Chapter 183: The Empire’s Corruption

  Even with the men still exhausted, they were strapping on their armetting ready to join me. I was fully rested and slightly surprised I had slept nearly five hours with the ring active. My panions were grumbling and making obsequious remarks regarding the First Citizen’s greed.

  The grumbling and noise of activity were stopped when Castile appeared in the doorway with Adrian, “Stop! I will be the only one going with Eryk.” Everyo silent to face Castile in a nightshirt, and she motioned for me to join her. I moved into the hallway with Adrian and Castile. She held out her hand expetly to Adrian, “Do you have the audience request?”

  Adrian handed Castile a heavy part, and she crumbled it after reading it. She stared straight ahead, thinking. Already in his armor, Konstantin came into the hallway, “Castile, I think I have a solution. Give me an hour.”

  Castile’s eyes focused on Konstantin, and silent unication passed between them. “Go!” She hissed, not liking whatever aid he was but accepting it. Konstantied his bde and took off at a jog.

  I watched the old scout jog away, w what that was about. Adrian broke the stressful moment, “Why is t Cato requesting an audieh Eryk?”

  “t Cassius Cato is going to request Eryk into his service,” Castile said, irritated.

  “Just send him a letter saying I dee, problem solved.” I shrugged, thinking this situation was not as bad as I had thought.

  Castile shook her head mournfully, “It is not that easy. They are clearly after the amulet if First Citizen Boris is involved. Foolish to put his name on the request, alerting us, but he is an arrogant pixie prick. My guess is t Cato is going to make you a tempting offer to join his service. Then force you to turhe amulet.” She locked her eyes on mine and added seriously, “Or just kill you for it. I am guessing that is the fate First Citizen Boris has for you after you embarrassed him in the duel.”

  My past sins were ing to haunt me. I should have actally killed him. “I could give you the amulet to hold,” I offered. That was the st thing I wahe scorpion room had my dreamscape library and the people I had created. Even hidden behind a wall, Castile would eventually find it if she used the amulet every night.

  Castile ughed mirthfully, “I have too many favors I owe myself. That amulet would be called on to pay any number of debts. Unbelievably, it is safer with you.”

  Adrian offered a possibility, “We only have twelve men, Castile. The minimum for a mage pany. Deny his request ht.”

  “It is a weak argument but ohat I po use. Do you know anything about t Cassius Cato? I think his Citadel is iy of Pambarel. He must have fled to his vil in the Capital when Eseook the isle of Amatalhos.” Castile waited for Adrian’s reply.

  The nobles of the Telhian Empire were divided into Dukes, ts, Barons, and First Citizens. Dukes raire provinces and had substantial power. ts ran the rge cities aed to the province’s Duke. Barons ran regions within the provinces with small cities and towns and drove the ey of the Empire.

  Adrian shrugged helplessly, “I don’t know the t. Pambarel is a coastal city. I am guessing he made a decision for self-preservatioween the ord the elves likely to ihe mainnd.”

  Castile was in night clothes that hugged her thin frame. Her health had suffered with us in Caelora, and she had not recovered fully. “You ’t refuse the summons of a First Citizen, so we have to go, Eryk. Hopefully, Konstantin’s pn is viable.” She grimaced slightly.

  Adrian asked, ed, “What do you wao tell the soldiers waiting to escort Eryk.”

  Castile thought and smirked, looking at me, “Tell them Eryk is bathing. He doesn’t want to be dirty for his audie will be an hour or so.”

  Adrian grinned, nodding, and headed to the lobby to dey our departure. Castile snapped her fingers, “With me, Eryk.” I followed Castile to her room down the hall. She began ging into her travel clothes. As she ged, I averted my eyes. She asked, “If you want this all to go away, you just give away the amulet. Even if Konstantin succeeds, there will be others seeking your artifact.”

  Castile was right. It was also an invaluable tool that I was uilizing. “I don’t want to give it up,” I admitted. Castile nodded, accepting my decision, and she finished dressing, ready to apany me.

  “I will do what I , but I do not have much power when it es to the First Citizens. Konstantin’s Praetorian Master is not a First Citizeher. So I don’t know what she thinks she do. Your best recourse may be to sell it a what you for it.” Castile advised seriously. “Otherwise, you will always be looking over your shoulder for First Citizen Boris Angel’s retribution.”

  My blood started to boil at the helplessness I was feeling. I tried to calm down, “Why is Justin Cicero on the audience request?”

  “Boris Angel and him are friends. I learhat from Duchess Veronica. t Cato is Boris’ U least, I think that is correct. They are reted somehow, like every First Citizen. They probably solicited his help to put weight behind the request. If we had time, we could summon Duchess Veronica to the Capital, but there is no portal in Sobral, and it would take her weeks to get here.” Castile sat on her bed, patiently fixing her hair into a bun.

  Adrian came up fifteen mier, “They are getting aggravated.”

  Castile nodded and stood, “Wet your hair, Eryk. Adriahem we are ing.”

  I went to a pitcher nearby and s before using it to wet my hair. That done, I stood, and Castile walked slowly downstairs with me. Six soldiers waited in the lobby of the Legion Hall with a very irate-looking Magistrate in pristine white robes. I was guessing the Magistrate was here to make this official. Adrian o Castile as the soldiers boxed us in and escorted us out of the Hall to the vil.

  We couldn’t talk openly but walked slowly, f the impatient Magistrate to walk at our pace. Castile asked, “Why is an Imperial Magistrate assigo escort a lowly legiono a summons by a t?”

  The Magistrate looked stipated, “Two First Citizens have accused yionnaire of stealing from them. The t is supp their cims.” Castile missed a step, and I started to have fshbacks of how I had been forced into joining the Legion when I arrived in the world.

  Castile calmly asked, “Which First Citizens and which items are they g he has stolen.”

  The Magistrate sloulled out a scroll and slowed while he read it. “First Citizen Justin Cis legionnaire Eryk Marko was tasked with carrying his adventuring gear aai rather than having it sent to his estate. First Citizen Boris Angel cims you unjustly took his family’s sword in bat and are in possession of an artifact that rightly belongs to him.”

  Castile processed the words, “We should go to a Truthseeker to clear this up. The First Citizen lost his family’s bde in a fair test. He has nht to the artifact. Whatever the value of the equipment Justin Cis, I will pay double for his trouble.”

  The Magistrate was obviously not happy about the use of his time but tinued on. “There is already a Truthseeker at the vil. This will all be cleared up shortly. If yionnaire is i, he will be on his way in short order.”

  Castile cursed under her breath and whispered to me, “I doubt they are going to limit their questions. Most likely, the Truthseeker is an ally of t.” She addressed the Magistrate, “ my legion a Magistrate to represent him?”

  The Magistrate rolled his eyes, “If he is found guilty, roceed with a formal trial if you wish, mage ander.” That seemed to silence Castile as we walked to the upper city. The tightly packed row of vils outside the Imperial Pace walls looked like the nobles were squeezing their sedary residences in the capital together in order to get as close to the pace as possible.

  Some vils had a pair of legionnaires outside, and some had house guards. We stopped at a vil a good distance from the walls of the pace grounds. This seemed to indicate the t didn’t have a lot of standing within the Empire. We climbed the steps and passed twuards fnking the door. The lead guard of our escort took us to the back of the vil.

  The outside of the vil had not been impressive, but the interior was extravagant, with polished marble and colorful paintings. We entered a formal dining room. Boris and Justin were seated smugly, fnking an older man at the head of the table. The familiar white and gold robes of an Imperial Truthseeker stood behind the t.

  The Truthseeker was a woman with age lines on her impassive face. The fact that she was not seated at the table was sending arm bells in my mind. She was standing in defereo the t. All six guards remained, moving to stand along the room's walls, blog an easy exit for us.

  The t smiled cruelly, “Mage Castile, your reputation precedes you. I only requested the presence of your fn legionhe charges are quite serious. I would be willing to dismiss them if he agrees to a term of servi my household.”

  Castile ched her fists, “He will answer your questions, and we will be on our way. He has not stolen anything from these First Citizens.” Justin made to talk, but the t looked him down, and he remained silent.

  The Truthseeker took the queue and asked, “Do you wear the bck bde of House Angel on your hip, legionnaire?”

  I looked to Castile, who was staring at the Truthseeker, her eyes showing only fiery. I answered the Truthseeker, “No, the bde is mine.”

  The Truthseeker shook her head slowly in disappoi, “He lies.”

  Castile gritted her teeth, “There was no spell form. She is not dising the truth.”

  The t smiled broadly, “Are you questioning the iy of an Imperial Truthseeker?” The Magistrate had sat o grinning Justin Cicero, and my heart began to sink. This whole thing was a shame inquisition. It didn’t matter if I told the truth. Even if we eventually got before Truthseekers, who were not corrupt, I was guessing this little session was desigo get both the runic bde and amulet, and then I would never see either again.

  Castile seemed to serap. She pulled herself bad sidered her response. I looked at the soldiers in the room. They all had their hands h heir bdes, ready to react. I was guessing the t, Truthseeker, and maybe the Magistrate had access to a few spell forms. I had no choice but to follow Castile’s lead.

  Castile addressed the Truthseeker, “Are you Selena Cato? t Cato’s sister?”

  The Truthseeker’s eyebrow went up in surprise, “I am surprised you know of me. I am fttered, Mage Castile.” She wore a thin smile.

  I wao wipe the smug smile oruthseeker’s fad then remove the heads of the grinning Justin and Boris. My hand drifted to my hip, and the guards tehe First Citizens just smiled, maybe expeg my rea—a reason to kill me now and speed this along. A otion ba the vil had a pair of guards leave the room. Had the pany e to rescue us?

  A few moments ter, a very angry woman yelled, “Move out of my way. Do not dare to touch my robes.” High Mage Zyna came st into the room. Her dark blue robes rode around her like flowing waves. Castile’s sholy matched the t’s own disbelief.

  The t stood and bowed, “cellor Zyna. What brings you to my humble vil.”

  The fire mage looked angry as she surveyed everyone present. Her eyes narrowed at both the Truthseeker and the Magistrate. She quickly puzzled out what was happening. She addressed, “I heard my legionnaire bodyguard was summoo answer for crimes without notifying me.”

  The t stumbled, “You are mistaken, cellor. This legionnaire is in the serviage Castile.”

  Zyna tersely tered him, “You are mistaken. She transferred him to my service when I joined her to hunt Traeliorn Kelran. I NEVER RETURNED HIS SERVICE BACK TO HER. HE IS MINE.”

  She rexed and smiled, going from belligerent to sweet in a blink of an eye. “You check the official records to firm it.” High Mage Zyna took the seat at the other end of the table and crossed her left leg over the right. “I wait.”

  The Truthseeker was the first to gain enough ce to talk. “We are only questioning the veracity of the legionnaire’s cim to his possessions.”

  “Proceed then,” Zyna said with a hard smile as she smmed a bck Sphere oable, leaving a dent in the expensive-looking surface. It was the same sphere that the Truthseeker had produced during my questioning after Macha.

  The Truthseeker seemed uain but finally asked, “Legionnaire, do you have a dreamscape amulet in your possession?” The sphere oable glowed, and I assumed it allowed Zyna to make sure the Truthseeker was actually using her magic.

  “He does not,” Zyna said patiently and held out her hand to me. “It is my dreamscape amulet, and he was holding it for me.” Her palm was face up, and I thought she wanted me to hahe dreamscape amulet. I looked to Castile for dire, and she gave me a slight but uain nod. She was just as mu the dark as what was going oantly, I produced the amulet and pced it in her hand. It disappeared into her pocket. “Anything else?” Zyna’s expression was smug, as if she had just won a victory.

  The Truthseeker looked to the t for dire, but he was stunned by the Zyna’s appearahere is the matter of First Citizen’s equipment.” A rge gold was tossed oable and rolled toward the t. No one moved as it stopped and spun in p front of Justin.

  “More than fair pensation for equipment he most likely abandoned,” Zyna said ftly.

  The Truthseeker was looking for help from the others, but no one aided her and I think they were afraid of cellor Zyna. The Truthseeker meekly started to speak, “The runic ons of the Angel family…”

  Castile interrupted, “Legionnaire Eryk wowo runic ons in bat, and Duchess Veronica firmed the results of the duel herself. You firm with her with a message sending. The third bde was lost in the under city of Caelora—you go cim it yourself.” The veins on Boris Angel’s ned forehead bulged in anger as he saw everything slipping away.

  “It appears all the charges have not been found valid, Magistrate Dominic Cato. You will have the charges dismissed and logged as found less, and hat the matter is closed.” We had to wait while the Magistrate produced and sighe prepared papers. It was clear they were fearful of the High Fire Mage. High Mage Zyna firmed the dots and took them with her as she stood.

  She paused in the doorway, looking directly at me, “e legionnaire, you are still in my service.”

  I looked to Castile, who seemed at a loss, but we both moved with Zyna, her blue robes flowing in front of us. When we reached the street, Zyna slowed down and took a fortable walk. Castile asked, “Why are you a cellor, and what is going on?”

  Zyna’s wise face smiled as people moved out of her way as we walked, giving us a wide birth. “I am the new cellor of the Mage’s War College a directly to the Emperor.”

  “You returo the Mage College? But why did you help us?” Castile pressed.

  “A mutual friend asked me to intercede,” Zyna said haughtily. I assumed she was referring to Konstantin. I guess the old man had e through, and I would have to thank him, but I still had lost the dreamscape amulet. We followed Zyna as she walked, the press of people parting like the Red Sea as we proceeded to an impressive building just outside of the imperial pace walls.

  Legionnaires in polished armuarded the gates, and they bowed to Zyna as we climbed the steps. It didn’t take me long to realize that this impressive structure was the Mage College. We climbed pearly white marble floors while young men and women in robes rushed up and dowairs. We proceeded deep into the massive College with impressive high ceilings and wide hallways.

  We climbed a rge circur staircase asding a rge tower on the er of the campus. As we climbed the steps, Zyna finally spoke, “I am going to retain your services, legionnaire. You will serve as my bodyguard while I am stuck as cellor of the War College.”

  Castile objected weakly, “Eryk is an important member of my pany, cellor Zyna.”

  “Do not worry. I have a porter in mind to repce him.” We reached a nding, and Zyna looked down the corridor, slightly fused. “I think my chambers are this way.” She walked a little uainly and stopped at a wide, dark blue door. “It has been a while since I used these stairs,” she smiled, opening the door.

  Inside was a rge, fortable on room with couches. Near a tall window was a familiar man in red leather-resin armor. Konstantin was staring down out the window and slowly turned as we ehe room. He gave me a small reassuring nod.

  “You really o have someone your chambers,” a dark-haired woman with streaks of gray sat in a fortable seat, ran her finger across the surface of the end table, and showed the yer of dust on it.

  “I just took over the cellorship st night, Antonia. This suite has not been used in decades.” Zyna said with a note of exasperation.

  The seated woman must be Antonia Segreto, Konstantin’s Praetorian master. She ed her finger on the cushion, “Yes, well, I send you a few maids.”

  “No need. I will find some mage aspirants in need of disciplio the apartment,” Zyna replied with a smile. She moved to sit across from Antonia, causing a cloud of dust to puff into the air.

  Antonia shrugged, and her focus turo me. She seemed to be sidering me for a long time until I started to feel unfortable. Her words did not assuage my disfort, “So this is the other worlder?”

  ? Chted 2024, 2025 by AlwaysRollsAOne

  No Permission is given to transte, copy, repost or alter to an audio format of this inal work of fi. If you are reading this on a site that is not my Patreon, RoyalRoad., or Scribblehub., it has been stolen without my permission and viotes DMCA. Remember, this work is the result of my creative effort and is protected by cht w. Removal or altering of this notification is an aowledgment you are aware you are in viotion of DMCA.