A Soldier's Life - 274 - Party Crasher (Patreon)

Chapter 274: Party Crasher

“I can make my own decisions. And if Maveith needs help, I am helping him.” Raelia said haughtily to me. Baldo hissed at me as if it reinforced her assertion.

I put my foot down as I wouldn’t let the elf dictate to me. “I am in charge of my adventurer team.” I looked to Maveith, who nodded in agreement. “I choose who we take on. Besides, you can’t take the griffin.” I pointed at Baldo, and he made a lunge to bite my finger. I snatched my hand back, and he got only air, confused he had missed.

“Baldo is already flying and hunting small animals.” Raelia retorted.

“And what if an orc warlord thinks he would make a good pet or tasty jerky,” I countered smugly and a bit harshly.

She moved to stand defiantly in front of me, puffing up her chest in her green dress. It didn’t really work well as she was a head shorter than me and had to look up. “The Esenhem treaty with the Caliphate would prevent them from doing anything to Baldo. Orcs have honor, unlike the Telhians!”

My mind was surprisingly clear in this argument as I looked to get the victory. “You are a Bartiradian, and not of Esenhem. You are just an ambassador to Esenhem.”

Raelia’s eyes showed her mind working as she thought up a response. Her words still came out heated, and Maveith got uncomfortable with the yelling but did not intervene. “I am an elf, and they won’t know the difference.” A little more conciliatorily, she continued, “Besides, I am more of an ambassador in training and do not have the true support of Bartiradia. I am just a pawn to bring my estranged Glavien family branch back into the fold of the Esenhem greater family.” Her anger had faded as she finished, and I could see the frustration on her face. Why was I always a sucker for a pretty face?

I tried a new tact to get her to change her mind and make her see sense. “They aren’t going to let you leave. They need you for that purpose.”

She exhaled hotly. “I can’t go back to Bartiradia because I am a disgrace there—I lost my griffin over Macha and my charge, Vaeril. Now they are tying to plan Traeliorn’s disappearance on me.” I played a role in all three of those things. Did they think Traeliorn was still alive then?

“I don’t want to spend the next two decades under the thumb of my aunt training for an occupation that will never be given to me.” She had calmed considerably, and I could tell she was trying a different tactic with me—pity. “Please, may I join your adventuring team?” Even Baldo seemed to be mimicking her deferential disposition.

Maveith looked over at me, and his face was easy to read. He wanted Raelia to come with us despite the danger. I tried to fuel her anger back. “You hate Telhians. You despise me.” I searched her eyes for her genuine emotions as she responded.

Her eyes locked to mine. “You are not Telhian. And I don’t despise you.” She paused, “I just find you infuriating.” Was there a difference?

“So, you are trying to use me to escape a life of luxury and safety?” I countered with a grin.

Our eyes still locked to each other, she continued. “I am a skilled Ranger. I can speak and read the language of the orcs. I have been schooled in their customs and traditions. I can help Maveith and you in your quest.” I got the impression she was stretching the truth.

“You are not an adventurer,” I hedged but felt my giving in. How was I caving so easily?

She made a dismissive gesture. “Ten minutes in the guild hall, and I will have my medallion.”

I heard Blaze talking to Mateo as they climbed the stairs. “I will consider your offer,” I said before the others reached us. An elf attendant entered the room, my other companions following.

“Look, it is the miniature griffin!” Benito shouted, causing Baldo to hiss at him. Benito didn’t care, approaching dangerously close and not doing a proper threat assessment. “When can we ride it? I mean, when will it be big enough to ride.”

“Benito, stand back. Even that small, its beak can break bone.” I warned him, and he complied and stepped back.

Raelia moved to protect Baldo, stroking his crown feathers to calm him as he was getting antsy with all the people crowding him. “Griffins rarely take more than one rider in their lifetime. Baldo has chosen me,” Raelia stated with a finality. Benito looked disappointed, and I could see the griffin overwhelmed by all the people. I produced a shred of bloody dungeon bear meat and tossed it at Baldo. He snatched it out of the air, and his beak worked the meat into a paste to swallow. I wasn’t good at reading griffin body language but I definitely think he liked it.

“What do you feed him?” Raelia said accusingly. “He is on a strict diet, Eryk,” she added concerned.

“Dungeon bear meat. It was fresh.”

Baldo clearly liked it, and his taloned feet were creeping him closer to me, looking for more. “Baldo, sit,” I commanded in Elvish, holding up another sliver of the meat. Baldo followed my hand holding the morsel, and I repeated the command. He sat and preened out his chest obediently. “Good, Baldo.” I tossed him the meat while Raelia was processing that her griffin had just obeyed me. Food is a powerful motivator. I noticed Blaze intently studying Raelia and my interaction, trying to puzzle something out.

“We are heading back to the Adventurer’s Hall,” I told my companions. I didn’t feel the need to answer Regent Maeralya questions about the Shimmering Labyrinth. The others should have been more than sufficient to detail the location of the dungeon. Maybe the elves had another way to dispose of the specters guarding Caelora. Anything to make Octavian’s life more difficult was a bonus for me. As we walked, I confirmed with Blaze that the regent got what she wanted.

“We told her the location of the dungeon but didn’t reveal the library or how we approached through the undercity. Is that what you wanted? You didn’t leave us with instructions.” Blaze replied as was walked the glowstone lit streets.

I realized I had left them hanging and needed to be a better leader in the future. “Yes, you did the right thing. The Adventurer’s Guild is already aware of the dungeon, and with Esenhem and Bartiradia knowing, Octavian should have a massive headache to deal with.”

Blaze seemed reluctant to speak for a moment but finally asked, “You said Maveith knew the elf girl Raelia, but you seem to have a lot of familiarity with her as well.”

Why did Blaze need to be so damn observant? We had certainly looked at each other during the meal and I guessed Maveith was keeping the secret but too obvious about it. Thankfully, Benito was oblivious, and Mateo was focused on every pretty woman—and some not-so-pretty. I just was unsure what to tell Blaze. We were trailing the group and out of earshot. I wasn’t going to lie to him.

“She was the Bartiradian Ranger with the summoner. The first summoner Konstantin and I killed. Master Mage Sebastian attacked her with his drake and nearly killed her. Maveith and I healed her.” Blaze remained quiet while we walked, and it concerned me.

“I have let more than one enemy go who was in the sights on my bow,” Blaze said quietly.

“She has asked to go with us,” I stated to get his opinion on the possibility. Truthfully, I planned to sneak out of Artiria with our merchant caravan in a few days and not look back.

When Blaze didn’t respond for a long time, I thought my decision was correct. But he eventually formulated a response. “We do need a good scout without Konstantin. I am sure with your Hound training you could do the job, but it is hard to lead us and be the scout. The Bartiradian Rangers are some of the best forerunners on the continent.”

He did make a good point. We did need to a scout for our little group. Maveith was capable but also very large. Being a good hunter was much different than being a good scout. One of the orcs I planned to interview could probably do the job, though. We arrived at the Adventurer’s Hall, and I paused at the entry, my companions doing likewise. Raelia was at the counter in commoner’s clothes, clearly registering to become an adventurer.

“How did she get here before us?” Mateo asked dumbly.

I was grinding my teeth, and I think Blaze noticed. I had a strong feeling Raelia was not going to take no for an answer. She glanced back at us with a slight mischievous smirk on her face. “Did she just smile at me?” Mateo asked hopefully.

Blaze patted Mateo on the back, holding in a laugh, “No, Mateo. I think she was declaring victory.”

“Victory for what?” Benito asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

Blaze somehow understood I needed him to serve as the group's intermediary. He explained to the others, “I think she plans to join us and help Maveith retrieve his sister.”

As we talked, I could see Raelia pointing at our group, which had yet to move far from the entryway. After a discussion with the elven clerk, she sauntered up to us. “Looks like you already accepted an assignment as a merchant guard. You need to add me to the job’s registry,” she said confidently, as if the matter had already been decided.

I controlled my temper and looked her up and down under a stern gaze. “I don’t think Baldo can carry your weight. You will have to purchase your own horse,” I said flatly and walked away. Such a small victory for being cornered into accepting her, but I would take it. 

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