Chapter 98: A Pair of Emperors
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 98: A Pair of Emperors
A Pair of Emperors
Going through his day, Martel felt a tinge of cold feet. Even though his plan with Maximilian echoed what he had intended to do on his own, it felt different. Alone, he retained the option to back out at any time. He could sit down at the table, change his mind, and leave. Going to a gambling den with Maximilian felt like a commitment to see it through, and Martel could not be sure he had the stomach for it.
He paused practising his spellcraft in the Hall of Elements, looking at his teacher. "Master, if I needed money, how might I earn some?"
"It was my understanding you do work for Master Jerome in the workshops."
"I do, but with my growing magic skills, I wondered if I might find other work – more challenging, and with more pay?"
"Master Jerome might have such tasks as well, but if he hasn't offered them to you, I imagine he doesn't consider you ready. Certainly, such work is usually reserved for acolytes." His teacher gave him a scrutinising look. "Is something the matter? Are you in some sort of trouble?"
"No, not at all. I just have a friend, I wanted to do something nice for her." Martel took a deep breath. "Let me try air and water together this time."
~
A young nobleman and his valet moved through the city to reach the slums. Unlike his usual robe, Martel wore a shirt and doublet made from flax and wool, though neither he nor Maximilian had any crest or other such markers of identity.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.
"I guess if we don't want to be recognised, it's good we are as far away from the school as possible," Martel mused. While a few people did know him, such as Weasel's gang, he was not worried they would report on his whereabouts to the Lyceum.
"Not much choice either. All the places in the other districts, they are part of the Gamblers' Guild. If we want unlicensed games that do not check for magic, we have to go to the copper lanes."
"Why is it called that?" Martel asked. He had picked up the name from others using it, but he had never heard an explanation why.
Maximilian smirked. "In the northern districts, people count their wealth in gold. In the market or the harbour, they count it in silver. In the copper lanes..."
"They count it in copper pennies."
"Do not worry. Where we are going, there will be plenty of silver for both of us."
~
"Five silvers," the young nobleman grumbled, playing the part of a gambler chasing his losses. Acting impatient, he picked up the dice, rubbed them between his hands for good luck, and let them roll on the table, one after the other. A pair of fools came as a result with Martel clenching his hands together behind his back.
The other player scooped up the dice and swiftly let them fall. Once again, he landed on a pair of elements. With a cackle, he pulled all the silver towards himself. "You've got bad luck, it would seem."
"Indeed," Maximilian growled. "If only my lucky stars would wake up. Another five. You roll first." He counted out the coins and stack them on the table.
Taking a swig from his mug, the other gambler mirrored the bet and picked up the dice. He let them roll. The first came to a quick stop on a crown. The other looked poised to stop on that symbol as well, giving him the best possible result. Wrenching his hands, Martel stared until the die finally took another turn, showing an element instead.
He did not have time to relax. Maximilian scooped up the small cubes and sent them rolling. Almost sweating from the pressure, Martel concentrated like his life depended on it. A pair with water showed. Winner Maximilian.
"Aha!" The viscount picked up his silver, leaving half as his next bet.
~
An hour later, the nobleman and his valet left the unassuming house. Maximilian tapped a purse heavy with silver inside his tunic. "By my count, subtracting expenses, that is seventeen pieces of silver for each of us. Not bad for half a bell's work."
"It really isn't. We could probably have stayed," Martel considered.
Maximilian shook his head. "You win long enough, even with honest means, it always ends with someone getting mad at you, accusing you of cheating. Since we are vulnerable to such accusations, it is best we do not invite any suspicion."
"You know best," the novice conceded. It did not matter either if they had to do this over several nights. Two more outings like this, and he would have enough to solve Shadi's problems. "What will you do with your half? It's not like you lack for money."
Maximilian assumed an offended expression. "I have a lifestyle to maintain."
They continued along the dark streets of Morcaster, populated mostly by others enjoying entertainments of the night or people planning to take advantage of the former.
"Those men we took money from... Do you feel bad that they didn't actually have a chance to win?"
"Martel, never gamble coin you cannot afford to lose. Odds are, any coin they did not gamble away, they would have spent on drink. The only difference is whether we or the house would gain that money, and I consider us the worthier recipients."
That made a certain amount of sense, and Martel's conscience was happy to seize it. "Do we go again tomorrow?"
Maximilian smiled. "We go again tomorrow."
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 98: A Pair of Emperors
A Pair of Emperors
Going through his day, Martel felt a tinge of cold feet. Even though his plan with Maximilian echoed what he had intended to do on his own, it felt different. Alone, he retained the option to back out at any time. He could sit down at the table, change his mind, and leave. Going to a gambling den with Maximilian felt like a commitment to see it through, and Martel could not be sure he had the stomach for it.
He paused practising his spellcraft in the Hall of Elements, looking at his teacher. "Master, if I needed money, how might I earn some?"
"It was my understanding you do work for Master Jerome in the workshops."
"I do, but with my growing magic skills, I wondered if I might find other work – more challenging, and with more pay?"
"Master Jerome might have such tasks as well, but if he hasn't offered them to you, I imagine he doesn't consider you ready. Certainly, such work is usually reserved for acolytes." His teacher gave him a scrutinising look. "Is something the matter? Are you in some sort of trouble?"
"No, not at all. I just have a friend, I wanted to do something nice for her." Martel took a deep breath. "Let me try air and water together this time."
~
A young nobleman and his valet moved through the city to reach the slums. Unlike his usual robe, Martel wore a shirt and doublet made from flax and wool, though neither he nor Maximilian had any crest or other such markers of identity.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.
"I guess if we don't want to be recognised, it's good we are as far away from the school as possible," Martel mused. While a few people did know him, such as Weasel's gang, he was not worried they would report on his whereabouts to the Lyceum.
"Not much choice either. All the places in the other districts, they are part of the Gamblers' Guild. If we want unlicensed games that do not check for magic, we have to go to the copper lanes."
"Why is it called that?" Martel asked. He had picked up the name from others using it, but he had never heard an explanation why.
Maximilian smirked. "In the northern districts, people count their wealth in gold. In the market or the harbour, they count it in silver. In the copper lanes..."
"They count it in copper pennies."
"Do not worry. Where we are going, there will be plenty of silver for both of us."
~
"Five silvers," the young nobleman grumbled, playing the part of a gambler chasing his losses. Acting impatient, he picked up the dice, rubbed them between his hands for good luck, and let them roll on the table, one after the other. A pair of fools came as a result with Martel clenching his hands together behind his back.
The other player scooped up the dice and swiftly let them fall. Once again, he landed on a pair of elements. With a cackle, he pulled all the silver towards himself. "You've got bad luck, it would seem."
"Indeed," Maximilian growled. "If only my lucky stars would wake up. Another five. You roll first." He counted out the coins and stack them on the table.
Taking a swig from his mug, the other gambler mirrored the bet and picked up the dice. He let them roll. The first came to a quick stop on a crown. The other looked poised to stop on that symbol as well, giving him the best possible result. Wrenching his hands, Martel stared until the die finally took another turn, showing an element instead.
He did not have time to relax. Maximilian scooped up the small cubes and sent them rolling. Almost sweating from the pressure, Martel concentrated like his life depended on it. A pair with water showed. Winner Maximilian.
"Aha!" The viscount picked up his silver, leaving half as his next bet.
~
An hour later, the nobleman and his valet left the unassuming house. Maximilian tapped a purse heavy with silver inside his tunic. "By my count, subtracting expenses, that is seventeen pieces of silver for each of us. Not bad for half a bell's work."
"It really isn't. We could probably have stayed," Martel considered.
Maximilian shook his head. "You win long enough, even with honest means, it always ends with someone getting mad at you, accusing you of cheating. Since we are vulnerable to such accusations, it is best we do not invite any suspicion."
"You know best," the novice conceded. It did not matter either if they had to do this over several nights. Two more outings like this, and he would have enough to solve Shadi's problems. "What will you do with your half? It's not like you lack for money."
Maximilian assumed an offended expression. "I have a lifestyle to maintain."
They continued along the dark streets of Morcaster, populated mostly by others enjoying entertainments of the night or people planning to take advantage of the former.
"Those men we took money from... Do you feel bad that they didn't actually have a chance to win?"
"Martel, never gamble coin you cannot afford to lose. Odds are, any coin they did not gamble away, they would have spent on drink. The only difference is whether we or the house would gain that money, and I consider us the worthier recipients."
That made a certain amount of sense, and Martel's conscience was happy to seize it. "Do we go again tomorrow?"
Maximilian smiled. "We go again tomorrow."
Chapter 98: A Pair of EmperorsA Pair of EmperorsGoing through his day, Martel felt a tinge of cold feet. Even though his plan with Maximilian echoed what he had intended to do on his own, it felt different. Alone, he retained the option to back out at any time. He could sit down at the table, change his mind, and leave. Going to a gambling den with Maximilian felt like a commitment to see it through, and Martel could not be sure he had the stomach for it.He paused practising his spellcraft in the Hall of Elements, looking at his teacher. "Master, if I needed money, how might I earn some?""It was my understanding you do work for Master Jerome in the workshops.""I do, but with my growing magic skills, I wondered if I might find other work more challenging, and with more pay?""Master Jerome might have such tasks as well, but if he hasn't offered them to you, I imagine he doesn't consider you ready. Certainly, such work is usually reserved for acolytes." His teacher gave him a scrutinising look. "Is something the matter? Are you in some sort of trouble?""No, not at all. I just have a friend, I wanted to do something nice for her." Martel took a deep breath. "Let me try air and water together this time."~A young nobleman and his valet moved through the city to reach the slums. Unlike his usual robe, Martel wore a shirt and doublet made from flax and wool, though neither he nor Maximilian had any crest or other such markers of identity.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Nvl--B1n."I guess if we don't want to be recognised, it's good we are as far away from the school as possible," Martel mused. While a few people did know him, such as Weasel's gang, he was not worried they would report on his whereabouts to the Lyceum."Not much choice either. All the places in the other districts, they are part of the Gamblers' Guild. If we want unlicensed games that do not check for magic, we have to go to the copper lanes.""Why is it called that?" Martel asked. He had picked up the name from others using it, but he had never heard an explanation why.Maximilian smirked. "In the northern districts, people count their wealth in gold. In the market or the harbour, they count it in silver. In the copper lanes...""They count it in copper pennies.""Do not worry. Where we are going, there will be plenty of silver for both of us."~"Five silvers," the young nobleman grumbled, playing the part of a gambler chasing his losses. Acting impatient, he picked up the dice, rubbed them between his hands for good luck, and let them roll on the table, one after the other. A pair of fools came as a result with Martel clenching his hands together behind his back.The other player scooped up the dice and swiftly let them fall. Once again, he landed on a pair of elements. With a cackle, he pulled all the silver towards himself. "You've got bad luck, it would seem.""Indeed," Maximilian growled. "If only my lucky stars would wake up. Another five. You roll first." He counted out the coins and stack them on the table.Taking a swig from his mug, the other gambler mirrored the bet and picked up the dice. He let them roll. The first came to a quick stop on a crown. The other looked poised to stop on that symbol as well, giving him the best possible result. Wrenching his hands, Martel stared until the die finally took another turn, showing an element instead.He did not have time to relax. Maximilian scooped up the small cubes and sent them rolling. Almost sweating from the pressure, Martel concentrated like his life depended on it. A pair with water showed. Winner Maximilian."Aha!" The viscount picked up his silver, leaving half as his next bet.~An hour later, the nobleman and his valet left the unassuming house. Maximilian tapped a purse heavy with silver inside his tunic. "By my count, subtracting expenses, that is seventeen pieces of silver for each of us. Not bad for half a bell's work.""It really isn't. We could probably have stayed," Martel considered.Maximilian shook his head. "You win long enough, even with honest means, it always ends with someone getting mad at you, accusing you of cheating. Since we are vulnerable to such accusations, it is best we do not invite any suspicion.""You know best," the novice conceded. It did not matter either if they had to do this over several nights. Two more outings like this, and he would have enough to solve Shadi's problems. "What will you do with your half? It's not like you lack for money."Maximilian assumed an offended expression. "I have a lifestyle to maintain."They continued along the dark streets of Morcaster, populated mostly by others enjoying entertainments of the night or people planning to take advantage of the former."Those men we took money from... Do you feel bad that they didn't actually have a chance to win?""Martel, never gamble coin you cannot afford to lose. Odds are, any coin they did not gamble away, they would have spent on drink. The only difference is whether we or the house would gain that money, and I consider us the worthier recipients."That made a certain amount of sense, and Martel's conscience was happy to seize it. "Do we go again tomorrow?"Maximilian smiled. "We go again tomorrow."
