lights, I removed the amulet. I wondered how Xavier would fair against Konstantin in the dreamscape.