Quill

92. A Cake to Cry on

Wiser from experience, if only a little, Martel did not stay out late with Maximilian. At an almost decent time, they returned to the Lyceum, one of them singing songs that seemed incongruent with ...

91. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Arriving at the apothecary, Martel wondered a little to find Mistress Rana present. She rarely spent this much time in the workshop, though Nora had been absent for some days, going on her trip to ...

90. Good Things Come in Small Sizes

Martel ended up spending his afternoon in the apothecary as well, churning out the strange alchemical liquid that Master Kelsos needed. It was not a potion, rather the reverse; a person spat into t...

89. A Little Knowledge

When Martel woke on Malday, he did not feel better. Even though he had both slept yesterday afternoon and now through the night, he still felt tired. And despite the mild weather of late summer, he...

88. Specks of Red

A muted band trotted the weary steps through the city from the slums towards the centre. Martel coughed, feeling cold and tired to the bone. All in all, they had walked for hours crossing the slums...

87. Dealings in the Dark

Back at the derelict house, the three mages and their younger companions found the scene as described by Mole. Sparrow, crying and shivering, jumped at Weasel and clung to him as soon as she saw hi...

86. Chasing Fortune

Martel thought about Sparrow, the little girl with wheat-coloured hair, dirt on her face, and her arm wrapped in a bandage made from his shirt. "Do you know where she went? Where she was last seen?...

85. Sparrowhawk

With Solday came another free afternoon Martel had to take advantage of. He had spent all his coin – an easy feat, since he never had more than a few silvers at a time – and promised the childr...

84. A Hidden Gem

Although he managed to catch more sleep, Martel still found it hard to concentrate next morning. Fortunately, his morning lessons in theory of magic were always interesting; as they did not involve...

83. The Wiles of Weasel

Martel yawned his way through his morning duties. Going to the slums after the evening meal and returning late at night left precious little time for sleeping. Several rounds of this had begun to t...

82. Heal or Hurt

Healing class meant plenty of different chores to carry out in the infirmary, though with each passing fiveday, the nurses were more inclined to teach Martel how to actually care for the ill and in...

81. Alliterative Argumentation

Walking into the apothecary, Martel was pleased to find Nora there as well. Always a talker, she happily answered Martel's questions.

"What herb helps with colds and runny noses?"

"You'...

80. A Man of Means

When Solday came around, it meant a fiveday had passed since the riots. News arrived that the tenth legion defending the Savena delta, the famed Legio Astra, had held back the Khivans; it helped to...

79. Not Quite an Alchemist Yet

Martel spent most of Glunday digesting the events of the previous day. Without more red clover, Eleanor would not be able to make another attempt at the elixir, and he saw no reason to reveal her a...

78. Homebrew

A decent night's sleep helped alleviate some of Martel's discomfort, whether physical or emotional. Besides that, as he arrived at the infirmary to do his stint for the fiveday, the sight of the si...

77. The Scent of Jasmine

Martel woke, feeling all sorts of uncomfortable. His body was too hot from sleeping in his clothes. His face felt weird and stiff with a sharp pain as a reminder when he touched his wound. Lastly, ...

76. 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, distrac...

75. Starlight

On Mondays, Martel had alchemy duty before his first class. He went there as soon as second bell rang, though Nora still arrived before him. Yet neither had time to begin their work before Mistress...

74. Lightning from a Clear Sky

Next day's alchemy work passed without much incident; once again, Martel worked alone, which he did not mind. By now, he knew every part of it well; the little workshop felt familiar with its cupbo...

73. Lucky Clovers

Glunday passed without significance, and before Martel knew it, a fiveday had passed, leading him to his second lesson in the infirmary. If it could be called such, considering he did not seem to l...

72. Who Watches the Watch

Another fiveday nearing its end, Martel reported for duty in the workshop of Master Jerome. He smiled as always seeing the jovial artificer, whose many skills and supervision kept the Lyceum runnin...

71. The Source of Silver

When Martel arrived in the apothecary, only Nora was present. She gave him mortar and pestle along with instructions, and he began to make powders.

"How are you enjoying the infirmary?" She g...

70. Recipe for Trouble

Martel ended up spending most of his free bell that same afternoon with Shadi, falling back into the easy ways of their friendship. He took her to the statue of Atreus in the western courtyard and ...

69. New Times

For two fivedays, Martel's life was peaceful. His skills with air progressed to Master Alastair's satisfaction, paving the way to continue with more advanced studies. Even better, he had his last c...

68. Elemental Power

The celebration at the estate of Cheval had taken an unexpected turn for Martel, but none accosted him, and he spent the evening mostly to himself – despite her promise to stick by him, Eleanor h...

67. An Offer to Refuse

Martel was led through corridors winding around the palace until he had lost his bearings. He did notice that they ascended to one of the upper floors before the servant knocked on a door. "Wait he...

66. The Right Touch

Solday, usually Martel's easiest day of the five, proved busy. After working in the apothecary and assisting Master Jerome, he had to get a message to Shadi that he would not be able to meet. It co...

65. Cordial Communications

Going to his class on Manday, Martel reaffirmed his conviction to stay out of trouble. He had barely been involved in anything since spring, and the last few days had been a temporary lapse in judg...

64. The Burning Gate

All through Glunday, Regnar's plan rumbled around Martel's head. It did not involve doing anything wrong or fighting, but he would almost have preferred that; instead, it depended on Martel partici...

63. A Cunning Plan

A few questions to the regular peddlers at the theatre square revealed the truth. The city guard had appeared and rounded up the actors, arresting them and confiscating most of their property. Beyo...