alwaysrollsaone
patreon
A Soldiers Life - 245 - Goliath's Creed
🕑 Added 2024-08-12 00:25:59 +0000 UTCChapter 245: Goliath's Creed
I started to help Maveith secure his homestead so we could depart and search for his sister in orc lands. Outside, Maveith was pulling down the stretched weasel pelts and relaying the battle of how he and Lyonis had hunted the two creatures down. “They were the young ones that had formed a mated pair and recently laired nearby. I didn’t want to worry about a litter of giant weasels in a few months, so we trapped one and killed the second one when it came to free its mate.” I could hear the anxiousness in his voice highlighted by the speed at which he was working.
I still had the two weasel pelts I had purchased from Maveith with legion ration bars. They were still my favorite sleeping accompaniment with the griffin down pillow under my head—not that I had much time for restful sleep recently. Maveith wasn’t taking the pelts, and I didn’t offer to store them. In fact, I was considering clearing out my dimensional space for Ginger. It was going to be hard enough traveling the Empire with a goliath. A healthy war horse was even more conspicuous.
“Who did you imprison in your space this time, Eryk?” The goliath’s deep voice bellowed in admonishment as he secured the giant weasel pelts in a stone chest to protect them from vermin and the elements.
Ginger neighed at me, and I chose to think she was supporting me and not Maveith, even though it sounded like she was agreeing with Maveith. “A young girl, her brother, their mother, and a First Citizen mage,” I replied casually.
“You forced women and children into your space! Eryk, I thought better of you.” Maveith chided me, and this time, I was sure Ginger was siding with Maveith as she nudged me hard in the side with her head.
I was a bit exasperated with his viewpoint. I was doing the best I could. “It was either that or kill them. I need to get them outside the Empire. I doubt anyone would come searching for them, but if I release them in the Empire, it might cause me problems. None of them can identify me, but if they are interrogated, it will most certainly lead back to me as I was tasked with killing them.” He slowly nodded, accepting my explanation.
It didn’t take us long to secure all of Maveith’s stone cabin and prepare a massive pack for himself. Maveith wedged some stone into the wooden door and nodded that he was ready, eagerness and trepidation in his eyes. I led Ginger as we started walking. Maveith asked after he seemed to calm down, “What of the goliaths who told you my sister lives?”
“I sent them here. They might not have made it. The wilds are dangerous, and many towns and cities are along the road. I told them to use Duchess Veronica’s name if they were captured.” When I finished talking, Maveith’s brow furrowed in thought.
“Then I should talk with Duchess Veronica before we leave.” Maveith nodded firmly. “We play checkers when I report to her, so I am sure she would tell me if there is word of goliaths.”
I slowed my steps, and Ginger took it to mean it was time for an apple and nudged my back to make an apple appear. “You can’t reveal I am alive, Maveith. The Hounds think I am dead, so the Empire thinks I am dead. I prefer it remains that way,” I told the goliath as I was handing the greedy Ginger an apple.
“I would not betray you, Eryk.” Maveith’s eyes brightened with a plan. “The duchess knows I am waiting for you to travel home. I will tell her the news of your death came to me.”
My left eyebrow raised in doubt. “Who told you I was dead then?”
Maveith acknowledged his mistake and continued formulating a plan. The news of his sister clearly had him rattled, as he normally thought things out. “I can see the problem. I will not tell her I am leaving, as I would not have been informed of your unfortunate death. But I must know if she is aware of the goliaths. If they need aid, we should give it to them before finding Zorana. You can wait for me with Ginger while I talk with Veronica.” I nodded as I wanted to know what the Duchess knew as well. Was she aware of the plot and that the backup Archives had been destroyed?
We traveled south toward Sobral, and Maveith asked, “How are we going to get into the Boutan Caliphate?” His hand rested on his runic hammer as he scanned the woods. He had been smart and rubbed charcoal into the head, obfuscating its brilliant polish.
I had given this a lot of thought and had devised a plan. “Unless we are going to shapeshift into orcs, we need to enter as members of the Adventurers Guild. Just like in the Telhian Empire, adventurers from outside the territory are allowed to delve into their dungeons.”
“Goliaths don’t become adventurers, Eryk,” Maveith said tersely, already putting holes in my plan.
I stopped walking and looked at the goliath, “Why not?” Maveith stopped with me and went into introspection.
“I actually don’t know. It is just frowned upon by my people. If I had to consider it, then I think it is because adventurers only care about one thing: gold. Goliaths care more about family, friendship, and only killing for a purpose.”
I didn’t know what to say, so we walked in silence for a while. Finally, Maveith spoke again after much consideration, “I don’t see why I couldn’t join the Adventurers Guild. If it is what is required of me to save my sister, I will do it. Other goliaths will not look at me favorably, though. We cannot take any assignments that I disagree with.” Maveith had to think out a path to rationalize his decision to join the Adventurers Guild.
Relieved, I didn't hesitate to say, “Agreed.” The weight of Maveith’s trust in me had me worried that we might not find his sister or, worse, find out she was dead. Still, I was leaving the Empire and felt it was a worthy cause. Risking my life for a friend was better than dying for an Empire that cared nothing for me or me for it.
“After you talk with the duchess, we will travel up the old trade road to the capital and seek passage on one of the Adventurer’s Guild ships. If we are lucky, a ship captain I am familiar with will be there. Her name was Desdemona. Although, I don’t think she likes me very much.”
Maveith grunted, “Did you store Desdemona in your space without her permission as well?”
“No. Adventurers just don’t like legionnaires,” I retorted, but Maveith was already grinning at his joke. I was glad he was slowly relaxing after learning his sister may be alive.
I just grunted at his poor humor and walked into a clearing. “I will wait here. There are some early spring plants I can harvest for my alchemy. And yes, I am sort of an alchemist now. Hurry and talk to the duchess so we can head east and make the trade road before dark.”
Maveith dropped his pack and walked toward the city, and I stored it in my dimensional space. I let Ginger wander and eat grass while I collected the valuable spring flora. Maveith returned late in the evening at a light jog. I went on alert, but he put me at ease, “I am sorry it took so long. I learned my friend Eryk was killed by the Boutan orcs and needed to show an appropriate amount of grief at the news. The duchess even hugged me and soothed me personally.”
“How much soothing did she do?” I asked teasingly, trying to needle him after he ribbed me about my relationship with Desdemona. “And did she have news of the other goliaths?”
Catching his breath, Maveith reflected on his encounter with the duchess. “She hugged me for a few minutes and rubbed my back, but her arms barely encircled my chest.”
“A few minutes?” I chided surprised.
I think Maveith flushed, but it was hard to tell with his gray skin. “Over the last month, I have counted her as a friend. She confides in me about her troubles of running the duchy while we play checkers, and I tell her about my past adventures,” Maveith said thoughtfully.
“And yes, the goliaths are being escorted to her. Two were injured in their travels but are healthy now. They were captured five days ago in Freira. She just learned of them two days ago and was waiting for my visit to tell me about them. She is now arranging for them to be ported to Parvas and then escorted here. She will care for them and help them get home.” Maveith said, relief evident in his voice.
My jaw was slack. Did the duchess have a crush on Maveith? Was he too oblivious to realize it? I wasn’t the best person at reading body language and cues of the opposite sex but it certainly sounded like the duchess was sweet on the big bald gray man. “Is she happy when she sees you?” I probed as we started moving east. Ginger was requesting another apple but I ignored her, four was her limit today.
“She said our meetings are the only time she feels happy enough to smile and laugh openly. Her brother went to the capital, but her mother remains a guest and a source of her angst. Veronica even mentioned I could stay in the Citadel if I wanted to,” Maveith said cheerfully. I shook my head but didn’t pry further, as sometimes ignorance was best. Maveith might never return to Sobral, and the duchess might not survive the war.
When we reached the white marble markers indicating the border of the duchess’s lands, we followed them to the old trade road. “Are you sure we just shouldn’t follow the river, Eryk?” Maveith voiced his reluctance at the path I had chosen.
“We can handle a few dire wolves. Or are you worried about passing the Ruins of Caelora?” I asked while slapping a spring fly on my neck.
Maveith voiced his concerns. “Both. Dire wolves will have just had their spring litter and will be looking to feed their pups. I am not ashamed to say it, but I hoped never to see Caelora again. Do you plan to raid the library when we pass?” Some fear ebbed into his tone.
“This is the fastest way. If we followed the river, it would add sixty miles to our trek.” I reassured him, “I don’t plan for us to go anywhere near the ruins, Maveith.” Maveith nodded in relief, and in response, his stomach roiled in hunger. It took me a moment to puzzle out why that didn’t make sense to me. “Where is your ring of sustenance?”
Maveith pulled a leather cord out from under his shirt, and the shiny ring dangled there. “I wore it for two months but found I preferred feeling hungry and the joy of eating.” He put on a wide smile.
I shook my head, as I had to agree with him. The ring did kill your appetite and make you feel full much quicker. Sometimes, food even tastes bland if you are already satiated. I produced a burrito and handed it to him: “Put it on Maveith. We may not be at risk of starving, but with just two of us, the less sleep the ring requires will be invaluable in our journey.”
Maveith finished the burrito in three bites, moaning in delight at the unfamiliar blending of flavors, and I handed him a second. “If I must,” he said, sighing sadly. He worked the ring onto his large finger as he ate the second burrito a little more slowly, needing four bites this time. It would still take Maveith a week for the ring to acclimate to him. But when he did, we would need only two hours of sleep and one meal a day to sustain our bodies.
With night coming soon, we started to look for somewhere to camp. Maveith asked, “Are you not going to ride Ginger?”
“I don’t have a saddle, and I wouldn’t be able to use my new spell form if I did. I learned my earth affinity spell form, it is called earth speak. I have been checking our surroundings as we traveled.” I tried to act like it was no big deal.
Maveith frowned and sounded hurt, “You didn’t learn shape stone?” That was Maveith’s spell form, and I think he wanted us to match.
“No. This spell form allows me to send out an aetheric pulse of earth-laced aether to get an instant image of my surroundings.” I informed him, expecting him to be impressed. He was not.
“I know what it does. A few goliath hunters use it to find burrows in my village. It has a limited range.” Maveith said apprehensively.
“Yeah, I know only being able to see out sixty feet is a limitation, but I still manage,” I said smugly and kept walking, as Maveith stopped, stunned.
It took a moment for Maveith to recover and catch up, “Sixty feet! What is your earth affinity?” He bellowed loud enough for everyone within half a mile to hear him.
© Copyrighted 2024 by AlwaysRollsAOne
No Permission is given to translate, copy, or repost this original work of fiction. If you are reading this on a site that is not my Patreon, it has been stolen without my permission and violates DMCA. Remember, this work results from my creative effort and is protected by copyright law. Removal or altering of this notification is an acknowledgment you are aware you are in violation of DMCA.
Comments
Marvin Amann
Still think its inconsistent character wise that they would not wait for the other Goliath's
Damien P
I know this is it but can you please have Eryk snap at Maveith please??? Yes, he's opposed to it but he KNOWS Eryk, and after being stuck in the dungeon? They wouldn't be in there if they weren't meant to be dead... sorry... needed to vent that out lol
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
download on the pinned page. It is on the Chapter Release notes page. If you cannot find it let me know and I will post the link here
johnathan reese
Wow I'm new here, anyway has there ever been a map? I'm so lost on the where everything is.
Richard Thorn
Was he to(o) oblivious to...
Bryan Schnebly
I'm surprised that Maveith didn't want to wait for the other Goliaths just to get better intel on where his sister might be. He wouldn't have the language barrier that Eryk did.
Andrew Crews
Yeah, I know only *able to see out sixty feet is a limitation but I still manage,” I said smugly and kept walking as Maveith had stopped, stunned. “Yeah, I know only being able to see out sixty feet is a limitation, but I still manage,” I said smugly, continuing to walk as Maveith stopped, stunned.
Andrew Crews
If we are lucky, a ship *captain’s I am familiar with will be there. If we are lucky, a ship captain I am familiar with will be there.
Erick Thiemke
what are you referring to? Chapter 43?
Robert Biederman
I'm sorry dude but I cannot wait for you to complete that last chapter 43 it doesn't make much sense to me why it has been taking you so long if it was so important as you are claiming it to be because you are already well into book 6 anyway I am starting to read book five and I will come back to that when you do finish it
Apophixas
Definitely a great start. I love the big goof. His sincerity and straightforwardness are refreshing and endearing. And he has a good affect on Eryk's conscience, tempering his greed and occasional boughts of pragmatic bloodlust.
Erick Thiemke
the final edit of that chapter had them free to go their own way with Eryk suggesting Gramney as a place to escape teh influence of the Empire
John Donovan
Just for continuality of the story Eryk also has Helena and sylphie in his storage at this point. The two guards of the first citizen. He gave them the choice of following the mage.
BrycenBeans
I think when the coup happened someone at the capitol was supposed to burn those but I could be wrong
momo2009
Great first chapter.
momo2009
Store Marveith in the space
Silver Beard
Just occurred to me that if he's using Castille's sample from the remote archive, shouldn't he be getting a pull in the Capital as well? There's where the 'original' archive is? Originally, it was going to take him years to wipe out the remote site and patriots would take care of the site in the palace; but Eryk's upset all time frames. Will he try for the Main too? And Raid the treasury while he's at it. In for a penny...in for a pound. Nice thing about gold and essence- they fit around other things rather well.
Silver Beard
Stash them both then.
Erick Thiemke
i dont think so. but i could be wrong. i didnt want him to have knowledge of what was going on in the Empire, to keep him in the dark
striderfighter
Wasn't Eryk given a notebook to use whenever he destroyed the archives?
Erick Thiemke
they are a day from dire wolf territory. Maveith will not be going into the capital - too easy to recognize him. MC will go in using the same disguise he has on now
Erick Thiemke
he has not used the water essences - everything else has been
Angus
Thanks for the Chapter!
Silver Beard
Mavieth already mentioned the dire wolves- then goes shouting like it's no big deal. Also going to the Capital is a BIG risk.
smpx
The road is near Caelora and as far as we know the plans to open them up again and make expeditions into Caelora and the dungeon are yet to begin. The war is probably the only reason they can use road, because it delayed the plans the Empire had for Caelora
Silver Beard
So he's leaving the library he stashed in Zyna's closet essentially forever? Not that he's got any space with his current passengers...and Ginger will need to go in too soon. Are we just assuming that he's consuming essence every chance he gets? Not hoarding any particularly save the Water ones?
Silver Beard
Good to be among friends; but they are moving into danger. Need to work on their battle coordination, situational awareness, etc. Goaded or not, Mavieth can't be that loud hunting prey...or being hunted in turn. Little off; the empire is at war 3 times over...and they are wandering down the road without a care?
DheeAreBi
Sometimes Maveith can be a bore, but I really liked this chapter. Maybe because we can see Eryk being more himself again?
Lemes
I wonder if Erick will have an unpleasant encounter with the first citizens in the capital before boarding. Thanks for the chapter.
Lemes
Curious to see what the duchy is like. I hope we have some adventures there as the MC leaves his cargo and heads to the orc caliphate. I'm also looking forward to reading the emperor's chapter and finding out what happened during the coup attempt. Thanks for the chapter.
Andrew
Thank you!
Erick Thiemke
yes, from the MC's POV. there was a prologue with Raelia
Kbzzy
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Da Worst John
Is this the first chapter of the new book?
Quasimotolovesbells
I wonder if the Orcs would allow them to buy Goliath slaves freedom? Might make it easier to sell to his people, that Maveith went to work as an adventure to earn enough money to get slaves free from the orcs, along with finding his sister.
Moatdog
The duchess is interested in a Goliath, but the neighbors will talk
BubblyGhost
WOOOO! YEAH
Erick Thiemke
2nd of 3 for cycle. Just three chapters this week cycle as book 4 finishes. The last chapter of book 4 is due on Tuesday and is the Emperor's POV. I finished this chapter and have been rereading it and editing to set up book 5. I think i touched on everything and wrapped up some plot threads from book 4.
