Firebrand

Hung Up

Over the next days, inquisitors in the hallways of the Lyceum became more common. Plenty of rumours accompanied them, especially if someone disliked was pulled in for interrogation by them. Someone could usually be found willing to speculate and cast aspersions on the person being questioned; so far, nothing actually seemed to come of it. The inquisitors never seemed to go beyond making interrogations. As time went on, Martel grew accustomed to the sight of their blue uniforms and stopped paying them much heed.

When next Malday arrived, it signalled the last lesson of his introductory course to earth magic. While Martel had found it interesting to have classes in the chamber underground, especially trying to rely on his magic to the exclusion of all other senses, he did not mind reaching the end of the course. Partly because he did not foresee that he would have much need of earth magic in the future, but also because it irritated him that he had never managed to grasp the technique of pushing his magic into the earth without losing control of it.

As he arrived in the Chamber of Earth with the other novices, Master Basil waited for them with the torches lit. His final lesson would not be taught in the darkness, at least.

"My last lesson with you. Unless you become an acolyte." Everyone's eyes flickered towards Lawrence, the only suitable candidate. Master Basil continued. "If you wish to be one. This is your chance to prove it. My final task is simple. Simply repeat what I do."

The teacher held out his hand – more for their benefit, Martel suspected, as the Master of Earth probably did not need to make gestures to help visualise his magic. From the ground, a perfectly round pillar rose up until it reached his fingertips.

All the novices copied him, creating a pillar with varying degrees of skill.

Master Basil released his magic, letting the dirt sink back to the ground, only to raise it up in the shape of a many-pointed star. In fact, in the dim light, Martel could not count the number of tips, as they sat too close. More than ten. Regardless, he did his best to replicate, creating a star with as many points as he could.

The challenges continued. The shapes became increasingly more complex, and eventually, Master Basil added another at the same time. And another. Martel began to sweat, no longer able to simply keep up using his magic at will; he began to draw on his spellpower, pouring magic into the earth before him.

Finally, he failed. Behind Master Basil rose a wall, seven feet tall, looking very solid. Trying to do the same, Martel overextended his abilities. His magic could not control such a large amount of earth at the same time; the same problem that had plagued him before.

As expected, Lawrence lasted longer than anybody else. Eventually, Master Basil declared himself satisfied and dismissed them. They bowed their heads to their teacher as thanks for this final lesson and left.

~

Leaving the dining hall before he turned towards his dormitory, he happened to glance down the hallway in the other direction. Seeing a pair of inquisitors no longer fazed him. But he was surprised to recognise the shape that walked between them. Tall, looking stern even from the back with her hair tied up, Mistress Juliana accompanied the zealots of the Faith deeper into the castle.

"They are interrogating even members of the faculty now." Eleanor appeared next to him.

"I am surprised they dare. When Mistress Juliana looks at me, it makes me want to say as little as possible, never mind asking questions."

"They just want us to know they can." She glanced at him. "Maximilian told me of your night in the copper lanes. I am surprised you dared to do that."

"Nothing happened. And I don't actually think it was dangerous in the first place."

"How do you figure?" She turned to look at him properly.

"Remember the story Sparrow told us? The little girl who got away from the maleficar. Said she bit his hand or something."

"What about it?"

Martel returned her gaze. "If I wanted to stop someone from running away, I can think of several methods. Push up earth to trip them. Blast of air in the back to knock them down. Raise a wall to block their path. This supposedly dangerous wizard couldn't stop a little girl from getting away."

She nodded a little. "You could be right. But that is not what I meant. Rather, I am surprised you would spend a night in the copper lanes during a full moon when the inquisitors above all would be on the search for wayward mages."

"Even if we had come across them, what would they do? So far, all I've ever seen these inquisitors do is ask questions. Sure, their manners are lacking, but it seems all they do is make threats." The more that Martel had seen their blue uniforms over the past fiveday, the more this sentiment had grown in him. All the other mages at the school worried about these militant priests, but he had begun to feel inured towards them. "What are they actually going to do?"

She arched an eyebrow. "You haven't been to the market in a while. I'm surprised nobody told you."

Well, if Maximilian had not told him, probably nobody would. Certainly Martel's teachers were not keen on sharing information that might distract him from his studies. "What?" he elected to simply say, rather than admit how few people spoke to him.

"The city guard found victims of poisoning in the bridge district. They called in the inquisitors, who discovered the poisoner. An alchemist. At least they claim to have irrefutable proof," Eleanor explained, not sounding convinced herself. "Only members of the Faith are present for such a trial involving the Inquisition."

"What happened?"

"Go to the market. The square with the statue of Emperor Lucius. His body hangs in the gibbet." With those words, she left him.