Chapter 329: A Child's Innocence
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Chapter 329: A Child's Innocence
A Child's Innocence
The worst of his concerns about the troupe alleviated, Martel could better concentrate on his lessons the next day. Still, until the actors left the bridge district, they would not be safe. The sooner the better. Just in case he might help facilitate this, or should Regnar need assistance persuading the rest to pull up their tents, Martel figured he would pay them a visit. It would also ease his lingering worry that despite their intention to leave, his friends might still be targeted by further attacks. Seeing them unharmed would ease his mind.
***
The Four Flagon Tavern was quiet, all things considered, with only a handful of customers in the common room. On his way in, Martel had also noticed people outside on the street keeping a careful watch. But the place seemed peaceful, at least, with no imminent sign of trouble brewing. Down in the basement, he quickly located Regnar.
"You guys getting ready to leave?"
The hedge mage nodded. "I convinced the others. They all saw the wisdom in avoiding this conflict – except Ian, I guess, but you can't expect a child to always understand. We're just slowly packing things up. We had rather expected to stay here a long time, so we're not quite as swift to have everything back on carts as in the old days. We also sold our draught animals, so Theo is out buying new oxen."
"That's good. I spoke to the earthmage from the Night Knives, those mercenaries that came here. I told her you were leaving – hopefully, that means they'll stay away and let you go in peace."
"I appreciate that, lad." Regnar sat down on the nearest bench and took out his pipe. "I shouted at those fellows on the other side of the street, those watching us, much the same message. I figured they'd take it back to the mistress, though by the looks of them, I might have overestimated their intelligence."
Martel chuckled a little, despite how serious and unfortunate the situation felt. "I suppose it's best not to take chances. I can't be sure that Flora, the earthmage, passed on the message either. Maybe I should go myself to the Pearl and let them know."
"Nah, lad, don't go near those people. We'll be fine and out of here soon enough." Regnar bit into his pipe and gave Martel a pat on the shoulder.
"All the same, I don't like the idea of a misunderstanding causing another fight, especially as I probably won't be here to help. And I don't think I have to go straight into the wyrm's lair, as they say. You think I could borrow some parchment and a writing set?"
***
"Still arrogance, simply by other words. Goodbye, wizard." She turned around and left with hasty steps.
***
Leaving the bridge district, Martel decided to extend his journey a little by including a trip to the harbour. He was curious how the potion had worked on Julia, assuming she had tried it. She did seem to have the scavenger's instinct of collecting everything but never using it, always afraid it might be more needed another day. But if so, he would impress on her that she ought to drink it. Soon enough, he would be able to make plenty more, after all.
Knocking on Julia's door, it remained closed. When somebody finally spoke to him, it came from an unexpected angle. "You looking for the woman who lives there? You're her friend, right, I've seen you."
Martel turned his head to see a small girl sticking her head out from another room down the corridor. He could not help but smile at her words; he supposed to someone as young as her, even Julia might seem like a grown woman. "That's right. I just wanted to speak with her briefly. Are you her friend as well?"
"I'm afraid to talk to her. She's so pretty."
Martel laughed a little. It was nice to be reminded that some children still had innocence.
"I did follow her a few times, but she went into the smelly place, so I went home again."
"The – smelly place? The sewers?"
The girl nodded. "Yeah, that's what my dad called it. Said I wasn't allowed down there."
"He was right." Martel frowned a little, wondering why Julia would go back down there.
"Child, stop talking to strangers!" The voice came from behind the girl, within their rooms; a start went through her, and she slammed the door shut.
Nothing further to glean, with no idea where Julia was or when she might return, Martel left.
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Chapter 329: A Child's Innocence
A Child's Innocence
The worst of his concerns about the troupe alleviated, Martel could better concentrate on his lessons the next day. Still, until the actors left the bridge district, they would not be safe. The sooner the better. Just in case he might help facilitate this, or should Regnar need assistance persuading the rest to pull up their tents, Martel figured he would pay them a visit. It would also ease his lingering worry that despite their intention to leave, his friends might still be targeted by further attacks. Seeing them unharmed would ease his mind.
***
The Four Flagon Tavern was quiet, all things considered, with only a handful of customers in the common room. On his way in, Martel had also noticed people outside on the street keeping a careful watch. But the place seemed peaceful, at least, with no imminent sign of trouble brewing. Down in the basement, he quickly located Regnar.
"You guys getting ready to leave?"
The hedge mage nodded. "I convinced the others. They all saw the wisdom in avoiding this conflict – except Ian, I guess, but you can't expect a child to always understand. We're just slowly packing things up. We had rather expected to stay here a long time, so we're not quite as swift to have everything back on carts as in the old days. We also sold our draught animals, so Theo is out buying new oxen."
"That's good. I spoke to the earthmage from the Night Knives, those mercenaries that came here. I told her you were leaving – hopefully, that means they'll stay away and let you go in peace."
"I appreciate that, lad." Regnar sat down on the nearest bench and took out his pipe. "I shouted at those fellows on the other side of the street, those watching us, much the same message. I figured they'd take it back to the mistress, though by the looks of them, I might have overestimated their intelligence."
Martel chuckled a little, despite how serious and unfortunate the situation felt. "I suppose it's best not to take chances. I can't be sure that Flora, the earthmage, passed on the message either. Maybe I should go myself to the Pearl and let them know."
"Nah, lad, don't go near those people. We'll be fine and out of here soon enough." Regnar bit into his pipe and gave Martel a pat on the shoulder.
"All the same, I don't like the idea of a misunderstanding causing another fight, especially as I probably won't be here to help. And I don't think I have to go straight into the wyrm's lair, as they say. You think I could borrow some parchment and a writing set?"
***
"Still arrogance, simply by other words. Goodbye, wizard." She turned around and left with hasty steps.
***
Leaving the bridge district, Martel decided to extend his journey a little by including a trip to the harbour. He was curious how the potion had worked on Julia, assuming she had tried it. She did seem to have the scavenger's instinct of collecting everything but never using it, always afraid it might be more needed another day. But if so, he would impress on her that she ought to drink it. Soon enough, he would be able to make plenty more, after all.
Knocking on Julia's door, it remained closed. When somebody finally spoke to him, it came from an unexpected angle. "You looking for the woman who lives there? You're her friend, right, I've seen you."
Martel turned his head to see a small girl sticking her head out from another room down the corridor. He could not help but smile at her words; he supposed to someone as young as her, even Julia might seem like a grown woman. "That's right. I just wanted to speak with her briefly. Are you her friend as well?"
"I'm afraid to talk to her. She's so pretty."
Martel laughed a little. It was nice to be reminded that some children still had innocence.
"I did follow her a few times, but she went into the smelly place, so I went home again."
"The – smelly place? The sewers?"
The girl nodded. "Yeah, that's what my dad called it. Said I wasn't allowed down there."
"He was right." Martel frowned a little, wondering why Julia would go back down there.
"Child, stop talking to strangers!" The voice came from behind the girl, within their rooms; a start went through her, and she slammed the door shut.
Nothing further to glean, with no idea where Julia was or when she might return, Martel left.
Chapter 329: A Child's InnocenceA Child's InnocenceThe worst of his concerns about the troupe alleviated, Martel could better concentrate on his lessons the next day. Still, until the actors left the bridge district, they would not be safe. The sooner the better. Just in case he might help facilitate this, or should Regnar need assistance persuading the rest to pull up their tents, Martel figured he would pay them a visit. It would also ease his lingering worry that despite their intention to leave, his friends might still be targeted by further attacks. Seeing them unharmed would ease his mind.***The Four Flagon Tavern was quiet, all things considered, with only a handful of customers in the common room. On his way in, Martel had also noticed people outside on the street keeping a careful watch. But the place seemed peaceful, at least, with no imminent sign of trouble brewing. Down in the basement, he quickly located Regnar."You guys getting ready to leave?"The hedge mage nodded. "I convinced the others. They all saw the wisdom in avoiding this conflict except Ian, I guess, but you can't expect a child to always understand. We're just slowly packing things up. We had rather expected to stay here a long time, so we're not quite as swift to have everything back on carts as in the old days. We also sold our draught animals, so Theo is out buying new oxen.""That's good. I spoke to the earthmage from the Night Knives, those mercenaries that came here. I told her you were leaving hopefully, that means they'll stay away and let you go in peace.""I appreciate that, lad." Regnar sat down on the nearest bench and took out his pipe. "I shouted at those fellows on the other side of the street, those watching us, much the same message. I figured they'd take it back to the mistress, though by the looks of them, I might have overestimated their intelligence."Martel chuckled a little, despite how serious and unfortunate the situation felt. "I suppose it's best not to take chances. I can't be sure that Flora, the earthmage, passed on the message either. Maybe I should go myself to the Pearl and let them know.""Nah, lad, don't go near those people. We'll be fine and out of here soon enough." Regnar bit into his pipe and gave Martel a pat on the shoulder."All the same, I don't like the idea of a misunderstanding causing another fight, especially as I probably won't be here to help. And I don't think I have to go straight into the wyrm's lair, as they say. You think I could borrow some parchment and a writing set?"***"Still arrogance, simply by other words. Goodbye, wizard." She turned around and left with hasty steps.***Leaving the bridge district, Martel decided to extend his journey a little by including a trip to the harbour. He was curious how the potion had worked on Julia, assuming she had tried it. She did seem to have the scavenger's instinct of collecting everything but never using it, always afraid it might be more needed another day. But if so, he would impress on her that she ought to drink it. Soon enough, he would be able to make plenty more, after all.Knocking on Julia's door, it remained closed. When somebody finally spoke to him, it came from an unexpected angle. "You looking for the woman who lives there? You're her friend, right, I've seen you."Martel turned his head to see a small girl sticking her head out from another room down the corridor. He could not help but smile at her words; he supposed to someone as young as her, even Julia might seem like a grown woman. "That's right. I just wanted to speak with her briefly. Are you her friend as well?""I'm afraid to talk to her. She's so pretty."Martel laughed a little. It was nice to be reminded that some children still had innocence."I did follow her a few times, but she went into the smelly place, so I went home again.""The smelly place? The sewers?"The girl nodded. "Yeah, that's what my dad called it. Said I wasn't allowed down there.""He was right." Martel frowned a little, wondering why Julia would go back down there."Child, stop talking to strangers!" The voice came from behind the girl, within their rooms; a start went through her, and she slammed the door shut.Nothing further to glean, with no idea where Julia was or when she might return, Martel left.
