Chapter 76: Tempers Flaring
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Chapter 76: Tempers Flaring
Tempers Flaring
Not every Solday working for Master Jerome could be as simple and easy as last time; instead of removing ink from parchment, Martel was needed in the laundry. He worked his bell in silence, distracting himself from the tedium of the task by thinking about magic and his progress.
When his two hours were done, he approached the artificer. "I was wondering if I could do any work for you? Even if just a bell. So I can send a letter to my mother," Martel explained.
"Far be it from me to keep someone from fulfilling his filial duty. In fact, hold one moment. I have a task that fits." Raising one finger to indicate for the boy to wait, Master Jerome disappeared into his private study and emerged soon after. "I have a letter to Master Andrew, a glass blower. Do you know where the glassmakers' street is?"
"No, but I'm sure I can find him."
"No doubt. It lies in the bottom end of the market district, not far from the harbour. But if you reach the cobblers' street, you've gone too far." The artificer placed the letter in Martel's one hand and dropped five copper coins into the other. "All yours if you deliver it today."
"Right away, master!"
~
Despite his claim, Martel had to finish his shift in the apothecary first. Once the bell rang, releasing him from alchemical duties, he went into town. It took Martel more than an hour to reach and traverse most of the market district. He was so focused trying to find his destination that he did not notice the change in mood at first. The further he went, the more people on the street. And they had not gathered to trade or barter goods.
"No more!"
"We've had enough!"
"Get rid of them!"
Martel finally noticed the shouts that rose above the general clamour. People were angry, but he did not know why. He looked around until he saw an old woman by the side of the street, packing her wares away. "What's happening?" He asked even as he stayed close to the house wall, trying to keep a gap between him and the crowd.
"Khivans launched an attack at Savena! Fighting for days, they say, and still not done. The first wounded have already come home with stories of many fallen." The woman grabbed her bundle of belongings and disappeared into the nearest building.
His heart beating faster, Martel tried to keep cool. There was no reason for him to get involved. If he just waited it out, surely the crowds would disperse or move elsewhere, and he could hurry home.
~
Martel's spell did not last long, but the temple suffered no further attacks, though the fighting continued to rage outside. It felt like forever until the sounds from outside subsided. The silence, however welcome, felt eerie. Someone climbed the small belltower on the temple to confirm and soon returned with the news that the fighting had ended. The Asterians had pulled back, and the Khivans had gone home, all of them licking their wounds.
Martel walked outside, accompanied by Shadi. A dreadful sight met them. Numerous bodies lay scattered across the square, and many more stains of blood marred the place. Some whimpers could be heard from those wounded; here and there, someone got up and limped away, sometimes finding another to help or be helped by.
"I must get home. I need to see my father." Grabbing Martel's arm, whether for emotional or physical support, Shadi dragged him with her at a hurried pace.
It was a short trip to Master Farhad's workshop, yet it felt dreadfully long. What if something had happened to the old man? He could not be expected to defend himself. What if Shadi blamed Martel for sealing off the temple, keeping her inside while her father was hurt?
He breathed a little easier seeing the house standing untouched. As for the door, it was bolted from the inside, and Shadi knocked repeatedly while making herself known. They heard the sound of the bolt, and the door open to reveal Master Farhad.
"Child, you are safe," he said, embracing his daughter on the doorstep while adding another sentence in Khivan. Still holding her, he turned his eyes on Martel. "Go home, boy. There is nothing for you here."
Shadi took a step back. "He helped us, dad!"
"And we should be grateful? We protect ourselves. This isn't your fight, boy."
"Today they came for the Khivans." Martel tenderly touched the wound on his temple. Although it had been cleaned, it's still felt raw and bleeding. "Tomorrow they come for the half-bloods."
"This was one day for you. To us, it is every day."
Shadi gave Martel a hug. "I appreciate what you did. If you want to stay, we'll find a place for you." She sent her father a defiant look.
"It's alright. I have classes tomorrow morning. I'll go home." Getting back to the Lyceum felt like the smart choice.
With a final squeeze of Shadi's hand, he left. Behind him, he heard her enter the house and the door close.
It was a strange journey home on abandoned streets, with his head pounding and his mouth completely dry. He felt the slow trickle of blood down his cheek from the wound on his temple and wiped it away. As he reached the more affluent parts of the city with streetlamps, he looked at the red colour on his fingertips.
Reaching the Lyceum, the empty hallways felt foreboding. As if he dared to walk where he did not belong. The final steps up the staircase felt the longest until he could finally go inside his room. Forgetting all about cleaning his face or changing out of his clothes, Martel laid down on his bed and fell asleep.
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Chapter 76: Tempers Flaring
Tempers Flaring
Not every Solday working for Master Jerome could be as simple and easy as last time; instead of removing ink from parchment, Martel was needed in the laundry. He worked his bell in silence, distracting himself from the tedium of the task by thinking about magic and his progress.
When his two hours were done, he approached the artificer. "I was wondering if I could do any work for you? Even if just a bell. So I can send a letter to my mother," Martel explained.
"Far be it from me to keep someone from fulfilling his filial duty. In fact, hold one moment. I have a task that fits." Raising one finger to indicate for the boy to wait, Master Jerome disappeared into his private study and emerged soon after. "I have a letter to Master Andrew, a glass blower. Do you know where the glassmakers' street is?"
"No, but I'm sure I can find him."
"No doubt. It lies in the bottom end of the market district, not far from the harbour. But if you reach the cobblers' street, you've gone too far." The artificer placed the letter in Martel's one hand and dropped five copper coins into the other. "All yours if you deliver it today."
"Right away, master!"
~
Despite his claim, Martel had to finish his shift in the apothecary first. Once the bell rang, releasing him from alchemical duties, he went into town. It took Martel more than an hour to reach and traverse most of the market district. He was so focused trying to find his destination that he did not notice the change in mood at first. The further he went, the more people on the street. And they had not gathered to trade or barter goods.
"No more!"
"We've had enough!"
"Get rid of them!"
Martel finally noticed the shouts that rose above the general clamour. People were angry, but he did not know why. He looked around until he saw an old woman by the side of the street, packing her wares away. "What's happening?" He asked even as he stayed close to the house wall, trying to keep a gap between him and the crowd.
"Khivans launched an attack at Savena! Fighting for days, they say, and still not done. The first wounded have already come home with stories of many fallen." The woman grabbed her bundle of belongings and disappeared into the nearest building.
His heart beating faster, Martel tried to keep cool. There was no reason for him to get involved. If he just waited it out, surely the crowds would disperse or move elsewhere, and he could hurry home.
~
Martel's spell did not last long, but the temple suffered no further attacks, though the fighting continued to rage outside. It felt like forever until the sounds from outside subsided. The silence, however welcome, felt eerie. Someone climbed the small belltower on the temple to confirm and soon returned with the news that the fighting had ended. The Asterians had pulled back, and the Khivans had gone home, all of them licking their wounds.
Martel walked outside, accompanied by Shadi. A dreadful sight met them. Numerous bodies lay scattered across the square, and many more stains of blood marred the place. Some whimpers could be heard from those wounded; here and there, someone got up and limped away, sometimes finding another to help or be helped by.
"I must get home. I need to see my father." Grabbing Martel's arm, whether for emotional or physical support, Shadi dragged him with her at a hurried pace.
It was a short trip to Master Farhad's workshop, yet it felt dreadfully long. What if something had happened to the old man? He could not be expected to defend himself. What if Shadi blamed Martel for sealing off the temple, keeping her inside while her father was hurt?
He breathed a little easier seeing the house standing untouched. As for the door, it was bolted from the inside, and Shadi knocked repeatedly while making herself known. They heard the sound of the bolt, and the door open to reveal Master Farhad.
"Child, you are safe," he said, embracing his daughter on the doorstep while adding another sentence in Khivan. Still holding her, he turned his eyes on Martel. "Go home, boy. There is nothing for you here."
Shadi took a step back. "He helped us, dad!"
"And we should be grateful? We protect ourselves. This isn't your fight, boy."
"Today they came for the Khivans." Martel tenderly touched the wound on his temple. Although it had been cleaned, it's still felt raw and bleeding. "Tomorrow they come for the half-bloods."
"This was one day for you. To us, it is every day."
Shadi gave Martel a hug. "I appreciate what you did. If you want to stay, we'll find a place for you." She sent her father a defiant look.
"It's alright. I have classes tomorrow morning. I'll go home." Getting back to the Lyceum felt like the smart choice.
With a final squeeze of Shadi's hand, he left. Behind him, he heard her enter the house and the door close.
It was a strange journey home on abandoned streets, with his head pounding and his mouth completely dry. He felt the slow trickle of blood down his cheek from the wound on his temple and wiped it away. As he reached the more affluent parts of the city with streetlamps, he looked at the red colour on his fingertips.
Reaching the Lyceum, the empty hallways felt foreboding. As if he dared to walk where he did not belong. The final steps up the staircase felt the longest until he could finally go inside his room. Forgetting all about cleaning his face or changing out of his clothes, Martel laid down on his bed and fell asleep.
Chapter 76: Tempers FlaringTempers FlaringNot every Solday working for Master Jerome could be as simple and easy as last time; instead of removing ink from parchment, Martel was needed in the laundry. He worked his bell in silence, distracting himself from the tedium of the task by thinking about magic and his progress.When his two hours were done, he approached the artificer. "I was wondering if I could do any work for you? Even if just a bell. So I can send a letter to my mother," Martel explained."Far be it from me to keep someone from fulfilling his filial duty. In fact, hold one moment. I have a task that fits." Raising one finger to indicate for the boy to wait, Master Jerome disappeared into his private study and emerged soon after. "I have a letter to Master Andrew, a glass blower. Do you know where the glassmakers' street is?""No, but I'm sure I can find him.""No doubt. It lies in the bottom end of the market district, not far from the harbour. But if you reach the cobblers' street, you've gone too far." The artificer placed the letter in Martel's one hand and dropped five copper coins into the other. "All yours if you deliver it today.""Right away, master!"~Despite his claim, Martel had to finish his shift in the apothecary first. Once the bell rang, releasing him from alchemical duties, he went into town. It took Martel more than an hour to reach and traverse most of the market district. He was so focused trying to find his destination that he did not notice the change in mood at first. The further he went, the more people on the street. And they had not gathered to trade or barter goods."No more!""We've had enough!""Get rid of them!"Martel finally noticed the shouts that rose above the general clamour. People were angry, but he did not know why. He looked around until he saw an old woman by the side of the street, packing her wares away. "What's happening?" He asked even as he stayed close to the house wall, trying to keep a gap between him and the crowd."Khivans launched an attack at Savena! Fighting for days, they say, and still not done. The first wounded have already come home with stories of many fallen." The woman grabbed her bundle of belongings and disappeared into the nearest building.His heart beating faster, Martel tried to keep cool. There was no reason for him to get involved. If he just waited it out, surely the crowds would disperse or move elsewhere, and he could hurry home.~Martel's spell did not last long, but the temple suffered no further attacks, though the fighting continued to rage outside. It felt like forever until the sounds from outside subsided. The silence, however welcome, felt eerie. Someone climbed the small belltower on the temple to confirm and soon returned with the news that the fighting had ended. The Asterians had pulled back, and the Khivans had gone home, all of them licking their wounds.Martel walked outside, accompanied by Shadi. A dreadful sight met them. Numerous bodies lay scattered across the square, and many more stains of blood marred the place. Some whimpers could be heard from those wounded; here and there, someone got up and limped away, sometimes finding another to help or be helped by."I must get home. I need to see my father." Grabbing Martel's arm, whether for emotional or physical support, Shadi dragged him with her at a hurried pace.It was a short trip to Master Farhad's workshop, yet it felt dreadfully long. What if something had happened to the old man? He could not be expected to defend himself. What if Shadi blamed Martel for sealing off the temple, keeping her inside while her father was hurt?He breathed a little easier seeing the house standing untouched. As for the door, it was bolted from the inside, and Shadi knocked repeatedly while making herself known. They heard the sound of the bolt, and the door open to reveal Master Farhad."Child, you are safe," he said, embracing his daughter on the doorstep while adding another sentence in Khivan. Still holding her, he turned his eyes on Martel. "Go home, boy. There is nothing for you here."Shadi took a step back. "He helped us, dad!""And we should be grateful? We protect ourselves. This isn't your fight, boy.""Today they came for the Khivans." Martel tenderly touched the wound on his temple. Although it had been cleaned, it's still felt raw and bleeding. "Tomorrow they come for the half-bloods.""This was one day for you. To us, it is every day."Shadi gave Martel a hug. "I appreciate what you did. If you want to stay, we'll find a place for you." She sent her father a defiant look."It's alright. I have classes tomorrow morning. I'll go home." Getting back to the Lyceum felt like the smart choice.With a final squeeze of Shadi's hand, he left. Behind him, he heard her enter the house and the door close.It was a strange journey home on abandoned streets, with his head pounding and his mouth completely dry. He felt the slow trickle of blood down his cheek from the wound on his temple and wiped it away. As he reached the more affluent parts of the city with streetlamps, he looked at the red colour on his fingertips.Reaching the Lyceum, the empty hallways felt foreboding. As if he dared to walk where he did not belong. The final steps up the staircase felt the longest until he could finally go inside his room. Forgetting all about cleaning his face or changing out of his clothes, Martel laid down on his bed and fell asleep.
