Chapter 42

Almon fell face first into the ground, his bow dropped just outside of his grasp as Arthur clad in his heavy armor, rested his right knee on his back to keep him from standing. “Nice try.” Arthur pressed a blade to Almon’s neck. “Now why don’t you tell me just why you and your friend attacked me.”

“Why else, for money and whatever you have on you.” Almon said feeding Arthur a blanket statement any thief could say.

“Yes, I already know that. I was just wondering why you would do that out here. From what I understand there are a few organisations in Antium that specifically deal with thievery. Why don’t you just join one of those?”

“Perhaps I am a wanted man and cannot enter the city without being captured.” Almon spoke as he tried to subtly reach for the dagger on his thigh.

“A wanted man are you? So in that case there would be a reward for bringing you to justice?” Arthur asked. Everyone needed money and it wouldn’t hurt to have a bit extra, especially since he would likely be attending more classes in the future with the mages guild and after looking through a brochure they could get quite expensive.

Almon gritted his teeth and attempted to grab his dagger and stab Arthur, but Arthur noticed and took a solid grip on his wrist, preventing him from doing anything while he disarmed him.

“I suppose I should thank you for helping me out in this case.” Arthur used a bit of dirt to bound Almon’s hands behind his back while he spoke. “With the money I get from turning you in I will have more money to attend classes and further my magical education.”

********

Arthur was sure to take all the weapons that the two bandits had on them, the dagger and bow that Almon wielded and the iron shortsword that Tullus was using before he died.

Along the trip back to Antium Almon didn’t say anything as he was trying to think of a way to escape, and with his wounded leg they had to walk the whole way resulting in them getting back to the city at about dinner time.

The guards at the southern gate were confused at first why Arthur had bound someone's hands and brought them to a city. They had even pointed their weapons while one went to inform their captain of the situation. Once Captain Lar Tasius of the southern district arrived with several other guards he immediately recognized Arthur and ordered his men to lower their weapons. “Lower your weapons. This man is a friend.”

“Thank you captain.” Arthur noticed the insignia on his right arm that he recignised from his time with Captain Pelagius.

“It is no problem Mr. Arthur, but might I ask why you have brought someone with bound hands and treated like a prisoner?”

“This elf here tried to kill me in the Pelcester Forest as I was walking back here after I collected some plants for alchemical purposes. He had a friend who unfortunately died when I attempted to disable him.”

“Dam bandits, they have been getting more and more aggressive lately.” Captain Tasius gave Almon a look that could kill as he spoke. “Perhaps you would be willing to hand him over for interrogation purposes.”

“Why of course, why don’t we go somewhere a bit more private to discuss the details though. We should speak of such things with so many eyes watching.” Arthur gestured to the many people waiting in line, from rich to poor they were all watching with anticipation.

“Of course, please follow me to the barracks. We can speak in my office.”

*********

The walk to the barracks located in the southern district was a short one. The actual barracks itself was quite old and looked like it hadn't been taken care of for a good portion of time. But there were also a few workers fixing it up, replacing a few eroded walls and the like.

Of course Captain Tasius did notice Arthur looking over the building and its rather poor state and decided to speak up. “My predecessor was quite corrupt and used the money that should have been used for upkeep of the building for his own personal uses. Since you exposed that cult of vampires their allied thieves guild Misery's End was taken out with them, and she was exposed as an ally of theirs, helping them cover up their crimes or if that wasn’t possible belittling their impact and hindering the investigation.”

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“And when you were promoted you learned of my involvement and kept a close eye out for me.” Arthur finished the sentence for him.

“Yes, that is correct. I am simply glad something has actually come from it.” The duo along with their escort enter the barracks and Almon the elven bandit was taken to the dungeon while Arthur and the captain enter his office.

They both took seats and after a short silence the captain began asking Arthur a few questions regarding the bandit. “If you don’t mind me asking where exactly did you encounter the bandit duo?”

“I was close to the northern edge of the Pelcester Forest when the elf fired an arrow that just narrowly missed me from about forty or so meters away. I managed to hide behind cover and using magic disabled both before I killed the other and brought the elf here.” Arthur recounted the attack and covered everything that was important.

“So you are a mage. That explains how you managed to fight your way into the vampire's lair.” Captain Tasius took a mental note of Arthur's magical skill. “Now normally there wouldn’t be any bounties for such things, but given the information you have given us I think I can make an exception.” Captain Tasius looked through his desk for the paperwork that was required to issue a bounty and gave a slip of paper that would allow him to collect his bounty from the front desk in the barracks within the week.

The moment Arthur left the barracks Captain Tasius called up his second in command to speak with him. His second in command, Lieutenant Kalum Goldenshield was a dwarf that was in his sixties making him a young adult by dwarf standards. “You called for me sir?”

“Yes. I have just been informed of recent bandit activity north in the Pelcester Forest. A bandit of the attacking party has been taken prisoner in the dungeon, I want you to interrogate him and find the location of their camps.”

“What should I do when I have collected all the information he has, sir?”

“Bring it to me, I will then decide our course of action.” Captain Tasius might have been considered young and a bit weak for the position of Captain. But he was selected not for his martial prowess, but for his cunning and ability to anticipate the actions of his enemies as well as his loyalty to the city of Antium and the Kingdom of Rathen.

‘I will do what my predecessor would not do and drive out the bandit scum and all the other parasites that infest this festering region of the city.’ The captain looked over the report of the assault of the vampire cults hideout, specifically the parts detailing Arthur’s contributions. ‘And you Arthur of Dom Badaher will help me in that endeavour.’

**********

Arthur quickly returned to The Elder Nymph and went directly to master Calvus to tell him of his success. “That is wonderful my apprentice, I hope you didn’t encounter any obstacles in your search.” Master Calvus said as he was counting up all the plants Arthur collected.

“Just a duo of bandits trying to steal from me. But I dealt with them.”

“Bandits in the Pelcester Forest? Oh dear. This doesn't bode well.” Master Calvus paused and began searching through his cabinet for something.

“You might have been fine this time, but just in case, take this. I haven’t used this in years since I upgraded my equipment, but I think it might be helpful to you.” Master Calvus handed Arthur a small silver ring with a dull blue gem encrusted. “It contains a simple shield spell that will block any attack against you, but it doesn’t have much energy to use with its weak mana crystal so don’t rely on it.”

Arthur took the simple ring and placed it on his left index finger. As he did he could feel a thin layer of energy cover his entire body, it wasn’t all that strong, only about enough to block one or two well placed strikes but as an emergency shield it did its job. “Thank you master.”

“Well I can't have my apprentice dying because I was too cheap to give away a few trinkets I don't use anymore. Now I will show you how to brew a potion of nutrients.

A potion of nutrients required one healing root, one witch’s ivy, and one knotweed along with some water. The first step was to use the mortar and pestle to grind up each of the ingredients separately. Second, each grounded up healing root needed to be added to a cup of water and thoroughly mixed together. Third the water and healing root needed to be boiled for half a minute before being let to cool for another minute. Fourth the grounded up witch’s ivy and knotweed need to be added to the pot and stirred until they are mixed. Fifth using the retort the mixture needs to be distilled and emptied into a bottle.

Master Calvus gave Arthur a demonstration and gave Arthur the final product to keep since he was the one to collect all the ingredients. “Now it might look easy, but always remember things can always go wrong for absolutely no reason. So always keep an eye on your station if you are using it and never leave anything with a flame unattended.”

“Of course Master, that is just common sense.”

Master Calvus shook his head. “Well according to a few others who I took as apprentices it wasn’t. And let's just say that they did not finish their apprenticeships.” Master Calvus took all the abyss sage and goblin berries and placed them in his bag.

“Now it is your turn. Just follow this recipe and when you are done come and let me know and I will tell you how you did.” Master Calvus handed Arthur a piece of paper that detailed everything about the potion from the ingredients needed to the apparatuses that will be used.

The first thing Arthur did was look over the recipe for anything that Master Calvus might have left out. The only thing he found was just a few safety procedures that involved keeping all the types of ingredients separate and to keep a bucket of water at hand just in case of a fire.