am-books Chapter 120: Revenant
Chapter 120: Revenant
Chapter 120: Revenant
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 after facing a wyvern. 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 Tasevia, the Duchess’ 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 cannot see or hear me. I want Konstantin to think I am haunting him from beyond.”
Maveith 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 in looking 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 as the stationary goliath.
Maveith turned slowly to face the door, “What? I don’t see anything unusual.” The grin on his face told me he was enjoying this. On the other hand, I was doubting my joke was going over as well as I had hoped. Both experienced legionnaires looked ready to kill me. Flavius was already notching an arrow.
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 angrily at the goliath.
“What? I don’t see a corpse. Is something wrong?” Maveith said mechanically, still enjoying the game and pretending I was not here.
“Joke is over, Maveith,” I said nervously. “They might actually kill me if they think I am some undead creature.”
Maveith nodded in agreement, ending the joke. “I didn’t find a dead Eryk. I found a live Eryk,” Maveith said triumphantly, pointing at me.
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.
Konstantin sheathed his blade, realizing how foolish he looked holding a sword at me. “I can get there and back in three days,” he volunteered, his eyes still on me. I knew he also wanted to verify my story.
Castile considered Konstantin’s offer, and Flavius extended his services, saying, “I can go with him.” Great, there were two of them that wanted to verify my story.
“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, and we are attempting to recover Sebastian’s body,” Castile said, still thinking.
“The High Mage is not in Sobral?” I questioned. I probably had too much relief in my voice and tightened up.
“No, High Mage Zyna rode hard to a portal to get back to the capital. She needs to explain and account for 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 and call a Tribunal, 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 and smirked, “You are remarkedly well informed. Yes, there is a dungeon near Caelora called the Shimmering Labyrinth. Maybe it is 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 assume it is still there.”
“How are we going to deal with the specters?” I said, concerned. I had a nightmare about our company being ambushed inside the city, and now it was coming true.
Castile smiled tightly, obviously not happy, “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. While I was pondering this, Castile left the room. 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 site. In the morning, I went to breakfast in the barracks early. Lirkin was preparing the company’s breakfast, and I hid in a hallway and waited.
A lot of solemn, whispered 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, handing me the potato bowl after taking two for himself. Benito kept eating away, but silence slowly spread throughout the dining table as all eyes focused on me. Delmar and Adiran’s grins told me they had already been informed of my resurrection. Benito was oblivious as he kept eating until Felix elbowed him. “What was that for?” Benito whined while rubbing his ribs.
Felix said with all seriousness, “A dead man is sitting next to you.”
With all eyes on me, I took a bite of the potato, “I can assure you. The rumor of my demise has been greatly exaggerated.” Benito fell backward off the bench as realization struck him. Normally, the company would have laughed at Benito’s misfortune, but instead, silence hung in the room as I enjoyed my potato.
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