Restart Again: Volume 2 by Adam Scott (best adventure books to read .TXT) 📗

blood, and a numb pulsing in my side indicated a rib injury. I hadn’t noticed in the moment, but my punches against the second man’s plate armor had apparently dealt as much damage to my hand as it had to the metal. The severity of the wounds caught me off guard. Pain Reduction might be a more dangerous tool than it is useful.

“Greater Healing, Wounds,” I muttered under my breath. There was a pronounced tug on my mana reserves as faint green energy wound itself around my hands and tingled over my side. I took a long, centering breath in and out, then casually strode back to my initial spot before the dais. Lia watched me with concern as I returned, and I gave her a reassuring smile. With a snappy spin on my heels, I turned to face the throne and clapped my hands which, though still covered in blood, were now completely healed. “So! Would you like me to give you my list of requests now, or should we start with an explanation of the situation?”

Virram sat horrified against his high-backed golden chair. His head spun side to side as he looked to his councilors, all of whom held the same expression as their king. “What?...” Virram trailed off. “What just happened?” He looked to Commander Savitz and repeated the question with an increased level of distress in his voice. “What just happened?!”

I smiled up at him. “At your orders, someone was taught a lesson in respect.” A stifled chortle of laughter came from my right, and I turned to find Savitz with a hand to his mouth. He coughed a few times, then turned to stare straight ahead at the wall across from him.

The king’s councilors finally regained enough sense to counsel, and they quickly swarmed Virram’s throne to whisper furtively at him. Each of them spoke over the others, which made the conversation difficult to follow.

“Sire, we should leave immediately. It’s no longer safe here—”

“My king, this man cannot be allowed to leave here after what he’s done!”

“No! This works to our benefit! If he’s willing to work with us, we can give him his trifles and be free of the situation!”

“If we could just go back to the council chambers—”

“His disrespect is too great to ignore! Would you have him rewarded for such insolence?!”

The advisor named Gullen slapped the arm of the throne angrily, and the other men fell silent. “Your Grace, this situation is to your favor. We can grant him whatever small requests he wants now and send him off with the Third Company to alleviate our issues in the South. While he’s away, we can decide what punishment he deserves upon his return to the capitol.”

Olten’s face paled and his lip began to tremble while Eppet whispered meekly in response. “What about the girl?”

Gullen scoffed. “Who cares about who he wenches with on his travels? Let him cut her hands off like the last one for all I care. As long as he agrees to the terms, give him whatever he wants!”

Virram stared blankly at him for a long moment in silence before nodding weakly. The other councilors returned to their seats as Gullen approached the front of the dais. “The King has declared that you have passed his test! Your skills are indeed as great as we have heard, and he would now like to offer you his terms for a letter of full pardon.”

I bit my tongue and nodded. The time for antagonizing has passed. Unfortunately.

“Due to your unique and extensive set of skills, the King has chosen you to undertake an important mission for the good of the Kingdom. You will join an elite group of soldiers destined for the southern country of Attetsia.” Gullen paused as he weighed his next words. “There have been...disturbing reports from the border as of late. After years of a tenuous alliance brokered by King Yorrell, Attetsian officials have ceased communications with Kaldan and closed all entry to the country. Our sources in the area have reported…” There was another uncomfortable pause. “...Unnatural creatures.”

There it is. With my suspicions finally confirmed as truth, I felt conflicted. This isn’t something I wanted to be right about.

“The safety of his citizens is King Yorrell’s top priority. As such, we are only sending our very best to deal with the situation. Mobilizing the royal army would cause undue burden and stress on the country, and avoiding any panic over news that may be exaggerated is key.” Gullen spread a hollow grin across his face. “Of course, you will be compensated for your actions. In addition to a pardon for your crimes, the King will meet any reasonable requests you have in preparation for this important mission.”

It was finally my turn to smile. “Excellent. First, I expect there is a retainer set aside for me?”

Eppet nodded. “Naturally. Five hundred Imperials, to be paid upon accepting the mission.”

Lia gasped loudly behind me, and I fought off a chuckle as I continued. “Second, I’ll need a similar full pardon for my traveling companion.”

“Consider it done.”

“Third, I would like to meet with the king’s armorer. I have gear in need of repair and commissions in need of making.” My mind buzzed as I thought through a long list of new equipment ideas.

“That can be arranged.” Gullen made a small motion to leave. “Is that all?”

“No. I expect assurance that this is a one-time contract. I am not joining the king’s army, and won’t be expected to perform any duties beyond this one mission.”

The councilor nodded. “Of course! Should you successfully complete this mission, you will be free to leave.” Everything about the way he spoke told me it was a lie, but I knew there was nothing to gain from a confrontation.

“Lastly, I will not be joining a pre-assigned squad for this mission. I choose my own travelling companions.”

Gullen recoiled at the statement as if it had physically impacted against his chest. “Th-that’s...non-negotiable, I’m afraid,” he stuttered. “We are all