Quill

545. A New Residence

The Tyrians prove excellent hunters, as could be expected, and the cohort feasted on fresh meat. Along with their victory, this created a merry mood in the small camp. A small stream had been disco...

544. The Thunderer and the Valkyrie

Martel slept soundly as soon as the opportunity came, as did nearly the entire cohort, except for a few sentinels. When dawn arrived, they began to clear the area. Most importantly, bodies were hau...

543. A Gentle Push

The cohort split up with the different centuriae surrounding the encampment, should the Khivans attempt to break through. A tree was felled and cut to shape, leaving some of the branches for the le...

542. Nights in the Forest

At second bell, an entire cohort gathered on the strip of land between the camp and the river. As Martel and Eleanor arrived, they received packs with provisions; this mission would take days. The ...

541. The Choices of a Prefect

Once they had returned to camp, Martel and Eleanor went straight to the tent of the legion prefect. "By the looks of you, I suspect you had trouble." Sir Lara gave them an expectant look.

"Th...

540. Second Shot

Martel sprinted through the forest. The sound of a musket firing reached him, and the bullet did a moment later as well, aimed at his back. His magical shield protected him, and he jumped to the ot...

539. A Day in Spring

Spring festival was a day of revelry and joy, except for those soldiers, who had one way or another angered their commanders and thus been volunteered to do guard or patrol duty. This did not inclu...

538. Setting Up Shop

The following day, once he had sparred with Eleanor, Martel went to the small Tyrian quarter of Esmouth. He carried his drying rack for herbs over his shoulder with one hand, the other hauling his ...

537. Shared Knowledge

Henry poured half a cup of wine and placed it in front of Martel along with a pitcher of water. Ignoring the offer of dilution, Martel grabbed the cup and took a healthy sip. The stonemage gave him...

536. Flame and Foliage

The musket ball struck the tree, causing splinters to fly past Martel's face. He had dropped his staff some paces away, but it might as well be on the other side of the world, given that he needed ...

535. As One Life Ends

Morning had barely arrived when a soldier arrived outside Martel's tent. Half dressed, the mage went outside. "What is it?"

"Sorry for the hassle, sir. That big Tyrian with the axe is by the ...

534. A Broken Threat

Eleanor broke the arrow in half and placed the part with the rune in her belt. "We shall discuss back in camp," she mumbled, to which Martel nodded. "Stay surrounded by legionaries. I will take a l...

533. In His Element

Fifty soldiers along with one optio and three mages moved through the landscape, using the darkness to cover their approach. Finally, Avery raised her arm, and they all stopped. "It lies right ahea...

532. Priorities

As second bell rang from the distant temple tower in Esmouth, Martel and Eleanor walked through the gate of the camp. On the small stretch of land between the wall and the river, they saw a gatheri...

531. The Coming of Spring

The next several fivedays passed without incident. Martel had no further encounters with Khivans on his patrols, and life in camp continued with the usual routines. He sparred with Eleanor in the m...

530. Eight Breaths

Martel sat on a tree stump he had salvaged a while back, serving as his seat whenever he cooked meals outside his tent. The pot boiled merrily, turning oats and water into porridge. On the other si...

529. The Feast of Saint Agnes

After a bath, Martel looked at the clothes in his chest. He should have asked what kind of clothing would be appropriate. A celebration suggested that he wore his finest, but this was an outpost, n...

528. Fifteen Coins

After their morning spar, Eleanor pulled back and caught her breath. "I do not suppose you know where we are to collect our salary?"

"Not a clue. Wait, that's today?" To Martel, the days all ...

527. The Long Ship

Martel and Eleanor were still sparring when they both noticed a slow, but steady stream of soldiers leaving camp. Exchanging looks and a shrug, Martel threw his staff aside, removed his chain shirt...

526. A Gathering of Black

When their morning spar had ended, Eleanor stepped back and gave Martel a scrutinising look. "How do you feel? After yesterday, I mean."

"Fine," he replied truthfully. "It could have gone a l...

525. Cold Tracks

It began to snow the next day as if the Stars themselves found it amusing how Martel had chosen to give up his source of heating. After a cold morning practising against Eleanor, he went alone to t...

524. Hot Choices

"Sir Martel, are you the fool who has been giving away enchanted items to the soldiers?" Although phrased as a question, Sir Lara Chasseur yelled it in a manner to suggest she already knew the answ...

523. One Step at a Time

Being a small town, barely worthy of the title, Esmouth had only two gates. One to the east as part of the fortifications that guarded the bridge, and one to the north-west attached to the only roa...

522. Where Elements Meet

Not long after his morning exercises, Martel saw a curious sight coming towards him. Henry the stonemage walked down what constituted the dirt road through the camp with several large rocks floatin...

521. Beyond the Walls

Staff against sword and shield, Martel sparred against Eleanor for an hour in the morning as had become their wont. Their efforts attracted mild attention, mostly from bored soldiers; the novelty o...

520. Making Friends

The next morning followed what Martel figured would become the established pattern, cooking breakfast with Eleanor before a training session. When they had been at it a long while, Martel wiped the...

519. Esmouth

At first, it had been a little weird to sleep on a cot that did not constantly roll back and forth, but Martel woke up feeling refreshed. The big stone in the middle of his tent, heating everything...

518. The Legate and the Battlemage

Nearly two fivedays later, the Red Emerald reached its destination. Martel stood at the prow, no longer troubled by the rolling movements of the ship. Ahead, he saw all the construction that made u...

517. The Beating of the Drum

The captain shouted commands that Martel did not understand, but which sent the sailors scattering across the ship. Slowly, the vessel began turning, but it seemed obvious even to Martel that it wo...

516. Red Emerald

The waves made the Red Emerald constantly roll back and forth, like a punishment from Sol. So far, Martel had avoided emptying the contents of his stomach, but it had been a close call more than on...