Chapter 102: Cornered
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Chapter 102: Cornered
Cornered
Walking home from the copper lanes third night in a row, the young men's mood was reversed from previous trips. Their purse was empty, their confidence shaken from being caught, and the threat of expulsion from the Lyceum, should their illicit activities be revealed, hung over their heads.
"You should have told me about the ring."
"I was embarrassed," Maximilian defended himself. "My father had it made and given to me when I joined the Lyceum, a sign of his pride in his mageborn son. Should one of his political rivals get their hands on it, it would make a mockery of both him and me."
All the trouble they were in, just for pride. "Why didn't you just ask your father for the coin?"
"He already gives me an allowance that I require for my daily needs. I could not very well explain the reason why I suddenly needed a hundred extra silvers."
Stupid, stupid pride.
"You will do it, right?" the young nobleman asked.
Walking on empty streets to the distant sounds of cats fighting, dogs barking, and sounds stranger than that, Martel thought back on the conversation with Kerra and the choice she had put before him.
~
"I want you to fight." Kerra's words rang through her study.
Martel sat gobsmacked, forgetting to close his mouth. "I can't fight," he finally protested.
"You have magic." Kerra stared at him as if she somehow understood sorcery better than he did.
"Yes, I can blow wind around or make ripples in water. I cannot wield weapons or punch people, and I certainly can't take any punches," Martel tried to explain.
Kerra gave a nod. "Certainly. As I mentioned, I will await a report from my man in Tibert's tavern tomorrow night. You have until then."
Not much of a reprieve, but Martel had no room to negotiate. He got on his feet. After a moment's hesitation, so did Maximilian.
Kerra nodded at her guards. "Show our visitors out."
~
Soft rain fell over Morcaster, slowly soaking the two young mages on their way home. Ahead, illuminated by moonlight against the horizon, the Lyceum waited for them with its promise of a dry bed, though Martel could not imagine sleeping soundly this night.
"You will do it, right?"
Maximilian's repeated question pulled Martel from his memory of the conversation with Kerra. "I don't have much choice, do I? It's all right for you, but if I get thrown out of school, I'll be in debt for the rest of my life."
"Expulsion will have consequences for me too," the mageknight protested. "At the very least, my father will disown me."
"I can't wait to think of all the excuses I'll need to explain why my face is all bruised, lying to all of my teachers day after day."
"Hardly the first time you've lied to them, I believe. Simply claim that you sparred with me, and I got a bit too eager," Maximilian suggested. "In fact we should do that regardless. I have seen you, you are hopeless in a fight where you cannot use your elemental tricks."
"You told that crazy woman that I could win!"
"I exaggerated a little. In your current state, probably not. With my help, definitely. I imagine."
Martel sent him a dirty look as they escaped from the rain to enter through the gates of the Lyceum. "If not, I'll volunteer you to take my place."
"Fair."
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Chapter 102: Cornered
Cornered
Walking home from the copper lanes third night in a row, the young men's mood was reversed from previous trips. Their purse was empty, their confidence shaken from being caught, and the threat of expulsion from the Lyceum, should their illicit activities be revealed, hung over their heads.
"You should have told me about the ring."
"I was embarrassed," Maximilian defended himself. "My father had it made and given to me when I joined the Lyceum, a sign of his pride in his mageborn son. Should one of his political rivals get their hands on it, it would make a mockery of both him and me."
All the trouble they were in, just for pride. "Why didn't you just ask your father for the coin?"
"He already gives me an allowance that I require for my daily needs. I could not very well explain the reason why I suddenly needed a hundred extra silvers."
Stupid, stupid pride.
"You will do it, right?" the young nobleman asked.
Walking on empty streets to the distant sounds of cats fighting, dogs barking, and sounds stranger than that, Martel thought back on the conversation with Kerra and the choice she had put before him.
~
"I want you to fight." Kerra's words rang through her study.
Martel sat gobsmacked, forgetting to close his mouth. "I can't fight," he finally protested.
"You have magic." Kerra stared at him as if she somehow understood sorcery better than he did.
"Yes, I can blow wind around or make ripples in water. I cannot wield weapons or punch people, and I certainly can't take any punches," Martel tried to explain.
Kerra gave a nod. "Certainly. As I mentioned, I will await a report from my man in Tibert's tavern tomorrow night. You have until then."
Not much of a reprieve, but Martel had no room to negotiate. He got on his feet. After a moment's hesitation, so did Maximilian.
Kerra nodded at her guards. "Show our visitors out."
~
Soft rain fell over Morcaster, slowly soaking the two young mages on their way home. Ahead, illuminated by moonlight against the horizon, the Lyceum waited for them with its promise of a dry bed, though Martel could not imagine sleeping soundly this night.
"You will do it, right?"
Maximilian's repeated question pulled Martel from his memory of the conversation with Kerra. "I don't have much choice, do I? It's all right for you, but if I get thrown out of school, I'll be in debt for the rest of my life."
"Expulsion will have consequences for me too," the mageknight protested. "At the very least, my father will disown me."
"I can't wait to think of all the excuses I'll need to explain why my face is all bruised, lying to all of my teachers day after day."
"Hardly the first time you've lied to them, I believe. Simply claim that you sparred with me, and I got a bit too eager," Maximilian suggested. "In fact we should do that regardless. I have seen you, you are hopeless in a fight where you cannot use your elemental tricks."
"You told that crazy woman that I could win!"
"I exaggerated a little. In your current state, probably not. With my help, definitely. I imagine."
Martel sent him a dirty look as they escaped from the rain to enter through the gates of the Lyceum. "If not, I'll volunteer you to take my place."
"Fair."
Chapter 102: CorneredCorneredWalking home from the copper lanes third night in a row, the young men's mood was reversed from previous trips. Their purse was empty, their confidence shaken from being caught, and the threat of expulsion from the Lyceum, should their illicit activities be revealed, hung over their heads."You should have told me about the ring.""I was embarrassed," Maximilian defended himself. "My father had it made and given to me when I joined the Lyceum, a sign of his pride in his mageborn son. Should one of his political rivals get their hands on it, it would make a mockery of both him and me."All the trouble they were in, just for pride. "Why didn't you just ask your father for the coin?""He already gives me an allowance that I require for my daily needs. I could not very well explain the reason why I suddenly needed a hundred extra silvers."Stupid, stupid pride."You will do it, right?" the young nobleman asked.Walking on empty streets to the distant sounds of cats fighting, dogs barking, and sounds stranger than that, Martel thought back on the conversation with Kerra and the choice she had put before him.~"I want you to fight." Kerra's words rang through her study.Martel sat gobsmacked, forgetting to close his mouth. "I can't fight," he finally protested."You have magic." Kerra stared at him as if she somehow understood sorcery better than he did."Yes, I can blow wind around or make ripples in water. I cannot wield weapons or punch people, and I certainly can't take any punches," Martel tried to explain.Kerra gave a nod. "Certainly. As I mentioned, I will await a report from my man in Tibert's tavern tomorrow night. You have until then."Not much of a reprieve, but Martel had no room to negotiate. He got on his feet. After a moment's hesitation, so did Maximilian.Kerra nodded at her guards. "Show our visitors out."~Soft rain fell over Morcaster, slowly soaking the two young mages on their way home. Ahead, illuminated by moonlight against the horizon, the Lyceum waited for them with its promise of a dry bed, though Martel could not imagine sleeping soundly this night."You will do it, right?"Maximilian's repeated question pulled Martel from his memory of the conversation with Kerra. "I don't have much choice, do I? It's all right for you, but if I get thrown out of school, I'll be in debt for the rest of my life.""Expulsion will have consequences for me too," the mageknight protested. "At the very least, my father will disown me.""I can't wait to think of all the excuses I'll need to explain why my face is all bruised, lying to all of my teachers day after day.""Hardly the first time you've lied to them, I believe. Simply claim that you sparred with me, and I got a bit too eager," Maximilian suggested. "In fact we should do that regardless. I have seen you, you are hopeless in a fight where you cannot use your elemental tricks.""You told that crazy woman that I could win!""I exaggerated a little. In your current state, probably not. With my help, definitely. I imagine."Martel sent him a dirty look as they escaped from the rain to enter through the gates of the Lyceum. "If not, I'll volunteer you to take my place.""Fair."
