Firebrand

Chapter 424: In the Meadow

In the Meadow

As soon as first bell rang, Martel got out of bed. Yawning, he splashed water into his face and washed himself before changing from nightshirt into his acolyte robe. He tied his belt around the waist with his dagger in its sheath, wondering if he should bring anything else. Mistress Rana had not given him any instructions beyond simply appearing as early as possible; obeying this command, Martel made his way down to the entrance hall.

He ended up waiting a while, sitting down on the floor with his back against the wall while watching a handful of novices on their way to kitchen duty. At length, he saw Mistress Rana approach, visible to him through the doorway that separated the entrance hall from the dining counterpart. He scrambled to get on his feet and look alert.

"Good, you're ready. Follow me." She turned around, and he hurried to catch up to her as they crossed the castle. After passing through the infirmary, they left through its back entrance. Outside, a donkey stood tied to a ring with bags placed across its back. Mistress Rana untied the creature and set into motion, Martel walking on the opposite side.

***

They crossed through the nobles' quarter, eventually leaving the city through its gate. Martel wondered at the sight they made; the tall and gaunt Sindhian woman and the even taller fire acolyte on each side of the donkey. Mistress Rana did not speak, and Martel was unsure how she felt about questions at this hour, so neither did he.

Once outside the city walls, the alchemist led them down a dirt path going east towards the river. After a while, the trail disappeared, leaving nothing but marsh terrain beneath their feet. Martel appreciated his sturdy boots with each step, but he also understood why they had gone to this place; as far as his eye could see, the area was lush and wild with growth.

Finally, after hours of walking with only a few breaks, Mistress Rana stopped. She removed the harness from the donkey's head, allowing it to graze. "Follow me, boy."

After such a long silence, her words took Martel by surprise, but he gathered his wits and did as she said.

Finally, she stopped in front of a tall plant. "This is?"

"Hemlock. A few drops can help with seizures, but it is poisonous and must be used with care," Martel recited.

"Its use in alchemy?"

"When awakened, its magical properties are useful in potions of cold."

"Correct. However, that is only one of its properties. So far, you have only handled ingredients already dead. When we awaken their magic, they react predictably, but also within limits," the alchemist explained. "Magic is life, and when used upon the still living, we achieve different results. Reach out and touch the hemlock. Awaken its magic."

Martel had never guessed there would be a difference whether the plant had been harvested or not. Curious, he reached out and carefully touched the plant, drawing its magic to the surface. Usually, when he had done this, it gave the glow, but little else. This time, he gasped to see the white flowers turned blue in colour.

"As you are new, I would not expect the change to last for long. An experienced alchemist can make the plant keep its magical transformation for hours. In this case, I expect it would not last many breaths before the flowers returned to white."

Martel stared at the blue colour, wondering if he could actually see it slowly fade, or if he merely imagined it because of what Mistress Rana had told him.

"At the moment, I have no need for blue hemlock either, so this one escapes the knife. But perhaps its brethren will be more useful." She approached some of the other plants growing around the same cluster and bent down to touch one of them. Immediately, not just the flowers but also the stem became dark red, almost purple. With a swift motion, she pulled a bronze sickle from her belt and harvested the herb. "Severing the plant makes the transformation permanent. This particular specimen will make an excellent remedy against seizures, with less side effects than ordinary hemlock causes. Also, wash your hands before you touch your face again, unless you want to make it numb."

Martel looked around and found a small stream of water allowing him to do just that.

Meanwhile, Mistress Rana placed her harvested plant in as saddlebag and took out a few other items. "A list for you of what to look for, and a sickle to gather them with. Arm yourself with patience," she warned him. "You can never predict how awakening the magic will affect a plant. You may have to try many times. Go in that direction, and I shall go the other. When noon approaches, we'll eat and see how far we've progressed."

Armed with a sickle and parchment, Martel went gathering for herbs.

***

They spent both morning and afternoon working through Mistress Rana's list, with a few meals being the only interruptions. As evening beckoned, Martel handed over his sickle and harvest, and they began the journey back to Morcaster.

"Why a bronze sickle?"

"Steel can affect the herbs, as the metal is mixed with coal. A sickle of pure iron would work, but bronze draws upon both copper and tin. Two of the metals made by the primary stars. It yields the best result."

Martel chewed on this; he recalled dimly that Master Fenrick had once spoken on this, and how different metals might respond to various kinds of enchantment. Martel had hoped to learn more of this, waiting for the day he began studying enchantment; that had quickly become irrelevant, as he was only supposed to learn how to create fire pots. But he had managed to do this, more or less; perhaps he could continue learning more about all of this. Surely Master Jerome would teach him if possible.

With these and other thoughts to occupy him, Martel walked silently alongside the donkey, as the walls of Morcaster grew taller on the horizon.