Cracks in the Walls

With the dispute regarding the Apothecary Guild resolved, Martel felt ambivalent. His concerns had been for naught, considering how handily Mistress Rana had solved the situation. It had not even required anything of him. That part was a relief.

But he could not imagine that Duke Cheval would be satisfied with this, assuming the vengeful nobleman was behind the dispute – though Martel could not think of anybody else, given the timing of it all. And if he had been able to unearth something as innocuous as Martel giving herbal remedies to orphans, and somehow use this against Martel, it made the acolyte worry about what else might turn up. Fighting in the pit at The Broken Crown, attending a meeting of the Nine Lords in the Undercroft, working tasks with the Night Knives… Martel might not be able to prevent the duke from discovering these events, but he could try. If nothing else, looking into the matter might give Martel some advance warning of what else to expect.

The next day being Solday suited him as he had no late class. Once his tutoring session with Eleanor had ended, Martel left the castle.

***

The acolyte went to the copper lanes once more, though he had a dual purpose in mind. First, his path took him to the old house that served as home to Weasel and his gang. The full might of winter could be felt; none of the children were outside after dark, and they huddled together inside the main room, shielding themselves and each other from the wind blowing through the cracks in the walls.

"What do you want now?" asked Weasel, for once to be found on the lower floor. He sat with his back against Sparrow's.

"I just needed to talk to you," Martel replied. "Someone's been asking questions about me, down here in the copper lanes."

"So?"

"Whoever it is, they found out about me giving herbs and such to you. I wondered if you had spoken to anyone, or if someone came asking you about me." Martel looked around the sorry lot of children, all of them bundled up in whatever rags they could find.

"We ain't rats," Weasel replied indignantly.

"Not even if someone offered you coin?" Martel raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, maybe," the little chief admitted. "But I've not heard anything."

The acolyte cast another look around the room. None of the children gave him a reason to suspect they had informed on him. They seemed indifferent to the conversation. Martel felt another pang of guilt that he had brought nothing. Obviously, he could not offer them any remedies like in the past; he had promised Mistress Rana as much, and it would be foolish to reignite his troubles with the Apothecary Guild, however swiftly they had been concluded. But maybe he could have brought them fuel; nights had to be bitterly cold in a house like this. Martel thought about how much money he had earned so far from working at the Lyceum's apothecary and resolved that he would put some of it to use this way. "Alright. Thanks for letting me know."

***

His first errand done, Martel continued deeper into the district until he reached The Copper Drum. This time, he continued all the way to Kerra's study rather than demand she met him in the common room, considering this meeting was at his initiative.

Once the guard outside had granted him passage, Martel entered the chamber to find the Copper Lady in her seat. "The Copper Mage in my study, unbidden. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?"

He could not tell how genuine her words were meant; she always seemed a little insincere, though never outright disrespectful. It left him feeling a little on his backfoot, trying to guess her mood or opinions, which he realised was probably the intended effect. "I just thought I'd keep you informed. About Duke Cheval's latest endeavours."

"Information is always appreciated. What's the old rascal up to?"

"I don't know if I ever told you, but I once supplied medicine to some of the children in the copper lanes. The duke must have found out, sniffing around the district. He tried to have the Apothecary Guild put me on trial, though it failed."

The Copper Lady smirked. "Complicated angle of attack and with little threat. I expected more from someone so powerful."

"I guess it wasn't too difficult to contend with." At least not for Mistress Rana. "I'll keep looking over my shoulder, in case he tries something else. But I figured you should know what his people were up to in the copper lanes."

"As said, it's appreciated. Though I won't let my guard down either. He could easily have the same in mind for my district as he did for the Khivan quarter," Kerra contemplated. "And if anybody spilled the pennies on you, despite my express command, I want to know."

"Me too. I asked the orphans, and they claim that they didn't reveal anything to anybody."

"And you trust them?"

Again, Martel found it difficult to interpret her smile and tone, whether she meant the question genuinely or not. "They're usually quite blunt. I don't think they've got a reason to hide this from me."

"I'll make my own inquiries. Also, something for you to think about," she continued.

"How do you mean?"

"I heard you're running with the Night Knives, for instance. But that story didn't originate from the copper lanes. And if I can find out about that, others can as well."

He frowned. "Why would you ask around about me?"

"I didn't. The Night Knives seek to be a force in this city – even if not directly my competitor, it pays to be watchful. You should be as well if you're going to play games with the likes of Duke Cheval."

Martel had no desire for that; part of him almost looked forward to receiving his posting, joining a legion somewhere far from Morcaster. "I'll keep that in mind."