A Soldier's Life

Namao poured me a cup of tea and passed it to me. “How long? Time is hard to measure,” she said cryptically, then sipped her own tea. “I can see you have been very busy, and I can tell you have traveled very far to see me.”

“I did sail halfway around Desia to bring back the goliaths,” I said, hoping to get some favor with the woman.

The goliath’s eyebrow arched. “Oh, you were part of that excitement? But you know what I meant, boy. You came a long way to get here.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I was torn between saying it out loud or seeing if she was implying I was an otherworlder. “I came here to get some artifacts examined,” I said, sipping the tea as casually as I could. It was intensely sweet and bitter, with a spicy kick. It was not really my cup of tea, but I pretended to enjoy it to not offend her.

The goliath matron nodded slowly, but she looked disappointed at my response. “My ability is to see the past, present, and future. I may be able to help you with your artifacts, but I will not guarantee it.”

I quipped back with a grin, “Everyone can see the present.”

Her finger slowly pointed at me as if she were going to scold me, and then she offered a cackling chuckle. “Ha, I like you, boy. Not everyone sees with the eyes given to them. But I can see the present here”—she gestured around the room—“or there.” She made a broad gesture.

“Like scrying?” I asked, interested.

Namao seemed to consider her reply, her head tilting in thought. “Yes and no, my sight is not constrained by spellcraft. I am a seer, not a mage. I see the flows on the aetheric currents of the world, but alas, I cannot use the aether myself.”

My mind was churning over everything she had said as she waited patiently, a smile forming on her face at my confusion. I stalled for time. “Why did you think I came to see you?”

A wide smile erupted on her face. “Ah, we are going back to that then. You are not the first to come to me to ask how you got here—and how to return home.”

“To Earth?” I blurted. Was there someone else from Earth? My heart raced, excited at the possibility.

“Not recently, but others from Aphora and Luatera have found me within the last ten years,” she said, reveling in my shock.

“Aphora? Luatera?” I questioned.

“Aphora, the origin planet of the elves. Luatera is where orcs on Desia came from. There are other planets, but most do not have organized societies.” She sipped her tea and waited for me to digest her knowledge.

I leaned forward. “And you were able to tell those who visited you how to get home?”

Her lips pursed into a thin line. “No. I can only see what was, what is, and what is to come. For you, I can see the day you arrived on Desia, naked and… disturbed. You were brought here by the aether gate engines. Or more commonly called the dungeons.”

“So that is what I felt. You were reading me when I walked in? The gates that the Titans built? I was told they were destroyed,” I replied.

I felt the tingling in my arms again. Whatever she was doing was reacting to my bone inscriptions again. I resisted scratching and waited for her.

Her eyes went wide in shock. “You have met Khrusos? And yet, you still live.” She nodded respectfully at me. “You are an unusual one. Yes, the gates that the Titans built are destroyed, but the dungeon engines that powered the gates still function. Only once all the dungeons are destroyed will the bridges be permanently severed. For your next question—I do not know how the engines function. For that, you would need to consult with Hephaestus. I do not know where he lives, only that he still does, as I can see his future interactions sometimes.”

“How do you know so much?” I asked.

“You’re wondering why an old woman on an island possesses such knowledge? Boy, I already told you, I am a seer.” She smiled brightly. “When I do my chores, my mind tends to wander to the past. I have picked up some things then—and other things from people coming seeking answers. The future is more slippery than a mucus eel, as it is capable of squirming in a thousand different directions and doesn’t like to be held.”

“How much for your services?” I didn’t think this old goliath was a charlatan. She knew too much, and she obviously had some ability to read me.

She patiently poured herself some more tea. “I do not ask for payment in coins but in a task that may help my people. To set that price, I will need to see your future. But first, what is your question?”

I considered my artifacts and then thought to ask about the world gates. She had already freely given me a lot of information. “Where are others from Earth?”

She tsked at me. “I do not know; I am not omniscient. The last one who visited me is dead, as are the others before him. I can perhaps tell you if you will one day encounter another from your world. Ask me questions about yourself. What do you wish to know about your future? Or perhaps the artifacts you hoped I would give you insight into?”

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Did I really want to know more about my possible future? “If you tell me about my death, can I avoid it?” I asked.

“Brilliant question!” She laughed uproariously. “Perhaps—but in avoiding it, you may lead yourself to a different and earlier death. Are you going to return to see me every time you avoid your fate so you can avoid the next?” Her eyes twinkled, and glee was plastered on her face at the question.

She was enjoying our conversation, while I was not. “Can you see if I will meet anyone from Earth in the future? Will I return to Earth in the future?”

“Ah, a fascinating question! That, I can answer. But my price is this: find and destroy the dungeon on Stone Mountain Island.” She said it like it was no big deal.

I was momentarily in shock before regaining my composure. A little exasperated, I countered, “I only get one question? Isn’t that an unbalanced exchange?”

The matron smirked slightly. “Bartering. I will look at any artifacts you want—after you destroy the dungeon. And I will also answer your question now.”

“The question and one artifact now, and the rest of the artifacts after the dungeon is dealt with.” I was actually hiding my elation. If the dungeon had manticores, I wouldn’t have to risk hunting them across the island.

“One item now. No answers until payment is completed,” she retorted mirthfully, enjoying the game.

I exhaled loudly in some fabricated consternation. “Where is the dungeon, and how do I destroy it?” Just knowledge of the dungeon’s location would make this meeting worthwhile.

“I do not know.” She held up her hand to stop me. “But, it is likely on the slopes of the second-highest mountain. You have talked with Navek—he is getting closer.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Have you set others on this task?”

“You are the third, fourth if you include Navek. Although he only sought the location of the manticore that killed his family. He has not sought my counsel in a long time,” she said softly, and I could tell there was some bad history there.

“If you know there is a dungeon, why haven’t you told others?”

“I only tell the ones I see who have a possible future after finding the dungeon,” she said heavily. She seemed to sag in her chair, aging before my eyes. I didn’t get the impression she was acting. “I do not send men and women to their deaths needlessly. There has to be a chance at success. Your chance is greater than most before you. Is it agreed then?”

“You haven’t told me how to destroy the dungeon once I find it,” I replied.

“I don’t know. I only know they can be destroyed.” She waved her hand. “I’m not omniscient, remember? If you succeed and return to me, I can glean that knowledge from you.”

“Seems like the agreement tilts back in your favor then,” I bantered back.

“Fine! Two items today.” She clapped her hands, a signal that the negotiation was over. “Two items today is my limit after sifting through your threads. No more questions as I grow weary and will soon require rest.”

I considered offering to come back tomorrow, but decided against it. I produced a heavy silver chain. It was a very ornate piece of jewelry, with etchings of birds and fairies along the chain. It was adorned with a large sapphire held by two fairies. The azure gem resembled flowing water when light shone from behind.

The object mesmerized the old goliath’s eyes, and her hand trembled as she took it. Her eyes closed briefly before she rasped irritably, “It has no past. It was created by a dungeon. You claimed it from a band of gnolls. Its future…” Namao closed her eyes.

They quickly shot open, surprised, and she studied me again with shock. “You could live for a very long time. Longer than you find the desire to.” She eyed me until I got uncomfortable, and she handed me back the ornate artifact. “I see you using the artifact while you work. In your alchemy and at the forge—perhaps in the distant future at a loom. This device helps you focus your mind on a task and gives you insight into your craft.”

“Thank you. That is very helpful.” The amulet disappeared from my hand.

Namao held up her hand. “Something that has a history. Looking forward takes too much of my energy as it requires that I look at too many possibilities, and I am tired.”

I hesitated and then decided on Rhuuk’s silver ring. It was not a dungeon ring as its runic script did not glow in the heat. But it did take a trickle of aether from me. She took the ring, closing her eyes. Her eyes fluttered as she delved into the ring’s past. She went through a range of faint facial expressions: small smiles, grimaces, dread, and astonishment.

She opened her eyes. “A simple dungeon ring, centuries old. You killed the orc who wore this ring. While he wore it, it gave him surefootedness in all conditions. He fought with it on snow, sand, mud, and floors covered in blood, yet he never slipped or faltered.” She handed me back the ring. “A powerful warrior’s boon it is, even though it is simple in nature.” Namao stood. “And now I must rest. Return with word of your success.”

I turned the ring over in my hand, curious as to why the runes had not revealed themselves in heat.

As I walked back to Eternis, I felt a slight annoyance. Only one ring could be worn on each hand under my spider silk gloves, and the rings I had on were too precious to take off. The channeling ring doubled my aether recovery, while the ring of sustenance let me survive on less food and sleep. With reduced sleep, I could accomplish more. I assumed the necklace would interfere with my aether shield amulet as well. Fortuna had been too kind to me with these gifts.

When I arrived back in our room at the inn, I found Raelia had left me a note. She had gone with Maveith to see his father to work on her saddle for Baldo. They would be back in six days. I grumbled as I had said we would take a week off from hunting, but I had imagined baths in Raelia’s company on those days.

I could keep myself busy—without Konstantin’s help. I had two heavy tables brought up to my room and set up the alchemy equipment I had purchased. I was out of mouthwash after all, and finding out how the sapphire necklace worked would be a productive endeavor. I had a few healing salve recipes from local ingredients that I could try as well.

I spent the rest of the day exhausting myself from shopping at different apothecaries and herbalists across the city. I didn’t feel like setting up the alchemical processes at the moment, so I lay down on the bed, the griffin down pillow under my head, and opened the Elvish book of charm affinity spell forms…

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