Firebrand

Chapter 437: Meeting of the Hands

Meeting of the Hands

Lessons in the Circle of Fire proceeded as could be expected. They had begun duelling each other regularly with the magical staves involved, now that the other acolytes had mastered channelling through the implement. Martel retained an edge, but he did not think this came from his innate affinity with fire; it seemed only to give him an advantage in terms of how quickly he grasped the spells and magic involved. The other acolytes learned slower, but once they had caught up, their spells had as much power as his did.

Rather, Martel came out victorious more often than not because he had seen combat a number of times now, while he doubted any of the other students had ever actually had to fend for their lives. They lacked a sense for the rhythm of battle; they left themselves exposed to retaliation, especially courtesy of Moira, who constantly circled around the combatants to attack them.

With enough time, Martel assumed that they would eventually learn; if not within the Lyceum, they would have to once they were sent to the legions. But for now, he enjoyed his advantage, sparing him the worst of Moira's tongue lashings and detentions, even if he had acquired it at great risk. And tonight, he would embark on another such opportunity for training, to put it in comforting terms. A message had arrived for him early in the morning, detailing the place and time for the meeting this eve.

***

Martel arrived at the location, unsure what to expect. He did not even know who exactly he was to meet; presumably, they knew to approach him. He was in the bridge district, which suggested that Ruby would attend. As for the chosen spot, it was a small tavern of the sort that populated most of Morcaster's districts, serving meals through the day and drinks in the early evening. As seventh bell had rung, it would probably not remain open much longer, assuming it operated as usual.

Stepping inside, Martel allowed his senses to gather what knowledge they could. His ears found the place quiet, despite a decent number of patrons present; nobody came to this place for casual conversation, it seemed. His eyes noticed a handful of people to his right; their short hair, shaved faces, and lean appearance made him suspect them to be former legionaries now in Lady Pearl's employ, or perhaps Night Knives out of uniform. To his left, he saw Ruby seated at a table with two others. Lastly, his magic told him that in addition to the odd coin of yellow metal, one of Ruby's companions had a golden knife somewhere on his person; near his waist, though inside his clothes rather than stuck into his belt.

Martel approached the trio, who all watched him cross the floor. The two men looked at him with expressionless faces; Ruby smiled. "Excellent. We are all here. Martel, meet Vernon and Jahan."

He realised that he had seen the former before, if only briefly; Vernon was a lieutenant of Kerra's, and also the one with the mage killer blade. Martel doubted he intended to use it, but best to keep an eye out for that. As for the other, if his appearance did not reveal it, his name showed him to be Khivan. An envoy of the Fire Eater, perhaps also a lieutenant. Along with Ruby acting for Lady Pearl.

"That's a lot of Nine Lords represented here," Martel remarked.

"Lovely when people put their differences aside and work together," said the woman at the table.

"I had my doubts when you claimed the Friar would send us this mage," Jahan admitted. "Especially since he refused my master."

"Hard to scrutinise why wizards do as they do, and the Copper Mage is no exception to that," Vernon remarked with a sly smile. Evidently, he remembered Martel better than the reverse.

"Regardless, we're all here," Ruby interjected.

"My master is grateful," Jahan declared. "He is ready to move when you are."

"So are we," Vernon added.

"Anyone care to fill me in on the plan?" Martel asked, annoyed that this step had been skipped.

"Of course." Ruby gave him a smile with her red lips. "Yours is easy. You'll start a fire to create a distraction. Your eminent skills in that regard will keep the guards busy while ensuring the fire doesn't spread to the rest of the district."

That was a hefty responsibility to place on him, but given he had done similarly when far less trained, he could not argue any lack of skill. "Alright. And while the guards are distracted?"

"We get a stonemage inside the premises, rupturing the foundation of the whole thing. It'll take time, so the longer your distraction works, the better," Ruby explained.

"We'll get the stonemage onto the site, and if there's a fight, we'll hold them back," Jahan added.

It sounded simple enough; Martel gave it odds of one to two that something went wrong. "When's the deed?"

"Couple of days. The aforementioned earthmage is occupied until then. You'll be notified, so stay alert," Ruby explained.

Martel glanced upwards where the ceiling blocked his view of the sky. "It's a bad time. Moon's nearly full, and only increasing. We should wait a couple of fivedays at least."

"There'll be a thick cover of clouds, don't you worry," Vernon reassured him. "That's our part. We got a weathermage coming."

Martel frowned, looking from one lieutenant to another. "That seems an unnecessary complication. Easier to just wait."

"We'll need a weathermage anyway to make sure it doesn't rain. That would kill your distraction and also make it harder for the stonemage to do the ritual, I'm told," Vernon retorted. "All that water mixing with earth. You'd know better than me, I'd assume."

It did make sense – rupturing the earth on such a scale was a monumental task, Martel figured. The presence of another element would make it harder.

Ruby watched him, and when he made no further arguments, she smiled again. "We're all agreed then. You'll know when it's time to strike."

"Wait." The others looked at Martel, who had just been struck by a suspicious thought. "Who's the stonemage coming along?"

Ruby's lips widened. "You know her all too well."

Of course. Flora, that treacherous piece of rotten weed. "Tell her to keep her distance. And if she gets into trouble, I won't lift a finger to help."

Jahan looked from Martel to Ruby. "What's the problem?"

"Just a little spat between wizards. It won't affect the task at hand. You'll be on opposite ends, each busy with your own task."

Martel exhaled, feeling more and more uncomfortable at the thought of this outing. "Just tell me when it's time." He got up and left as the first.