Firebrand

Chapter 452: Red-blooded

Red-blooded

It lasted four days before Martel received a reason to leave the Lyceum. As he had guessed, it came in the shape of Ruby's handwriting, still with the red blot below as a signature.

Can we meet tonight?

After last bell.

I'll find you

outside your place.

No details as to what she needed, but Martel assumed similar to last. Which surprised him a little, as he figured Ruby would have given up on that trail. The people she pursued knew about her; enough to set a trap that almost worked. She could not expect to act safely anywhere outside the bridge district; it would just end in a repeat of the other night.

But perhaps she had no choice; Lady Pearl seemed under pressure from several rivals. Or perhaps this was about something else entirely. He would find out tonight.

***

Unsure of Ruby's intentions, Martel dressed warmly before he left the Lyceum. Beside protecting against the chill, his scarf also hid most of his face. Along with his hood up, it gave him a rudimentary disguise of his identity. Just in case.

Stepping outside the gates, Martel let his gaze sweep over the square. From the shadows between two buildings, he saw a shape appear and gesture for his attention. He crossed over to join Ruby, who retreated into the alley as he approached, shielding them from unfriendly eyes.

"Thanks for meeting me."

He gave a brief nod. "What is it?"

"There's been a development. Do you know Vitus? Master of the harbour district."

Martel thought back on an unpleasant episode when Kerra had used him as bait to capture Tibert, handing him over to an ambitious lieutenant, eager to seize his master's place. "I have seen him once."

"Those were his men the other night. In the alley."

"Makes sense, considering we were on his territory. So he's the one behind this latest round of schemes? He set us up in the Khivan quarter?"

"So it appears, and he's made his next move. Unfortunately, thanks to me."

Martel frowned, looking at Ruby under her hood. She did not wear her usual cosmetics, and in the darkness, he could barely make out her face. "How so?"

"I killed one of his men when we fled. He's accused me of breaking the Pact. The Nine Lords must gather to cast verdict upon his allegations." She raised her head to look him straight in the eyes.

It took Martel a moment to understand what she meant. Another meeting in the Undercroft, like he had once attended; that fearful place where he nearly died, ambushed by Tibert and the Night Knives. "That seems risky. How can he prove it was you that night? Not unless he reveals the reason you investigated his men, thereby admitting his own guilt."

She nodded. "Indeed. Which is why I don't think this will be a peaceful meeting. I think they intend to gather the Nine Lords in one place to strike."

"But surely that's beyond him? He'd have to bring a small army without anybody noticing, or they'll escape and band together to destroy him."

"Unless half the other Nine Lords agree with him and have joined together. Each of them can double their territory."

Martel thought back on the attempt to halt the construction of the insula in the Khivan quarter. Kerra, the Fire Eater, Lady Pearl, the Friar – an attempt of a loose alliance to work together and prevent the erosion of the balance of power between the Nine Lords. It had not gone well; the question was whether this meant the other five stood arraigned together against these four.

However, this did not affect Martel directly. While a war in the underworld of Morcaster would undoubtedly involve innocents, if these crime lords were bent on making it happen, he could not stop them. It seemed like it was already too late, in fact. "What is it you want from me?"

"The Nine Lords meet in a fiveday. There's a risk of an ambush, but if not, and we failed to appear, this Vitus may turn the others against us, isolating us. We have to show up. There is also the possibility that it is a distraction, and while we are deep underground, Vitus and his allies attack our territory, maiming us."

"And?"

"For that reason, the Night Knives will stay above ground, protecting our places of business while we attend the meeting. Leaving us vulnerable." Ruby had been glancing up and down the narrow street, but she turned to look at him again. "We could use the power of a battlemage, in case the meeting's a trap."

Martel exhaled. He had guessed something like this – that she would need him to keep her safe, just like on their last outing. But this was a lot more than expected. This was not a handful of thugs, easily dispatched with a spell or two. If her suspicions were right, this promised to be a major brawl between some of the most powerful people in the city. And they would come prepared, bringing lots of people to the fight, no doubt, and probably also mages. If such a fight broke out, Martel doubted that he could necessarily change the outcome; but he might be able to get Ruby out. "Lady Pearl's agreed to this? She and I are on bad terms."

"She was not happy about it, but I persuaded her in the end. Her resources are stretched thin. If she wants a wizard to accompany her to the meeting while having another defend her territory, you're the only one left."

Martel wondered if this meant the other mercenary mages had been hired already for the same purpose; he knew Kerra had lost one, the weathermage killed during the botched sabotage in the Khivan quarter. None of this bode well. "I have a better idea. Stay away. Don't go with her."

"That's not possible. She has to attend, or they'll use her absence to turn the others against her. And I must be by her side, especially if there'll be a fight." Ruby kept his gaze locked. "I owe her that much."

It felt like everyone involved was making the wrong choice, but in a strange way, Martel admired her for it. Even those who dwelt in the underworld could have loyalty and honour. "Alright. I'll do it."

A little to his surprise, Ruby threw her arms around him in a tight squeeze. "Thank you. I know promises aren't worth much, but I won't forget this. You've treated me better than I could have expected. You're a good man."

Was he? Martel found that hard to judge, but his heart beat a little faster, and he did not regret offering to help. He did not care about Lady Pearl – if she died, it would not bother him – but placing his arms around Ruby's lithe form, he knew that he would not allow any harm to come to her.