Chapter 232: Some Light Breaking and Entering
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Chapter 232: Some Light Breaking and Entering
Some Light Breaking and Entering
As Martel got out of bed and saw his brown robe hanging on the dummy, over his leather armour, he hesitated before putting it on. It felt like, if not a defeat, certainly a setback. He assumed the matter of his examination would be resolved soon, but waiting without knowing for how long was never easy.
At least he had something else to focus on and keep his mind occupied. Once his work in the apothecary was done, his only chore for the day, Martel left the castle and walked towards the bridge district.
***
Martel did not go straight to the house of Oswald; instead, he met Shadi at a fountain in one of the squares. It was some distance from The River Pearl, just to minimise the risk that someone might recognise him.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked him while biting her lower lip.
"Don't worry," he tried to reassure her. "You just have to keep an eye out. If there's trouble, you can easily run away."
She slapped him on the arm. "I know that, I'm not afraid for me. You're the one going inside." She continued with a softer voice. "I don't like that you are taking this risk for my sake."
"Of all the things I've done in Morcaster, this ranks surprisingly low in terms of risk." He gave what he hoped was a comforting smile. "What about our landlord?"
"He left his house maybe a quarter bell ago, headed towards the Khivan district with his two guards as usual."
Just as Shadi had predicted he would, to collect rent and perhaps evict a family. As much as Martel loathed this man without having met him, he appreciated someone who stuck to regular routines. "Let's be on our way. Just in case he comes back sooner than we expected."
***
Walking through some winding streets, they reached their destination. Oswald's house looked typical for a local magistrate or perhaps a high ranking clerk in the Imperial administration. It had no courtyard for goods or carts, only a front door directly on the street, else it could also have seemed the home of a respectable merchant.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.
It did not make sense that he was buying and selling these properties if he intended to make his livelihood from renting them out. But if he had acted on behalf of the duke all along, it begged the question why Cheval wanted to hide his involvement.
The shrill sound of a bird interrupted Martel's speculations. He wondered for a moment what manner of fowl living in the city sounded like that until he remembered – the signal. It came again, urgently, but barely audible through the closed door. How much time had passed since she first tried to warn him?
Martel eased the door to the hallway open and immediately heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Making a swift decision whether to hide or run, he chose the latter. Bursting out from the room, he looked towards the stairs and saw a surprised guard staring back at him. A swift blast of wind sent the man tumbling back while Martel crossed the hallway to stand in the supply room again. He climbed out of the window and lowered himself until he hung by his fingertips before finally letting go.
He landed with little grace, and Shadi grabbed him by the shoulder to pull him up. As the guard stuck his head out the window to yell at them, they ran away.
***
Catching their breath, once they felt secure in their flight, the pair looked at each other and laughed with relief. "I'm sorry it got so close," Shadi said. "One of the guards returned, I don't know why. I tried to warn you, but I was afraid of drawing his attention if I was louder."
"Not your fault. I closed the door behind me, making it hard to hear."
She looked at him with open eyes. "Did you find it?"
It hurt him to disappoint her. "I didn't. It wasn't there." If the duke of Cheval was behind all of this, he would keep the relevant documents in his own place. Specifically, his study with his Khivan clock, which he had once shown to Martel during the summer celebration. "But I think I know where it is."
"Where?"
"In a nobleman's palace."
She looked crestfallen. "That's the end of it, then."
Martel thought about the invitation lying in his desk. "Not yet. There's one more thing to try."
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Chapter 232: Some Light Breaking and Entering
Some Light Breaking and Entering
As Martel got out of bed and saw his brown robe hanging on the dummy, over his leather armour, he hesitated before putting it on. It felt like, if not a defeat, certainly a setback. He assumed the matter of his examination would be resolved soon, but waiting without knowing for how long was never easy.
At least he had something else to focus on and keep his mind occupied. Once his work in the apothecary was done, his only chore for the day, Martel left the castle and walked towards the bridge district.
***
Martel did not go straight to the house of Oswald; instead, he met Shadi at a fountain in one of the squares. It was some distance from The River Pearl, just to minimise the risk that someone might recognise him.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked him while biting her lower lip.
"Don't worry," he tried to reassure her. "You just have to keep an eye out. If there's trouble, you can easily run away."
She slapped him on the arm. "I know that, I'm not afraid for me. You're the one going inside." She continued with a softer voice. "I don't like that you are taking this risk for my sake."
"Of all the things I've done in Morcaster, this ranks surprisingly low in terms of risk." He gave what he hoped was a comforting smile. "What about our landlord?"
"He left his house maybe a quarter bell ago, headed towards the Khivan district with his two guards as usual."
Just as Shadi had predicted he would, to collect rent and perhaps evict a family. As much as Martel loathed this man without having met him, he appreciated someone who stuck to regular routines. "Let's be on our way. Just in case he comes back sooner than we expected."
***
Walking through some winding streets, they reached their destination. Oswald's house looked typical for a local magistrate or perhaps a high ranking clerk in the Imperial administration. It had no courtyard for goods or carts, only a front door directly on the street, else it could also have seemed the home of a respectable merchant.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.
It did not make sense that he was buying and selling these properties if he intended to make his livelihood from renting them out. But if he had acted on behalf of the duke all along, it begged the question why Cheval wanted to hide his involvement.
The shrill sound of a bird interrupted Martel's speculations. He wondered for a moment what manner of fowl living in the city sounded like that until he remembered – the signal. It came again, urgently, but barely audible through the closed door. How much time had passed since she first tried to warn him?
Martel eased the door to the hallway open and immediately heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Making a swift decision whether to hide or run, he chose the latter. Bursting out from the room, he looked towards the stairs and saw a surprised guard staring back at him. A swift blast of wind sent the man tumbling back while Martel crossed the hallway to stand in the supply room again. He climbed out of the window and lowered himself until he hung by his fingertips before finally letting go.
He landed with little grace, and Shadi grabbed him by the shoulder to pull him up. As the guard stuck his head out the window to yell at them, they ran away.
***
Catching their breath, once they felt secure in their flight, the pair looked at each other and laughed with relief. "I'm sorry it got so close," Shadi said. "One of the guards returned, I don't know why. I tried to warn you, but I was afraid of drawing his attention if I was louder."
"Not your fault. I closed the door behind me, making it hard to hear."
She looked at him with open eyes. "Did you find it?"
It hurt him to disappoint her. "I didn't. It wasn't there." If the duke of Cheval was behind all of this, he would keep the relevant documents in his own place. Specifically, his study with his Khivan clock, which he had once shown to Martel during the summer celebration. "But I think I know where it is."
"Where?"
"In a nobleman's palace."
She looked crestfallen. "That's the end of it, then."
Martel thought about the invitation lying in his desk. "Not yet. There's one more thing to try."
Chapter 232: Some Light Breaking and EnteringSome Light Breaking and EnteringAs Martel got out of bed and saw his brown robe hanging on the dummy, over his leather armour, he hesitated before putting it on. It felt like, if not a defeat, certainly a setback. He assumed the matter of his examination would be resolved soon, but waiting without knowing for how long was never easy.At least he had something else to focus on and keep his mind occupied. Once his work in the apothecary was done, his only chore for the day, Martel left the castle and walked towards the bridge district.***Martel did not go straight to the house of Oswald; instead, he met Shadi at a fountain in one of the squares. It was some distance from The River Pearl, just to minimise the risk that someone might recognise him."Are you sure about this?" she asked him while biting her lower lip."Don't worry," he tried to reassure her. "You just have to keep an eye out. If there's trouble, you can easily run away."She slapped him on the arm. "I know that, I'm not afraid for me. You're the one going inside." She continued with a softer voice. "I don't like that you are taking this risk for my sake.""Of all the things I've done in Morcaster, this ranks surprisingly low in terms of risk." He gave what he hoped was a comforting smile. "What about our landlord?""He left his house maybe a quarter bell ago, headed towards the Khivan district with his two guards as usual."Just as Shadi had predicted he would, to collect rent and perhaps evict a family. As much as Martel loathed this man without having met him, he appreciated someone who stuck to regular routines. "Let's be on our way. Just in case he comes back sooner than we expected."***Walking through some winding streets, they reached their destination. Oswald's house looked typical for a local magistrate or perhaps a high ranking clerk in the Imperial administration. It had no courtyard for goods or carts, only a front door directly on the street, else it could also have seemed the home of a respectable merchant.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.It did not make sense that he was buying and selling these properties if he intended to make his livelihood from renting them out. But if he had acted on behalf of the duke all along, it begged the question why Cheval wanted to hide his involvement.The shrill sound of a bird interrupted Martel's speculations. He wondered for a moment what manner of fowl living in the city sounded like that until he remembered the signal. It came again, urgently, but barely audible through the closed door. How much time had passed since she first tried to warn him?Martel eased the door to the hallway open and immediately heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Making a swift decision whether to hide or run, he chose the latter. Bursting out from the room, he looked towards the stairs and saw a surprised guard staring back at him. A swift blast of wind sent the man tumbling back while Martel crossed the hallway to stand in the supply room again. He climbed out of the window and lowered himself until he hung by his fingertips before finally letting go.He landed with little grace, and Shadi grabbed him by the shoulder to pull him up. As the guard stuck his head out the window to yell at them, they ran away.***Catching their breath, once they felt secure in their flight, the pair looked at each other and laughed with relief. "I'm sorry it got so close," Shadi said. "One of the guards returned, I don't know why. I tried to warn you, but I was afraid of drawing his attention if I was louder.""Not your fault. I closed the door behind me, making it hard to hear."She looked at him with open eyes. "Did you find it?"It hurt him to disappoint her. "I didn't. It wasn't there." If the duke of Cheval was behind all of this, he would keep the relevant documents in his own place. Specifically, his study with his Khivan clock, which he had once shown to Martel during the summer celebration. "But I think I know where it is.""Where?""In a nobleman's palace."She looked crestfallen. "That's the end of it, then."Martel thought about the invitation lying in his desk. "Not yet. There's one more thing to try."
