Chapter 462: Seeking Refuge
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Chapter 462: Seeking Refuge
Seeking Refuge
Marching through the Undercroft, Martel felt exhausted. In the physical sense, but also in terms of his magic. Casting the lightning bolt had been beyond his remaining capabilities, being a spell he had yet to finish training. The fire ray after that drained what was left of his spellpower.
He could not even summon the weakest of magelight; he had picked up a lightstone and used that to illuminate his path. It burned so hot in his palm, he had to carry it with his sleeve down to protect his hand; Regnar was an interesting mage, but enchanting was not his main skill.
Each step felt heavier than the last. Martel wanted to lie down and sleep, but it felt dangerous to remain in the Undercroft a moment longer than necessary. He had to keep going; he had to get out.
***
At length, the light from the stone in his hand met resistance. The road ahead all but disappeared as it narrowed in between the cave walls. As he reached the tunnel, Martel cast a final look back at the Undercroft. Nearly all of the vast cavern lay hid in the dark; that included Ruby. He felt guilty for leaving her; she deserved far better for her final rest. But he barely had the strength to get himself back; trying to drag her body had not been feasible. Doing his best to ignore how wrong it seemed that she would lie here in slow decay, Martel continued forward.
***
The next difficulty lay in the guard. If he saw Martel emerge and none of his fellow Night Knives, he could probably guess what had happened. He had the lightstone, which he might throw into the mercenary's face for a distraction. He also had the fire pots in his belt; hopefully his aim would be true.
Once Martel appeared in the cellar, he walked over to the stairs to the upper room and waited. As hard as it was to remain simply standing, he forced himself to do so quietly while he listened.
Moment after moment passed with no sound. Nobody could sit entirely still; either the guard was gone or asleep. Regardless, Martel had to risk it. He pushed the hatch open, keeping the lightstone ready to throw it.
Martel simply grunted and continued deeper into the building, navigating the hallways until he reached Regnar's room. Once again, a locked door.
It took insistent knocking before the hedge mage finally opened, looking at Martel with red eyes. "You look terrible. What happened?"
Martel entered, closing the door behind him. "We got ambushed on our way to the council. Everyone else but me is dead. Including my friend." He sat down on the bed, finding it difficult to stand any longer.
Regnar sat down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that, lad."
"I warned her," Martel continued, and he found it difficult to control his voice. "And I wasn't strong enough. I killed them, but it was too late."
The old mage squeezed his shoulder. "There's great power in magic, but it has its limits. And it doesn't make it easier to lose someone."
Martel swallowed. He did not know what else to say. No words could untangle the knot of pain in his chest. But he would not let this go. These Nine Lords had treated him like a fool and a pawn ever since he came to Morcaster, and now they had killed someone under his protection.
But he was not invincible. He had to consider how to proceed, or a gold-tipped arrow or blade might find him as well. Most of all, he needed to replenish his powers. "I need to sleep."
Regnar nodded. "Take my bed. I'll let the others know to keep quiet about your presence here. And if anyone comes looking for you, we'll give you warning."
Martel mumbled his gratitude, wasting only a brief moment to unclasp his cloak and remove it before he sank into the bed. He had barely closed his eyes before he fell into a deep slumber.
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Chapter 462: Seeking Refuge
Seeking Refuge
Marching through the Undercroft, Martel felt exhausted. In the physical sense, but also in terms of his magic. Casting the lightning bolt had been beyond his remaining capabilities, being a spell he had yet to finish training. The fire ray after that drained what was left of his spellpower.
He could not even summon the weakest of magelight; he had picked up a lightstone and used that to illuminate his path. It burned so hot in his palm, he had to carry it with his sleeve down to protect his hand; Regnar was an interesting mage, but enchanting was not his main skill.
Each step felt heavier than the last. Martel wanted to lie down and sleep, but it felt dangerous to remain in the Undercroft a moment longer than necessary. He had to keep going; he had to get out.
***
At length, the light from the stone in his hand met resistance. The road ahead all but disappeared as it narrowed in between the cave walls. As he reached the tunnel, Martel cast a final look back at the Undercroft. Nearly all of the vast cavern lay hid in the dark; that included Ruby. He felt guilty for leaving her; she deserved far better for her final rest. But he barely had the strength to get himself back; trying to drag her body had not been feasible. Doing his best to ignore how wrong it seemed that she would lie here in slow decay, Martel continued forward.
***
The next difficulty lay in the guard. If he saw Martel emerge and none of his fellow Night Knives, he could probably guess what had happened. He had the lightstone, which he might throw into the mercenary's face for a distraction. He also had the fire pots in his belt; hopefully his aim would be true.
Once Martel appeared in the cellar, he walked over to the stairs to the upper room and waited. As hard as it was to remain simply standing, he forced himself to do so quietly while he listened.
Moment after moment passed with no sound. Nobody could sit entirely still; either the guard was gone or asleep. Regardless, Martel had to risk it. He pushed the hatch open, keeping the lightstone ready to throw it.
Martel simply grunted and continued deeper into the building, navigating the hallways until he reached Regnar's room. Once again, a locked door.
It took insistent knocking before the hedge mage finally opened, looking at Martel with red eyes. "You look terrible. What happened?"
Martel entered, closing the door behind him. "We got ambushed on our way to the council. Everyone else but me is dead. Including my friend." He sat down on the bed, finding it difficult to stand any longer.
Regnar sat down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that, lad."
"I warned her," Martel continued, and he found it difficult to control his voice. "And I wasn't strong enough. I killed them, but it was too late."
The old mage squeezed his shoulder. "There's great power in magic, but it has its limits. And it doesn't make it easier to lose someone."
Martel swallowed. He did not know what else to say. No words could untangle the knot of pain in his chest. But he would not let this go. These Nine Lords had treated him like a fool and a pawn ever since he came to Morcaster, and now they had killed someone under his protection.
But he was not invincible. He had to consider how to proceed, or a gold-tipped arrow or blade might find him as well. Most of all, he needed to replenish his powers. "I need to sleep."
Regnar nodded. "Take my bed. I'll let the others know to keep quiet about your presence here. And if anyone comes looking for you, we'll give you warning."
Martel mumbled his gratitude, wasting only a brief moment to unclasp his cloak and remove it before he sank into the bed. He had barely closed his eyes before he fell into a deep slumber.
Chapter 462: Seeking RefugeSeeking RefugeMarching through the Undercroft, Martel felt exhausted. In the physical sense, but also in terms of his magic. Casting the lightning bolt had been beyond his remaining capabilities, being a spell he had yet to finish training. The fire ray after that drained what was left of his spellpower.He could not even summon the weakest of magelight; he had picked up a lightstone and used that to illuminate his path. It burned so hot in his palm, he had to carry it with his sleeve down to protect his hand; Regnar was an interesting mage, but enchanting was not his main skill.Each step felt heavier than the last. Martel wanted to lie down and sleep, but it felt dangerous to remain in the Undercroft a moment longer than necessary. He had to keep going; he had to get out.***At length, the light from the stone in his hand met resistance. The road ahead all but disappeared as it narrowed in between the cave walls. As he reached the tunnel, Martel cast a final look back at the Undercroft. Nearly all of the vast cavern lay hid in the dark; that included Ruby. He felt guilty for leaving her; she deserved far better for her final rest. But he barely had the strength to get himself back; trying to drag her body had not been feasible. Doing his best to ignore how wrong it seemed that she would lie here in slow decay, Martel continued forward.***The next difficulty lay in the guard. If he saw Martel emerge and none of his fellow Night Knives, he could probably guess what had happened. He had the lightstone, which he might throw into the mercenary's face for a distraction. He also had the fire pots in his belt; hopefully his aim would be true.Once Martel appeared in the cellar, he walked over to the stairs to the upper room and waited. As hard as it was to remain simply standing, he forced himself to do so quietly while he listened.Moment after moment passed with no sound. Nobody could sit entirely still; either the guard was gone or asleep. Regardless, Martel had to risk it. He pushed the hatch open, keeping the lightstone ready to throw it.Martel simply grunted and continued deeper into the building, navigating the hallways until he reached Regnar's room. Once again, a locked door.It took insistent knocking before the hedge mage finally opened, looking at Martel with red eyes. "You look terrible. What happened?"Martel entered, closing the door behind him. "We got ambushed on our way to the council. Everyone else but me is dead. Including my friend." He sat down on the bed, finding it difficult to stand any longer.Regnar sat down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that, lad.""I warned her," Martel continued, and he found it difficult to control his voice. "And I wasn't strong enough. I killed them, but it was too late."The old mage squeezed his shoulder. "There's great power in magic, but it has its limits. And it doesn't make it easier to lose someone."Martel swallowed. He did not know what else to say. No words could untangle the knot of pain in his chest. But he would not let this go. These Nine Lords had treated him like a fool and a pawn ever since he came to Morcaster, and now they had killed someone under his protection.But he was not invincible. He had to consider how to proceed, or a gold-tipped arrow or blade might find him as well. Most of all, he needed to replenish his powers. "I need to sleep."Regnar nodded. "Take my bed. I'll let the others know to keep quiet about your presence here. And if anyone comes looking for you, we'll give you warning."Martel mumbled his gratitude, wasting only a brief moment to unclasp his cloak and remove it before he sank into the bed. He had barely closed his eyes before he fell into a deep slumber.
