Firebrand

Chapter 225: Tell a Hawk from a Heron

Chapter 225: Tell a Hawk from a Heron

Tell a Hawk from a Heron

"Are you listening, boy? I assume you care about your examination." Master Alastair stared at his student.

Martel had been distracted thinking about his predicament with Jasper and the development of yesterday, but he snapped to. "Yes, master, I hear you."

"Hm." His teacher did not sound convinced, but he continued as his eyes glanced over the Hall of Elements. "It will take place in a fiveday or so, here in this place. Mistress Juliana will let you know exactly when."

"I see. What is required of me exactly?"

"I am not supposed to instruct you in specific spells, but briefly put, you'll be expected to demonstrate your control over different kinds of magic," Master Alastair explained. "A simple spell for each element should suffice. Much like you did when you passed the introduction course for water, earth, and air."

"I never took the one for fire, but I suppose that won't be an issue." At least not when it came to proving himself capable with fire. Never taking the class had already given Martel other troubles, but he pushed the affair with Jasper aside to focus on what his teacher said.

"Indeed. Just the fact that you can summon flames will suffice. The only thing you should be mindful of is that Master Reynard will also test you."

Involuntarily, Martel pulled a face hearing the name. "What should I expect?"

"Quite simple, given the possibilities. He will test your shield, which I hope you have honed. Else the time is now."

Martel had tested his shield plenty of times; he was not concerned about that. "Anything else?"

"He will ask you to demonstrate that you can empower yourself in different ways. But since you are not to be a mageknight, he has little grounds to make great demands of you. My advice is, use your spellpower on your water magic to impress Mistress Vana, but keep some in reserve for Master Reynard at the end." His teacher gave him a scrutinising look. "You have trained your spellpower sufficiently for several spells, right?"

Master Alastair had no idea, Martel thought. "I think I have enough, yeah."

***

Martel had to wait until evening before he could leave the castle. His second lesson with Master Alastair blocked his afternoon, and as impatient as Martel felt, he would not leave until he had eaten supper. Thus, on dark and cold streets, he made his way to the insula in the harbour district.

For once, Flora opened the door. "Come inside."

Martel did so. "Where's Marcus?"

"Out carousing, I assume. We won't need him for a simple conversation, after all." She pointed at the nearest dummy holding armour and a surcoat. "Get changed, and we'll go."

"If it's just a simple conversation, why do I need the armour?"

The earthmage gave him a glance. "You can't show up looking like a clerk. Nobody will take you seriously. Besides, the more you wear the chain shirt, the sooner you'll be accustomed to its weight."

Conceding the point, Martel removed his robe and began putting the armour on. Soon after, they set out towards the bridge district.

***

Snow had begun to fall on their journey, and Martel was happy when The River Pearl came into sight. Exuding light and warmth, it seemed the very picture of hospitality, even if its main offering was exactly what Martel's mother had warned him against when he left for Morcaster.

As they entered, various looks came in their direction, but by now, Night Knives were a sufficiently common sight that nobody raised an eyebrow. "Wait here while I speak to Lady Pearl," Flora told Martel and left him.

Feeling awkward standing on his own, in the middle of the room, Martel tried to look indifferent. Around him, at the tables and couches, customers were busy drinking and lavishing attention on the women serving spirits. Realising that nobody cared about his presence, too busy with their own pursuits, Martel relaxed a little.

Flora returned soon after. "She's agreed to let you question Dawn, though she'll be present as well. Stay on your good behaviour unless you want to be thrown out," she cautioned him.

"Of course." Martel had no quarrel with this girl, after all.

"Also, no matter what you learn, she expects you to keep quiet about how you learned it. And that you don't kill a regular customer," Flora added. "Lady Pearl is showing the Night Knives a great kindness. Do not make her regret it."

"Got it."

With the earthmage leading the way, the two wizards crossed the large common room, dodging patrons in elevated moods and weaving around furniture until they reached the study of the proprietress.

Lady Pearl, easy to recognise with her bald head and bold clothing, awaited them. Martel gave a deep bow, hoping that expressed sufficient respect, to which the woman smiled. She stood in the middle of the room, one hand on the shoulder of the young woman sitting next to her. Dawn, Martel surmised. He could not guess her age, though probably not much older than him, with cosmetics that accentuated her eyes and gave her lips a striking red colour.

"What's this about?" the young woman asked.

"Just some questions about a regular customer of yours," Flora explained.

"His name is Jasper. He's a student at the Lyceum," Martel added.

Dawn frowned before she laughed a little. "He's still a student? I guess we all lie a little."

"He must spend an awful lot to visit you every fiveday," Flora considered with a look towards Lady Pearl, who simply smiled and shrugged. "Has he ever told you how he acquires his means?"

The harlot raised her hands in ignorance. "He told me he had an important position in the Imperial administration."

Martel scratched the back of his head. One thing was certain, at least. Jasper would have other sources of income besides extorting Martel; evidently, he had been visiting Dawn on a regular basis long before. "He never bragged to you about the things he knew? About other students. You know, during pillow talk."

"Well I didn't know he was a student, did I? He mostly talked about his plans for the future. He did seem interested in you Night Knives lately. Asked me about the jobs you pulled for Lady Pearl. I didn't see any harm in telling him what everyone here knew," she quickly added, looking at her patron. The bald woman patted her shoulder.

That explained a few things, Martel considered. "Did he explain to you why?"

"Not really. But as thanks, he gave me gifts."

"What sort of gifts? Coin or other things?" Flora asked.

"Jewellery, perfume, sometimes clothes," Dawn listed. "He gave me this one." She presented her hand with a ring upon it. "He knows I like birds, especially eagles like this."

Martel furrowed his brow. Without thinking, he reached out and took hold of Dawn's hand. Her skin felt so soft, it distracted him for a moment, as did the scent of jasmine as he gently pulled her hand closer to inspect the ring. She giggled at his touch, a sound he normally found annoying in other girls, but it seemed strangely charming to him now.

"Master Martel?" Lady Pearl managed to convey both politeness and caution by simply saying his name.

Releasing her hand, Martel could tell that Dawn had been born in the city; the animal depicted was not an eagle, but a hawk. It was a crest he had seen before. "Lady Pearl, Mistress Dawn, thank you for your kindness."

Flora shot him a look. "You have what you need?"

Martel nodded. "I do."