Firebrand

Chapter 317: Cold Thoughts

Chapter 317: Cold Thoughts

Cold Thoughts

During Martel's morning shift at the apothecary, Mistress Rana approached him with a list of herbs and other ingredients. "Time for you to learn another recipe. Study all of these in time for our work on Manday."

Martel happily accepted the note, glancing at the scribbled words. He recognised some of these while others were unknown. He already looked forward to going through the herbal compendium and learning all he could; every new recipe was like learning a spell, giving him something new he could do with alchemy.

As Mistress Rana left, Nora approached and looked over his shoulder. "Potion of cold, if my memory serves me right. Looks like she's teaching you along the same pattern as me."

"Great, I've been feeling way too hot for the last few months."

Nora laughed and resumed her work.

***

During the first lesson of combat today, Martel had gone easy on the other acolytes. He had played defensively, refraining from hitting them anywhere it might hurt or humiliate them. Whether any of them had noticed, he could not say. But at least he had not caused further enmity between them.

When it came time for the second lesson, they all noticed as Moira entered the gymnasium to watch them brawl against the mageknights. The other fire acolytes did not react noticeably; to them, nothing especially was at stake. For Martel, threatened with detention, the situation was different, but he hid any reaction to her appearance rather than allow anyone to guess his concern.

"I've been thinking," he began to say, making the other fire acolytes look at him. "We're getting good with the flame wall spell, but we can't risk trying the same strategy every time. They'll know where to focus their efforts or run around us to outflank us."

"Well, what are you suggesting?" Harriet asked, her voice neutral.

Encouraged by the fact that she out of everyone seemed willing to work together, Martel outlined his plan.

***

"Begin!"

Eight mageknights rushed across the open space to close the distance between them and the four fire acolytes. Rather than fire bolts whizzing through the air, several fire walls erupted in the space between the combatants. It broke the charge, as some of them immediately recoiled while others could not halt their momentum. As everything suddenly turned to confusion, the elemental mages seized the advantage. Whenever a mageknight appeared past the flaming walls, a pair of fire acolytes threw their bolts at the opponent, using their magical shield to resist any blow the attacker might land first.

With the mageknights in disarray, unable to attack in a coordinated fashion or bring permanent pressure against the battlemages, the skirmish was quickly decided without a single fire acolyte falling. As the warriors got back on their feet, licking the wounds to their pride and recovering from the sting of multiple spells, Martel and his comrades exchanged slaps and triumphant outbursts.

***

Feeling good, Martel ate his supper with a sense of satisfaction. Despite the differences and hostility between them, the fire acolytes had worked together. Even if Moira continued to pit them against each other, hopefully today's lesson would stick with them and let them rise above it for future challenges.

Added to that, he would learn a new recipe on Manday. While the potion in itself did not sound terribly exciting, it was another step forward. And the sooner he learned it, the sooner Mistress Rana would teach him another.

Besides that, being spared detention this fiveday meant his schedule was looking less burdensome. He might even have time to go out with Maximilian one of these days. As it would soon be spring festival, opportunities should abound for a good night out.

While he still felt bothered about what had transpired at the Sisters of the Sun, at least Martel had received his payment. Which meant that he had plenty of coin for more alchemy supplies or a night of festivities in addition to paying Julia's rent. With the first month of spring having arrived, Martel counted out fifteen pieces of silver and left the Lyceum to do just that.

***

While the calendar claimed winter to have ended, the weather disagreed. Snow began to fall, if only lightly. Hurrying through the streets, Martel made his way to the docks and Julia's insula. He knocked on the door to the office of the reeve responsible for the building.

"I've come to pay the rent for my chamber," Martel said as the door opened.

"Yes, master mage. I remember which one." The man inclined his head and accepted the money. "All to your satisfaction? The mattress I provided and so on, everything good?"

"Yes, fine." Martel assumed so, since Julia had not said anything. She probably would not be picky about such things anyway. "I'll be back next month."

"Of course, good master."

Martel left to go up the stairs and reach Julia's floor. As he knocked to announce his presence, nothing happened. It seemed he had caught her away from home. He would have to come later this fiveday, maybe, just to check on her.

Nothing further to accomplish, Martel left the insula to walk home. The librarian left his post once last bell had come and gone, meaning nobody could open the upper floors of the library for him; so if Martel wanted to study the herbs mentioned on Mistress Rana's list, he had to get back before then.

The snowfall intensified as Martel walked, making him shiver slightly with cold. He began raising the wind around himself, using it to push the worst of it away, when for some reason, his conversation with the Friar came to mind. Specifically, the riddle of three and when to use his power. Seeing the others on the street hurrying about, similarly exposed to the elements, Martel realised he was spending magic simply to provide himself a little unnecessary comfort. If others could handle the cold, so could he. Ceasing his spellcasting, Martel increased his pace instead.