School Interview

Despite a busy Pelday ahead of him, Martel was not going to let the matter of Sparrow rest. She could this very night be safe and warm inside the Lyceum with a bright future ahead of her. The only question was how to speak with her and present this opportunity without Weasel interfering. Martel had an idea that might work, but first, he had to attend his classes. He would have to go tonight as soon as the supper bell rang, foregoing the last meal; for that reason, he made sure to eat all he could at dinner.

Checking for messages in the entrance hall, he found one waiting for him.

Master Martel,

I was intrigued by the skills and knowledge at your disposal. If you found our last outing together pleasing, without breaking any of your conditions, I would ask that you pay me a visit at my establishment within the next day or two.

Lady Pearl

Despite the vague wording, Martel guessed this was an offer of work. He could not decipher what the nature of this labour might be, but if anything like their journey to Smallport, it would probably not be onerous. And if it paid well, it might solve Martel's question of how to afford his alchemical supplies.

At the same time, Martel was aware of how these things started. A small task that seemed innocuous became another, and before he knew it, inquisitors were chasing him through the streets of Morcaster.

Had the message come from Kerra, he would have tossed it away. But despite her gaudy clothes and painted face, all of which would have been highly scandalous in Engby, Martel felt that Lady Pearl seemed more trustworthy than her counterpart in the copper lanes. Perhaps it was all deceit, and he was being blind; certainly he had underestimated how devious Kerra could be. But his instincts told him that Lady Pearl was a different sort. He might be wrong about that, but he would do the woman the courtesy of hearing out her proposal.

But first, he would spend the remainder of the dinner bell practising his Sindhian skills; later, another lesson in fire magic loomed.

***

His lessons done for the day, Martel went straight to his room and got dressed for the outdoors. Leaving the dormitory tower, he crossed through the common room at the ground level when a voice called out to him. "Nordmark, where are you headed?"

Martel turned around to see Maximilian get up from a table with other mageknights. He guessed that they were gambling looking at the small stacks of coins in front of them. "I have some business in town."

"Before supper? Are you back soon?"

"No, I'm gone for the evening. Why?" Martel looked at his friend inquisitively. It was rather late to be making plans if he wanted to go carousing or such.

"I thought you'd be at the sparring matches tonight."

Right, every Pelday evening. "I can't tonight. Pressing business."

Maximilian grinned. "Are we talking female company?"

Martel simply smiled, letting the mageknight infer what he wanted. It was better than explaining in a crowded room how he had discovered an orphan with the gift of magic and was trying to convince her to attend the Lyceum. "I'll see you tomorrow for class, yeah?" With a quick nod, Martel resumed his departure.

***

Despite his ultimate destination being in the copper lanes, Martel hurried towards the docks. The sun was setting, which added to his urgency. Not because he feared the cold, but because his opportunity to speak with Sparrow would not be long at the harbour after dark.

Hoping he had made it in time, Martel steered towards one of the few ships that had made berth today and was in the process of being unloaded. As the dockworkers hauled crates from the hold of the ship, stacking them on the piers, Martel watched a shadow darting in between.

As he approached the shipment, some of the labourers glanced in his direction, but none of them spoke or barred his way; his clothing made it clear he was not a thief. Taking a seat on one of the crates, Martel looked out on the waters. "How's business, Mouse?"

Behind him, he sensed movement, but only because he used magic to feel the heat; the little girl moved silently. "Would be better if you let me to work."

"I'll do you even better than that. I got a silver bird for you if you do me a favour. Come along with me." Martel got up and walked from the pier to the harbour itself.

Soon after, a small shape appeared by his side. "How did you find me?" Mouse crossed her arms, giving him a sceptical look. "Did you use magic?"

Martel laughed a little. "You once told me these are your hunting grounds. I do listen when you tell me things."

"What about my silver?"

He pulled out a coin. "This is yours if you will go with me to the copper lanes and deliver a message."

***

An hour later, Martel sat on some debris at the corner between a busy street and the alleyway that led to Weasel's home. Being in the copper lanes, the only illumination was the moon, occasionally clouded.

"Mouse said you'd give me a bird if I spoke to you."

Martel looked up to see Sparrow in the alley, and he pulled out his second silver coin of the evening. "Certainly." He extended his hand.

"You can just throw it."

He could not fault the small girl for being cautious. "I'll talk first, in that case, and throw it to you after."

"Alright. Get started."

"You have the gift of magic, Sparrow. You could be a wizard like me. Right now, we could go to my school together. They'd give you a room, food, and you'd learn how to do amazing things."

"And what'll it cost me?"

Martel was about to say nothing, but that would be wrong. She would have to serve the Empire. How to explain twenty years of servitude to a girl perhaps six or seven years old? "You will have to work for them. Use your magic to make roads, or build walls." What else did earthmages do? Martel had not really paid attention during those lessons.

"That sounds boring."

"Well, my friend Flora, you remember her? She can do the same as you. One time, we were running away, she just put up a big wall behind her, making all our pursuers look like fools trying to climb over." The last bit was Martel's invention, but it had the intended effect of making her laugh.

"There's one thing I can do already," Sparrow revealed, stepping closer. "I just didn't know it was – magic, like you can do."

"What is that?"

"If I put my hand on a lock, I can make it open. Comes in real useful sometimes."

"I bet."

"Weasel told me never to tell anyone though. He said if people found out, they'd take me away." She looked up at Martel, still keeping her distance. He got the impression of an animal ready to bolt at any sign of danger. "Like you want to do."

"Only if it's what you want. You can think about it, and I'll be back tomorrow same time. And if you need more time, or got more questions, I'll answer them all," Martel promised.

The pensive expression of a six or seven-year-old met him. "Alright. I'll think about it."

Before leaving, he flicked the coin to her.