Chapter 418: Eyes Across the Hall
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Chapter 418: Eyes Across the Hall
Eyes Across the Hall
A hammer came swinging through the air to strike Martel on the shoulder. Fortunately, chain armour and layers of cloth softened the blow, and it did not hurt. "Slow reactions, Nordmark!"
Martel looked towards Maximilian, taking a step away. They had been milling about, waiting for the next round of sparring. "I didn't realise we were fighting."
"This is combat. You have to be ready at all times," the mageknight chastised him.
"Combat lessons," Martel corrected him. Around them, the other acolytes sparred with each other, and the sounds of metal clashing and physical exertion could be heard.
After finishing his own skirmish against Alain, Martel had become lost in thoughts. Even though it seemed most likely that Julia had chosen to disappear, he could not help but worry. He realised that he ought to have questioned the neighbours; if Julia had been taken against her will, surely someone would have noticed. Inquisitors arresting someone in the insula would be gossip spread far and wide, he reckoned. It might be a waste of his time, but for the sake of having peace of mind, perhaps he ought to go back and ask around.
"You're not thinking of laying down your weapon already? There must be at least a quarter bell left of the lesson!" Maximilian raised his weapons in a threatening manner.
"Alright, alright." Martel held up his staff, happy to think of ways to make his friend lose a friendly bout.
***
The woman placed one hand on her cheek, the other on her child's head. Neither of them seemed particularly frightened, though. "No, master, nothing of the sort! We are Sol-fearing people, no need for that lot to come poking here."
As Martel might have guessed, they could not offer much information about what had happened to Julia. But it did seem certain she had chosen to leave. There was one last thing he might learn. "You once said that you followed her to the sewers." He looked down at the small girl and dug out some pennies from his pocket. "Could you take me to the entrance?"
The child looked up at her mother, who nodded in agreement.
***
Soon after, Martel's little guide led him down an alley and pointed at a hatch in the ground before she ran off, back to the insula. Inspecting the entrance, Martel eventually bent down and grabbed the handle to pull up. His own strength failed him, and he had to lend magic to his arm in order to open it. Immediately, the putrid stench of sewer filth reached him, and he allowed it to slam shut.
It seemed unlikely that Julia had gone this way, considering a girl her size would lack the strength to even open it; maybe the child from the insula had been mistaken. Regardless, Martel had no idea if Julia was hiding below ground or above, and searching for her would be impossible. There was not really anything he could accomplish.
Walking home, the thoughts still troubled him, though. While it seemed most unlikely that the inquisitors had taken Julia in, Martel did have a way to make sure it was not the case. He had done so once before, pretending to be a clerk and going to the actual Office of the Inquisition. That did risk attracting undue attention; he might not get away with it twice. A better way existed.
Thus, on his way home, he took a turn towards the east, occasionally asking local residents for directions until he reached a small shrine not far from the Lyceum, attended by a few Grey Brothers. Martel approached the nearest. "I need a message delivered to the Friar. Tell him that Martel wishes to meet briefly."
If the priest found this odd, his demeanour did not reveal it. "Very well."
With a nod in farewell, Martel left for the Lyceum.
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Chapter 418: Eyes Across the Hall
Eyes Across the Hall
A hammer came swinging through the air to strike Martel on the shoulder. Fortunately, chain armour and layers of cloth softened the blow, and it did not hurt. "Slow reactions, Nordmark!"
Martel looked towards Maximilian, taking a step away. They had been milling about, waiting for the next round of sparring. "I didn't realise we were fighting."
"This is combat. You have to be ready at all times," the mageknight chastised him.
"Combat lessons," Martel corrected him. Around them, the other acolytes sparred with each other, and the sounds of metal clashing and physical exertion could be heard.
After finishing his own skirmish against Alain, Martel had become lost in thoughts. Even though it seemed most likely that Julia had chosen to disappear, he could not help but worry. He realised that he ought to have questioned the neighbours; if Julia had been taken against her will, surely someone would have noticed. Inquisitors arresting someone in the insula would be gossip spread far and wide, he reckoned. It might be a waste of his time, but for the sake of having peace of mind, perhaps he ought to go back and ask around.
"You're not thinking of laying down your weapon already? There must be at least a quarter bell left of the lesson!" Maximilian raised his weapons in a threatening manner.
"Alright, alright." Martel held up his staff, happy to think of ways to make his friend lose a friendly bout.
***
The woman placed one hand on her cheek, the other on her child's head. Neither of them seemed particularly frightened, though. "No, master, nothing of the sort! We are Sol-fearing people, no need for that lot to come poking here."
As Martel might have guessed, they could not offer much information about what had happened to Julia. But it did seem certain she had chosen to leave. There was one last thing he might learn. "You once said that you followed her to the sewers." He looked down at the small girl and dug out some pennies from his pocket. "Could you take me to the entrance?"
The child looked up at her mother, who nodded in agreement.
***
Soon after, Martel's little guide led him down an alley and pointed at a hatch in the ground before she ran off, back to the insula. Inspecting the entrance, Martel eventually bent down and grabbed the handle to pull up. His own strength failed him, and he had to lend magic to his arm in order to open it. Immediately, the putrid stench of sewer filth reached him, and he allowed it to slam shut.
It seemed unlikely that Julia had gone this way, considering a girl her size would lack the strength to even open it; maybe the child from the insula had been mistaken. Regardless, Martel had no idea if Julia was hiding below ground or above, and searching for her would be impossible. There was not really anything he could accomplish.
Walking home, the thoughts still troubled him, though. While it seemed most unlikely that the inquisitors had taken Julia in, Martel did have a way to make sure it was not the case. He had done so once before, pretending to be a clerk and going to the actual Office of the Inquisition. That did risk attracting undue attention; he might not get away with it twice. A better way existed.
Thus, on his way home, he took a turn towards the east, occasionally asking local residents for directions until he reached a small shrine not far from the Lyceum, attended by a few Grey Brothers. Martel approached the nearest. "I need a message delivered to the Friar. Tell him that Martel wishes to meet briefly."
If the priest found this odd, his demeanour did not reveal it. "Very well."
With a nod in farewell, Martel left for the Lyceum.
Chapter 418: Eyes Across the HallEyes Across the HallA hammer came swinging through the air to strike Martel on the shoulder. Fortunately, chain armour and layers of cloth softened the blow, and it did not hurt. "Slow reactions, Nordmark!"Martel looked towards Maximilian, taking a step away. They had been milling about, waiting for the next round of sparring. "I didn't realise we were fighting.""This is combat. You have to be ready at all times," the mageknight chastised him."Combat lessons," Martel corrected him. Around them, the other acolytes sparred with each other, and the sounds of metal clashing and physical exertion could be heard.After finishing his own skirmish against Alain, Martel had become lost in thoughts. Even though it seemed most likely that Julia had chosen to disappear, he could not help but worry. He realised that he ought to have questioned the neighbours; if Julia had been taken against her will, surely someone would have noticed. Inquisitors arresting someone in the insula would be gossip spread far and wide, he reckoned. It might be a waste of his time, but for the sake of having peace of mind, perhaps he ought to go back and ask around."You're not thinking of laying down your weapon already? There must be at least a quarter bell left of the lesson!" Maximilian raised his weapons in a threatening manner."Alright, alright." Martel held up his staff, happy to think of ways to make his friend lose a friendly bout.***The woman placed one hand on her cheek, the other on her child's head. Neither of them seemed particularly frightened, though. "No, master, nothing of the sort! We are Sol-fearing people, no need for that lot to come poking here."As Martel might have guessed, they could not offer much information about what had happened to Julia. But it did seem certain she had chosen to leave. There was one last thing he might learn. "You once said that you followed her to the sewers." He looked down at the small girl and dug out some pennies from his pocket. "Could you take me to the entrance?"The child looked up at her mother, who nodded in agreement.***Soon after, Martel's little guide led him down an alley and pointed at a hatch in the ground before she ran off, back to the insula. Inspecting the entrance, Martel eventually bent down and grabbed the handle to pull up. His own strength failed him, and he had to lend magic to his arm in order to open it. Immediately, the putrid stench of sewer filth reached him, and he allowed it to slam shut.It seemed unlikely that Julia had gone this way, considering a girl her size would lack the strength to even open it; maybe the child from the insula had been mistaken. Regardless, Martel had no idea if Julia was hiding below ground or above, and searching for her would be impossible. There was not really anything he could accomplish.Walking home, the thoughts still troubled him, though. While it seemed most unlikely that the inquisitors had taken Julia in, Martel did have a way to make sure it was not the case. He had done so once before, pretending to be a clerk and going to the actual Office of the Inquisition. That did risk attracting undue attention; he might not get away with it twice. A better way existed.Thus, on his way home, he took a turn towards the east, occasionally asking local residents for directions until he reached a small shrine not far from the Lyceum, attended by a few Grey Brothers. Martel approached the nearest. "I need a message delivered to the Friar. Tell him that Martel wishes to meet briefly."If the priest found this odd, his demeanour did not reveal it. "Very well."With a nod in farewell, Martel left for the Lyceum.
