Bad Moon Rising

With the threat to his friends taken care of, Martel could stop worrying so much and focus on his lessons instead. At the same time, his class in advanced elemental magic brought his mind back to the fight at the Four Flagon Tavern. His primary opponent in that fight had not been the warriors, but Flora with her frost rays. Had the fight taken place on terrain more favourable to her, she would undoubtedly have raised her earth wall before he remembered to use his own fire equivalent, and they might have lost the brawl.

It made Martel realise that he still was underequipped facing mages with abilities different than his own. He might beat them in the Chamber of Earth, but only because he was more experienced and specifically trained for combat. His only regular sparring partners with equal training were the other fire acolytes or the mageknights, none of whom could prepare him for facing a veteran mage skilled in air, earth, or water.

"Master Alastair, are there defensive spells one might use to protect against other elements? I'm not worried about fire, obviously, but what about the others?"

His teacher calmed the winds around them in the Hall of Elements and looked at the acolyte. "There is. I had use of them against the Tyrians, who are quite skilled with water magic. But you'll most likely be facing Khivans, my boy, who don't employ magic of any kind. I'm not sure your time is best spent with this."

Martel had other concerns besides Khivans. "Still, I'd like to learn. Just to be prepared."

"Very well. We should have time before you finish the year. Once you have mastered the elemental bolt, we'll move on to a counterspell."

"Thank you, master." With this promise obtained, Martel resumed practising the air bolt.

***

Leaving the hall after class, Martel had not gone far down the corridor when he saw a sight to make him freeze on the spot. Two inquisitors came towards him in quick stride, looking dour as always. Just as Martel was about to turn around and find Master Alastair to help him, the mage hunters moved right past and continued on their way.

Martel's relief was quickly replaced by curiosity. He had not seen the inquisitors inside the Lyceum for months. It made him wonder what had brought them back.

Looking for quick answers, Martel turned around and walked the other way to cross the dining hall and reach the entrance of the school, where he approached Henry sitting behind the desk. "What're the inquisitors doing here?"

The air acolyte looked uncomfortable, either from the topic or Martel's presence, perhaps both. Still, he replied, "Same old chestnut. Searching for the maleficar that keeps eluding them. Bloody useless, they are."

"Still? They already interrogated everyone once. Why would they think there's something new to gain?"

Henry shrugged. "How should I know? They don't tell me."

Strange why they would renew their search all of a sudden. What might have happened?

A thought came to mind, and Martel left abruptly. He hurried up the stairs to reach the Tower of Air, which gave a good view in every direction. Searching around, it took Martel a moment to find his quarry; in the last of the daylight, it was hard to find on the horizon. But he saw it, a full moon slowly rising towards its zenith. The maleficar's favoured time to carry out his dark deeds.

And Martel suspected he knew where this evil wizard hid himself. Both he and the inquisitors had searched the sewers without luck, but not because they were mistaken about the maleficar's hideout. Rather because he retreated to the one place none of them dared to follow.

Martel's last trip through the sewers came to mind, when he had paid Weasel to lead him through that underground labyrinth that he might return unseen to the Lyceum, after the ambush on the docks with the Night Knives. They had passed near the catacombs, and Martel had felt an evil presence unlike any other. If the maleficar could be found, it would be in that place.

But it was not his problem to solve. The inquisitors would never listen to him anyway; they would just accuse him of being in league with the maleficar. And they knew about the sewers already, so if they actually cared about finding this villain, they would search there instead of the Lyceum.

The sewers. Martel's conversation with the small girl, Julia's neighbour, came to mind. Even though he had rented a room for her, Julia still went down there.

Concern growing, Martel tried to think calmly about this. He had once before been afraid of this scenario, and Julia had turned out to be fine. She knew the sewers well, presumably how to hide and find her way back.

Still, just to ease his mind, he decided to pay her a quick visit. She had been gone yesterday, but she would probably be home tonight; seeing her would let him put his concerns to rest.

***

Martel knocked and knocked. Julia being gone two nights in a row – it could happen, he supposed, especially if she preferred this particular hour for doing errands.

Even so, Martel felt increasingly uneasy. It seemed unlikely that of all the people in Morcaster, Julia would be the one taken by the maleficar; it was just not probable. But what if more than coincidence played a part? Martel had investigated the maleficar, pursued him, both in the copper lanes and the sewers; what if all his efforts had gotten him noticed, and now Julia paid the price for his failed heroics?

Still trying to stay calm, Martel walked down the hall to knock repeatedly on another door. A matronly woman opened with an almost angry pull. "What?" she exclaimed.

"I am Master Martel of the Lyceum." He saw her eyes widen. "I need to speak to your daughter. The small child."

She cleared her throat. "Yes, good master. Child, come here!"

The little girl appeared soon after, almost hiding behind the doorframe until her mother grabbed her by the neck and pulled her forward.

Martel knelt down to even some of the height difference. "You remember we talked about my friend, who lives down the hall?"

The girl nodded.

"When did you last see her?"

"Yesterday."

"Do you know where she went?"

The girl shook her head.

"But she's not been back?"

"She's never outside during daylight, master mage," the mother interjected. "It's true, your friend left late last night. We've not seen or heard sign of her since then, though she's a slippery sort. Pardon me saying so," she quickly added.

Martel got back on his feet. "Thanks." He left without further words, hearing the door quickly shutting behind him.

Back on the street, Martel's mind churned with thoughts as he walked back towards the Lyceum. Most likely, this was all a coincidence and Julia was fine. Certainly, none could argue it was his responsibility to stop this maleficar. But if the dark sorcerer had taken another victim, Julia or someone else, they would presumably die at his hand, fodder for his cruel rituals. Martel could try to warn his teachers, but he imagined that by the time he finished explaining everything, time would be up. And they would positively chain him to his bed if he had to admit the details about his pursuit of the maleficar.

Martel had a choice. Do nothing or attempt to save a life, assuming anyone was actually in danger. Above him, the full moon slowly climbed further and further up.