Chapter 160: An Offer She Can't Refuse
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Chapter 160: An Offer She Can't Refuse
An Offer She Can't Refuse
"Today, we stay at the school. Study its stonework. Learn its secrets." Master Basil looked over his students in the entrance hall with such a placid expression, Martel wondered if the teacher actually registered their presence or simply assumed someone was around to attend his class. At least they were spared any slow-paced trip into the city and back again.
In fact, they barely had to move before reaching the first location for the lesson. Walking to the middle of the entrance hall, their teacher pointed at the floor beneath their feet.
"Notice the symbol." He pointed on the ground, letting some magelight illuminate the pattern. "A rune. From the barbarians in the North."
"What does it do?" asked one of the novices, the one with skill in earth magic. It was the first time any of them had spoken during Master Basil's lessons.
"It delivers a warning. When someone enters who does not reside at the Lyceum. It is only active at night. It alerts Master Jerome," came the slow explanation.
"Who is that?" asked the novice with an aptitude for air magic.
"The master artificer. You've never worked for him in the workshop?" the first novice whispered back.
The other student shrugged. "My parents paid for my education."
Martel had his own considerations while the others chattered; he thought about how often he had arrived home late, and if every time he had woken up the artificer from his sleep. "Does this mean Master Jerome wakes up whenever anybody comes home late?"Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
An expression and a coughing sound, which charitably could be interpreted as a smile and laughter, respectively, took over Master Basil. "No. The rune for those with the same mark. Look inside your sleeve."
Martel twisted the fabric around to find that a small symbol had been stitched into the cloth. He had never even noticed it before, being placed on the inside of the sleeve.
"This keeps the rune quiet. Like a key to the lock. But do not think that is all. The Lyceum has other defences." Their teacher walked towards the gate that led onto the street.
Martel and the other novices followed, and against expectations, he found his curiosity piqued.
"Place your hand on the stone. Feel the magic."
They all did. Martel was not sure he felt anything, other than perhaps the stone was warmer to the touch than he would have thought. The novice talented in earth magic, on the other hand, widened his eyes.
"Powerful spellwork in these stones. Made by the Archeans. Some of it even beyond our understanding," Master Basil admitted.
The usual amount of patrons could be seen inside, some of them turning their heads to look at the newcomer, though nobody paid him particular attention. They continued up the stairs and deeper into the labyrinthine part of the building until the guard opened a door, and Martel once more stood in Kerra's chamber. He had a memory flash into his mind of the first time, feeling threatened and trapped. This time, only Kerra was present, and she smiled as she motioned for him to sit down opposite her.
"My thanks for coming here. I have a proposition for you."
A little wary considering the other times he had helped Kerra, Martel felt sceptical. "What is it?"
"In a fiveday or so, it will be a full moon. You remember what happened in the copper lanes at the last full moon, I take it."
Martel had not thought about the maleficar for a while. "I remember."
"I have armed my men with golden weapons – the price still haunts me – but they have no experience fighting mages. I have them on the lookout for anyone suspicious, but whether they can actually take down a dark wizard remains theoretical."
The same would go for Martel, who felt a little awkward. "You mentioned in your note that you needed my expertise, but I have no knowledge of maleficars either. I've never met one."
She looked at him intently. "I want you to train my men. Give them some experience fighting a spellcaster."
Surprised, Martel tried to think of a response. "I've never trained anyone," he stammered. "I wouldn't know what to do."
"Simply attack them. I saw what you did when Tibert and his thugs attacked us. Not to mention, you won several fights in his pit. Do the same here."
"What if they get hurt? Badly?"
"They'll be wearing gold. On that note, I'll pay you ten silver to train them, one bell every night."
Martel's eyebrows shot up. That was more money than working for Master Jerome or any other honest job he might do. Still not as much as winning a fight in the pit of The Broken Crown, but also less risk of expulsion.
Yet something in him felt guilty about accepting coin for this. They were threatened by magic; profiting from that, simply because he also possessed magic, somehow seemed dirty. "I'll do it, but instead of paying me, I'd rather you spent that money helping others. Maybe increase preparations against this maleficar, equip more people to fight him."
Now it was Kerra's turn to look surprised, though she quickly hid her reaction. "More than acceptable to me. Are you able to return tomorrow night, say at last bell? I'll have your recruits ready for you by then."
"I'll be there."
"Then it is agreed, with my thanks."
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Chapter 160: An Offer She Can't Refuse
An Offer She Can't Refuse
"Today, we stay at the school. Study its stonework. Learn its secrets." Master Basil looked over his students in the entrance hall with such a placid expression, Martel wondered if the teacher actually registered their presence or simply assumed someone was around to attend his class. At least they were spared any slow-paced trip into the city and back again.
In fact, they barely had to move before reaching the first location for the lesson. Walking to the middle of the entrance hall, their teacher pointed at the floor beneath their feet.
"Notice the symbol." He pointed on the ground, letting some magelight illuminate the pattern. "A rune. From the barbarians in the North."
"What does it do?" asked one of the novices, the one with skill in earth magic. It was the first time any of them had spoken during Master Basil's lessons.
"It delivers a warning. When someone enters who does not reside at the Lyceum. It is only active at night. It alerts Master Jerome," came the slow explanation.
"Who is that?" asked the novice with an aptitude for air magic.
"The master artificer. You've never worked for him in the workshop?" the first novice whispered back.
The other student shrugged. "My parents paid for my education."
Martel had his own considerations while the others chattered; he thought about how often he had arrived home late, and if every time he had woken up the artificer from his sleep. "Does this mean Master Jerome wakes up whenever anybody comes home late?"Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
An expression and a coughing sound, which charitably could be interpreted as a smile and laughter, respectively, took over Master Basil. "No. The rune for those with the same mark. Look inside your sleeve."
Martel twisted the fabric around to find that a small symbol had been stitched into the cloth. He had never even noticed it before, being placed on the inside of the sleeve.
"This keeps the rune quiet. Like a key to the lock. But do not think that is all. The Lyceum has other defences." Their teacher walked towards the gate that led onto the street.
Martel and the other novices followed, and against expectations, he found his curiosity piqued.
"Place your hand on the stone. Feel the magic."
They all did. Martel was not sure he felt anything, other than perhaps the stone was warmer to the touch than he would have thought. The novice talented in earth magic, on the other hand, widened his eyes.
"Powerful spellwork in these stones. Made by the Archeans. Some of it even beyond our understanding," Master Basil admitted.
The usual amount of patrons could be seen inside, some of them turning their heads to look at the newcomer, though nobody paid him particular attention. They continued up the stairs and deeper into the labyrinthine part of the building until the guard opened a door, and Martel once more stood in Kerra's chamber. He had a memory flash into his mind of the first time, feeling threatened and trapped. This time, only Kerra was present, and she smiled as she motioned for him to sit down opposite her.
"My thanks for coming here. I have a proposition for you."
A little wary considering the other times he had helped Kerra, Martel felt sceptical. "What is it?"
"In a fiveday or so, it will be a full moon. You remember what happened in the copper lanes at the last full moon, I take it."
Martel had not thought about the maleficar for a while. "I remember."
"I have armed my men with golden weapons – the price still haunts me – but they have no experience fighting mages. I have them on the lookout for anyone suspicious, but whether they can actually take down a dark wizard remains theoretical."
The same would go for Martel, who felt a little awkward. "You mentioned in your note that you needed my expertise, but I have no knowledge of maleficars either. I've never met one."
She looked at him intently. "I want you to train my men. Give them some experience fighting a spellcaster."
Surprised, Martel tried to think of a response. "I've never trained anyone," he stammered. "I wouldn't know what to do."
"Simply attack them. I saw what you did when Tibert and his thugs attacked us. Not to mention, you won several fights in his pit. Do the same here."
"What if they get hurt? Badly?"
"They'll be wearing gold. On that note, I'll pay you ten silver to train them, one bell every night."
Martel's eyebrows shot up. That was more money than working for Master Jerome or any other honest job he might do. Still not as much as winning a fight in the pit of The Broken Crown, but also less risk of expulsion.
Yet something in him felt guilty about accepting coin for this. They were threatened by magic; profiting from that, simply because he also possessed magic, somehow seemed dirty. "I'll do it, but instead of paying me, I'd rather you spent that money helping others. Maybe increase preparations against this maleficar, equip more people to fight him."
Now it was Kerra's turn to look surprised, though she quickly hid her reaction. "More than acceptable to me. Are you able to return tomorrow night, say at last bell? I'll have your recruits ready for you by then."
"I'll be there."
"Then it is agreed, with my thanks."
Chapter 160: An Offer She Can't RefuseAn Offer She Can't Refuse"Today, we stay at the school. Study its stonework. Learn its secrets." Master Basil looked over his students in the entrance hall with such a placid expression, Martel wondered if the teacher actually registered their presence or simply assumed someone was around to attend his class. At least they were spared any slow-paced trip into the city and back again.In fact, they barely had to move before reaching the first location for the lesson. Walking to the middle of the entrance hall, their teacher pointed at the floor beneath their feet."Notice the symbol." He pointed on the ground, letting some magelight illuminate the pattern. "A rune. From the barbarians in the North.""What does it do?" asked one of the novices, the one with skill in earth magic. It was the first time any of them had spoken during Master Basil's lessons."It delivers a warning. When someone enters who does not reside at the Lyceum. It is only active at night. It alerts Master Jerome," came the slow explanation."Who is that?" asked the novice with an aptitude for air magic."The master artificer. You've never worked for him in the workshop?" the first novice whispered back.The other student shrugged. "My parents paid for my education."Martel had his own considerations while the others chattered; he thought about how often he had arrived home late, and if every time he had woken up the artificer from his sleep. "Does this mean Master Jerome wakes up whenever anybody comes home late?"Nvl--1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.An expression and a coughing sound, which charitably could be interpreted as a smile and laughter, respectively, took over Master Basil. "No. The rune for those with the same mark. Look inside your sleeve."Martel twisted the fabric around to find that a small symbol had been stitched into the cloth. He had never even noticed it before, being placed on the inside of the sleeve."This keeps the rune quiet. Like a key to the lock. But do not think that is all. The Lyceum has other defences." Their teacher walked towards the gate that led onto the street.Martel and the other novices followed, and against expectations, he found his curiosity piqued."Place your hand on the stone. Feel the magic."They all did. Martel was not sure he felt anything, other than perhaps the stone was warmer to the touch than he would have thought. The novice talented in earth magic, on the other hand, widened his eyes."Powerful spellwork in these stones. Made by the Archeans. Some of it even beyond our understanding," Master Basil admitted.The usual amount of patrons could be seen inside, some of them turning their heads to look at the newcomer, though nobody paid him particular attention. They continued up the stairs and deeper into the labyrinthine part of the building until the guard opened a door, and Martel once more stood in Kerra's chamber. He had a memory flash into his mind of the first time, feeling threatened and trapped. This time, only Kerra was present, and she smiled as she motioned for him to sit down opposite her."My thanks for coming here. I have a proposition for you."A little wary considering the other times he had helped Kerra, Martel felt sceptical. "What is it?""In a fiveday or so, it will be a full moon. You remember what happened in the copper lanes at the last full moon, I take it."Martel had not thought about the maleficar for a while. "I remember.""I have armed my men with golden weapons the price still haunts me but they have no experience fighting mages. I have them on the lookout for anyone suspicious, but whether they can actually take down a dark wizard remains theoretical."The same would go for Martel, who felt a little awkward. "You mentioned in your note that you needed my expertise, but I have no knowledge of maleficars either. I've never met one."She looked at him intently. "I want you to train my men. Give them some experience fighting a spellcaster."Surprised, Martel tried to think of a response. "I've never trained anyone," he stammered. "I wouldn't know what to do.""Simply attack them. I saw what you did when Tibert and his thugs attacked us. Not to mention, you won several fights in his pit. Do the same here.""What if they get hurt? Badly?""They'll be wearing gold. On that note, I'll pay you ten silver to train them, one bell every night."Martel's eyebrows shot up. That was more money than working for Master Jerome or any other honest job he might do. Still not as much as winning a fight in the pit of The Broken Crown, but also less risk of expulsion.Yet something in him felt guilty about accepting coin for this. They were threatened by magic; profiting from that, simply because he also possessed magic, somehow seemed dirty. "I'll do it, but instead of paying me, I'd rather you spent that money helping others. Maybe increase preparations against this maleficar, equip more people to fight him."Now it was Kerra's turn to look surprised, though she quickly hid her reaction. "More than acceptable to me. Are you able to return tomorrow night, say at last bell? I'll have your recruits ready for you by then.""I'll be there.""Then it is agreed, with my thanks."
