Quill

245. Wisdom or Bravery

The next morning, Martel went to the apothecary for his usual chore. As far as he knew, his arrangement with Mistress Rana had not changed. As he entered, the alchemist herself rather than her apprentice met him. He slowly closed the door to the infirmary behind him, wondering what this signified.

"Martel. I have been told of changes in your status."

Unsure what she meant exactly, he stayed silent.

"As an acolyte, with one year of experience in addition, it is only reasonabl...

244. No Good Deed Unpunished

Martel woke in a bed he did not recognise. He lay in an alcove, his head pounded, and his mouth felt absolutely dry.

"Good to see you awake."

Slowly, Martel turned his head towards the voice. Master Alastair smiled back at him. He finally recognised where he was. His teacher's private chamber. "What happened?"

"You drew on far more magic than you could control. You fell into what we consider a magical sleep," Master Alastair explained. "Your mind and body closing down until ...

243. Touched by Fire

As Martel reached the blaze, his eyes surveyed the scene. The fire had already spread to more houses, lying by the edge of the temple square. The legionaries had organised chains to carry buckets of water from the fountain while those with axes had begun demolishing nearby buildings to prevent further spread.

Martel looked across the square. Before he could do anything, he had to make sure Shadi was safe. Breaking into a run, he circumvented the human chain and rushed towards the watchm...

242. Fire Fight

Martel had been right about the duke's intentions, but wrong about the method. A fire would leave the Khivans homeless and forced to leave while clearing the ground for development.

So far, the flames had only touched one building, but since most of them were built from wood, it would quickly spread. Already, people poured onto the street, some sobbing or shouting for the fire patrol, others grabbing buckets and rushing to the fountain on the temple square.

A group of five or six ...

241. Midnight Ride

"I never leave my study unlocked. Show yourself before my guards have to drag you out, and maybe I will be lenient." The duke's voice rang cold.

Trying not to panic, Martel considered his situation. If they began searching, they would find him easily. He could see the rings of light from the lamps they held in their hands. If it came to it, having distance between him and them would be to his advantage. Taking a deep breath, Martel stood up.

"The peasant novice," Duke Cheval excla...

240. Clocks and Locks

Thanks to his foray yesterday in the house of Marche, Martel knew how to make his approach to the duke's study. Before venturing too far from the main hall, making himself suspicious to any guards, he found one of the passageways for servants to move about the mansion unseen. He quickly ducked inside, preparing himself mentally to act and look arrogant should he encounter any actual servants; it was not their place to question a guest of the duke.

Guards were another matter; but he had ...

239. Covetous

Solday was the last day of celebration. Unlike summer solstice, the winter counterpart was a more subdued affair. Commoners mostly celebrated at home, restricting it to a single day. Only the nobles dedicated several evenings, as they all invited each other to these feasts, using attendance to measure loyalties.

Unaware of this, Martel had his own considerations as he once more lay in the warm pool in the basement of his dormitory tower. While bathing twice in two days seemed excessive,...

238. A Light Step

After he had undressed, Martel hurried to step into the warm basin. Tonight was the solstice celebration at Maximilian's home, so Martel made use of the Lyceum's baths to get a good scrub in before he changed clothes.

But first he leaned back to enjoy the warm water. A few other boys made use of the pool as well, but they did not disturb him. It gave Martel the opportunity to consider tonight. During the summer celebrations, he had performed magic not once, but twice in a hall full of p...

237. Silence Is Silver

Yawning over his morning porridge, Martel rubbed his eyes. He had gotten a decent amount of sleep, but it still felt early to be up. Especially since he would soon be back out in the city, chasing the same kind of trouble as last night. At least he had no classes, in fact barely any chores except apothecary work; the only good thing that came from the stalemate with his advancement to acolyte. In fact, the lack of lessons made it harder for him to remember what day it was. And, he suddenly re...

236. First Blood

"Ambush!" Marcus pushed Flora down from the driver's seat before tumbling off to the other side.

Summoning his shield, Martel ducked, hiding between the barrels in the cart. Fighting to contain his panic, Martel tried to think. They were trapped inside the alley, but he had a good position at the moment, mostly hidden. And he did not have to go into close quarters to deal some hurt.

Only problem was who or where to attack. The tall buildings on either side prevented moonlight from...

235. Smallport

With no chores other than his work in the apothecary, it was early in the day when Martel went to the bridge district. Like yesterday, he could enter the unlocked yard to knock at the front door. Once admitted, he saw Flora and Marcus dressed in the garb of commoners, though he also noticed a glint of steel underneath until Marcus adjusted his sleeves.

Flora nodded towards the chain shirt hanging on a dummy. "Get your armour on. But keep the robe on top."

"We're doing this in disg...

234. New Stomping Grounds

It was strange to have no classes while he waited for his graduation to acolyte to be sorted out. Martel still worked one bell every morning in the apothecary, but compared to his schedule since he first arrived to Morcaster, that felt like nothing.

Tonight was an exception, being Pelday when the sparring guild met, and he also had to visit the Night Knives in their new location. But first, remembering that Master Alastair had promised to speak with the overseer yesterday, Martel went t...

233. Tribulations and Tribunals

The duke of Cheval's solstice celebration would not be held for another fiveday. Martel did feel apprehensive about the prospect – breaking into the study of a landlord in the bridge district was a far cry from doing the same in a duke's mansion – but he had time to consider. For now, other matters drew his attention. Martel had yet to hear word from the overseer, and he wondered how long he would have to wait until he could don the robes of an acolyte. At the same time, it seemed imperti...

232. Some Light Breaking and Entering

As Martel got out of bed and saw his brown robe hanging on the dummy, over his leather armour, he hesitated before putting it on. It felt like, if not a defeat, certainly a setback. He assumed the matter of his examination would be resolved soon, but waiting without knowing for how long was never easy.

At least he had something else to focus on and keep his mind occupied. Once his work in the apothecary was done, his only chore for the day, Martel left the castle and walked towards the ...

231. Deliberations

Reynard stood with his staff, a faint smirk outlined on his face. Of course – his only experiences with Martel had been in the first few months after his arrival, where he knew nothing of magic or weaponry. But since then, Martel had been in a dozen scraps or more. He had been ambushed by assailants wielding magic or golden protection and held his own against them. Considering the number of people who had tried to injure or kill him, Martel was not worried by simple sparring with all these ...

230. Examination

Martel continued to go over his plan with Shadi in his head, even after he woke the next morning. It took him a while to remember the significance of this particular Glunday; the most important date since his arrival to Morcaster, only to be eclipsed by his eventual graduation day. Today he took the novice examination and became an acolyte. Soon, he could lay aside his brown robe.

He still had yet to decide whether he wanted the blue colour of a watermage, treading the road of a weather...

229. Lessons in Law

When Martel woke in the morning, and the rush of emotions from last night had faded, his first thought was whether it had worked. If Jasper did not believe his threats, he might reveal his knowledge to punish Martel and the others. But as the day progressed with no sign of this, Martel allowed himself to relax. The nagging of constant concern over whether his secret would be revealed began to fade.

Yet its place was soon taken by his worry over Shadi's situation. This could not be solve...

228. Strength in Numbers

Martel knew he would not allow Shadi to become homeless. Having seen the despair of those evicted, cast out to live on the streets, and aware of how Morcaster treated people in such a situation, Martel would find a way to prevent that. He would need a new strategy, though. Just getting money to pay the rent would not work; partly because their landlord kept increasing it, partly because Martel had none. But he had other ideas that he would pursue, tomorrow. Today was Pelday, and Martel had an...

227. It's All About the Money

Thinking about his planned confrontation with Jasper gave Martel the by now familiar mixture of anxiety and excitement that accompanied all of his schemes. Unfortunately, today was Solday, and he would have to suffer these emotions until tomorrow night.

Working alongside Nora in the morning happened quietly as it had for a fiveday or longer, but the silence no longer felt strange or uncomfortable. Now that they both knew the truth, they exchanged looks and little smiles, at ease with ea...

226. Athelings and Apprentices

After leaving The River Pearl, Martel first had to return with Flora to remove his armour and change into his own clothes before he could walk back to the Lyceum. When he arrived home, he went straight to sleep. But the trip on the dark streets of Morcaster gave him the opportunity to consider the information from Dawn. The jewellery on her finger was more than it seemed. In fact, it was a signet ring, belonging to a scion of a minor house.

Martel remembered when Maximilian had lost his...

225. Tell a Hawk from a Heron

"Are you listening, boy? I assume you care about your examination." Master Alastair stared at his student.

Martel had been distracted thinking about his predicament with Jasper and the development of yesterday, but he snapped to. "Yes, master, I hear you."

"Hm." His teacher did not sound convinced, but he continued as his eyes glanced over the Hall of Elements. "It will take place in a fiveday or so, here in this place. Mistress Juliana will let you know exactly when."

"I se...

224. Talking Pillows

Martel's morning shifts at the apothecary made him feel more and more uncomfortable. He had no interest in talking to Nora, and it seemed she had understood this, abandoning her attempts to make conversation. Now they only spoke as needed to coordinate their work while he was there. Once he had finished his chores and classes, he strolled through the entrance hall, noticing the empty desk where Jasper usually sat. Nodding to Henry, Martel left the castle and crossed the open square outside th...

223. Something Unexpected

After talking with the Night Knives about his problem with Jasper, Martel felt better, especially as he now had a plan. Granted, the plan consisted of gathering information and nothing else, but he had people on his side now, at least. He went to sleep feeling a little reassured that things could be solved, and the feeling persisted when he woke the next morning on Pelday. He still had to be patient; Henry had told him that Jasper had Maldays off, which seemed the most likely opportunity to f...

222. Fits Together like Clockwork

Like yesterday, Martel said little during his hours in the apothecary. Nora seemed to sense his mood, as she made little attempt of conversation. As soon as the bell rang, he finished up and left with only the briefest of farewells. In some ways, he was angrier at Nora than at Jasper; she had pretended to be his friend all this time, gathering information to be used against him.

When his work for the day was done, Martel left the Lyceum, hoping to also leave such thoughts behind if only...

221. A Hope and a Prayer

Figuring he might as well get it out of the way, Martel approached Alainat breakfast the next morning. "I'm sorry, I won't be able to make the ointment for the sparring match matches after all. Sorry," he reiterated. Having to retract his offer bothered Martel, maybe more than it should. But it had seemed like a good opportunity to both demonstrate his generosity but also his skill and knowledge, and maybe sow some seeds of friendship. Looking at Alain's disappointed face, all of that now see...

220. Close Friends, Closer Enemies

Martel had only just returned to his room after breakfast when someone knocked on his door. With a bad feeling, Martel opened it. As suspected, Jasper stood outside. "I hear things went well for you yesterday. You finished another job. I'm just here for my half."

Martel figured with a strong enough punch, he could smash the smirk from Jasper's face. It would not solve any problems, but it would drastically make Martel feel better for now. Taking a deep breath, he went back into his room...

219. Thief Catcher

Unlike previous times, Martel did not feel the same concoction of emotions as he headed out to meet the Night Knives for another task. His heart and mind felt heavy, given the circumstances. Maybe he could tell the Night Knives that he would not do further work after today; then he would say to Jasper that they simply had not offered him any new tasks. It would not solve the fact that the acolyte knew about him, but at least Martel would not have to undertake more of this work and pay Jasper ...

218. Playing at Defence

Martel spent the remaining day in a daze. When he tried to think of something else, he found it impossible. Another person knew his secret, and unlike Maximilian, he could clearly not trust Jasper's intentions. He could tell someone about the earth acolyte, but to what end? Martel could not complain officially, as Jasper would surely retaliate by revealing what he knew. That would hurt Martel far more. He could tell Mistress Juliana or Master Alastair, but he might have to admit his involveme...

217. The Price of Friendship

Working in the apothecary or the workshop always stood in stark contrast to Martel's affairs in the city, lately those involving the Night Knives. Previously, he had enjoyed the change of pace after the more harrowing events such as the fighting ring at The Broken Crown; returning to the Lyceum and carrying out mundane tasks in quietude suited him after such intense experiences.

But he was starting to feel different. While the fight last night had certainly made his heartbeat quicken, h...

216. Three's a Crowd

Martel kept to himself all through Manday, waiting for tonight. He felt the weird mix of anticipation and anxiety brewing inside of him, threatening to reach a boiling point. He was not concerned about the fight as such, being two mages against a group of brigands. Yet he knew a moment of hesitation could cost him dearly. These thoughts remained in conflict within him, feeling confident one moment, concerned the next. It made him restless, unable to focus on much else. He spent the afternoon ...