Chapter 153: The First Starlit Eve
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Chapter 153: The First Starlit Eve
The First Starlit Eve
Maximilian had been busy. Martel's new wardrobe arrived early Pelday afternoon. Besides a few more white shirts – not made from silk but still expensive fabric – his drawer was now filled by several pairs of trousers, shoes, and some doublets. Martel was relieved to see that the latter had an emblem of a green tree upon them. After his conversation with the overseer, he realised that if he wore clothes with the insignia of Marche, that would send the kind of statement he had been told to avoid. Maximilian must have talked with Eleanor about more than dancing, since the tree resembled the emblem on the clothes Martel had once received from her.
Dressed in his new clothes, wondering how they got his measurements so well, Martel stood in the entrance hall when Master Farhad's great clock announced that sixth bell had arrived. As Maximilian joined him, likewise clad in expensive raiment, they walked outside to await the carriage.
"You promise I'll not be expected to do anything?" the novice asked.
"Did the dance lessons go that poorly?"
"Not that," Martel scoffed. "You know, magic. I won't have to fight anyone or get beaten up."
"No, of course not." Maximilian coughed. "Probably."
The novice glared at him. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing, I swear! But if I introduce you as a powerful mage, people will expect to see magic. Just relax, everything will be fine."
Not feeling convinced, Martel followed his friend into the carriage as it arrived to bring them to the celebration.
~
Even with four horses pulling, it took them a while to reach their destination. They had to cross the Basilica square and go further north-west than Martel had ever travelled on his own. Eventually, the road sloped gently upwards towards the hill of the emperor's palace.
They had scarcely reached the grounds before the carriage stopped to be inspected. Besides a handful of legionaries from the city guard, two praetorians stood by the great gate. They wore purple cloaks as sign of their high rank, and Martel knew they were mageknights, trained and able to deal with any threat. Like with inquisitors, he saw two daggers in their belts. One made from steel, and one made from gold.
Parting the crowd, the praetorians carved a path for the emperor to ascend the throne in one end of the hall. While his guards took position around him, a herald stepped forward and began calling out the names of the assembled nobility. One family after the other, the lords and ladies of the Asterian Empire stepped forward to kneel in obeisance towards their ruler.
Martel glanced over the number of people present. "This will take a while," he whispered to Maximilian.
"Indeed."
"What happens afterwards?"
"On the first eve, usually a bard sings in honour of the emperor, his reign, and the victories of the Empire. After that, finally food and drink will be served, and people may talk among themselves. I suggest you eat fast, as you and I will not be staying long," Maximilian explained. "We have class early tomorrow, after all."
Martel looked at him, a little surprised. "Really? And that's all?"
"I told you this would be easy," the viscount replied with an overbearing voice. "Now relax and enjoy yourself. Once the wine arrives, anyway."
~
Elsewhere in the hall, standing far back, the overseer of the Lyceum and its Master of Elements stood, observing the same procession. They exchanged quiet remarks on occasion, otherwise drawing little attention.
Watching as the count of Marche and his family stepped forward to approach the throne, with Martel and other of their attendants detaching to stay behind, Alastair leaned towards Juliana. "Did you tell Martel what to expect?"
She nodded. "I explained the dangers. Hopefully he knows to keep quiet and avoid attention."
"Did you warn him that if he makes a false move, the headmaster will use that to have you ousted from your position?"
"He knows the cost to himself if he is expelled. I saw no need to add another burden by making him feel responsible for me as well." She glanced at him. "After all, teachers are responsible for their students, not the reverse."
"The next five evenings will be long to get through," Alastair predicted, blowing out his breath. "I hope they bring out the wine soon."
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Chapter 153: The First Starlit Eve
The First Starlit Eve
Maximilian had been busy. Martel's new wardrobe arrived early Pelday afternoon. Besides a few more white shirts – not made from silk but still expensive fabric – his drawer was now filled by several pairs of trousers, shoes, and some doublets. Martel was relieved to see that the latter had an emblem of a green tree upon them. After his conversation with the overseer, he realised that if he wore clothes with the insignia of Marche, that would send the kind of statement he had been told to avoid. Maximilian must have talked with Eleanor about more than dancing, since the tree resembled the emblem on the clothes Martel had once received from her.
Dressed in his new clothes, wondering how they got his measurements so well, Martel stood in the entrance hall when Master Farhad's great clock announced that sixth bell had arrived. As Maximilian joined him, likewise clad in expensive raiment, they walked outside to await the carriage.
"You promise I'll not be expected to do anything?" the novice asked.
"Did the dance lessons go that poorly?"
"Not that," Martel scoffed. "You know, magic. I won't have to fight anyone or get beaten up."
"No, of course not." Maximilian coughed. "Probably."
The novice glared at him. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing, I swear! But if I introduce you as a powerful mage, people will expect to see magic. Just relax, everything will be fine."
Not feeling convinced, Martel followed his friend into the carriage as it arrived to bring them to the celebration.
~
Even with four horses pulling, it took them a while to reach their destination. They had to cross the Basilica square and go further north-west than Martel had ever travelled on his own. Eventually, the road sloped gently upwards towards the hill of the emperor's palace.
They had scarcely reached the grounds before the carriage stopped to be inspected. Besides a handful of legionaries from the city guard, two praetorians stood by the great gate. They wore purple cloaks as sign of their high rank, and Martel knew they were mageknights, trained and able to deal with any threat. Like with inquisitors, he saw two daggers in their belts. One made from steel, and one made from gold.
Parting the crowd, the praetorians carved a path for the emperor to ascend the throne in one end of the hall. While his guards took position around him, a herald stepped forward and began calling out the names of the assembled nobility. One family after the other, the lords and ladies of the Asterian Empire stepped forward to kneel in obeisance towards their ruler.
Martel glanced over the number of people present. "This will take a while," he whispered to Maximilian.
"Indeed."
"What happens afterwards?"
"On the first eve, usually a bard sings in honour of the emperor, his reign, and the victories of the Empire. After that, finally food and drink will be served, and people may talk among themselves. I suggest you eat fast, as you and I will not be staying long," Maximilian explained. "We have class early tomorrow, after all."
Martel looked at him, a little surprised. "Really? And that's all?"
"I told you this would be easy," the viscount replied with an overbearing voice. "Now relax and enjoy yourself. Once the wine arrives, anyway."
~
Elsewhere in the hall, standing far back, the overseer of the Lyceum and its Master of Elements stood, observing the same procession. They exchanged quiet remarks on occasion, otherwise drawing little attention.
Watching as the count of Marche and his family stepped forward to approach the throne, with Martel and other of their attendants detaching to stay behind, Alastair leaned towards Juliana. "Did you tell Martel what to expect?"
She nodded. "I explained the dangers. Hopefully he knows to keep quiet and avoid attention."
"Did you warn him that if he makes a false move, the headmaster will use that to have you ousted from your position?"
"He knows the cost to himself if he is expelled. I saw no need to add another burden by making him feel responsible for me as well." She glanced at him. "After all, teachers are responsible for their students, not the reverse."
"The next five evenings will be long to get through," Alastair predicted, blowing out his breath. "I hope they bring out the wine soon."
Chapter 153: The First Starlit EveThe First Starlit EveMaximilian had been busy. Martel's new wardrobe arrived early Pelday afternoon. Besides a few more white shirts not made from silk but still expensive fabric his drawer was now filled by several pairs of trousers, shoes, and some doublets. Martel was relieved to see that the latter had an emblem of a green tree upon them. After his conversation with the overseer, he realised that if he wore clothes with the insignia of Marche, that would send the kind of statement he had been told to avoid. Maximilian must have talked with Eleanor about more than dancing, since the tree resembled the emblem on the clothes Martel had once received from her.Dressed in his new clothes, wondering how they got his measurements so well, Martel stood in the entrance hall when Master Farhad's great clock announced that sixth bell had arrived. As Maximilian joined him, likewise clad in expensive raiment, they walked outside to await the carriage."You promise I'll not be expected to do anything?" the novice asked."Did the dance lessons go that poorly?""Not that," Martel scoffed. "You know, magic. I won't have to fight anyone or get beaten up.""No, of course not." Maximilian coughed. "Probably."The novice glared at him. "What are you planning?""Nothing, I swear! But if I introduce you as a powerful mage, people will expect to see magic. Just relax, everything will be fine."Not feeling convinced, Martel followed his friend into the carriage as it arrived to bring them to the celebration.~Even with four horses pulling, it took them a while to reach their destination. They had to cross the Basilica square and go further north-west than Martel had ever travelled on his own. Eventually, the road sloped gently upwards towards the hill of the emperor's palace.They had scarcely reached the grounds before the carriage stopped to be inspected. Besides a handful of legionaries from the city guard, two praetorians stood by the great gate. They wore purple cloaks as sign of their high rank, and Martel knew they were mageknights, trained and able to deal with any threat. Like with inquisitors, he saw two daggers in their belts. One made from steel, and one made from gold.Parting the crowd, the praetorians carved a path for the emperor to ascend the throne in one end of the hall. While his guards took position around him, a herald stepped forward and began calling out the names of the assembled nobility. One family after the other, the lords and ladies of the Asterian Empire stepped forward to kneel in obeisance towards their ruler.Martel glanced over the number of people present. "This will take a while," he whispered to Maximilian."Indeed.""What happens afterwards?""On the first eve, usually a bard sings in honour of the emperor, his reign, and the victories of the Empire. After that, finally food and drink will be served, and people may talk among themselves. I suggest you eat fast, as you and I will not be staying long," Maximilian explained. "We have class early tomorrow, after all."Martel looked at him, a little surprised. "Really? And that's all?""I told you this would be easy," the viscount replied with an overbearing voice. "Now relax and enjoy yourself. Once the wine arrives, anyway."~Elsewhere in the hall, standing far back, the overseer of the Lyceum and its Master of Elements stood, observing the same procession. They exchanged quiet remarks on occasion, otherwise drawing little attention.Watching as the count of Marche and his family stepped forward to approach the throne, with Martel and other of their attendants detaching to stay behind, Alastair leaned towards Juliana. "Did you tell Martel what to expect?"She nodded. "I explained the dangers. Hopefully he knows to keep quiet and avoid attention.""Did you warn him that if he makes a false move, the headmaster will use that to have you ousted from your position?""He knows the cost to himself if he is expelled. I saw no need to add another burden by making him feel responsible for me as well." She glanced at him. "After all, teachers are responsible for their students, not the reverse.""The next five evenings will be long to get through," Alastair predicted, blowing out his breath. "I hope they bring out the wine soon."
