Moral stand aethers revi.., p.43
Moral Stand (Aether's Revival Book 7), page 43
“Why did you do what you did?”
“It was the right thing to do. Sadly, they’ve adapted. I can’t manage what I was doing anymore.”
“They have the paperwork you used to justify your actions?”
“Yes…” Gregory grimaced. “If I try to stop them from capturing eurtiks now…” He trailed off with a shake of his head.
“I understand, as did my sister and Mother. The fact that you took your stand at all was risky. Have you faced the difficulties it would cause?”
Gregory snorted. “Three of my men died in an attack on us. It cost the Chainer family their two heads of house. You can tell her Phineas is dead.”
“Theramona will be very pleased to hear that. I am, too, as it means I will not have to risk it myself. That was my secondary reason for coming.”
“There’s a grandmaster in the town for now. The magi in both towns are being chastised for their actions. Not because they did wrong, but because they were caught.”
“As is the way of your empire,” Lavis said a little tightly. “Very few of your magi have ever been honorable.”
“I want to refute that, but I can’t. My clan is different, and some of my friends outside the clan are, too. Overall, though, I can’t fault your words.”
“Hmm… Mother asked me to convey her thanks. The Stalkingclaw clan is in your debt, Pettit. If we can ever repay it, we will. Not just for my sister being freed, but for your intervention this year. It is not a small debt for either, and if I’m being honest, I value my sister higher than all the rest.”
“Family,” Gregory said softly. “I would, too, if I had siblings. I know I would if it were my wives.”
“Everyone in the kingdom has been told that if a magi of Aether’s Guard called Pettit comes to us, he should be escorted to the Stalkingclaw clan. The outer towns might not help, but any of the bigger ones farther north will. The elven city has also agreed to send you to us if you come in need.”
Gregory bowed from his seat. “I hope to never have need, unless it’s to finally bring a treaty of non-aggression to you.”
Lavis snorted. “Your emperor would never sign such.”
“True,” Gregory agreed, “but one day, he might be forced to recognize a greater authority.”
Lavis’ eyes narrowed slightly. “Interesting. I had a question: Theramona said you had a crocodilian with you, from the academy’s archive. May I speak with him privately for a few minutes?”
“I couldn’t stop you if you were determined,” Gregory chuckled. “Let me go ask him.”
“Thank you.”
Gregory rose to his feet smoothly before leaving Lavis in his room. Rafiq was sitting in the main room, and he gave Gregory a small nod.
“I felt another with aether, but you didn’t call out, nor do they feel threatening, so I waited,” Rafiq said.
“Theramona’s brother, Lavis. He wants to speak to you alone.”
Rafiq rose to his feet. “I will be safe. He probably wants to inquire about their family.”
“Sarinia?”
“I cannot say,” Rafiq said softly.
“Of course. I’ll be outside. I still have to meditate, so take your time.”
Rafiq bowed to him. “Thank you, Greg.”
“Anything for a friend,” Gregory said, clapping him on the shoulder before passing Rafiq on the way out. Stepping out of his tent, he took a seat at the table he used for breakfast.
Before he could slip into meditation, Dot saw him. “Greg? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just a change up this morning.”
“If you have a moment, sir,” Barny said, slowing down before he passed the table, “I had a thought the other day.”
“Have a seat.”
“I need to get started on breakfast, so can we talk over there?” Barny asked.
“Sure,” Gregory said, getting up.
Barny grabbed the things he needed to prepare breakfast. “Thank you, Greg. I was thinking about foods and the time to make them. Would you be okay with keeping a couple of prepared meals in your ring for the men?”
Gregory paused, then nodded slowly. “I can see where it would be a great idea, like if we marched long during a day or if anything else delays normal camp time. I’d need to pick up extra serving dishes, first.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, sir,” Barny grinned. “This would let me take our days off to prepare some bigger meals that can be stored until needed, both breakfasts and dinners.”
“Hmm… true. There would be times that’d be very useful. It’d also let you take a day off in town with Polka.”
“Uh… yes, it would,” Barny admitted. “That was a secondary consideration.”
Gregory chuckled when he saw Barny redden. “It’s fine. Remind me when we get to Coldwood. I’ll pick up an assortment of serving dishes.”
“Thank you, Greg,” Barny said softly. “I didn’t want to bring it up, but Polka said I should.”
“And I was right,” Polka said, stepping into the kitchen tent.
“I find the women in our lives normally are,” Gregory chuckled. “I’ll be meditating at my table until a little after fourth bell.”
“Yes, sir,” Dot said. “I’ll make sure to let you know if you run long.”
“Thank you, Dot,” Gregory said. He’d never had trouble stopping meditation, but she was earnest, and he didn’t want to quash her helpfulness.
Chapter Sixty-two
Gregory rolled over in bed to face the dark corner. “I was wondering how long it was going to be before seeing you again, my dark heart.”
“It was terrible to wait these last twelve weeks, dear one, but this will have you hitting your magus rank in Krogga. There are a few reasons for it. One of them is because I have been working on your soon-to-be wives and Mindie matching your rank.”
“Making us all equal,” Gregory said softly, a smile on his lips.
“Exactly. Your younger friends and Claudia will match you in rank when they marry you. I am being very careful about withholding some of their growth so I can increase them at key moments.”
“Like you did for me?”
“Yes, because they all love you as much as I do.”
“I trust you to do what we need, Darkness.”
“Thank you, my heart,” Darkness sniffled. “Please do not strain for me today. I cannot take it again.”
Gregory felt a pang of sadness that she was asking him to not try. “If that’s what you need.”
“I… it hurts… stopping you. I do not want to stop you. I want to grab you, pull you to me. I want your arms around me and your lips on mine. I want all of it.”
Gregory swallowed, her emotions raw. “I didn’t know… I’m sorry, my heart.”
“No. You have to grab me, make me yours. Never be sorry for wanting to make me yours. It is just that this last year has been painful to have to keep you back.”
Gregory sat there, staring at her dark silhouette in the corner. “Magus-tier means I can at least kiss your hand, right?”
“Aether, yes.”
Gregory laughed at her phrasing. Darkness giggled softly, as she hadn’t meant it that way, but knew why he’d found it humorous.
“I might be able to even take a kiss on my cheek,” Darkness said after a moment. “It will be your master tier before we can be… intimate with each other.”
“Which will be longer than a year after magus, won’t it?”
“Yes, dearest. I will see you hit master as you leave Krogga. That will put you in the same growth rate as Lighthand and most other older dual-path magi. We can pass it off as the bane jerky and additives, as you have been very consistent in continuing those. Most fall off that and their training when they leave the academy behind.”
“Again, my dearest shadow, I trust you to manage it for us.”
“That makes my core warm so much, my heart. I did have a few updates from the others for you. Jenn has faced six incursions. She lost two men in total over the course of the year. It would have been more if not for the armor from Buldoun and the medicinal aids Mindie sent along. She only took small injuries; a few scars dot her face and hands, but nothing major.”
Gregory exhaled, as he’d tensed up when Darkness had mentioned the number of border raids Jenn had faced. Scars happened in battle; he even had one on the back of his calf from the arrow that’d gotten him earlier in the year.
“Yuki has been fine in Alturis. She ran into a shadow-empowered bane bear last month. Between her and her men, she got it put down, though one of her men was critically injured. With the medicinal aids, he pulled through without too much trouble.”
“Good.”
“Dia has moved over to the orphanage to hold it until your younger friends finish their adept postings. Baylyss is still alive, but she is fading faster. She did not pass before Clover, Ling, and Roshana left, but she will soon.”
Gregory felt a pang in his heart. Dia was like a mother and Baylyss had been a kindly grandmother to the children he cared for. Knowing of the pain and loss that was happening with them, he choked up.
“She was a good woman, and you helped her have happiness before she passed, dear one,” Darkness said softly.
Gregory wiped at the few tears that escaped, unable to speak.
“Dia accepted Willof’s entreaty to court when he eventually returns to the academy. He will also be replacing Gin as arms instructor for Aether’s Guard. Gin accepted the clan’s offer to move to Tivano and take over as the magi guard trainer there.”
“Good. I’m glad for all of them,” Gregory said roughly, trying to regain his emotional stability.
“Your younger friends are already marching to their postings. All of them promise to update you through me as often as they can. Nessa is off to the Buldoun border, near Anders. She will not encounter anything major. Daciana was sent southwest to the Kroggian border; while she will face raids across the border, she will do fine. Vicky goes to the port post of Coveton, where she will be assisting the city magi in keeping an eye on imports and exports.”
“As long as they’re all fine for the year.”
“They will survive, but Vicky will have the hardest time with her corrupt magus. Much like you, she will pick her ground and hold to it. She will survive, but she will anger the clan the magus is part of.”
“What clan?”
“Yamato Shipping. They get angry because their magus is caught breaking laws. Publicly, they will thank her, but they will join others in pushing against Aether’s Guard in secret.”
“Politics…” Gregory sighed. “Yuki will handle that better than I ever will.”
“Yes, her and others,” Darkness snickered. “Four of them are on their way to Krogga already and will arrive roughly around the same time. Yuki and Jenn will be relieved of duty today and sent on their way. In a week, you will finally be relieved of duty, as well.”
“We’ll be stopping in Coldwood and waiting for them to arrive,” Gregory said with a rough exhale. “I’ll be glad to put this post behind me.”
“Your replacement could be convinced to hold the line you took. Kyle Walun of Swift Wind is kind-hearted. He has a soft spot for those who are oppressed, like you.”
“The one who liked Daciana?”
“Yes. He was crushed by that rejection, but unlike many others who feel that pain, he accepted it. Daciana told him you were here, and he hopes to get some advice from you.”
“Gladly. I had hoped he’d be a good guy.”
“That is everything I have for you, dear heart.”
“I want to fling myself at you…” Gregory said softly as he stood up. “Since you asked me not to, I won’t, but I’ll still show you my love.” He bowed at the waist to her in the Buldoun fashion, then stood up to blow her a kiss. “I will dream of only you tonight, my dark heart. When we meet again, I will gaze on you in wonder and kiss your fingers.”
“I love you so much…” Darkness hiccupped, tears flowing down her face. “Please… accept me when you see me.”
Gregory frowned slightly, as the fear in those last few words cut into his heart. “Of course, I will. You could never be unloved. Why would you think we wouldn’t love you?”
Darkness cried as the room shook around her. “Because… you will see…!”
Gregory took a step toward her, wanting to comfort her. “Darkness, I—!”
He was gone before he could continue as she pushed him out of the space, unable to resist flinging herself at him to be comforted. Crying, she wrapped her arms around herself. Her deep fear of being unwanted when he saw her filled her with dread. All of them pulling back from her, in fear, revulsion, and disgust was the only thing she could see in her mind.
“No… please, no…!” Darkness cried.
Just before the room vanished, she stiffened when she felt Gregory’s thoughts. His deep care and concern for her pushed back the fear enough that she could master it again. Taking a deep, calming breath, she loosened her tight grip on herself.
“Please, dearest… please…” She whispered, then vanished with the room.
Gregory jerked upright in bed. He exhaled roughly, remembering how Darkness had felt. “My darkest love, you will never be unloved. My word on my aether, my life, and my love; I will never not love you, Darkness. Please hold to my words…” Sitting there as the third bell rang in the distance, he could only keep thinking that, hoping what he was saying would reach her.
Chapter Sixty-three
Arriving at the gates of Coldwood as the evening sun touched the horizon, Gregory gave the gate sergeant a nod. “Patrol completed. Any slavers?”
“We had one group come in with seven. The new magus came down to brand them, but made them turn one of the eurtik loose and fined them for going over their allotted number.”
“New magus? Is Grandmaster Case gone?”
“He left yesterday, sir. Magus Jenga is the new town magus, he’s with the Swift Wind clan, sir. He asked that you come to see him as soon as you arrived.”
Gregory smiled at the name— he remembered Jenga, and while their few interactions hadn’t been all positive, he thought they’d left on a good note. “Message received, Sergeant.”
“I’ll get the men settled, sir,” Davis said.
“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Gregory turned back to the sergeant. “Sergeant, thank you for your hard work this year. I don’t know who’s replacing me, but maybe they’ll give you less grief.”
The sergeant’s lips twitched, but he kept the smile off his face. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry you had troubles. Things look to be improving since the debacle they caused.”
“They do, indeed. Good day, Sergeant.”
“Good day, sir.”
The pair saluted each other before Gregory rode off toward the magus’ manor. He had known who the magus was because of his foresight that morning, but it was easiest to act clueless to the sergeant. He and Jenga had parted on decent terms, but he was still unsure why he’d been the one sent. Maybe it was to help Walun? That was the only reason Gregory could come up with. Jenga had only been a magus for a year, so to suddenly move him to this posting was unusual.
The ride to the manor was pleasant enough, the summer weather was warm, but not blistering. Legacy’s tail swished at some flies as Gregory tied him to the post out front. Patting the gelding’s neck, Gregory murmured soft words for a moment before heading to the front door.
Bowing, the butler ushered Gregory inside. Once he’d gotten him settled in the study, the butler left, but the maid was quick to pour tea for him. Gregory thanked her as he accepted the cup; she gave him a small smile before retreating to her station by the door.
Probably glad to be rid of Grandmaster Case, Gregory mused.
A couple of minutes later, Magus Jenga entered the room. His cyan kimono bore the Swift Wind icon. He gave Gregory a smile as he approached. “Pettit, I’ve heard a lot about your year.”
Gregory set his cup aside, standing to meet Jenga. “Magus, I’m sure you have questions.”
“To put it mildly,” Jenga snorted. “Pour, then have the cook prepare dinner for two,” he addressed the maid. Once she was gone, Jenga relaxed further. “Now, why don’t you tell me what happened up here?”
“Did you have my reports?”
“I’ve read them, but I also had to listen to Grandmaster Case deride them. One of my clan’s adepts is coming to take your posting, and I’m to make sure his year goes as smoothly as possible.”
