A Soldier's Life - 381 - Relieving Some Frustration (edited 4-26-25 +300 words)

Chapter 381: Relieving Some Frustration

My steps echoed in the stairwell as I descended to the common room. There were maybe a dozen patrons in the inn, but most seemed amused by the entertainment this late. The proprietor and the tribal man's arguments grew louder and louder. Half-dressed, Anika rushed down the stairs to join me, which was good because I needed a translator if they did not speak Elvish.

I turned my head to address Anika. “What is he asking?” 

I already had the general idea of it from his anger. “They are talking a little too fast for me, but I think his tribe owns this inn, and he was expecting rooms to be ready for his trade caravan. The innkeeper is trying to explain that he was not expected for three more days. All ten rooms are occupied—we have nine of them. He wants us removed so his men can get a good night’s rest,” she quickly explained. 

I moved away from he stairs to see the lead horsemen better. He was clad in fine leather and linen garments. The Telhians may call them barbarians, but everything this man wore was extremely fashionable and expertly tailored—even for the Telhian Empire. His leather doublet was immaculately stitched with the relief of an eagle grasping a two-headed snake. His boots were made of black scaled leather from a creature I could not identify. Two of his men, similarly dressed, stood by the door and turned to me to assess me. Their weapons appeared to be large curved blades, difficult to swing in the modestly sized common room with a low ceiling.

“Is there a problem?” I asked in Elvish loud enough to be heard.

The gray-eyed leader spun on me, his eyes fierce and his face red from yelling. His ebony beard was short and well-trimmed, not the care I expected of the nomadic tribes. His Elvish was terrible, but at least he understood me. He spoke curtly but not aggressively. “The Savage Eagle Tribe owns this establishment, outsider. Vacate your rooms, and there will be no trouble.”

The proprietor looked apologetic to me and, in his own broken Elvish, addressed the horseman, “Your Matron would disapprove, Nicolaas. They have paid for the night, and you would be taking from the tribes coffers. You can visit one of the other inns or camp outside the city until tomorrow.” That the proprietor was not backing down was telling.

“I will not give my gold to the other tribes!” The leader spat petulantly. He seemed the type not to enjoy camping under the stars. Once again, not what I had been expecting of the tribes.

I tossed a gold coin on the table, and it bounced and skipped to land before Nicolaas. “There. You don’t have to pay. Go somewhere else so my companions and I can get some sleep from all this yelling.” I hadn’t paid for the rooms, but I think the rooms and meals cost the eleven of us about three large silver. I was being generous to avoid a potentially long evening of shouting.

I didn’t think his two warriors understood Elvish, but they grasped what was happening and eyed the gold coin covetously. My generosity was not acknowledged as intended. “You think I cannot pay for my men?” Nicolaas growled angrily at me. He stormed up to me—“You soft outsiders cannot hope to match our warriors! You come to our lands, and piss yourselves at the first sign of true danger.” I was already getting a headache as he continued his tirade.

I interrupted him, “Do you want to arm wrestle? Duel? Whatever it is, just name it so I can get some sleep.” Most of my companions had arrived in the common room. Even Lexi was on the steps watching the interaction in wide-eyed trepidation. I winked at her to let her know everything was fine. At this point, I needed to blow off some steam anyway.

“You think you can defeat me in a fair contest of strength?” Nicolaas narrowed his gray eyes with a glint of anticipation. He looked fit and almost matched my height. I wore my black spider-silk long-sleeved shirt, baggy canvas pants, and earth drake boots. I had not put on my leathers and only had magebane on my belt. He looked to his two men with a massive grin on his face. I probably should have clocked him right then and there and knocked him out, but this was their land, and they had a weird ritual to challenge outsiders.

“Yes. Please choose something so I can get some sleep,” I replied, bored. Benito didn’t have any luck getting bets from our companions, so he moved around the room and tried to find someone who could understand him enough to establish a wager.

The leader smiled wickedly, and the proprietor groaned. Nicolaas gesticulated at me, “I choose unarmed submission!” He picked up the gold coin. “The gold and the rooms are to be mine once you yell for your women to save you.” He looked at the group at the bottom of the stairs, studying them more intently. “They can remain in the rooms to entertain me and my men if they wish.” I think I heard Castile grunt in amusement behind me.

I rolled my eyes at his bravado and had Anika talk to the innkeeper to get the rules clarified for me. It was a simple contest of strength that sounded like wrestling, but kicking, punching, and even biting were allowed. “Can I use spell forms?” I asked as Nicolaas walked pridefully outside and started to remove his leathers in preparation.

Anika had doubts about my intentions as she tried to gather as much information about the contest as possible. “They are not, but Joris says Nicolaas will likely drink an invigoration potion before the fight.” I assumed Joris was the exasperated manager of this establishment.

“So, potions are allowed but not spell forms?” I asked for clarification. Anika talked with Joris, again, who shrugged and nodded in confirmation.

A dungeon strength potion appeared in my hand, and I broke the seal and downed it before heading out to the challenge. The potion caused a powerful heat to wash through my muscles. I ignored Anika’s questions about what I had just consumed and headed out to the plaza outside the inn. Nicolaas was finishing removing his armor, and a streak of blue goo was in his beard, so I assumed he had already consumed his invigoration potion—whatever that did. I clenched my fists, my knuckles popped, and I felt like I could wrestle a lion.

All the inn’s patrons and my companions had shuffled outside for the late-night entertainment. The noise was such that the windows of other buildings facing the plaza opened to watch, and other locals moved to surround the plaza. The laden horses were held by his men who were talking animatedly, waiting for the outcome. Benito wove through the crowd, dragging Anika along to establish bets. I thought to give him some time.

“So, Nikki, what do I get if I win?” I asked the young, overconfident man. He ground his jaw at me, mispronouncing his name. His muscles had clearly swelled since he left the inn. He was flexing either for the crowd or as a side effect of the brew he consumed. I was not concerned while watching his footwork. Clearly, he spent more time in the saddle than on the ground by his heavy steps.

He looked incredulous that I thought I could be victorious against him. He pointed at the dozen horses laden with goods, saying, “You can pick any bundle from my tribe’s goods.” This was the first time one of his men showed alarm and tried to intercede, but Nicolaas quickly barked at him and they backed down.

Hopefully, Benito had enough time to establish a few bets. I stepped to the center of the circle of spectators and faced him. This fight was all about pride, nothing like the Boutan orcs. “Ready?” I asked, sounding bored.

In response, he dove for my legs. He was quick, but I had expected something like this. I planted my hands on his shoulders and kneed him in the face. The crunch of cartilage made some in the crowd wince. To his credit, he didn’t give up on his attempt to tackle me, wrapping my knee and biting hard into my thigh.

“Not on the first date,” I cursed as I locked my fists together and came down hard on his back as he drove me back to the ground. Konstantin would be yelling at me for being too overconfident. I thought my knee would have done enough damage to knock him out. His arms locked together as he tried to dislocate my knee with his body weight. I ignored it and got my arm under his armpit, using the leverage of my other arm on his back, and locked my hands to wrench his shoulder out of its socket.

Almost immediately, the pop echoed across the plaza, and Nicolaas let out a whimpering yelp that turned into a pained scream as I maintained my leverage and continued to tear shoulder ligaments. With a grunt of continued effort, I said, “You can yield any time.” 

“He yields,” the man who had objected to the wager said clearly. I pushed Nicolaas off me, and he rolled on the ground holding his shoulder, fighting back a scream. His face was a mess, his above-average looks now sported a flattened nose and were streaked with flowing blood. I had plenty of the man’s blood on my clothes. Two of his men went to help him up and carried him away, likely to a healer.

I looked at the more reasonable tribesman. “Eryk Marco,” I said, extending my hand. Anika moved closer to translate.

He looked at my offered hand and shook wrists, “Jochum Heide.” He pointed reluctantly at the horses and got into a drawn-out conversation with Anika as the plaza quickly cleared, the excitement over.

Anika explained to me after a short time. “They were bringing the season’s trade goods to be processed. Nicolaas is the Matron’s grandson and was charged with the task.”

“Not the grandson of Matron Lucette?” I asked, wincing. 

Anika smirked, “No. Matron Siske. Matron Lucette governs the Blind Raven Tribe.” Anika thought to explain further. “The tribes wander the hills and accumulate large harvests like this and then send them to be processed in the cities. Each tribe has its specialist craftsman in the cities and other enterprises. Each tribe is limited on how many buildings they can manage in each city, so none become too powerful.”

My mind processed the information, “And the fool wagered a large portion of the tribe’s goods?” Anika nodded. I sighed, “Tell Jochum I cannot take so much with me. And if he would be interested in purchasing it for, say, a large silver.” As Anika explained, I stopped her, “And include cleaning the blood off my clothes.” Anika chuckled, finding this amusing.

Jochum’s hand came down on my shoulder, surprising me. I had nearly thrown a punch at his face, but his relieved, affable smile indicated it was a sign of thanks. I received the large silver and gold piece and assurances that Nicolaas would not cause more trouble. My bloodied clothes were handed off to Joris. I treated my minor wound and retired for the evening.

In the morning, my cleaned garments and boots were returned, and I had become a minor celebrity in the packed common room at breakfast. I was not expecting an apology from Nicolaas, but Jochum came and thanked me again.

We were on the road early, and I remained at the rear. Eventually, Castile lagged behind and rode next to me. She didn’t say anything for a while as I was still angry with her. Eventually, she asked, “How strong was Evie?”

I clenched my jaw. “You spied on me?” I said flatly. I thought she had been writing to Viridia but I guessed I was wrong.

“No,” she said curtly. “But I can tell something is bothering you, and that is the only thing that makes sense. You are normally secretive and keep to yourself. Last night, you welcomed that fight.”

I had half-admitted to bringing Evie out and testing her. “She is too strong,” I said resignedly. We rode next to each other in silence for a long time. Castile knew what had to be done, but I didn’t want to admit it.

“There may be somewhere she can go,” Castile said softly, drawing my attention. “The Death Sentinels.” I looked confused. “I don’t know anything about them, just rumors. They watch the Isle of the Dead to make sure nothing escapes.”

I had not heard of them either. “Are they part of the Death Hunters?” I asked.

“I think that they are one in the same. The Death Sentinels watch the Isle of the Dead, while the Death Hunters wander the world, stamping out the undead,” Castile said conversationally. “They have necromancers in their ranks, of that I am certain. I know of a pair of Death Hunters who arrived in Telha, pursuing a vampire, and one of them registered as a necromancer with the Legatus Legonis office. They were sent with a mage company, and I believe they were successful.

I nodded appreciatively at her thoughts, but had my doubts about Evie’s potential being accepted. I needed to do a better job of not wearing my emotions so openly. “I am doubtful, but let’s hope Matron Lucette has the answers they want. If Evie can return to Earth, there is no aether there, so her affinity could become moot,” I replied. That was the best case scenario I had been able to think of. Getting the Earthers home and eliminating Evie’s troublesome affinity.

I pushed the group forty miles along the river to Kwongchun. I was not sure what Karina was expecting from Matron Lucette, even if she was an otherworlder, but it would start untangling the knots so that we would have some direction. It might also be where we parted ways.

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