Quill

727. Pyr

As the fight ended, so did the effect from the runes on the floor. The glow of the magic vanished, taking away the strength they had lent Martel. Gasping for breath, he fell back to the floor, spen...

726. Shadow's Lair

Hearing something behind him, Martel summoned his shield and turned on his heel. He looked down to see Rolf, one knee on the ground while supporting himself against the wall. A knife came flying th...

725. Three's Company

They arranged a watch between the three of them, allowing them all proper sleep. In addition, Martel and Eleanor cast their own runes of warning around the entrance; along with those from Rolf, the...

724. Rolf

Eleanor's reflexes saved her, as her own blade parried the attack. Martel could not see what was taking place, but he heard the sound of metal clashing and ran forward to join her.

Rounding t...

723. Past the Threshold

The two adventurers looked down the dark corridor. Nothing could be seen, which only made it appear more foreboding. "That answers the question of whether we can proceed. Now to ask whether we shou...

722. A Spectre of the Past

Eleanor raised her shield on instinct with magical speed, but the arm of the ghost went right through the metal and wood of her ward to pass through her chain shirt and into her flesh. She let out ...

721. Cold Welcome

The spiral staircase led them to a small room, little more than ten by ten feet. It was scarcely seven feet in height; if Martel raised his staff just a little, it struck the ceiling. To be expecte...

720. The Fallen Tower

It took them half a day to reach the tower. Their progress was slow, moving through forest that grew dense; Martel estimated that ten miles lay between the village and the ruins. Curiously, Martel ...

719. The Wayward Alchemist

Hearing Martel's words, Eleanor laughed, but she became silent noticing nobody else joined in. "What kind of jest is this?" she asked.

As for Leander, he became entirely still except that he ...

718. A Remedy for the Past

The pair of wizards slept on the floor of Asger's home and woke before dawn, together with their hosts. While the family began the chores of the day, and Eleanor left to ensure their horses would b...

717. Any Old Village

The man being already dead simplified the situation. Martel raised a finger, and a stream of fire erupted to engulf the shambling course, immolating it. His horse whinnied, becoming skittish at the...

716. The Desecrated Thumb

Travelling on dirt roads rather than cobbled stones affected their progress, but the two mages did not mind. While a winter sojourn was never easy, especially in wild lands with few people or place...

715. Golden Farewell

Martel and Eleanor spent a few more days in Engby. He visited Father Julius and the few neighbours he remembered, though other than the priest, few were eager for his company. Whether because he wa...

714. From Fire to Frost

Against the cold morning wind, Martel and Eleanor left the town to make a short journey north. Along a trail that in summertime might be overgrown with grass, they made their way until they reached...

713. A House of Silence

When the two guests emerged from their room the next morning, the smell of breakfast met them in the kitchen. Quietly, Ogion served them each a bowl of porridge, which they ate with delight; the ol...

712. New Homes

More and more people joined them on the square, staring at the two mages. Some of them dared to approach, once Martel could extricate himself from his mother. Two young women, still in their late t...

711. Crossing a Bridge

A child sat with her feet dangling over the edge of a bridge that spanned a brook. Its timber revealed it to be newly built within the last few years; as for the girl, she was perhaps around three ...

710. Condemnation

Soon after, all the villagers assembled in the hall that just yesterday had housed their festivities and now held a corpse in its cellar. Some sat on benches, others remain standing, but all of the...

709. To Cure or Kill

The next morning, nobody brought the travellers breakfast. Instead, Martel and Eleanor ate some of their rations while discussing their next step. "I'll need to talk to the priestess. Assuming she'...

708. A Midwinter Murder

The priestess's declaration caused another wave of outbursts and crying. The alderman raised his hands in despair and approached Martel. "Master mage, please, is there nothing you can do?"

Ma...

707. The Chaos of Celebration

The residents gathered in the small square around the bonfire. Martel would guess there to be around fifty or so. From her shrine, the priestess appeared, carrying a torch. The yeoman's wife follow...

704. The Open Road

Every now and then, Martel stole a glance at Eleanor riding by his side. He had never known happiness like this, or imagined that such existed at all. Whenever she noticed his eyes on her, she woul...

703. The Last Starlit Eve

The feast was held under the Dome of Stars. Besides being the most beautiful hall in the Imperial palace, one of the few that distinguished itself from the others, it also suited the theme of winte...

702. First Among Equals

One of the many halls in the Imperial Palace had been chosen to serve as the Senate chamber from now on. Martel could not tell what distinguished it from a dozen others, nor did he care. It had the...

701. Two Letters

Walking home, Martel felt worn out. His visit to the Lyceum had taken an emotional toll; far more than he had expected. There was a final conversation he needed to have before tomorrow's event, tho...

700. Right Teacher, Right Hour

Having his measurements taken did not take long, and Martel intended to use the remainder of the day. Still uncertain for how long he would retain rule over the city, he had an important errand to ...

699. Final Round

Martel had never experienced such boredom in his life. Day after day continued in the same manner with debates concerning the endless minutiae of the Senate and the Great Charter. Each word was arg...

698. Third Round

Third bell had rung, and every delegate sat around the table in the discussion chamber. Nine people on one side stared at four on the other. "I am sure he will be here any moment," Eleanor claimed....

697. The Riddle of Two

Martel still felt the effect of last night's event when he woke up the following morning. While no marks could be seen on him, not the slightest burn on his skin, resisting fire of such intensity h...

696. Something in the Air

Upon his return to the palace, Martel made sure to eat plenty for once; he wanted to be at full strength. He sent Valerius to find Eleanor, exchanging one mageknight for another; she arrived in his...