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A Soldier's Life - 242 - Telling Maveith
🕑 Added 2024-08-07 17:38:37 +0000 UTCChapter 242: Telling Maveith
As soon as I was out of sight of the city of Sagren and surrounding farms, I moved off the road. It was a long way to Sobral, and I suspected anyone walking alone would be swept up by passing blocks of soldiers. Army camps required a lot of bodies to operate if they didn't shove a sword in my hand because of my limp, I could find doing other duties to support the army. I had my Hound token and Corvus’, but I didn’t want to announce my affiliation to anyone or risk being tracked.
I made good miles the first day, and as I made camp in a small barn that night, I cleaned my blood compass and used one of Castile’s samples. The pull was very faint, which meant she was still alive and very far from me.
She was east of me, which confirmed what Zyna had told me about the company joining the Emperor’s army. The question was if there would be an attempt on the Emperor. It seemed almost suicidal from my point of view as they could not have suborned all the mages and legionnaires at the Emperor’s side.
I didn't use the dreamscape amulet for long, but I did get a but of practice and reviewed the regional maps in detail. Once I collected Maveith, we needed to find a way to enter the Boutan Caliphate to look for his sister. The only way I could see this happening was as members of the Adventurers Guild. There were dungeons in the Boutan Caliphate that outsiders were allowed to delve.
Over the next week, I stayed out of the towns and cities as I navigated the wilds toward Sobral. I successfully avoided any encounters with wildlife and monsters as I didn’t want to get delayed. I did find one of the Hound caches on the way. As Corvus had said, there was a stone at the base of a forked tree. A layer of composting leaves covered a sealed cask that I found buried a few inches deep with earth speak.
I was disappointed at what it contained. It looked like someone had gotten here before me and it had not been restocked. There were no artifacts, and the only useful bits of gear were four empty quivers, a few dozen meal bars, and a wrapped stack of silver coins. I took the silver as back pay owed. I covered the cache back and continued toward Sobral.
When I reached the city of Telhas, I took to the road to hasten my journey. I found myself in Loule just southwest of Sobral two days later. Outside Loule, the army was marshaling freshly trained soldiers, and I was forced to show a Hound token to avoid conscription. Fortunately, the captain who checked the token did not record its number. This might have raised some interesting questions, as Corvus had been dead for a few days. From there, I made the twenty-four miles to Sobral in half a day.
Getting inside Sobral’s walls was a lot easier than I thought it would be. The flood of refugees had built a shanty town outside the city walls, and the flow of people in and out of the walls was steady all day. I was not even questioned when I entered the city. The duchess had easily tripled her city’s population since I was last here.
In my disguise, I went to a familiar tavern to listen to the rumors and gossip. I wanted to find out if the goliaths had reached Sobral, and I planned to sneak into the Citadel’s stables tonight and abscond with Ginger. The ale was expensive and terrible, but the tables were packed and conversations lively.
Soon after I sat at a small table along the wall, a young woman sat across from me uninvited, “If you get the room, three large coppers.” It was clear she wasn’t asking for my order, and I flinched at her thin appearance and young age. The desperation in her voice tugged at me.
I passed her a large copper, “Get us both some ale and food.” I handed her my half empty cup to fill. When she returned with two plates and mugs, I watched her devour the food and slid her my plate which she quickly finished as well. “Have there been any goliaths in Sobral?” I asked the young woman after she finished the two meals.
She drank her entire mug of ale, before answering. “Just two large coppers if you get the room.”
“Have there been any goliaths in Sobral?” I asked again, ignoring her invitation.
“Just the woodsman. He lives north, I think—an alright fellow. Maven, I think, is his name. Doesn’t cause a commotion and sells his game to the local inns. A large copper, but only because you are nice.” She said a little pleadingly.
“How has the duchess been treating the refugees?” I asked, returning a weak smile.
“Well, enough. Work is getting harder to come by, and my father broke his hand while cutting down trees for the new mill. But my brothers are out planting at the duchess’s new farms. I need to help out how I can,” she stated distressingly. I couldn’t tell if her story was true or not, but she seemed naïve enough that I doubted she knew how to lie for sympathy.
“Thank you for your time.” I placed a large handful of coppers and large coppers on the table as I stood. She swept them up wide-eyed, but they were barely two silver in total. If I had given her silver, I thought she might get assaulted. She stood to go with me, thinking I had paid for her time, but I pressed on her shoulder and didn’t let her up. “Go be with your family. I paid you for your time for a few days.” I walked away, never getting her name.
I left the tavern and stopped by the apothecary. I didn’t enter and just confirmed the three young women were still working there. I saw Carina behind the counter smiling brightly at a customer and Lyla teaching another of the young woman in the back at a workbench. I nodded to myself, pleased I had helped, and moved to an inn near the Citadel to wait for nightfall.
The inn smelled a little musty, but the room was clean. When the sun set, I snuck easily over the wall into the Citadel. The duchess had hired a lot more guards, and I was nearly spotted dropping to the courtyard. One thing about sneaking into someplace is that if you looked like you belonged, people tended to leave you alone.
As numerous servants dashed about their business, I walked past the open courtyard toward the stables. I could imagine Adrian and Delmar being upset to see how the discipline of the guards had become lax in less than a year.
I slipped into the stables and walked past a stall with a stable boy rubbing down a horse. He didn’t give me a second look as I made my way down the walkway. My heart raced as none of the stalls had my reddish-brown mare in them. I walked out the back to the small coral, and none of the four horses here had reddish brown coats either. Although I knew it was I possibility, I had hoped the Duchess would have kept Ginger. But a trained and healthy warhorse would have been swept up for the war effort.
Sorrowfully, I walked out of the gates to the Citadel, and one of the guards briefly questioned me. I told him I entered through another gate and had just dropped off some herbs for the kitchens, which appeased his curiosity. The city gates were shut at night, and I didn’t care to sneak out, so I returned to my room in the inn to wait until tomorrow, feeling a heavy tinge of guilt at losing Ginger.
In the morning, I headed north of the city and was surprised much if the forest had been cut and dozens of log cabins had been constructed in the months I had been gone. They were clearing a large swath of the forest, and a lumber mill was starting operations this morning. No one gave me any head as I headed north into the woodlands.
I approached Maveith’s cabin with trepidation. I was reassured to see freshly stretched giant weasel hides outside. Maybe the four goliaths came directly here and were safe. I pulsed Earth speak and found he had moved two of his alarm trip wires, so I stepped over them.
I could hear Maveith mumbling to himself inside but couldn’t make out the words. Taking a breath, I knocked loudly on the wooden door between the two massive boulders. Silence fell inside before Maveith’s boomed, “Who is there?”
“Avon calling,” I said loudly to the door. I could hear Maveith rush to the door and open it.
The large gray-skinned man's eyes were wide, and a grin slowly formed on his face. “I thought that was your voice!” He yelled excitedly. “Who is Avon?”
Before I could answer, an excited horse pushed past Maveith, bowling him out of the way. Ginger headbutted me, pushing me back in her excitement. I wrestled her head, grinning madly, “Ginger, good to see you too. I was worried when you were not in the stables in Sobral.”
Maveith was still smiling. “I took her before the army collected all the able-bodied horses in the stables. The boys working the stables helped me sneak her out.” I rubbed Ginger’s powerful neck, and she nudged me hard and explored my pockets, blowing her nose hard into them.
I laughed aloud. “So, you were only happy to see me because you wanted an apple. Well, I still have a few dungeon apples.” I produced one, and she inhaled it, chewing happily and creating a foamy mess.
Maveith’s face slowly turned from happy to discontent. He said accusingly, “Eryk. Ginger is most definitely not house-trained!”
Ginger was already seeking a second apple, and I defended her, “Well, did you praise her every time she did her business outside? Did you take her out every few hours?”
Maveith’s face went contemplative, “Well, no.”
Before he could continue, he said, “So, there you have it. She needs positive reinforcement. Just threaten not to give her an apple.” Maveith was still processing my words when I asked, “Did the four goliaths I freed reach you?”
Maveith cocked his head, “There are other goliaths in the Telhian Empire?”
“Let's go inside and talk, Maveith.” I was not sure if I was looking forward to telling him his sister might be alive or not. I walked Ginger first and gave her another apple after she relieved herself, and she joined us inside. His dwelling did have a musty urine smell to it.
Sitting at the table, I took a deep breath and told Maveith. “I am no longer a legionnaire or a Hound, Maveith. I won't reveal what I did since a Truthseeker might uncover the truth from you. But I am leaving the Empire.” Maveith looked shocked by my revelation.
He finally said, “Where are you going, Eryk? Will you come with me to see my father then?”
“Well,” I tried to break the news slowly. “You see, I ran into some goliath slaves unloading a Caliphate warship in Kraken Bay. They knew of a goliath slave woman named Myra.”
Maveith tendons in his neck bulged in anger, and his forearms tensed as his fists clenched. His breathing increased slightly before he calmed. “It is a common name. The orcs have taken many of my people over the years,” he finally said, hopeful that it was not his sister’s friend.
I spoke slowly. “Yeah, that is what the other Goliath said. But she also mentioned that when Myra arrived nine years ago, she was with another Goliath woman named Zorana.” Finished I watched for his reaction.
Maveith twitched. Shook his head, “Eryk, don’t play games with me. Zorana is dead.” I could see tears welling in his eyes—tears of anger, guilt, and hope.
I needed to rein him in a little. “I don’t know if she is still alive, Maveith. But the goliath I talked to said they arrived in the Boutan Caliphate nine years ago and knows which orc warlord purchased them,” I said to the agitated Maveith.
Maveith's head snapped around his cabin, and he stood abruptly and started packing. “Where are the goliaths who told you this? How are we getting into the Boutan Caliphate?” It hadn’t taken him long to commit to searching for his sister, no matter how small the hope. It is what I would have done.
“Calm down, Maveith. I will go with you to look for your sister. But on the way, we need to go to Gramney, the capital of the Duchy of Manch. I need to drop off some passengers.” I informed my friend. I also hoped Castile and the others might be there as well. It seemed unlikely they would survive confronting the Emperor, but I held out hope.
Maveith’s face twisted in confusion, and he paused in his packing to study me, “Passengers?” He slowly pieced together my meaning, “Eryk, you didn’t put more elves in your dimensional space unwillingly, did you?” He was looking at me disapprovingly. Then some hope flashed in his eyes, “Wait. Do you have Raelia with you?”
“Of course not!” I said, exasperated. “I can assure you I don’t have a single elf inside my dimensional space. Just four humans the Empire ordered me to kill, but they are very much alive.”
Maveith trusted me and seemed eager to leave, continuing his packing while speaking. “Then we need to Gramney as quickly as possible.”
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Comments
Joey Regan
Last sentence needs correction, “Then we need to Gramney as quickly as possible.”
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
correced
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
only if they are "trained" to not to resist. it is mostly innate resistence based on their attribute - like trying to breath and not suffocate
Kevin O'Malley
So.... If people volunteer to be stored do they not bottom Eric out since their will doesn't need to be overcome? What if they have a small space affinity and sort of jump for it to help him out? Does it bottom Eric out to take them out of storage? Eric is like an aircraft carrier, he can unload a crack team from storage.
Kevin O'Malley
Good lord, are you really 100 chappies ahead for the Seraphim? Killing me.
Kevin O'Malley
He needs to invent pneumatic compressed air so he can blast a few coats of black paint on there.
Erick Thiemke
damn...three days of reading
Brianna Stormcloud
And I'm all caught up... Sigh... 😭
Brianna Stormcloud
I'm so glad he's back with Mavieth and Ginger! How long do you think it will be before he starts trying to get Eryk to release his passengers 😉📖🍿
J S
Nice
Andrew Crews
He slowly pieced* it together my meaning, “Eryk, you didn’t put more elves in your dimensional space unwillingly, did you?” He slowly pieced together my meaning, “Eryk, you didn’t put more elves in your dimensional space unwillingly, did you?”
Andrew Crews
One thing about sneaking into *some place is that if you looked like you belonged, people tended to leave you alone. One thing about sneaking into someone else’s place is that if you looked like you belonged, people tended to leave you alone.
Andrew Crews
When the *sunset, I snuck over the wall into the Citadel. When the sun set, I snuck over the wall into the Citadel.
Andrew Crews
I covered the cache back and continued up and * continued. I covered the cache back and continued up the road.
Andrew Crews
Army camps required a lot of bodies to operate if they didn't * shove a sword in my hand. Army camps required a lot of bodies to operate, and they would not hesitate to shove sword in my hand.
Silver Beard
He's an excellent companion: loyal and trustworthy. Something Eryk definitely needs.
Silver Beard
He's going to need to get some quality adventure armor somewhere soon. Even his Hound gear will be recognized.
Daniel kanevsky
"I covered the cache back and continued up and continued." ... back up and continued
Andrew
Thank you!
Kaze
lol I think Mav is my favorite character in this story
dbohomolov
He completely searched Aesop's corpse to retrieve the artifacts (finding only the ring, the amulet and the book). So why didn't he take the token when he expectedly stumbled upon it?
momo2009
He has earth sense and can see how many people and items in the area. Why not search around in the secret archive and lost ancient city. At least I would had loot the 2 other hounds who were sleeping.
momo2009
Well he traveling the world with mavith so it possible he might see the aspirant that went to the other nation in a trade deal.
Gwalmeich
Finally free from the empire's clutch! I'm ready to see what kind of mischief Erik and co get themselves into.
sdf
I was thinking one of the early scenes would be replaying the scene from the cliffs in the dream amulet, so Maveth could interact with them, interpret what they said.
Jake ChangedLater
I did miss that. Thank you.
Erick Thiemke
Book 4s plot was: MC uses essences, gains some badass skills, and is convinced to leave the Empire by the actions of the Empire. I know some people liked the Roman Legion theme and may be upset by his departure, but it was inevitable as he is not going to become the Emperor. I admit it was a rocky and sporadic journey to get from point A to point B. Like I said two plot elements I was developing never entered the story....having one of the mage aspirants die for no reason and he couldnt save her and having the First Citizens make a play for the dreamscape amulet. The later is probably going to sneak into an edit, just not sure how. Maybe an attack while the MC is on his sentry duty...I just need to feel it out and not force it.
Erick Thiemke
i dont know if Maveith will feel honor bound to confirm the other goliaths being alive
Erick Thiemke
you must have missed the edit. he let the two legionanires go on their own in the final edit
Jake ChangedLater
'Four' humans? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought there were six? Two kids, the mother, two legionaires, then the First Citizen by my count.
Silver Beard
Ironic but he should be starting his own blood archive for friends and acquaintances he wants to keep track of. Had he kept blood of one of the slaves he would not have to wonder!
Tetsu-nii
I'm still hoping that the goliaths got held up on the way and may meet up later, but I'm honestly not expecting that to be the case. (;<_<)
Tetsu-nii
Just a couple of thoughts about the negative criticism: … 1) Sometimes, feedback that seems critical (or even a personal attack) at first reading was actually intended to be constructive. No one is perfect at communicating their intent. Especially in writing. And if you've just read a [string of] critical comments, you're more likely to interpret a "questionable" comment in the worst possible manner. … 2) If negative comments really start getting you down too much: count them, subtract the number of anonymous comments, and compare the total to the number of paid memberships. I'd wager there're far less than half. Don't forget that no matter how much hate a bunch of trolls throw your way, there are a good number of us who feel it's well worth the money we send your way every month! ^_^ Stick to what you've been doing, and let the haters do whatever it is they waste their lives doing. 🤪
Lemes
I think that criticism, when made honestly and with good intentions, is not a bad thing. On my part, I may have exaggerated expectations based on book 3, which was very good. Book 4, perhaps because it was a transitional book, was slower in some aspects and left something to be desired in some aspects. But overall it was a good book, which fulfilled its role of freeing the protagonist from his forced service to the legion.
Tetsu-nii
Typo: /When the sunset/ => /When the *sun set*/
momo2009
Well it a shame he not waiting for the other Goliath, would be interesting to see Maviath interaction with them to see the culture. Hopefully mc can form a rescue group to help find the sister and crush but it unlikely his legion friends ir the capture mage would go due to distance but maybe someday they will join his adventure or mercenary group. Oh can we also explore the new country a little bit before going to the orc. The poltics and culture of the new country would be interesting. You could add some foreshadowing in the new country.
Angus
He's literally in the middle of one the most secure and unassailable structures in the empire which spans both multiple levels and miles. He would have wanted to achieve his objective as quickly as possible and get the hell out of there before his presence was detected, not grab every glow stone in the facility.Besides its not like he burned it down in its entirety just a contained section.
sdf
kill guards secure samples burn evidence gah, I'm sure I'm forgetting something. oat milk. bell peppers. egg whites.
momo2009
We just want your story to be the best that it can be, especially here since we all love the story and supporting your work and passion. Taking the criticism that can help you and just ignore the rest. You can't make everyone happy. Would be nice if you can make glossary or appendices for key locations, characters or terms for the reader. I reread your story alot so I can recall most thing but your world is so vast and interesting it might be hard for other to recall all the key info.
momo2009
Honestly burning the archives is hard but once everyone is dead, I would gather essence, search the place then loot everything. The Mc miss the chance of taking all the glowstone which is worth a couple silvers each. Plus the Mc has already instory have a history of looting and keep extra items so he should had follow his instinct and loot or search for goods that he may need.
Quasimotolovesbells
Lots of creators, end up limiting how many anonymous reviews they read at all, and any "professional" ones to people who actually have actually written themselves, as opposed to just reviewers that only read others stories and critique. Some people out there, get in a mood and use any excuse to ripe others apart... look at the current deadpool 3 that's out, fans love it but the reviewers keep trying to bad mouth it. Stick to your own creative muse, as you already have and you will continue to create the special stories just like the ones you have already penned to page.
Juarez Tavares
I believe you have a great gift. I know I couldn't do what you do, but I believe you are capable of doing better in your writing. I've seen that in your other texts. Thank you for your current effort and for those that will come in the future.
Jon
I have read every popular series on royal road and a lot on kindle. I can confidently say yours is my absolute favorite. Everything is well thought out. The people and the world are realistic and actually make smart decisions! I imagine a lot of negativity may come from finishing what’s listed on RR or kindle and not having more to read. You’re a great writer man, keep doing what you’re doing and things will work out!
SodaBoBomb
People frequently forget that the people in stories are IN the story, experiencing those events. Not reading about them calmly and safely.
SodaBoBomb
Hoping Raelia rejoins them. I like her.
Kbzzy
Story is great bro, don’t listen to em
sdf
I've edited for other authors and there's a lot of petty jealousy and unjust criticism. Book 2 was a lot of fun (I've re-read it a few times), book 3 was better, and I think book 4 was solid. 3 is probably my favorite, but I really liked the setting and the conflicts that were set up, all the payoffs. book 4 feels like a segue to books 5, 6, 7, 8, ... Eryk as an adventurer could be epic. So much potential. So many pissed-off dungeons grumbling about this OP cheat. So many creatures spawning with aether shield amulets...
Ali
Thanks for the chapter and on the criticism understand there are many more people who enjoy your work and you can’t make everyone happy.
Thresher
Sorry if us readers have been harsh on you. It’s only because we love the story so much. I promise it’s coming from a place of appreciation of your writing and wanting it to be better (from our own individual perspective). Deep down we all appreciate your writing and dedication to creating such an interesting world and story.
Angus
I doubt that thought would run through his (or anyone else's mind for that matter) as he infiltrated the archives, burnt it down, and then subsequently focused on escaping unseen.
Thresher
Adventurer’s? Author I will give you my first born child if you write about Eryk and Maveith’s endeavors as Adventurers working for the Adventurer’s guild. Subjugating beasts and dungeon delving… Maybe even creating an adventurer party and moving up the adventurer ranks… That would be amazing. Thank you for the chapter, I’m glad to see Maveith again.
dbohomolov
Why didn't he take the hounds token from one of the men he killed? He had so many opportunities to do so. In the end he was just lucky the guard hadn't recorded the number.
Sean Kauffman
Thanks for the chapter, appreciate the call back to ginger being house trained
Angus
Thanks for the chapter! Loving the series and thought book 4 was really well done, i think it was mentioned in the second chapter of book 4 that Eryk would be infiltrating the archives and the second to last chapter it came full circle! On top of that we got all the events that occurred in between! Also, not sure what the royal road readers have been smoking (book 3 is my favourite!)
1536539
Thank you for the chapter!!
Erick Thiemke
4th of 4. Last chapter before the epilogue of book 4. Can't believe Book 4 is almost done (there will prob be some modest edits in earlier chapters). I have World Sphere close and need to finish that before working on the epilogue and starting book 5. Normally, I take a week off between books, but I think there will just be one less chapter this week - so 3 chapters this cycle. I had a wave of criticism from RoyalRoad, Amazon, and here in the last few days, so it has bummed me out a bit. It was hard to write the last few days, but compartmentalizing it and moving forward.
