Quill

695. From One Saint to Another

The shrine of Saint Laurentius looked how Martel remembered it. A few priests puttered about, tending to the temple, though they withdrew seeing the mage enter. Decorations on the walls, but no altar in the centre, only a staircase that led into the depths below the building.

Martel recalled his many previous visits to this place, speaking...

694. Grey Words

For the second time in a row, Martel woke up only to feel exhausted by the questions that troubled his mind. New concerns had joined the old, worse than those he already struggled with. The decision on whether he wished to retain his position seemed quaint compared to the prince's escape and the issue of bringing the clergy to the negotiating ta...

693. On the Trail

Martel stared at his legion prefect in alarm. "And the emperor? Don't tell me we've lost the most important prisoner in the entire gods-damned Empire!"

"No, captain, the emperor is where he should be. I have seen him with my own eyes," Lara replied.

"Who knows the prince is gone?" Eleanor asked.

"Most of the guards in the Imper...

692. Fiery Reminders

The merchants' quarter lay just south of the Imperial palace district, making for a journey short enough to be made on foot. Although Martel had grown comfortable with riding, horses would have drawn a lot of attention, which the two hooded figures leaving the palace preferred to avoid.

As they reached where expensive residences became war...

691. A Lack of Faith

Sleep provided Martel a reprieve from his thoughts, but no resolution; when Martel woke at dawn, he felt no closer to a decision. He chose to remember Eleanor's words that the matter was not imminent; he could let it rest for now. If the negotiations failed, it would be irrelevant regardless. So he ate a quick breakfast, dressed himself in his u...

690. Fate and Future

Martel stood in shock as the words of the duchess sank in. He wondered if he had misunderstood her, though it was hard to see how. He needed advice, either on what the duchess's true intentions might be if he had mistaken them, and what he should do if he had not. He stepped out of his quarters and walked the small distance to knock on Eleanor's...

689. Alliances

As evening approached, the delegates gathered in the discussion chamber once more, taking their customary seats. "I remain unconvinced of your plan," Honorius declared. "The legal basis seems flimsy. Relying on the archaic laws of a city-state to decide the future of an empire?"

"Why are you captain prefect?" Martel stared at her, letting ...

688. One Among Many

"Magistrate. I am glad you would join me for this meal," Martel declared. He sat in one of his private rooms suitable for eating with guests. Two plates filled with delicacies stood on the table, offering spiced meat with the vegetables of the harvest season.

"It did not seem prudent to refuse," Alexius mumbled, sitting down.

"I'm pl...

687. Second Round

Between first and second bell, Martel and Eleanor met in his room. She cast a look at his cot before sharing the notes written by their spies during the night. "The commanders mostly discussed how we took Morcaster. They seem to think that we had traitors in the garrison open the gate for us, and the notion that you and I accomplished it to be a...

686. Golden Promises

A large procession entered Morcaster through the north-western gate that lay between the Imperial and the temple districts. Soldiers filled the fortifications, watching their progress into the city with stern expressions. They also lined the streets from the gate to the palace in a display of force.

As for the envoys, they came with a smal...

685. New Quarters

Martel looked up, seeing both Eleanor and Lara in his study. "Both of you. This must be important."

The prefect handed over a small bundle of parchment. "A list of the northern emissaries. The first sheet shows their names to help you familiarise them. The remaining contain more detailed information about them and their regions. Anything w...

684. Satisfaction

A fiveday passed before the duke of Cheval was summoned to the fortress of Saint Marcellus. He arrived with his solitary guard afforded him, who stayed outside Martel's study, as did the captain's own sentinels. Only Martel and Eleanor met the duke, one seated, the other standing behind him.

"Captain." The duke gave an impeccable bow. It s...

683. Onions

Running around Morcaster for most of the night meant that Martel slept late for once. When he felt ready, he went to the offices to take counsel with Eleanor and Lara. He had considered gathering all his legion prefects, but he had decided such was unnecessary. This did not involve the legions or matters of strategy, but rather the subtler polit...

682. Method and Opportunity

Nowhere had seen more change since the conquest of the city than the copper lanes. Morcaster suddenly had several times more soldiers than usual in garrison, and patrolling the poorer districts kept them busy. For the first time in years, perhaps decades, the copper lanes saw regular patrols of ten legionaries through both day and night. It had ...

681. Porcupine

For the fourth Solday in a row, Martel and Eleanor went to The Golden Goose. This time, he was able to better pay attention; he kept up with the story and even laughed on occasion. He would not claim it had been a pleasant evening, but tolerable, at least. Having slept properly in the last few days helped his mood as well.

Once the perform...

680. A Break from the Past

As Martel wandered into his study the following morning, a voice greeted him from a corner of the room. "Well met, Martel."

He turned on his heel with a spell half released to set the room ablaze, facing the intruder. In a chair, a man around forty had made himself comfortable. His clothes showed signs of extensive travel with cloak and bo...

679. The Right Head

Pelday morning, Martel's study saw the return of two previous visitors. He rose to greet the overseer and Master of Elements as they entered. "Welcome. I'm glad you would come."

"Hard to refuse summons from the captain of the city," Juliana remarked.

"We'd never turn down an invitation," Alastair added.

"Good. There's something...

678. A Comedy of Decisions

Martel barged into the office so early, Lara had not showed up yet. Only a bemused Eleanor watched him, eating her breakfast at her desk. "Good!" he exclaimed. "You're here."

"It is so early. Have you eaten yet?"

"Food is a distraction. Tell me, if you could enact any decision you wanted, no limitations, what would it be?" He looked ...

677. A Political Future

Martel chewed on the last of his breakfast, mostly old bread with butter and slices of boiled potato. It had little taste, but food did not interest him much. "I remember Cheval's faction wants to expand the Empire, but you'll have to remind me what this duchess and her people want," he said to Eleanor. "The overseer gave me a lecture about it o...

676. Friendly Enemies

A handful of days followed with the resumption of routines. Even with the Imperial administration still at work, running a city the size of Morcaster was a daunting task. In addition, the eastern provinces also remained under their control and thus fell under the captain prefect's imperium, adding further administrative work. While most of it wa...

675. Putting on a Performance

In his study, going through another dreary morning, Martel looked up as a guard stuck his head inside. "The berserker is here, sir. Are you ready for him?"

"Send him in."

Soon after, a tall, muscular Tyrian entered with a broad smile. "Mage of fire!"

Martel got up, and they clasped each other's wrists. "Thank you for coming." 2024-05-25 07:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post

674. A Crown in Hand

Two prefects made their way through the streets of Morcaster, walking directly south from the fortress of Saint Marcellus to reach the copper lanes. Both had their hoods up, obscuring their faces. If anyone came close, the pins on their chest would read Legio X Astra, but nobody dared to be so near; others shied away from their path well in adva...

673. Intelligent Moves

As Martel woke after another night of unsatisfactory sleep, he allowed himself a slow morning. Eating a breakfast made of scraps of food left from yesterday, he reflected about last night. While it had not been what he had expected, spending time with Eleanor had been pleasant. She laboured from morning until eve, organising their troops and the...

672. Catching a Play

Two hooded figures stood outside on the largest street in the market district, just before it reached what would be called the harbour area. In front of them lay a busy tavern, marked by a sign of a goose laying a golden egg. "What made you want to go here tonight of all nights?" Eleanor asked.

The need to escape everything that had happen...

671. Master and Mageknight

Martel felt irritable each morning. The walls of his bedroom were thick, as could be expected from a fortress, and it kept out every sound. He kept the window open, but it faced the courtyard, where nothing happened at night. This did not trouble him on his first nights, as weariness ensured he slept, but now, the silence kept him awake. That in...

670. Master and Student

Martel stood up with a relieved smile to see Alistair and Juliana stepped inside his room. He would have hugged his teacher, but the overseer's presence made him feel reserved, so he chose to express his emotions in words. "I am so glad to see you alive and well. I feared the worst. Please, sit and rest. You must be tired after your ordeal."

669. Intimidation and Surprise

After the overwhelming events of the last days, not to mention the preceding months, it felt strange to enter a routine of administrative tasks and bureaucracy. Martel was reminded of when he had first become captain prefect back in Esmouth, having to hear complaints and resolve grievances. Strangely, despite his imperium now stretching over hun...

668. A Captain's Voice

Martel woke in an unfamiliar room. He had arrived late last night and only seen it in the dark, too exhausted to even light a small flame with his magic. In the daylight, it looked entirely different. It was part of the legate's offices at the fortress, converted into a simple bedroom for his convenience. It held the same furniture that his tent...

667. A Fair Trade

Martel stormed through the complex, yelling for his officers to join him. Each time someone did, they confirmed that they had seen no sign of the emperor. His personal quarters had been searched and found empty. Plenty of nobility and servants alike had been questioned with a blade at their throat, and none admitted any knowledge of his whereabo...

666. The Third Starlit Eve

The gate to the Imperial palace grounds had already been destroyed, but the invading soldiers had not gone beyond. The prefects in charge had set a sharp watch to surround the great complex, larger than any other in Morcaster, and otherwise waited for orders.

They arrived in the shape of the captain himself together with his second-in-comm...