City of Fallen Souls: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 3) by Jez Cajiao (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📕

here and ready to deliver the message; then you can watch over us as we head to the healer. Once we’re there safely, you head straight for the Enclave and bring the Legion up to date. Tell them I’ll be there later today.”

“That’s madness,” Mal called over, and I turned to face him. He was sitting back in a chair and watching me now, tinkering with his crossbow.

“What is?” I asked.

“You tryin' to get into the Legion Enclave. Ain’t no way you’re comin' back if you do manage it. Better to send him. He’s a flyer; he can get in easy enough. Gettin' out will be a mite harder, sure, but he’s flyin’. You think you’re just gonna walk through the gangs and the mob? Think the guards keepin' everyone inside the Enclave’ll just not notice you?” He shook his head. “Kinda dumb to think they’ll just ignore ya.”

“You got a better idea?” I asked him.

“Yeah. Don’t go,” he shot back.

“And you think the Legion will just pack up and be ready to go without me meeting them? Without me proving myself to them?”

“Probably not,” he said, shrugging.

“Well, then?”

“Send your scouts. Their whole job is gettin’ in and out. Tell 'em what you want done, and give the Legion the orders. Might work yet,” Mal said.

“No chance,” I replied, shaking my head.

“He’s right,” said Yen, and I looked over at her, raising an eyebrow. “Mal, I mean,” she clarified.

“Oh, thanks very much,” I said, sighing.

“Do you want me to tell you why I agree with him, or just keep my opinions to myself if they’re not what you want to hear in future?” Yen asked, and I glared at her, before realizing what I was doing and rubbing my eyes.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” I said, sighing again. “What do you think? And yes, I always want to hear your opinions and advice. I might ignore them, but I’ll listen.”

“The Legion is run on orders, always has been. You’re the highest ranking official in the Empire now, so you just have to issue the order. The Legion want to see you, they want to meet you and know you, but in order to do that, you have to survive long enough to reach them. Send the orders through Amaat. I’ll give him phrases to use to prove to the Prefect that you’re who you say you are. The next few days, we get you a ton of mana potions, and you do…whatever you did before… I guess. Turn all the Oaths active for the Legion. That’ll help convince them. Then, on the last day in the arena, that’s when you go the Enclave. When they already believe, you go and you lead them out of the Enclave, all of them.”

“You think they’ll just pack up their lives on my order?” I asked, shaking my head. “I don’t see it happening, Yen. I’d be happier if they would, but I can’t expect them to do all that just on my say-so, not without even meeting me first.”

“They won’t be. They’re acting on the lawful orders of the Lord of the Great Tower of Dravith, Scion of the Empire, duly confirmed by members of the Praetoria. Yeah, in normal times, a lot more convincing would be needed, but right now? The Legion General was murdered in the streets, mobs are howling daily for the Legion to be disbanded and probably murdered. We were already considering having to leave the city and strike out, set up a new settlement somewhere; maybe take over one of the old ruins or something. The only thing that was stopping us all was our Oath to protect the citizens of the Empire, even when they’re being dicks, I guess. Now?” She snorted. “The Legion is sick of being treated like second-class citizens, and you’re offering an ‘out’ that’s both honorable and hopeful. We get to be what we all signed up to be, but without the hatred that we currently have to put up with every day? Where do we sign?”

“You honestly believe that?” I asked her, and she nodded. “Then I’ll trust you to know your people better than I do. Write up a message confirming who I am. I’ll write the orders when I get back, and Amaat can take them back to the Enclave today. I need to get to this healer, and sort this out.” I straightened up and nodded to her and Amaat.

“About time you started thinkin’,” Mal muttered, and I glared at him.

“Really, dude, do you just have to run your mouth constantly?”

“Wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t,” he replied, smiling smugly.

“Asshole,” I muttered.

“Takes one to know one.”

“Can I get a guide to the healer before the fighting starts tonight?” I asked, and Mal shrugged.

“If you’re late to that appointment with the healer, fightin’ might start a mite earlier than yer expectin’…”

“So give me a goddamn guide, then!” I growled at him, trying to decide if I was pissed or pleased to be working with Mal. I liked the guy, but damn, he made my fists itch.

“Gaion, take them where they need to go, will ya?” Mal said, and Gaion nodded.

“See, that wasn’t so hard…” I said, and he grinned.

“That’s what she said,” he muttered under his breath and I froze.

“Say, Mal… where was it exactly you came from?” I asked, a terrible suspicion filling my mind.

“Narkolt. You forgotten that already?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow at me.

“Riiiight…” I nodded slowly, suddenly less at ease with the man.

“I’ll draft a set of the orders as well, if you want?” Yen asked, frowning at the sudden change in the atmosphere.

“Yeah, you do that,” I said, shaking my head and forcing a smile. “Think you can give her what she needs so that she can do it while I’m with the healer?” I asked Mal, who looked to Soween.

“I’ll sort it,” Soween said, sighing as she stood up and left the room.

“I’ll fly overwatch for you then,” Amaat offered, and I