Chapter 66: The Right Touch
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Chapter 66: The Right Touch
The Right Touch
Solday, usually Martel's easiest day of the five, proved busy. After working in the apothecary and assisting Master Jerome, he had to get a message to Shadi that he would not be able to meet. It cost him a trip into town and one of his few pennies to Badger, who happened to be the first of the street children that he met. His message dispatched, Martel returned to the Lyceum where Eleanor waited for him in the entrance hall.
"Good, you are back. Did you handle your errand?"
He nodded. He had not seen any reason to explain the specific nature of the errand. He gestured towards the bundle in her hands. "That for me?"
"Indeed." She handed it over. "But first things first. Head to the baths and get a good scrub in. Get dressed afterwards. I will stop by your room in an hour, maybe a little later. My father's horses should be here by then to take us to our destination. Understood?"This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.
"Aye, commander," Martel grinned, to which she only rolled her eyes.
~
The novice lowered himself until the hot water reached his chin, enjoying the sensation of the heat relaxing his muscles. Back home, bathing happened maybe once a fiveday in the local stream, usually before going to the temple. And that was only in summer, where the cool water was a relief. In winter, they dragged water from the brook inside and heated it over the kitchen fire. With six children to wash, the water quickly turned dirty.
In comparison, having a large pool of heated water constantly available felt like the greatest luxury Martel had discovered at the Lyceum, and he made use of it nearly daily. He wondered if Master Ogion had something like this in his house back in Engby.
When he had washed, Martel quickly cooled off in the cold pool of water and dried himself before he returned to his room. Finally, he unpacked the bundle from the tailor. Adding the new doublet to his other clothes from Maximilian, he found it a perfect fit. More than that, a beautiful tree in green spread across his chest on a red background.
"You may want to close your mouth at some point," Eleanor laughed.
"I've never seen anything like this," Martel confessed. "It's like a whole different kind of magic. It's so beautiful."
"Yes. Yes, it is," she said softly.
"What the blazes are you doing here?" With a face as angry as his voice, young Cheval stalked over to stand in front of them. "How dare you foul the halls of my home, half-breed!"
Eleanor took a small step forward to stand between the other mageknight and Martel. "He was invited. And you are not the master of these halls."
"You made a mistake," Cheval fumed. "I will have the guards flog you for trespassing!"
A servant in livery appeared. "Master Martel? His lordship the duke wishes to see you immediately."
The novice looked from the servant to Eleanor. Refusal did not seem an option. "You are his guest," she told him quietly. "And a ward of the Lyceum and therefore the Empire. You have nothing to fear."
Martel wished he could share her confidence, but regardless, he nodded at the servant and followed.
~
While Martel disappeared deeper into the palace, more and more guests arrived. The greatest noble houses of Aster, whether hailing from Morcaster or Aquila originally, all came rather than spurn the invitation from the powerful ruler of Cheval. Dukes, counts, barons, their spouses, children, various other relatives, or even simple courtiers came along, everyone clad in a wealth of garments and jewellery that would make a Tyrian raider salivate at the sight. Another solstice celebration, second only to that of the Imperial palace, was underway.
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Chapter 66: The Right Touch
The Right Touch
Solday, usually Martel's easiest day of the five, proved busy. After working in the apothecary and assisting Master Jerome, he had to get a message to Shadi that he would not be able to meet. It cost him a trip into town and one of his few pennies to Badger, who happened to be the first of the street children that he met. His message dispatched, Martel returned to the Lyceum where Eleanor waited for him in the entrance hall.
"Good, you are back. Did you handle your errand?"
He nodded. He had not seen any reason to explain the specific nature of the errand. He gestured towards the bundle in her hands. "That for me?"
"Indeed." She handed it over. "But first things first. Head to the baths and get a good scrub in. Get dressed afterwards. I will stop by your room in an hour, maybe a little later. My father's horses should be here by then to take us to our destination. Understood?"This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.
"Aye, commander," Martel grinned, to which she only rolled her eyes.
~
The novice lowered himself until the hot water reached his chin, enjoying the sensation of the heat relaxing his muscles. Back home, bathing happened maybe once a fiveday in the local stream, usually before going to the temple. And that was only in summer, where the cool water was a relief. In winter, they dragged water from the brook inside and heated it over the kitchen fire. With six children to wash, the water quickly turned dirty.
In comparison, having a large pool of heated water constantly available felt like the greatest luxury Martel had discovered at the Lyceum, and he made use of it nearly daily. He wondered if Master Ogion had something like this in his house back in Engby.
When he had washed, Martel quickly cooled off in the cold pool of water and dried himself before he returned to his room. Finally, he unpacked the bundle from the tailor. Adding the new doublet to his other clothes from Maximilian, he found it a perfect fit. More than that, a beautiful tree in green spread across his chest on a red background.
"You may want to close your mouth at some point," Eleanor laughed.
"I've never seen anything like this," Martel confessed. "It's like a whole different kind of magic. It's so beautiful."
"Yes. Yes, it is," she said softly.
"What the blazes are you doing here?" With a face as angry as his voice, young Cheval stalked over to stand in front of them. "How dare you foul the halls of my home, half-breed!"
Eleanor took a small step forward to stand between the other mageknight and Martel. "He was invited. And you are not the master of these halls."
"You made a mistake," Cheval fumed. "I will have the guards flog you for trespassing!"
A servant in livery appeared. "Master Martel? His lordship the duke wishes to see you immediately."
The novice looked from the servant to Eleanor. Refusal did not seem an option. "You are his guest," she told him quietly. "And a ward of the Lyceum and therefore the Empire. You have nothing to fear."
Martel wished he could share her confidence, but regardless, he nodded at the servant and followed.
~
While Martel disappeared deeper into the palace, more and more guests arrived. The greatest noble houses of Aster, whether hailing from Morcaster or Aquila originally, all came rather than spurn the invitation from the powerful ruler of Cheval. Dukes, counts, barons, their spouses, children, various other relatives, or even simple courtiers came along, everyone clad in a wealth of garments and jewellery that would make a Tyrian raider salivate at the sight. Another solstice celebration, second only to that of the Imperial palace, was underway.
Chapter 66: The Right TouchThe Right TouchSolday, usually Martel's easiest day of the five, proved busy. After working in the apothecary and assisting Master Jerome, he had to get a message to Shadi that he would not be able to meet. It cost him a trip into town and one of his few pennies to Badger, who happened to be the first of the street children that he met. His message dispatched, Martel returned to the Lyceum where Eleanor waited for him in the entrance hall."Good, you are back. Did you handle your errand?"He nodded. He had not seen any reason to explain the specific nature of the errand. He gestured towards the bundle in her hands. "That for me?""Indeed." She handed it over. "But first things first. Head to the baths and get a good scrub in. Get dressed afterwards. I will stop by your room in an hour, maybe a little later. My father's horses should be here by then to take us to our destination. Understood?"This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n."Aye, commander," Martel grinned, to which she only rolled her eyes.~The novice lowered himself until the hot water reached his chin, enjoying the sensation of the heat relaxing his muscles. Back home, bathing happened maybe once a fiveday in the local stream, usually before going to the temple. And that was only in summer, where the cool water was a relief. In winter, they dragged water from the brook inside and heated it over the kitchen fire. With six children to wash, the water quickly turned dirty.In comparison, having a large pool of heated water constantly available felt like the greatest luxury Martel had discovered at the Lyceum, and he made use of it nearly daily. He wondered if Master Ogion had something like this in his house back in Engby.When he had washed, Martel quickly cooled off in the cold pool of water and dried himself before he returned to his room. Finally, he unpacked the bundle from the tailor. Adding the new doublet to his other clothes from Maximilian, he found it a perfect fit. More than that, a beautiful tree in green spread across his chest on a red background."You may want to close your mouth at some point," Eleanor laughed."I've never seen anything like this," Martel confessed. "It's like a whole different kind of magic. It's so beautiful.""Yes. Yes, it is," she said softly."What the blazes are you doing here?" With a face as angry as his voice, young Cheval stalked over to stand in front of them. "How dare you foul the halls of my home, half-breed!"Eleanor took a small step forward to stand between the other mageknight and Martel. "He was invited. And you are not the master of these halls.""You made a mistake," Cheval fumed. "I will have the guards flog you for trespassing!"A servant in livery appeared. "Master Martel? His lordship the duke wishes to see you immediately."The novice looked from the servant to Eleanor. Refusal did not seem an option. "You are his guest," she told him quietly. "And a ward of the Lyceum and therefore the Empire. You have nothing to fear."Martel wished he could share her confidence, but regardless, he nodded at the servant and followed.~While Martel disappeared deeper into the palace, more and more guests arrived. The greatest noble houses of Aster, whether hailing from Morcaster or Aquila originally, all came rather than spurn the invitation from the powerful ruler of Cheval. Dukes, counts, barons, their spouses, children, various other relatives, or even simple courtiers came along, everyone clad in a wealth of garments and jewellery that would make a Tyrian raider salivate at the sight. Another solstice celebration, second only to that of the Imperial palace, was underway.
