Chapter 241: Midnight Ride
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Chapter 241: Midnight Ride
Midnight Ride
"I never leave my study unlocked. Show yourself before my guards have to drag you out, and maybe I will be lenient." The duke's voice rang cold.
Trying not to panic, Martel considered his situation. If they began searching, they would find him easily. He could see the rings of light from the lamps they held in their hands. If it came to it, having distance between him and them would be to his advantage. Taking a deep breath, Martel stood up.
"The peasant novice," Duke Cheval exclaimed. "I show you hospitality, and you betrayed my trust? Who sent you to spy on me?"
"None did. I'm sorry," he stammered.
"Nobody finds their way in here by accident," the nobleman sneered. "Tell me at once or my guards will run you through." The sentinels, holding their lamps in one hand, lowered their spears with the other.
No manner of excuses could get Martel out of this situation, he realised, so he changed tactics. Straightening his back, he looked straight at the duke. "I know what you intend to do. I will tell everyone if you try anything. Let me leave, or I will spoil your plans."
Overbearing laughter came in response. "You are in no position to make threats."
Getting angry, the question burst from Martel's lips. "Why do you hate the Khivans so? Why must you destroy them?"This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.
"I hold no particular enmity towards them." The duke stepped forward standing on one side of the desk with Martel on the other. "I just need them to clear my land. I'm not blind to their achievements." In one movement, he grabbed his dagger and lunged forward, aiming to slash the novice across the chest. "Kill him!"
"He's going to start a riot in the Khivan quarter," Martel replied impatiently. "We have to get there and warn them!"
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he owns half the district, and he wants the Khivans gone so he can build on the land. Now can we leave?"
Maximilian stared at him for a moment before he looked around. Nearby, a carriage with four horses stood, waiting for its owners. "We are borrowing this," he declared, jumping up to push the driver down. As the latter shouted in loud protestations, falling to the ground, Martel climbed up to join his friend on the driver's seat. "Tell your master to use my carriage!" Maximilian called out as he set the horses into motion.
"I don't know who you are!" the driver yelled as the carriage thundered past him.
***
After a neck-breaking ride across Morcaster, the carriage with its two passengers reached the Khivan quarter. Empty streets lay ahead of them, quiet and dark. In the cold gloom of a winter's night, nobody seemed to have course for being outside. Letting the horses slow their gait, Maximilian glanced at his companion. "Not a lot happening at the moment."
"I don't understand. The duke said something would happen tonight." Martel looked around in confusion. If a fight lay ahead of them, deeper into the district, they ought to have heard it by now.
The carriage rumbled on, now at a leisurely pace. "I am a little miffed you made us leave the celebration early," Maximilian admitted, "but stealing a carriage and racing across the city was fun. I suppose the two even out."
Martel did not pay him any attention. He kept going over the conversation with the duke in his mind. Had he misunderstood? Even worse, he had made an enemy of a powerful nobleman. He had also destroyed his chance of obtaining the legal documents that might save Shadi and her father from eviction.
Suddenly, Maximilian grabbed his arm. Ahead, a golden shimmer loomed. As they came around a slight bend in the road, the reason came into view. Further down the street, flames rose into the air.
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Chapter 241: Midnight Ride
Midnight Ride
"I never leave my study unlocked. Show yourself before my guards have to drag you out, and maybe I will be lenient." The duke's voice rang cold.
Trying not to panic, Martel considered his situation. If they began searching, they would find him easily. He could see the rings of light from the lamps they held in their hands. If it came to it, having distance between him and them would be to his advantage. Taking a deep breath, Martel stood up.
"The peasant novice," Duke Cheval exclaimed. "I show you hospitality, and you betrayed my trust? Who sent you to spy on me?"
"None did. I'm sorry," he stammered.
"Nobody finds their way in here by accident," the nobleman sneered. "Tell me at once or my guards will run you through." The sentinels, holding their lamps in one hand, lowered their spears with the other.
No manner of excuses could get Martel out of this situation, he realised, so he changed tactics. Straightening his back, he looked straight at the duke. "I know what you intend to do. I will tell everyone if you try anything. Let me leave, or I will spoil your plans."
Overbearing laughter came in response. "You are in no position to make threats."
Getting angry, the question burst from Martel's lips. "Why do you hate the Khivans so? Why must you destroy them?"This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.
"I hold no particular enmity towards them." The duke stepped forward standing on one side of the desk with Martel on the other. "I just need them to clear my land. I'm not blind to their achievements." In one movement, he grabbed his dagger and lunged forward, aiming to slash the novice across the chest. "Kill him!"
"He's going to start a riot in the Khivan quarter," Martel replied impatiently. "We have to get there and warn them!"
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he owns half the district, and he wants the Khivans gone so he can build on the land. Now can we leave?"
Maximilian stared at him for a moment before he looked around. Nearby, a carriage with four horses stood, waiting for its owners. "We are borrowing this," he declared, jumping up to push the driver down. As the latter shouted in loud protestations, falling to the ground, Martel climbed up to join his friend on the driver's seat. "Tell your master to use my carriage!" Maximilian called out as he set the horses into motion.
"I don't know who you are!" the driver yelled as the carriage thundered past him.
***
After a neck-breaking ride across Morcaster, the carriage with its two passengers reached the Khivan quarter. Empty streets lay ahead of them, quiet and dark. In the cold gloom of a winter's night, nobody seemed to have course for being outside. Letting the horses slow their gait, Maximilian glanced at his companion. "Not a lot happening at the moment."
"I don't understand. The duke said something would happen tonight." Martel looked around in confusion. If a fight lay ahead of them, deeper into the district, they ought to have heard it by now.
The carriage rumbled on, now at a leisurely pace. "I am a little miffed you made us leave the celebration early," Maximilian admitted, "but stealing a carriage and racing across the city was fun. I suppose the two even out."
Martel did not pay him any attention. He kept going over the conversation with the duke in his mind. Had he misunderstood? Even worse, he had made an enemy of a powerful nobleman. He had also destroyed his chance of obtaining the legal documents that might save Shadi and her father from eviction.
Suddenly, Maximilian grabbed his arm. Ahead, a golden shimmer loomed. As they came around a slight bend in the road, the reason came into view. Further down the street, flames rose into the air.
Chapter 241: Midnight RideMidnight Ride"I never leave my study unlocked. Show yourself before my guards have to drag you out, and maybe I will be lenient." The duke's voice rang cold.Trying not to panic, Martel considered his situation. If they began searching, they would find him easily. He could see the rings of light from the lamps they held in their hands. If it came to it, having distance between him and them would be to his advantage. Taking a deep breath, Martel stood up."The peasant novice," Duke Cheval exclaimed. "I show you hospitality, and you betrayed my trust? Who sent you to spy on me?""None did. I'm sorry," he stammered."Nobody finds their way in here by accident," the nobleman sneered. "Tell me at once or my guards will run you through." The sentinels, holding their lamps in one hand, lowered their spears with the other.No manner of excuses could get Martel out of this situation, he realised, so he changed tactics. Straightening his back, he looked straight at the duke. "I know what you intend to do. I will tell everyone if you try anything. Let me leave, or I will spoil your plans."Overbearing laughter came in response. "You are in no position to make threats."Getting angry, the question burst from Martel's lips. "Why do you hate the Khivans so? Why must you destroy them?"This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site."I hold no particular enmity towards them." The duke stepped forward standing on one side of the desk with Martel on the other. "I just need them to clear my land. I'm not blind to their achievements." In one movement, he grabbed his dagger and lunged forward, aiming to slash the novice across the chest. "Kill him!""He's going to start a riot in the Khivan quarter," Martel replied impatiently. "We have to get there and warn them!""Why would he do that?""Because he owns half the district, and he wants the Khivans gone so he can build on the land. Now can we leave?"Maximilian stared at him for a moment before he looked around. Nearby, a carriage with four horses stood, waiting for its owners. "We are borrowing this," he declared, jumping up to push the driver down. As the latter shouted in loud protestations, falling to the ground, Martel climbed up to join his friend on the driver's seat. "Tell your master to use my carriage!" Maximilian called out as he set the horses into motion."I don't know who you are!" the driver yelled as the carriage thundered past him.***After a neck-breaking ride across Morcaster, the carriage with its two passengers reached the Khivan quarter. Empty streets lay ahead of them, quiet and dark. In the cold gloom of a winter's night, nobody seemed to have course for being outside. Letting the horses slow their gait, Maximilian glanced at his companion. "Not a lot happening at the moment.""I don't understand. The duke said something would happen tonight." Martel looked around in confusion. If a fight lay ahead of them, deeper into the district, they ought to have heard it by now.The carriage rumbled on, now at a leisurely pace. "I am a little miffed you made us leave the celebration early," Maximilian admitted, "but stealing a carriage and racing across the city was fun. I suppose the two even out."Martel did not pay him any attention. He kept going over the conversation with the duke in his mind. Had he misunderstood? Even worse, he had made an enemy of a powerful nobleman. He had also destroyed his chance of obtaining the legal documents that might save Shadi and her father from eviction.Suddenly, Maximilian grabbed his arm. Ahead, a golden shimmer loomed. As they came around a slight bend in the road, the reason came into view. Further down the street, flames rose into the air.
