Last day of school

Posted on 27 Jul 2021 @ 1:52am by Warrior Martin Josceran & Mage Kalian Winter

3,506 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Summerday La Fête
Location: Jader
Timeline: Cloudreach 24th

One of the advantages of late shifts was that Martin had a lot more free time during the day. Of course the late shifts were a punishment, but it was in his nature to look at a cup half full. After spending most of the morning in bed and catching up on sleep he'd enjoyed a late breakfast and a bath, the latter a dire necessity considering that he'd spent half of the past night trudging through the worst alleys of the alienage after a pickpocket. Whom he hadn't caught. Not his finest moment, he had to admit. The rest of the night had been spent cleaning one of the cells after a drunkard locked up to sleep it off had emptied their stomach all over. Well. Not just their stomach.

All in all a normal day. Since the mine incident a few days prior captain Landry had not hidden her displeasure, which meant if there was something unpleasant that needed doing, Martin's name would come up.

He'd go see Patrick tonight, see if he could get anything from him about the pickpocket. More than just a good informant, Patrick was also a friend ; he wouldn't let him down. The pickpocket incidents were on the rise, and Martin was fairly certain he had a good description of the culprit after interrogating several victims.

When the Chantry bell tolled four times, Martin headed out to go and pick up Fey and Arran. Raoul had a lot of work preparing for Summerday and was working late, so he'd offered to escort them home for their last day of school. Not that the Chantry school was very far, or the streets very dangerous in plain daylight, but the children were still very young. Plus Martin enjoyed the opportunity to send a few warning glares at the other children and parents, some of whom he occasionally wished he could lock up for aggravated bigotry.

Jader was preparing for Summerday, most of the streets decorated with flower garlands and colourful cloth. The smell of freshly-baked gingerbread filled the air, bringing a festive atmosphere to Jader. The people milling about in the street looked happy and cheerful, waving at each other, pausing a moment to chat before going on with their business. Martin kept an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, out of habit, but they were most active nearer dusk, when it was easier to vanish in the shadows of an alley. And anyway, he reminded himself firmly, he was not on duty.

The children came out of the school in a disorderly and giggling stampede just as Martin reached the Chantry grounds. He spotted Fey and Arran easily - they always stayed away from the main group. They saw him too, and came running to hug him.

"Last full day of school for a week, I hope you're not too sad," Martin said teasingly. "How did it go ?"

Fey shrugged, her smile wavering. Arran was enough of a chatterbox for the two of them though, and started telling Martin about the verse of the Chant they had been studying in the afternoon.

"...blessed are the... the..." he faltered on the complicated word. "the pisskeepers."

Martin somehow swallowed back a snicker and wondered what sort of face Sister Bénédicte had made when Arran had come up with this particular gem. Even Fey's smile returned.

"Well done," Martin said gravely as Arran looked up proudly. "You can recite it for your dad tonight, he'll be very proud."

"I study well too !" Fey said. "I know all the Canticle of Exaltations !"

"Then you can show us tonight, too. But beware ! I, Ser Martin, know the Chant better than any of you ! Any mistake shall be punished with..." he let the threat hang ominously for a heartbeat, "...tickling !"

Between two fits of giggles the children took his hand, one on each side, so they could walk home.

It was a beautiful spring day in Jader. Rain had washed the streets the night before, but now the sky was clear, and the air was crisp and clean. Kalian's entire extended family was engaged in preparations for the festival, cleaning and airing out the Inn. Kalian had earned a break, and volunteered to meet his niece to celebrate the last day of school before the holiday. He planned to take Iris to the bakery for a treat, or sometimes she wanted to go to the harbor and watch the sea gulls.

He arrived at the chantry school just after the chantry bell tolled four times. Children ran across the schoolyard, laughing and calling. And there was Iris, picking bright yellow dandelions next to the stairs leading up to the front door. Kalian crouched next to her. "Picking Summerday flowers already?"

"They're pretty." Iris tucked the three flowers she'd picked into Kalian's hair then burst into giggles. "Now you are pretty!"

Kalian grinned back. "What shall we do this afternoon, Iris?" Then he saw Martin, with two elf children, and waved.

"Your friend is with Fey and Arran," said Iris, recognizing Martin. Then she ran toward her two friends.

Kalian followed. "Hey Martin," he said, catching up and taking in the curious sight of Martin with two elven children. "You are full of surprises, my friend."

Martin turned around, surprised to be addressed by name, and smiled when he recognized Kalian. Arran and Fey were smiling awkwardly at the young girl who'd ran towards them, apparently happy to see her. She must be one of the few who actually was nice to them - unsurprising if she was from Kalian's family. Arran immediately started chatting happily but after one look at Kalian - an unknown adult - Fey stuck close to Martin and grabbed his hand, half-hiding behind his leg and self-consciously arranging her hair to make sure her ears were hidden.

"And you," Martin returned as his smile reached his eyes. "A father, so young ? I didn't realize."

Kalian shook his head. A family of his own was unlikely, as Martin knew. "You remember my niece, Iris, right? She saw us off when we left to get jobs at the mine. She's the one who decided my fake name should be Korbyn. You know, like the Raven's Roost." Before Martin could dwell on any other possible meanings he added, "Iris mentioned there were two elven children at school. Are Arran and Fey yours?" He wondered if Martin was in a relationship with the children's parent.

Now that Kalian had pointed it out Martin remembered the little girl, who was now looking while Arran drew stick figures in the dust and chatted happily about the day's lesson.

"No, they're my landlord's children. Although I like to call myself an honorary uncle." He put a comforting hand on Fey's head and she relaxed a little bit, although she didn't let go of his leg. "I've known them since - " since Raoul had brought them home, lost and terrified. " - since they were very little. They mentioned Iris, too. They get along well, I think. Say, I was just about to treat the children to some gingerbread, would you like to come along ? I think they are serving mulled wine and beer, too." He lifted his eyebrows in a beseeching invitation.

"Sounds perfect to me," answered Kalian. This was an unexpected aspect of his new friendship with Martin. They were both uncles, both with paternal inclinations. Kalian spoke to his niece, "What do you think, Iris, shall we join Arran and Fey and their Uncle Martin for some gingerbread?"

Iris took Arran's hand and they both stood up. "Yes! Yes, please." She grinned at Fey and reached for her hand too.

Hearing Kalian refer to him as Uncle made Martin feel a little bit funny, the warm and fuzzy kind of funny. Arran's happy squeal and Fey's shy smile made it all even fuzzier.

"Great ! Let's go then."

Arran and Iris set off together, babbling confidentially. Fey grabbed Martin's hand and followed, peering curiously at Kalian through her long bangs. More booths were being set up in the streets but Martin already knew where he was taking them ; Raphaëlle's, the best pastries and gingerbread in Jader. She was setting up her own booth near the main square when he'd walked past on his way to the Chantry, she should be about ready to serve customers by now.

"By the way, Fey, this is Kalian. You remember his name ? I mentioned him before."

Fey nodded shyly. "The nice man who helped you save the poor people ?"

"Right." Martin smiled at her, then a little self-consciously at Kalian. "Sorry, I couldn't hide your heroics. My landlord is very impressed with you. If you ever need carpenter work you should go see him, he'll give you a good deal."

"It is an honor to meet you, Fey," said Kalian, giving her the most grand bow he could manage whilst still walking. He recalled that Iris had described other children getting angry at the uppity elves, scoring better on class assignments. "I have it on good authority that you are a particularly clever and brave young lady."

"A carpenter, huh? I'll have a word with Tessa, see if there's anything she needs done at the Raven." Kalian's curiosity was piqued now, he wasn't aware of any elven carpenters in Jader. "I hope your Uncle Martin told you that he was the biggest hero of all of us. He did the right thing even though he got yelled at for it in the end. That was pretty brave." Kalian winked at Martin.

Summerday preparations were in full swing, with carts and booths springing up like mushrooms after a summer rain. One booth caught Kalian's attention. "Are we headed to Raphaëlle's? I'll say this for you, Martin. You know the best place to go for pastries."

Martin smiled, pleased to see how good Kalian was with the children. "Well, I've lived here for almost ten years, I have sampled all of the local bakeries. In the name of, hum, research, obviously. That cinnamon roll they make..." he sighed wistfully.

They had walked past a flower booth, another one where they sold wooden toys, and finally reached Raphaëlle's. Her shop was in a nearby side-street but she knew how to do good business and always had a booth in the street during the summerday festivities. Raphaëlle herself was a thirty-something woman, with long brown hair usually gathered in a long braid, still youthful-looking and always smiling. Rumour had it that she had renounced a title and a wealthy suitor to open her bakery, but that was only one of the stories she told and no one knew which version was closest to the truth - if any were truthful at all.

She saw Martin and waved at him. "Fair day !"

"And to you ! I bring three famished children, Raphaëlle, pray tell me you can do something for these poor souls !"

Her eyes crinkled into a smile when she saw Fey's hopeful eyes as she peered from behind Martin's leg, and how Arran excitedly bounced on the tip of his toes to catch a look at the pastries.

"The chocolatines are just out of the oven, how does that sound ?" She directed the question at Arran, who nodded vigorously. "No need to ask what you want, Martin, I already know. And you, messire ?" Raphaëlle looked quizzically at Kalian.

"A good day to you, Raphaëlle. I would love a crepe, please." She was making crepes fresh at her booth. A baker's oven was a complicated, finely crafted, and enormous tool, and maintaining a brick oven's even and correct temperature was as important as flour and butter to the finished product. "And my niece…" Kalian picked up Iris so that she could see the tray of treats that one of the baker's apprentices had just delivered to the booth from the baker's ovens.

"I want chocolatines like Arran," announced Iris imperiously, then wriggled out of Kalian's arms.

"I'll have a mulled wine with the crepe, Raphaëlle, and fruit juice if you have it for the children." He put appropriate coins on the counter for his and Iris' food and the juice, plus a little extra for the baker's trouble.

Whilst Raphaëlle prepared their order, Kalian gestured to one of the few outdoor tables, just being vacated by satiated patrons. "Shall we sit?"

"Let's," Martin said. Arran and Iris scampered ahead while Fey still stuck close to Martin. Her curiosity was beginning to beat her shyness however, and she now looked at Kalian with interest.

The heavy wooden table was lined by two benches, with enough space for all of them to sit comfortably. The children's feet did not reach the ground and Arran started swinging his legs while humming the chant. He grinned at Iris and started making funny faces at her, in a clear attempt to make her smile. He always loved to fool around, and his cheeky smile was so adorable that he often got away with it.

"Do you often do the school run ?" Martin asked. "I don't remember seeing you before, but..." maybe that was because Arran and Fey always stayed away from the others.

"Most days Tessa or Ben collects Iris from school, and they can't linger. I'm usually working at the Raven, getting ready for the evening crowd," said Kalian.

Iris made faces back at Arran, and the two embarked on a game to out-do each other.

Kalian watched the children while contemplating the consequences of confiding in Martin. "The four of us – me, Tessa, Ben and my father - had a long talk. They're going to train someone to take over some of my duties at the Raven."

"If you've been in Jader for ten years, then you know things got bad during the Blight, so close to the Ferelden border. Then, I was able to use my abilities to help people, and things were so chaotic nobody who might turn me in noticed. At the mine, I remembered how satisfying it was to help people, to do the right thing." Kalian regarded his friend with an apologetic smile. "Templars will come for me sooner or later, so I want to make the most of the time I have until then."

Martin's eyes, which had drifted towards the children, snapped back to Kalian. He was surprised at the casual mention of Kalian's... situation and instinctively, he glanced around them to check if anyone was within hearing range. But the people in the street were much too busy preparing for the summerday festivities to pay them any attention.

"You managed to... blend in for many years," Martin said. "There is no reason to think you couldn't do so for a long time yet." Part of him was sorry at the thought of potentially losing his friend, but he was also worried at the thought of Kalian using his magic more and more... with all the dangers that entailed. And yet, he couldn't pretend he didn't understand how Kalian felt. Like a bird in a cage, probably. "I suppose it's wise to be ready for all contingencies though."

Raphaëlle approached cheerfully to serve them the still-hot pastries, Kalian's mulled wine and Martin's warm cider. The children squealed in excitement and dug in voraciously, the funny-face competition forgotten for now.

"You know... I'm originally from the north-east. Right up at the border with Tevinter and Nevarra. The Vints are... well, they're what they are. But it's a safe place, for someone of your persuasion. At least for a while. I can..." he grimaced, not quite able to believe what he was about to admit to. "If you ever need a safe haven, I could write you a letter of introduction. I have... family in Tevinter."

Kalian was momentarily speechless. "That's very kind of you, Martin. Tevinter, though… I wouldn't fit in there, either. They have an approach to, uh… things of a certain persuasion… that're worse than here but in the opposite extreme." There was more he'd like to say Martin on this subject, but not in front of the children – or in this relatively public place.

He smiled indulgently at Iris, Fey, and Arran, each of whom was enthusiastically becoming a cheerful, sticky mess. "So, Martin. You're from the far northeast, eh? What brought you so far south?" He sipped his delicious spiced cider.

That question was more loaded than Kalian probably realized. Martin fought the sudden urge to confide in him. Kalian would understand his circumstances better than most, by virtue of his own secrets, but that was not the sort of conversation he wanted to have in public, let alone in front of the children. Although they did not seem to be paying attention, Martin knew that young ears could be attentive to adult matters.

"I came down here for my training," he said. Which was the truth, if not all of it. "I was sent to the Chantry when I was eleven, and when I was sixteen they assigned me to Jader. I've been here ever since. When I left the Order, I was lucky enough to find a job in the city guard." He paused, thoughtful, as he sipped his cider. "Haven't been back home in years." Not since his mother had passed. He pushed the somber thought away, keen to keep this conversation light-hearted. "But I really like it here, I have a good job, a lot of friends, two honorary niece and nephew, and the best spicy cider this side of the waking sea." He raised his glass in a silent toast.

Kalian lifted his mug of mulled wine and supplied a toast, "To good drinks and good friends, the family we're born into and the family we find." Kalian drained the last mouthful of wine and gave his cup an appreciatively disappointed look.

The children were getting restless, having consumed every sweet morsel. "We should do this again sometime," said Kalian, imagining a quieter place for conversation with space for the children to run. "Maybe take the children on a picnic."

"That would be nice," Martin agreed, with a regretful look at his now empty mug of cider. "I'm sure Fey and Arran would love it. They don't..." have a lot of friends, he almost said but didn't. He didn't want to make the children's situation look pitiful. "...often get the chance to have a day out," he finished instead. "Whenever you're free, let me know. I have..." he grimaced slightly, "...lots of night shifts these days."

Kalian's expression betrayed, he thought, concern and amusement in equal parts.

"It's not so bad," he amended quickly. "I don't really mind it. It's nice to have free time during the day."

Kalian's eyebrows knit together thoughtfully. "You take your position on the guard and responsibility to Jader's citizens to heart. You're a good man, Martin. Fair and open-minded. Jader could use more guards like you. Have you ever thought about going for a promotion to guard captain?"

Martin's smile turned wry. "Can't say I haven't. I don't have the experience and seniority to seriously go for it just yet, though. In a couple of years, maybe. If I don't get sacked by then," he snorted. "I like to think I could make a difference... but sometimes I wonder if any of us ever do. Life just seems to go on regardless, doesn't it ? Still. If we don't try then what's left to live for ?"

The apostate leaned back in his chair and smiled contentedly. "Is it so bad to live our lives trying to make a difference? Enjoying what we have now – good food, good drink, and good company, whilst doing what we can to make Thedas a better place for their future." His nod took in the three children, who were fidgeting, ready to be going.

Kalian got to his feet, "The festival starts tomorrow. Will I see you at the Summerday pole ceremony?"

"Most likely." Martin followed suit, gesturing to Fey and Arran to join him. "And Raoul will be there too. Maybe we can have a bite before or afterwards, or a drink ? But no need to decide now, we'll see about that tomorrow." He smiled at Kalian, then Iris. "Say hi to your mother for me, will you ? Fey, Arran, say goodbye."

Fey waved a hand but stayed close to Martin. More boisterously, Arran waved both of his with a big smile.

"I will, Uncle Martin," said Iris with a big, sticky grin. She waved at her two friends, and then with the unselfconscious affection of a four year old, she threw her arms around Arran and hugged him, and kissed Fey on the cheek. "Good bye!"

Kalian chuckled and added his own wave to Fey and Arran. "A pleasure to meet you, Arran and Fey. We'll see you soon." He turned his gaze to Martin. "Always up for a bite or a drink, anytime, my friend."

 

RSS Feed