209. A Trio of Knives (Patreon)

As agreed, Martel returned to the Night Knives the next day. As he entered the apartment, he found Marcus putting on chain armour and the rest of his equipment. Flora already seemed prepared. She glanced at Martel. "Lose the robe. You look like a scribe. We got a surcoat for you. Some armour too, just in case."

Martel pulled off his brown robe, revealing that he wore his leather tunic underneath.

"Ah, Master Jerome's work?" Flora nodded in acknowledgement. Of course, as a former student at the Lyceum, she would be familiar with the artificer. "Fine, that'll do. I don't suppose you're familiar with wearing a chain shirt?"

Martel shook his head before he put on the surcoat offered by Marcus, showing the shape of a knife as its emblem. Finally, he tied some cloth around his face to serve as a mask, like when he had fought in the pit of The Broken Crown.

"Stick to leather then. Better to have you comfortable and familiar with what you're wearing. We can look into training you with heavier armour another time." Flora took a staff from the weapon rack and threw it into Martel's hands, taking another for herself. "Looks like we're ready to go."

~

They crossed through a corner of the market to reach the bridge district. Martel had only been here a few times before, but he liked the neighbourhood. A few small insulae mixed with older buildings, family homes, and the same variety could be seen on the street. Ordinary people, peddlers and craftsmen, children running and laughing, the occasional merchant, much the same people as home in Engby.

Martel noticed that people shied away from their path. He had never experienced this before; usually when walking on the street, Martel had to take care to avoid others, or they would constantly bump into him. Apparently, the sight of three people in surcoats, one of them heavily armed, garnered respect.

The trio continued turning north. After a while, the surroundings changed. The houses became bigger and more expensive. No insulae in this part of Morcaster, as they provided cheap housing for the poor. Here, those with little coin worked as servants, living in the homes of their masters, the noble and the wealthy.

They crossed the street, steering towards one of the smaller buildings, though it still rose two stories tall, built from stone rather than timber. "Time to play," Flora told her companions. "I watched the place yesterday. Guy has a couple of guards, nothing we can't handle."

As they walked up the steps to the front door and Flora used the door hammer, an urchin watched them from the corner of an alley before quickly taking off.

~

They waited a while with Flora using the door hammer a couple of times more. As they began considering looking for a back entrance, the front door was finally opened. A man in clothes suggesting him to be the majordomo stood on the other side. He regarded the trio on the doorstep, wearing surcoats and carrying weapons. "Yes?" Both his expression and tone of voice made it clear he had little respect for the would-be visitors.

"We are here to see your master on behalf of Lady Pearl." Flora returned the man's gaze.

"His lordship is not at home. Please return another day."

As he tried to close the door, Flora extended her staff into the gap. She pushed the door and the majordomo back, stepping inside. "That won't do, I'm afraid. Fetch 'his lordship' now."

The servant tumbled backwards further, landing on the ground. "Help! brigands!"

A guard appeared from either side of the entrance chamber, swords drawn. Marcus held his weapons ready, but he did not engage them yet. As for Martel, he stood wavering. This suddenly felt a lot more like the invasion of someone's peaceful home than the simple debt collection he had been told about.

"Don't be foolish," Flora said quickly. "You stand against two mages." A glittering spike of ice appeared in her hand. Taking his cue, Martel ignited flames around his own, even as he held his staff in a defensive stance. "But there's no need for violence. Go fetch your master," she told the majordomo.

The servant scrambled to get on his feet and disappeared up the stairs in the background. Tense moments passed as the guards remained with their weapons drawn. Marcus and Martel mirrored their stance, while Flora seemed more at ease, allowing the spike of ice in her hand to dissolve back into the air.

After what felt like a long while, but probably was less than a minute, the majordomo returned. "His lordship will see you now," he sniffed. "Though he refuses to have all you thugs trampling all over his study."

"I'll be right back, boys," Flora said over her shoulder to her compatriots before she went up the stairs as well.

~

The two guards clearly remained wary, holding their weapons in position to fight, but as the moments dragged on, neither side could maintain the stance to jump into action. Placing the end of his staff against the floor, Martel allowed the magic around his hands to vanish, though he kept his back towards Marcus and his eyes on the guard in front of him. Behind him, he heard his companion likewise relaxed a little, the rings of his chain shirt jangling.

After several minutes, Flora appeared at the top of the stairs. As she descended, she gave a little nod to her brothers-in-arms. While one hand still held her staff, the other had a bundle in it. "We got what we came for," she announced.

"Now will you please leave!" The majordomo seemed to have found some of his courage at the prospect of the Night Knives leaving.

Flora ignored him, crossing the entrance chamber to reach the front door. "Let's go."

All three of them left, Marcus retreating backwards as the last until he stood on the doorsteps outside as well. As he turned around, he was greeted by the same sight that had met Flora and Martel.

In front of them, blocking their departure, stood ten armed men. Behind them, the front door was quickly closed and locked.

~~

Martel's character sheet (no change).