“Just one question, and it’s an important one that Magus Dia will ask you,” Gregory said. “Do you believe Aether will be reborn? That’s what our clan believes in— that he will return and that we will be his guard.”
Clover let go of Jenn and faced Gregory, her usually happy face serious. “I wish Aether would come back. Maybe he would…” She trailed off, stopping herself from expressing things that shouldn’t be voiced in the empire.
Ling exhaled, glad that Clover had stopped. “I agree with Clover. We’ve talked about just that before, mostly because of you being in class with us. We looked into your clan and have found nothing that we disagree with.”
“If you can repeat that to Dia, it’s possible,” Gregory said. “Either way, learning with you here is a blessing. You for your focused intensity, Ling, and Clover for her uplifting spirit.”
Both women smiled at him before glancing at Yukiko and Jenn, then quickly away. “Thank you... all of you,” Ling said, echoed swiftly by Clover.
“You go to the archive when you study, right?” Yukiko asked.
“Yes. We’ll be there every day we’re off,” Clover replied.
“We’ll send word one way or the other.”
Both of the clanless apprentices bowed to them, again expressing their gratitude.
~*~*~
“They won’t be fighters, but an alchemist and an enchanter who are dedicated to the clan will be boons,” Yukiko said. “And Darkness thinks they will be loyal, or else she wouldn’t be helping them like she is.”
“That’s true,” Jenn agreed. “Clover will help raise our spirits, too.”
“She does do that,” Gregory chuckled, “even if she did let your army get slaughtered.”
“I don’t blame Clover for that. She did what she thought might let her hold the field until she could do more, but we both know that once you trapped her men in the mud, you would have turned on her the next round.”
“That was our plan.”
“I never thought you’d use carrier pigeons,” Jenn sighed. “When did you think that up, anyway?”
“A week ago,” Gregory said. “I was wondering if my father had made it home safely, and had been thinking about sending Gunnar and him letters after the tournament. It led me to think I should use them for short messages when on campaign.”
“What did Paul make you pay for upkeep?” Yukiko asked.
“Same as the other messengers,” Gregory snorted. “It was a little over my projected cost, but worth it, as it turned out.”
“Something for us to keep in mind for later,” Yukiko said with a grin. “What’s good for the gander is just as good for the goose.”
Gregory winced. “Other way around, dear. ‘What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.’”
“Normally, but you did it first, so I think my twist stands.”
“I approve,” Jenn laughed.
Reaching the archive, Gregory just shook his head. “Let’s greet our friends, get our studying in, then head home.”
Simon welcomed them as they entered. “Apprentices, it is good to see you. Did you need new reading material?”
“I was wondering if the second floor had anything on combining the spirit and mind paths,” Gregory said.
Simon’s lips pursed and he looked into the distance for a moment. “Maybe. I will have to look into it. If we do, I should have it by the time you get up to the second floor.”
“Thank you,” Gregory bowed.
“I had the same question, but about mind and body,” Jenn said.
“Ah, yes, that does make sense for you,” Simon smiled. “I, again, will have to check.”
“I’m fine with mine,” Yukiko said. “Thank you, though.”
“Very well,” Simon smiled. “May your study time be enlightening.”
They had barely started working on the Magi Squares blanks when Daciana was at the table. “Good morning,” she said, taking her seat beside Jenn. “How did the game go?”
“Gregory and Ling won,” Jenn said. “He used a tactic I hadn’t considered to gain the upper hand.”
“What was that?” Nessa asked, having heard the conversation as she approached.
Jenn took a minute to explain what Gregory and Ling had done while the novices listened intently. When she finished, she shrugged. “They deserved it.”
“Pigeons?” Nessa mused. “Interesting.”
“Falcons would be a problem,” Victoria said. “Any hunting bird actually, but if on campaign, falcons.”
“That was my thought,” Yukiko smiled at her. “If you’re going to use pigeons, you might want to bring falcons to hinder your foe, as well.”
“You’ve been looking into Empire’s Gambit?” Gregory asked.
“We’ve been reading a little about it around other topics,” Nessa said. “Considering it’s the major class next year, it seemed prudent to get started early.”
“It’s fascinating,” Daciana said. “I can’t wait to try it.”
“I’m not as enthusiastic, but I will give it my full attention,” Victoria said.
“Two weeks until the tournament!” Daciana said, completely shifting the topic to what had her excited.
“She’s nearly counting the hours,” Nessa giggled.
“Three hundred and forty-one,” Daciana said. Everyone blinked at her, and she grinned widely. “I knew she’d say that, so I counted on the way here.”
Muted laughter came from the table at her announcement.
Chapter Forty-seven
The chill, biting wind and sleet slowed Gregory’s reflexes, but he still kept up with Magus Vemril. Blocking, shifting, and riposting as he could, Gregory still had partial awareness through the rest of the fight.
The weather hampered the fire magi with Vemril, but the water and earth magi thrived. Small pockets of quicksand and mini water vortices hindered Jenn as she did her best to close and defeat them. Yukiko was happy for the cloud cover. They gave her a uniform shadow to work with, but she’d targeted the fire magi first, which had been the worst choice.
The other two stood, angled shoulder-to-shoulder, limiting her ability to get behind them in a safe place. Jenn, normally quick on her feet with her aether, was having to burn more than she wanted as the two magi focused their attacks on her feet and legs. The one time she’d almost reached them, a wave of mud suddenly wrapped around her knees and pinned her long enough for them to get distance again.
“You’re damned skilled with that blade,” Vemril told Gregory. “I was sad to hear we’d only be having a half-day today. Fighting you hones my edge.”
Gregory didn’t reply. He hopped to the left just a moment before an earthen hand tried to grab his leg. He used the butt of his naginata and broke it apart on reflex.
“Foresight is such a pain to deal with,” Vemril sighed, “though rumor has it that a spirit path user in meditation can give you fits. Sadly, I’m on the body path, so I can’t test that.”
Gregory stayed silent, partially because it didn’t do any good to banter while fighting, but also because his teeth would chatter if he tried.
Yukiko picked her time. She didn’t leap as she would have preferred, instead creating hands to grasp and pull at the magi focused on Jenn. As she did that, she leapt to Vemril’s rear, her blade held point-down to her left side.
Vemril had seen Yukiko vanish, so she kicked out at Gregory to give her time to swing around. The clack of wooden blade meeting wooden blade surprised Vemril, who hadn’t expected Yukiko to be blocking. That surprise doubled when she felt the hard impact to her upper back.
“Vemril, out,” Gin called calmly.
Vemril spun back to find Gregory moving to collect his naginata. “You threw it?”
“Yes,” Gregory said. “I knew it would work, after all.”
Vemril’s lips thinned, then she laughed. “You are a terror. Are you sure you want to stay with your clan? I could guarantee a highly profitable place with mine.”
�
�My place is with Aether’s Guard,” Gregory said with all sincerity, “but I thank you for the compliment. Excuse me, we have to slaughter your friends now.”
Vemril looked over to see the remaining magi doing their best to hold off Jenn. “They won’t last long now...” she sighed. “We’ll get one or two more fights in, at least, which will be nice.”
Gregory nodded before rushing toward the two remaining Hardened Fist magi, who blanched when they saw Vemril walking off the field.
~*~*~
During the next two fights, Gregory didn’t engage Vemril. Instead, they had Yukiko harass her for one, then Jenn face her for the second. Gregory went after the other magi— he didn’t use foresight on them, opting to use his aether sight. Blue threads swirled all over the arena as the three magi spun magic to attack him. They cursed his foresight every time he reached them without trouble. He knew it would have been much harder if they’d used everything they could, but limited to apprentice-tier magic, he had no trouble reaching and dispatching them, as none of the three were greatly skilled with their weapons.
“Well, that was something,” Vemril said, shaking hands with Gin. “I do hope we have another contract after the tournament.”
“We shall have to see, but we would be amenable to that,” Gin replied.
“Why the short day today?” Vemril asked. “I would have thought you would have wanted them run into the ground today.”
“Because other plans have been made. Ah, here they are now.”
Master Chen was leading a small group of the Iron Hand magi onto the arena floor with Magus Paul at the end of the group. Chen’s eyes were locked on Vemril as he crossed to where she was standing with Gin. “Armsmaster, are we still going to do as we agreed?”
“Indeed, it will be good for both of our clans. Master Chen, do you know Magus Vemril?”
“Yes,” Chen said flatly. “She killed a dear friend of mine two dozen years ago.”
“Master Chen,” Vemril said, bowing formally. “I will never apologize for killing people on the battlefield, but I took no happiness from killing Magus Austin, as I have told you once before.”
Chen’s lips thinned and he bobbed his head in acknowledgement. “Yes. The only reason I haven’t gone for your blood in return is the fact that it was during battle. In time, the wound may grow dull, but that day is not today.”
“I shall take my clan and leave,” Magus Vemril said formally. “The field is yours this day, Master.”
“We’ll be in touch,” Gin told her as she left.
“You had a deal with… them?” Chen’s voice tightened on the last word.
“I will use any means required to prepare my students,” Gin said evenly. “While they may bring disgrace to the empire, they have never once broken a contract.”
“That is the only reason they still exist,” Chen said stiffly before exhaling. “There will never be a day when my clan and hers are united, but I will put aside my anger. We agreed on this, and my apprentices can use the work. Pettit will spar with Klim after the matches?”
“He will. Gregory has been looking forward to it. He hopes to do better than winning a single match against her.”
“You are too informal with them,” Chen said, looking to where Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn were standing.
“Having them all named ‘Pettit’ causes problems unless we use given names,” Gin shrugged.
“That is a good reason to be informal in name, at least,” Chen agreed. “Since they are gone now, we can begin.”
“Apprentices,” Gin called out, “form up. You’ll be fighting using weapons only. If you are struck hard enough to cause damage with a real weapon, act accordingly. When you’re taken out, raise an arm and walk off the field. Magus Klim and Adept Laka are here to make sure you are okay and ready for the next match. Any questions?”
“No, sir,” came the reply from the eight people in front of him.
“Separate and get ready,” Gin said. “Master Chen and I will be adjudicating the matches. When it’s over, we’ll be having a display for you to watch.”
Gregory was curious, as Gin’s statement seemed to mean more than just him sparring with Klim. He put that aside and looked over their opponents, smiling at Farin. Farin ducked his head in acknowledgement.
“Bow to the audience,” Gin said, motioning to Dia, who sat with an umbrella keeping her dry from the sleet.
~*~*~
Gregory wheezed, flat on his back in the mud. Lost all of them again, but I almost had her twice, he thought.
“You’re improving rapidly,” Klim grinned, “but I’m still on top.”
Looking up at her as she looked down at him, Gregory grunted and sat up. “Almost had you with the bo and su yari, but today wasn’t the day.”
“I’ve been looking forward to the last weapon the most,” Klim said, extending a hand to him.
Grabbing her forearm, he let her help pull him up. “Funnily, so was I,” Gregory added. “I want to win one match between us, at least.”
“I believe my apprentices felt the same,” Klim said, letting him go, “but they didn’t manage it.”
“They gave us good fights,” Gregory said. “They’re very close-knit, except for Farin. Considering he just joined them, though, that makes sense.”
“He shows promise,” Klim said.
“Agreed.” He gave Indara a thankful nod as she took the su yari and handed him a naginata. “Thank you, Indara.”
“Fight well,” Indara replied with a smile.
“Last match,” Master Chen said, looking to the stands where the apprentices, Paul, and Dia were sitting. “Naginata. When this fight ends, Armsmaster Gin will fight me in a best-of-three with the katana.”
That got a lot of attention from those watching.
Gregory nodded, understanding Gin’s early wording.
“And after that, something truly special,” Chen said, glancing at Gregory. “Combatants, face the crowd and bow.”
The sleet had thankfully stopped, but it had gotten colder and the arena was a muddy sludge pit. Gregory felt warm enough, having been moving for most of it, but the muddy clothing was slowly sapping his warmth.
Gregory bowed as instructed to the audience, Chen, and finally, Klim. When Chen called them to fight, he did the unexpected— he rushed Klim. With the helmets on, he couldn’t see Klim’s eyes, but her surprise was obvious as her muscles locked up before she shifted onto the defensive.
The sharp sound of training weapons echoed in the cold air. Gregory pushed hard, wanting to finish the match so he could go change out of his wet clothing. Klim was holding up, if barely, under the onslaught until her left foot slid an inch. That was all Gregory needed to capitalize.
The end came quickly— he struck her off-balance knee with the end of his naginata. Both of their weapons met in the middle as Klim tried to regain her balance, but with a shove off from their momentary lock up and a hard sweeping strike, she fell.
Gregory backed up even before Gin could call the match.
“Klim, out!” Gin called. “Healer!”
Mindie came rushing out to check on Klim, who was laying on the muddy ground. Gregory peeled his helmet off and worried he might have hit her too hard. Mindie exhaled and began to heal her.
“She’s fine,” Mindie said. “Two ribs cracked.”
“I lost...” Klim sighed. “My footing betrayed me.”
“As it can in battle,” Chen told her before turning to the crowd. “Let this lesson sink in: no matter how skilled you might be, bad footing can cost you in a blink of an eye. Truthfully, Pettit was going to win regardless. He was positioning her so she wouldn’t be able to keep backing away, but there was no need when she gave him an inch.”
“Then he gave me more than an inch in return,” Klim muttered under her breath as she sat up with help from Mindie. Seeing Mindie’s cheeks go red, Klim snickered softly. “He has two wives. I doubt he’d give me those inches.”
Mindie spoke softly, “Tr
ue.”
“Thank you for the fight,” Gregory said, stepping over to offer her a hand up.
“I wish I had longer to test myself against you, but you finished me too fast,” Klim said, her eyes darting to Mindie, who was reddening more.
“Sorry, but frankly, I want out of these clothes,” Gregory said, not catching the underlying byplay between the women.
Mindie rose, turning away from them and walking quickly back to the tunnel under the arena. Klim was barely able to keep a straight face as she let Gregory help her up— he was watching Mindie, obviously not understanding.
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