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 t...
2023-02-20 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostMartel 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?"
... 2023-02-18 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostAs 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 loo...
2023-02-17 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostMartel 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 pou...
2023-02-16 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post"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 han...
2023-02-15 08:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostThanks 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 mental...
2023-02-14 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostSolday 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...
2023-02-13 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostAfter 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 th...
2023-02-12 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostYawning 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 goo...
2023-02-11 08:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post"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. ...
2023-02-10 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostWith 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 M...
2023-02-09 08:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostIt 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...
2023-02-08 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostThe 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. Mar...
2023-02-07 08:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostAs 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 s...
2023-02-06 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostReynard 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...
2023-02-05 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostMartel 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 bec...
2023-02-04 08:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostWhen 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...
2023-02-03 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostMartel 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; pa...
2023-02-02 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostThinking 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 fo...
2023-02-01 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostAfter 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 j...
2023-01-31 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post"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 continue...
2023-01-30 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostMartel'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...
2023-01-29 08:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostAfter 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 pe...
2023-01-28 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostLike 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 th...
2023-01-27 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostFiguring 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 opportun...
2023-01-26 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostMartel 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...
2023-01-25 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostUnlike 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...
2023-01-24 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostMartel 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 woul...
2023-01-23 08:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostWorking 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 ...
2023-01-22 08:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostMartel 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. The...
2023-01-21 08:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
