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Firebrand - Chapter 134

Published at 12th of April 2024 06:38:40 AM


Chapter 134: From the Tenth

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Chapter 134: From the Tenth

From the Tenth

As no fights were hosted on Peldays in The Copper Drum, Martel managed to get inside the tavern with relative ease. The common room still seemed filled with guests, but he could at least make his way through the crowd. His height also helped him locate his quarry; armed with several mugs of ale, Martel walked over to where Lothar and Oak – Cornelius sat.

"You know how to make yourself welcome, at least," the older veteran growled, seeing what occupied Martel's hands. They moved their chairs a little, making room for the novice to sit down.

"I thought you might like to know that Leatherfist paid me a visit the other night."

"That explains why your face looks like a Sindhian scarf," Cornelius remarked.

"I thought you mages had all these tricks to prevent exactly that." Lothar made a circular motion in the direction of Martel's face.

"He caught me by surprise, got the first punch in," the young wizard said in defence of himself. "I dealt with him, though. Handed him over to the guards, so I assume he'll get his punishment."

"The galleys are too good for that rotten bastard," Cornelius sneered through his wooden teeth. "A pity they won't sentence a cripple like him to pull an oar."

"Not sure what they do with someone like him," Lothar considered. "Not much use in the mines either."

"Either way, we are well rid of him. Loathsome brute," Cornelius muttered.

"Aye. Nothing good comes from the Tenth." The older of the veterans sipped from his mug. "We fight to put on a show, earn some silver, but he did it because he loves the violence."

"He mentioned that when he attacked me. The Tenth, that is. Something about showing how they did it. What did he mean by that?" Martel asked.

"Be a good lad and get us another round, will you?" Lothar asked of Martel, digging up some coins. "I think he's going to need it."

~

When Martel was able to return, stocked up on drink, Cornelius had calmed down a bit. He still looked angry as he grabbed his beer, but his mutterings had ceased.

Martel, on the other hand, had remembered that Leatherfist would not be the only man with a score to settle. "Have you heard anything about Tibert?" Mainly, whether he was prone to hide in ruined buildings to ambush young mages on their way home from the copper lanes.

"I haven't been back at The Broken Crown. I've done him no wrong, but he's a man with a temper. Last I heard, he had trouble getting anyone past the doors. He might have bribed the guards to overlook what happened, but nobody wants to drink where riots took place," Lothar considered.

"Plenty of other taverns down the street with better reputation," Cornelius added.

Martel felt calmer hearing this. If Tibert was busy trying to keep his establishment afloat, he had better things to do than track down 'Stallion' looking for revenge.

The novice finished his drink and bid his companions farewell. He could have stayed a while longer, as the night was still young, but he had an errand to run before he could make it home. With a long walk ahead of him, he left The Copper Drum.

~

His errand took Martel to the Khivan enclave. To get there, he had to cross the harbour district, which he did with his hood up. None accosted him; he walked along the docks, some distance from The Broken Crown that lay nearer the market. Still, he was glad once the port lay behind him.

At length, he reached his destination. Crossing the small square with its temple and fountain, Martel found it empty at this late hour. The solitude and light of the half-moon made the place look eerie, reminding him of the aftermath from the riots – the unnerving change from sounds of fighting and screams to sudden quiet after the fighting had ended, and broken bodies scattered across the square.

He hurried onwards, approaching the watchmaker's home. He did not knock or enter, given the time; Master Farhad would not appreciate his presence, Martel guessed. Instead, he slipped a letter in an envelope addressed to Shadi under the door. His errand complete, the novice began the last leg of his journey home to the Lyceum.




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