Chapter 305: Failing Walls
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Chapter 305: Failing Walls
Failing Walls
Martel felt a tinge of nervousness entering the arena for his second lesson. Being the only one threatened by detention, should they lose against the mageknights, the other fire acolytes had much less motivation in the upcoming skirmish. One might think that avoiding being hit should suffice, but it had not proven so in the past. Perhaps he could take a lesson from his teacher and use spite instead.
"I trust none of us want to give the mageknights the satisfaction of victory?" he asked.
Harriet gave a scornful smile. "You would say that, wouldn't you. Scared of spending an extra bell with Mistress Moira?"
Martel could not deny this; he had been lucky to get out of his last detention, though it had also deepened the rift between him and the other acolytes. Regardless, he doubted that Moira would be so lenient next time. "Sure, today, it's me at risk. What about next fiveday? And the one after that? Until we learn to win, all of us are at risk."
"I hate when they hit me," Edward complained.
"The mageknights are already insufferable," Willian assented.
Martel looked at Harriet, who made no further objections. "So we use our new spell. I'll be on the right, stepping in front of Edward, raising the flame wall down the flank. Harriet, you're second-best with this spell, so I think you should take the front line on the left, with William behind this time." He looked around at the others.
Nobody disagreed or voiced any complaints. Meanwhile, with Moira sitting in the stands, the mageknights had taken position opposite them. Eight in total, spread out across a single line.
"Begin!"
"Master Martel, you have come, true to your word." Her face lit up in her customary dazzling smile.
"Here's the list of everyone I looked at during the feast." Martel placed the scrap of parchment in front of her. "A few surprises, I suppose."
She picked it up to let her eyes glance over the names and Martel's brief descriptions of whether the gold had seemed for show. "Very good. And this is for you." She opened a drawer and counted out ten silver coins, stacking them on the desk in front of him.
"Much obliged." He collected the money, placing it inside a pocket.
"Before you leave – if you would indulge my curiosity." Lady Pearl reached down to pull out a flat stone. Even from across the table, Martel saw the light of magic emanate from it. "I bought this from the northern bard who played at the party. He claims it brims with power, but as you know, a simple woman such as I cannot tell the difference." She extended her hand.
Martel accepted the rock, looking it over. He saw Tyrian runes etched into the surface, no doubt the source of the magic. Unfortunately, he had no clue what they meant or did. He thought about the rune token given to him by Regnar; in contrast, it seemed dormant, if it held any magic at all. "Well, that claim is certainly true."
"Do you know what the signs do?"
"Unfortunately, I've yet to learn that," Martel admitted.
"No matter." She held out her hand, and he gave the stone back. "Thank you again, darling. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other."
Martel inclined his head; money in his pocket, he left the Pearl, already thinking about what to buy for his alchemy workshop.
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Chapter 305: Failing Walls
Failing Walls
Martel felt a tinge of nervousness entering the arena for his second lesson. Being the only one threatened by detention, should they lose against the mageknights, the other fire acolytes had much less motivation in the upcoming skirmish. One might think that avoiding being hit should suffice, but it had not proven so in the past. Perhaps he could take a lesson from his teacher and use spite instead.
"I trust none of us want to give the mageknights the satisfaction of victory?" he asked.
Harriet gave a scornful smile. "You would say that, wouldn't you. Scared of spending an extra bell with Mistress Moira?"
Martel could not deny this; he had been lucky to get out of his last detention, though it had also deepened the rift between him and the other acolytes. Regardless, he doubted that Moira would be so lenient next time. "Sure, today, it's me at risk. What about next fiveday? And the one after that? Until we learn to win, all of us are at risk."
"I hate when they hit me," Edward complained.
"The mageknights are already insufferable," Willian assented.
Martel looked at Harriet, who made no further objections. "So we use our new spell. I'll be on the right, stepping in front of Edward, raising the flame wall down the flank. Harriet, you're second-best with this spell, so I think you should take the front line on the left, with William behind this time." He looked around at the others.
Nobody disagreed or voiced any complaints. Meanwhile, with Moira sitting in the stands, the mageknights had taken position opposite them. Eight in total, spread out across a single line.
"Begin!"
"Master Martel, you have come, true to your word." Her face lit up in her customary dazzling smile.
"Here's the list of everyone I looked at during the feast." Martel placed the scrap of parchment in front of her. "A few surprises, I suppose."
She picked it up to let her eyes glance over the names and Martel's brief descriptions of whether the gold had seemed for show. "Very good. And this is for you." She opened a drawer and counted out ten silver coins, stacking them on the desk in front of him.
"Much obliged." He collected the money, placing it inside a pocket.
"Before you leave – if you would indulge my curiosity." Lady Pearl reached down to pull out a flat stone. Even from across the table, Martel saw the light of magic emanate from it. "I bought this from the northern bard who played at the party. He claims it brims with power, but as you know, a simple woman such as I cannot tell the difference." She extended her hand.
Martel accepted the rock, looking it over. He saw Tyrian runes etched into the surface, no doubt the source of the magic. Unfortunately, he had no clue what they meant or did. He thought about the rune token given to him by Regnar; in contrast, it seemed dormant, if it held any magic at all. "Well, that claim is certainly true."
"Do you know what the signs do?"
"Unfortunately, I've yet to learn that," Martel admitted.
"No matter." She held out her hand, and he gave the stone back. "Thank you again, darling. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other."
Martel inclined his head; money in his pocket, he left the Pearl, already thinking about what to buy for his alchemy workshop.
Chapter 305: Failing WallsFailing WallsMartel felt a tinge of nervousness entering the arena for his second lesson. Being the only one threatened by detention, should they lose against the mageknights, the other fire acolytes had much less motivation in the upcoming skirmish. One might think that avoiding being hit should suffice, but it had not proven so in the past. Perhaps he could take a lesson from his teacher and use spite instead."I trust none of us want to give the mageknights the satisfaction of victory?" he asked.Harriet gave a scornful smile. "You would say that, wouldn't you. Scared of spending an extra bell with Mistress Moira?"Martel could not deny this; he had been lucky to get out of his last detention, though it had also deepened the rift between him and the other acolytes. Regardless, he doubted that Moira would be so lenient next time. "Sure, today, it's me at risk. What about next fiveday? And the one after that? Until we learn to win, all of us are at risk.""I hate when they hit me," Edward complained."The mageknights are already insufferable," Willian assented.Martel looked at Harriet, who made no further objections. "So we use our new spell. I'll be on the right, stepping in front of Edward, raising the flame wall down the flank. Harriet, you're second-best with this spell, so I think you should take the front line on the left, with William behind this time." He looked around at the others.Nobody disagreed or voiced any complaints. Meanwhile, with Moira sitting in the stands, the mageknights had taken position opposite them. Eight in total, spread out across a single line."Begin!""Master Martel, you have come, true to your word." Her face lit up in her customary dazzling smile."Here's the list of everyone I looked at during the feast." Martel placed the scrap of parchment in front of her. "A few surprises, I suppose."She picked it up to let her eyes glance over the names and Martel's brief descriptions of whether the gold had seemed for show. "Very good. And this is for you." She opened a drawer and counted out ten silver coins, stacking them on the desk in front of him."Much obliged." He collected the money, placing it inside a pocket."Before you leave if you would indulge my curiosity." Lady Pearl reached down to pull out a flat stone. Even from across the table, Martel saw the light of magic emanate from it. "I bought this from the northern bard who played at the party. He claims it brims with power, but as you know, a simple woman such as I cannot tell the difference." She extended her hand.Martel accepted the rock, looking it over. He saw Tyrian runes etched into the surface, no doubt the source of the magic. Unfortunately, he had no clue what they meant or did. He thought about the rune token given to him by Regnar; in contrast, it seemed dormant, if it held any magic at all. "Well, that claim is certainly true.""Do you know what the signs do?""Unfortunately, I've yet to learn that," Martel admitted."No matter." She held out her hand, and he gave the stone back. "Thank you again, darling. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other."Martel inclined his head; money in his pocket, he left the Pearl, already thinking about what to buy for his alchemy workshop.
