Stalking Darkness - Chapter Seventeen
Sep. 14th, 2023 07:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i_read_whatSo last time, Alec and Seregil did some investigation! Also Seregil and Thero were surprisingly non-antagonistic! Or at least less antagonistic! It'll be interesting to see if that last.
This chapter starts with some exposition about the sewers. Apparently, Tamir the Great had her builders lay them before any buildings were constructed, and they're extensive. They're often modified and enlarged to accommodate the growth of the city, and only the "Scavenger Guild" knows the extent. And even IN the guild, individual members only know the section they maintain.
So now, Alec and Seregil are going sewer-spelunking. They've chosen an entrance by some tenements near the south wall of the city. Alec thinks it reminds him of a prison door, but he keeps quiet as they break in and descend.
They block the stench with vinegar soaked face rags. Alec asks why the sewers are big (apparently the passage is nearly ten feet high) - per Seregil it's a safety measure. The poisonous humors supposedly collect over head, with good air remaining below. I've no idea if that's accurate, but it seems plausible?
He warns Alec to watch for the torches though, if they turn blue or "gutter" it means the air is bad. Good to know.
There's some disturbing shit down here: like the body of a small dog caught against bars, being eaten by horrible rats. There are rats everywhere. They end up going into a gated area and examining the structure. Neither are entirely sure what they're looking for. Eventually, Alec spots some exposed pins, and then...
Searing white sparks erupted inches from Alec’s face with an angry spitting sound. With a startled cry, he dropped his torch and threw an arm across his face.
“Alec! Alec, get down,” Seregil yelled.
Alec crouched awkwardly, one leg jammed between the bars. Overhead, sparks still rained down from the sizzling corona of light.
Alec vs. fire round two. In his panicked, blinded thrashing he manages to knock Seregil into the water. Seregil, fortunately, is able to clamp his mouth shut and grab the grate to get free. He pulls Alec away from the sparks.
Fortunately, his hair and mask protected most of his pretty face. His hands though are covered in tiny blisters. Ouch. Alec's vision is returning, thank goodness, and he's immediately apologetic when he sees that Seregil is soaked. Seregil, good mentor, gives him a reassuring grin and tries not to think of the gross water dripping down his face. Poor guy.
They re-examine the grate, while Alec relays what he saw. They find a white silvery substance hidden in the pins. It's definitely combustible. Seregil's never seen anything like it, but Nysander might. They probably should contact him, or Thero, quickly since Alec's near-disaster definitely left notable marks.
They continue investigating when Seregil is waylaid by hooded figures and collapses into the water. Alec charges to the rescue. One of the attackers is a woman, which surprises Alec. The other is a boy, even younger than Alec. Fortunately, Seregil recovers quickly and gets some answers.
They're "gaterunners" and they attacked because Alec and Seregil are strangers. Apparently, they'd lost friends to strangers recently. When Seregil proposes that he'll "leave [theirs] if [they'll] leave [his]", they disappear.
Seregil is embarrassed that they got the drop on him, but thinks it's pretty rare for "Runners" to attack. They're elusive more than hostile. They decide to head up.
Seregil tries to send Alec to Nysander while he cleans up, but Alec vetoes him. Seregil's bleeding and he's cold. Alec can handle it. Seregil gives him some cloth that Nysander should be able to track and tells him to keep hidden. He's worried, but he goes.
Well, the seeming peace from last chapter was short lived. Thero is disgusted by Seregil's state and forbids entrance. To be fair though, as soon as Seregil says that Alec's alone and they need Nysander's help, he steps aside.
There's more passive aggression though:
With a last disgusted look, Thero stepped aside and let him through to the workroom. “He’s not here.”
“Where is he?”
“Out for his nightly walk, I imagine,” Thero replied stiffly. “Or perhaps you’ve forgotten about those?”
“Then summon him!” Seregil paused, took a deep breath, and said through clenched teeth, “If you please.”
Thero does.
We get some description:
The young wizard was immaculate as ever, Seregil noted sourly, his robe spotless beneath his leather apron, his curly black hair and beard neatly trimmed, blunt-fingered hands unsullied. The thought that he’d inhabited that angular frame himself, if briefly, still made him cringe inwardly. That Thero had had the use of his body didn’t bear thinking about.
I mean, he DID suffer prison in your body, dude. It's worth remembering THAT.
This is interesting too:
“You’re bleeding,” Thero said at last, stepping reluctantly toward him. “I’d better have a look.”
Seregil drew back from his touch. “It’s just a scratch.”
“You have a lump the size of an egg over your ear and fresh blood on your cheek,” Thero snapped. “What do you think Nysander would say if I let you sit there like that?” Wethis, the young servant, brought clean water and dressings and Thero set about cleaning the wound.
Yep, Nysander, Thero's totally lacking compassion. (*insert eyeroll here*)
Nysander appears. He's threadbare, surcoat and trousers. Seregil notes "with a twinge of pride" that his mentor looks "kind and unwizardly" compared to his stiff assistant. He sends Thero to fetch a robe for Seregil, and decides to go after Alec himself. He leaves Seregil in Thero's care.
Alec is glad to see Nysander. Nysander, for the first time, gets to see Alec at work and is impressed with his quickness and efficiency. There's a little banter where Alec quips that Seregil's ruined him for honest work.
Nysander is able to magically repair the damaged grate, Alec is understandably impressed.
Back in Oreska, Seregil has bathed and dressed, and is now annoying Thero by poking around the workshop. Fortunately, Nysander and Alec materialize soon, and we're told that it would have been difficult to say whether Seregil or Thero was more relieved. I really do enjoy their dynamic.
Thero rather quickly offers to go get Alec some fresh clothes too, but first, they get to poke the white shavings and make them spark. Even Thero thinks it's neat.
Seregil watched him surreptitiously, recognizing the sudden light of enthusiasm in those pale eyes. At such moments he could almost see what maintained Nysander’s hopes for the young man—the keen and wondering mind that underlay Thero’s cold facade.
Well, dude. Maybe if you were a bit less of a jealous dick to your little brother, you'd find out?
Not that Thero is blameless, but big brothers should be more mature, you know?
Anyway, Nysander explains that the material is called "Sakor's Bite" or "Sakor's Fire" and it's found primarily in certain regions of Plenimar.
The chapter ends with Seregil and Alec grinning - they've got some decent work at last!
This chapter starts with some exposition about the sewers. Apparently, Tamir the Great had her builders lay them before any buildings were constructed, and they're extensive. They're often modified and enlarged to accommodate the growth of the city, and only the "Scavenger Guild" knows the extent. And even IN the guild, individual members only know the section they maintain.
So now, Alec and Seregil are going sewer-spelunking. They've chosen an entrance by some tenements near the south wall of the city. Alec thinks it reminds him of a prison door, but he keeps quiet as they break in and descend.
They block the stench with vinegar soaked face rags. Alec asks why the sewers are big (apparently the passage is nearly ten feet high) - per Seregil it's a safety measure. The poisonous humors supposedly collect over head, with good air remaining below. I've no idea if that's accurate, but it seems plausible?
He warns Alec to watch for the torches though, if they turn blue or "gutter" it means the air is bad. Good to know.
There's some disturbing shit down here: like the body of a small dog caught against bars, being eaten by horrible rats. There are rats everywhere. They end up going into a gated area and examining the structure. Neither are entirely sure what they're looking for. Eventually, Alec spots some exposed pins, and then...
Searing white sparks erupted inches from Alec’s face with an angry spitting sound. With a startled cry, he dropped his torch and threw an arm across his face.
“Alec! Alec, get down,” Seregil yelled.
Alec crouched awkwardly, one leg jammed between the bars. Overhead, sparks still rained down from the sizzling corona of light.
Alec vs. fire round two. In his panicked, blinded thrashing he manages to knock Seregil into the water. Seregil, fortunately, is able to clamp his mouth shut and grab the grate to get free. He pulls Alec away from the sparks.
Fortunately, his hair and mask protected most of his pretty face. His hands though are covered in tiny blisters. Ouch. Alec's vision is returning, thank goodness, and he's immediately apologetic when he sees that Seregil is soaked. Seregil, good mentor, gives him a reassuring grin and tries not to think of the gross water dripping down his face. Poor guy.
They re-examine the grate, while Alec relays what he saw. They find a white silvery substance hidden in the pins. It's definitely combustible. Seregil's never seen anything like it, but Nysander might. They probably should contact him, or Thero, quickly since Alec's near-disaster definitely left notable marks.
They continue investigating when Seregil is waylaid by hooded figures and collapses into the water. Alec charges to the rescue. One of the attackers is a woman, which surprises Alec. The other is a boy, even younger than Alec. Fortunately, Seregil recovers quickly and gets some answers.
They're "gaterunners" and they attacked because Alec and Seregil are strangers. Apparently, they'd lost friends to strangers recently. When Seregil proposes that he'll "leave [theirs] if [they'll] leave [his]", they disappear.
Seregil is embarrassed that they got the drop on him, but thinks it's pretty rare for "Runners" to attack. They're elusive more than hostile. They decide to head up.
Seregil tries to send Alec to Nysander while he cleans up, but Alec vetoes him. Seregil's bleeding and he's cold. Alec can handle it. Seregil gives him some cloth that Nysander should be able to track and tells him to keep hidden. He's worried, but he goes.
Well, the seeming peace from last chapter was short lived. Thero is disgusted by Seregil's state and forbids entrance. To be fair though, as soon as Seregil says that Alec's alone and they need Nysander's help, he steps aside.
There's more passive aggression though:
With a last disgusted look, Thero stepped aside and let him through to the workroom. “He’s not here.”
“Where is he?”
“Out for his nightly walk, I imagine,” Thero replied stiffly. “Or perhaps you’ve forgotten about those?”
“Then summon him!” Seregil paused, took a deep breath, and said through clenched teeth, “If you please.”
Thero does.
We get some description:
The young wizard was immaculate as ever, Seregil noted sourly, his robe spotless beneath his leather apron, his curly black hair and beard neatly trimmed, blunt-fingered hands unsullied. The thought that he’d inhabited that angular frame himself, if briefly, still made him cringe inwardly. That Thero had had the use of his body didn’t bear thinking about.
I mean, he DID suffer prison in your body, dude. It's worth remembering THAT.
This is interesting too:
“You’re bleeding,” Thero said at last, stepping reluctantly toward him. “I’d better have a look.”
Seregil drew back from his touch. “It’s just a scratch.”
“You have a lump the size of an egg over your ear and fresh blood on your cheek,” Thero snapped. “What do you think Nysander would say if I let you sit there like that?” Wethis, the young servant, brought clean water and dressings and Thero set about cleaning the wound.
Yep, Nysander, Thero's totally lacking compassion. (*insert eyeroll here*)
Nysander appears. He's threadbare, surcoat and trousers. Seregil notes "with a twinge of pride" that his mentor looks "kind and unwizardly" compared to his stiff assistant. He sends Thero to fetch a robe for Seregil, and decides to go after Alec himself. He leaves Seregil in Thero's care.
Alec is glad to see Nysander. Nysander, for the first time, gets to see Alec at work and is impressed with his quickness and efficiency. There's a little banter where Alec quips that Seregil's ruined him for honest work.
Nysander is able to magically repair the damaged grate, Alec is understandably impressed.
Back in Oreska, Seregil has bathed and dressed, and is now annoying Thero by poking around the workshop. Fortunately, Nysander and Alec materialize soon, and we're told that it would have been difficult to say whether Seregil or Thero was more relieved. I really do enjoy their dynamic.
Thero rather quickly offers to go get Alec some fresh clothes too, but first, they get to poke the white shavings and make them spark. Even Thero thinks it's neat.
Seregil watched him surreptitiously, recognizing the sudden light of enthusiasm in those pale eyes. At such moments he could almost see what maintained Nysander’s hopes for the young man—the keen and wondering mind that underlay Thero’s cold facade.
Well, dude. Maybe if you were a bit less of a jealous dick to your little brother, you'd find out?
Not that Thero is blameless, but big brothers should be more mature, you know?
Anyway, Nysander explains that the material is called "Sakor's Bite" or "Sakor's Fire" and it's found primarily in certain regions of Plenimar.
The chapter ends with Seregil and Alec grinning - they've got some decent work at last!