Chapter 192: The Fellowship of Feathers
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Chapter 192: The Fellowship of Feathers
The Fellowship of FeathersL1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.
Before Martel began running all over the sewers, which would include somehow getting through the locked grate door, it seemed prudent to make sure Julia had not already been picked up by the inquisitors. He knew that the Inquisition had a building in the temple district, and he assumed any prisoners would be in that place. It seemed a simple matter of going there and inquiring, but he figured that a little support from a high-ranking member of society would not hurt.
"No." Maximilian's reply came as resolutely as it was curt.
"But you're a viscount," Martel argued. "They won't refuse you anything."
"That works with the city guard," the mageknight countered. "The Inquisition does not care about my title. Even if they did, the fact that I am also a mage makes it absolutely certain they would never tell me anything."
"Just come with me and give it a try," the novice pleaded. "It can't hurt to ask."
Maximilian slowly broke his bread into pieces while giving Martel an overbearing look. "It most definitely can hurt. You go to the office of the Inquisition and inquire about a prisoner in their charge, and you can be certain they will consider you an accomplice, whatever the crime. Doing so as a mage is doubly foolish, as they will only be waiting for an excuse to slap golden manacles around your wrists. Be sensible for once, Nordmark, and stay out of whatever this is."
"Surely they wouldn't do that just because we ask a simple question."
"My father took me to see a heretic being burned at the stake when I was ten," Maximilian told him. "I remember his words. 'That will happen to you if you give the inquisitors any reason to accuse you. They want nothing more than a highborn culprit to prove that none are above their authority.' Excuse me if I do not like it as hot as you."
With a sigh, Martel abandoned his attempt to persuade his friend. He would have to go at it alone.
~
It took Martel a while to reach the temple district. With every step, he felt less and less certain of his decision to go to the office of the Inquisition. At first, he had believed his own words to Maximilian, that it seemed preposterous asking a simple question would cause any trouble for him. As much as the inquisitors had pestered him, Martel had not actually suffered anything other than inconvenience at their hands. For all their authority, they had yet to use any of it on him.
"Of course," the clerk replied, sounding almost indignant. "This ain't the salt mines. We rarely got more than one or two prisoners at a time. I don't know who spoke to you, but we don't have her."
"I guess Father Andrew will be glad he sent me, saved himself an unnecessary trip. Thanks for your help," Martel said and tried to keep himself from running out rather than walk at a normal pace.
"Any time."
~
Returning to the Lyceum, Martel knew his next course of action. He needed a way to get through the locked grate door that separated the castle from the sewers, unless he wanted to run around the city trying to find an entrance elsewhere, which might leave him far from where Julia most likely hid. But Martel had an idea for handling that; he would do so tomorrow, feeling too tired for more excursions. Instead, he turned his attention towards the other thing he needed: information.
Entering the library, Martel saw the librarian at his desk and smiled. "I should like a book."
"Consider me surprised. Would any do, or must it be a specific title?"
"I should like one that delves into the waterways of Morcaster. The sewer system and so on," Martel explained.
The librarian's expression, hitherto showing mild annoyance, slowly turned friendly, and when he spoke, it was without any hint of mockery. "You like subterranean engineering?"
"Oh yes, I find it fascinating. I'm really curious how they connected all the districts of Morcaster with the sewer system."
The custodian of the library laughed heartily. "Oh, it only extends to the northern and eastern districts. Those in the south, they have to throw their garbage onto the street and wait for the rain to wash away."
Sadly, that sounded all too likely. "Does the library have a map or some kind of plan over the tunnels?"
The librarian beamed. "It certainly does! Come, I will show you."
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Chapter 192: The Fellowship of Feathers
The Fellowship of FeathersL1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.
Before Martel began running all over the sewers, which would include somehow getting through the locked grate door, it seemed prudent to make sure Julia had not already been picked up by the inquisitors. He knew that the Inquisition had a building in the temple district, and he assumed any prisoners would be in that place. It seemed a simple matter of going there and inquiring, but he figured that a little support from a high-ranking member of society would not hurt.
"No." Maximilian's reply came as resolutely as it was curt.
"But you're a viscount," Martel argued. "They won't refuse you anything."
"That works with the city guard," the mageknight countered. "The Inquisition does not care about my title. Even if they did, the fact that I am also a mage makes it absolutely certain they would never tell me anything."
"Just come with me and give it a try," the novice pleaded. "It can't hurt to ask."
Maximilian slowly broke his bread into pieces while giving Martel an overbearing look. "It most definitely can hurt. You go to the office of the Inquisition and inquire about a prisoner in their charge, and you can be certain they will consider you an accomplice, whatever the crime. Doing so as a mage is doubly foolish, as they will only be waiting for an excuse to slap golden manacles around your wrists. Be sensible for once, Nordmark, and stay out of whatever this is."
"Surely they wouldn't do that just because we ask a simple question."
"My father took me to see a heretic being burned at the stake when I was ten," Maximilian told him. "I remember his words. 'That will happen to you if you give the inquisitors any reason to accuse you. They want nothing more than a highborn culprit to prove that none are above their authority.' Excuse me if I do not like it as hot as you."
With a sigh, Martel abandoned his attempt to persuade his friend. He would have to go at it alone.
~
It took Martel a while to reach the temple district. With every step, he felt less and less certain of his decision to go to the office of the Inquisition. At first, he had believed his own words to Maximilian, that it seemed preposterous asking a simple question would cause any trouble for him. As much as the inquisitors had pestered him, Martel had not actually suffered anything other than inconvenience at their hands. For all their authority, they had yet to use any of it on him.
"Of course," the clerk replied, sounding almost indignant. "This ain't the salt mines. We rarely got more than one or two prisoners at a time. I don't know who spoke to you, but we don't have her."
"I guess Father Andrew will be glad he sent me, saved himself an unnecessary trip. Thanks for your help," Martel said and tried to keep himself from running out rather than walk at a normal pace.
"Any time."
~
Returning to the Lyceum, Martel knew his next course of action. He needed a way to get through the locked grate door that separated the castle from the sewers, unless he wanted to run around the city trying to find an entrance elsewhere, which might leave him far from where Julia most likely hid. But Martel had an idea for handling that; he would do so tomorrow, feeling too tired for more excursions. Instead, he turned his attention towards the other thing he needed: information.
Entering the library, Martel saw the librarian at his desk and smiled. "I should like a book."
"Consider me surprised. Would any do, or must it be a specific title?"
"I should like one that delves into the waterways of Morcaster. The sewer system and so on," Martel explained.
The librarian's expression, hitherto showing mild annoyance, slowly turned friendly, and when he spoke, it was without any hint of mockery. "You like subterranean engineering?"
"Oh yes, I find it fascinating. I'm really curious how they connected all the districts of Morcaster with the sewer system."
The custodian of the library laughed heartily. "Oh, it only extends to the northern and eastern districts. Those in the south, they have to throw their garbage onto the street and wait for the rain to wash away."
Sadly, that sounded all too likely. "Does the library have a map or some kind of plan over the tunnels?"
The librarian beamed. "It certainly does! Come, I will show you."
Chapter 192: The Fellowship of FeathersThe Fellowship of FeathersL1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Nvl--B1n.Before Martel began running all over the sewers, which would include somehow getting through the locked grate door, it seemed prudent to make sure Julia had not already been picked up by the inquisitors. He knew that the Inquisition had a building in the temple district, and he assumed any prisoners would be in that place. It seemed a simple matter of going there and inquiring, but he figured that a little support from a high-ranking member of society would not hurt."No." Maximilian's reply came as resolutely as it was curt."But you're a viscount," Martel argued. "They won't refuse you anything.""That works with the city guard," the mageknight countered. "The Inquisition does not care about my title. Even if they did, the fact that I am also a mage makes it absolutely certain they would never tell me anything.""Just come with me and give it a try," the novice pleaded. "It can't hurt to ask."Maximilian slowly broke his bread into pieces while giving Martel an overbearing look. "It most definitely can hurt. You go to the office of the Inquisition and inquire about a prisoner in their charge, and you can be certain they will consider you an accomplice, whatever the crime. Doing so as a mage is doubly foolish, as they will only be waiting for an excuse to slap golden manacles around your wrists. Be sensible for once, Nordmark, and stay out of whatever this is.""Surely they wouldn't do that just because we ask a simple question.""My father took me to see a heretic being burned at the stake when I was ten," Maximilian told him. "I remember his words. 'That will happen to you if you give the inquisitors any reason to accuse you. They want nothing more than a highborn culprit to prove that none are above their authority.' Excuse me if I do not like it as hot as you."With a sigh, Martel abandoned his attempt to persuade his friend. He would have to go at it alone.~It took Martel a while to reach the temple district. With every step, he felt less and less certain of his decision to go to the office of the Inquisition. At first, he had believed his own words to Maximilian, that it seemed preposterous asking a simple question would cause any trouble for him. As much as the inquisitors had pestered him, Martel had not actually suffered anything other than inconvenience at their hands. For all their authority, they had yet to use any of it on him."Of course," the clerk replied, sounding almost indignant. "This ain't the salt mines. We rarely got more than one or two prisoners at a time. I don't know who spoke to you, but we don't have her.""I guess Father Andrew will be glad he sent me, saved himself an unnecessary trip. Thanks for your help," Martel said and tried to keep himself from running out rather than walk at a normal pace."Any time."~Returning to the Lyceum, Martel knew his next course of action. He needed a way to get through the locked grate door that separated the castle from the sewers, unless he wanted to run around the city trying to find an entrance elsewhere, which might leave him far from where Julia most likely hid. But Martel had an idea for handling that; he would do so tomorrow, feeling too tired for more excursions. Instead, he turned his attention towards the other thing he needed: information.Entering the library, Martel saw the librarian at his desk and smiled. "I should like a book.""Consider me surprised. Would any do, or must it be a specific title?""I should like one that delves into the waterways of Morcaster. The sewer system and so on," Martel explained.The librarian's expression, hitherto showing mild annoyance, slowly turned friendly, and when he spoke, it was without any hint of mockery. "You like subterranean engineering?""Oh yes, I find it fascinating. I'm really curious how they connected all the districts of Morcaster with the sewer system."The custodian of the library laughed heartily. "Oh, it only extends to the northern and eastern districts. Those in the south, they have to throw their garbage onto the street and wait for the rain to wash away."Sadly, that sounded all too likely. "Does the library have a map or some kind of plan over the tunnels?"The librarian beamed. "It certainly does! Come, I will show you."
