Daciana gave him a tentative smile, her tail wagging slightly. “Okay.”
“Just look for us when you fight,” Yukiko said. “Oh, and we were told your parents will be there. They will probably be seated near us. They’ll likely have seats for you there, as well.”
Nessa beamed when she heard her parents would be there, but then looked worried. “Both of them? But who is going to run the bar?”
Gregory looked around before lowering his voice, “Hintle, one of Yuki’s parent’s guards. He used to do the job before he joined them. Your aunt is going to be in the kitchen. But when we said parents, that also includes Daciana’s.”
“Both of them?” Daciana asked, surprised.
“That’s what we believe, though it wasn’t said flatly,” Gregory corrected.
“I hope he behaves...” Daciana huffed.
“Let’s get started with our studying,” Yukiko said. “The fighting will come soon enough.”
~*~*~
Gregory was closing his book when Sarinia came to their table. “Apprentices, I hope your studying has been informative and enlightening.”
“It has been,” Yukiko smiled. “Thank you.”
“I just wanted to wish you all the best for your upcoming tournament. My time gets even shorter during the tournaments. I will be watching the most studious with eager eyes... all six of you.”
“We’ll do our best, as will they,” Jenn said.
“Of that, I have no doubts.”
“Our elder wanted us to wish you well for him. He said that he didn’t want to trouble you with his presence,” Gregory said.
Sarinia’s lips twitched. “Lightshield once caused more commotion in these walls than any other magi. I banned him from setting foot inside... maybe I should rescind that now. I think it might be time to mend that fence. Tell him that I am willing to speak with him in my office, if he wishes.”
“I will tell him, Chief,” Gregory said, bowing his head.
“I do not doubt he told you just for this to happen,” Sarinia said. “Good day to you all.” She gave them a bob of her head before leaving.
“I wonder what he did to earn the ban?” Jenn asked idly as they gathered their things.
“Good question, but I doubt we’ll ever know,” Yukiko said. “Let’s get going. We need to be back at the clan hall soon.”
“Have a good day,” Rafiq told them as they came toward the exit.
“Can you do me a favor, Rafiq?” Yukiko asked.
“That would depend,” Rafiq replied.
“Can you make sure that bets are placed on our friends to win every fight today, as long as they don’t fight each other?”
“Ah. Considering I’d already planned to do just that, yes.”
Yukiko put a pouch on his desk. “Thank you. Just split it in three and bet it on one each, then add the winnings to the next bet, please.”
“Going to stack your bets? Very well.”
“Me, too,” Jenn said, quickly adding her coin pouch to the desk.
“Me, three, but mine is much smaller in size,” Gregory said and set his coin pouch with theirs.
“Very well. I will have your money tomorrow,” Rafiq replied. “Did you want me to take any of it to bet on them to end up in the final eight to start with?”
“All of mine, instead of the other bets,” Gregory said. “A third on each.”
“Hmm... divide their stacks into half each. Half for today, and half for that,” Yukiko said.
“Do the same for me as Yuki,” Jenn said.
“Very well. This will be the most I can do for you, but I will make sure it is handled. Have a good day.”
They wished him a good day, then jogged back to the clan hall as the sixth bell chimed.
“There they are now,” Lightshield said. “Let us go.” He started walking as soon as he saw them. Dia, Bishop, Gin, Inda, and Indara followed him, and the three apprentices fell in at the end of the line.
The trek across the academy grounds was peaceful. Dawn was coming— the sky was only just starting to take on light, and the sun hadn’t quite risen yet. The gentle breeze held a bite of winter chill, but that was nothing compared to the misery of the previous sleet storm they had fought in.
“Elder,” Gregory said, moving up to speak with him, “the chief archivist said she would speak with you in her office later, if you wanted.”
“Thank you. I will do so,” Lightshield replied. “Today will be a good day.”
Gregory bowed his head and dropped back to walk with his wives, as they had to go single file over a couple of bridges.
“I hope they do well,” Yukiko said once he’d rejoined them. “I know they are well trained. They’re going to fight with everything they have, but that doesn’t always mean you win.”
“They’re better prepared than a majority of their peers,” Jenn said.
“They might have some tricky spots,” Gregory said. “They don’t have rings to help with fire or barriers, but Jenn didn’t either and she made it to the final eight.”
“It wasn’t pretty, but I did, and they’re better trained than I was,” Jenn nodded.
“We’ll find out soon,” Yukiko said.
~*~*~
Seventh bell came and went, and a handful of minutes later, others began to show up. The arena filled up steadily, and Inda only had to turn away one couple looking to take the seats they were saving for the families.
“Ah, here they are, just as the staff told us,” Hao said. “Elder, are we sitting there?” He motioned to the seats that Inda and Indara were bookending.
“Those seats are for the novice’s families,” Lightshield explained. “They will want to save the three seats between them for their children. Your seats are with your children.”
Gufta grinned at them and smiled broadly. Beside him was a woman of middle height and plain features. When Gufta pointed at them, she smiled and waved. Ramon and Vana followed them to the seats, giving them a smile and wave, as well.
“So many of them in this section of the stands,” a snide voice said, catching Gregory’s attention, “as if their children will be more than fodder.”
Yukiko caught Gregory’s hand and squeezed it, stopping him from turning around. “Ignore the idiots, dear one. Our friends will show them, just as we did.”
He gave her a wry smile. “It’s always harder for me to not react when it’s at someone I care for.”
“Care for? Hmm. Do I need to ask Dia about a larger room?” Yukiko asked with a smirk.
“You know what I meant,” Gregory said, rolling his eyes.
“Yes, but it is fun to poke at you a little.”
He shook his head, wearing a smile.
“Do you believe they will do well?” Hao asked as he took his seat beside Yukiko.
“I’ve already had bets placed on them,” Yukiko smiled. “For today, and for them to end up in the final eight.”
“I’ll have to keep an ear open for bets,” Hao said, touching his coin pouch.
“The guy two rows behind us should bite,” Gregory whispered to Hao. “He made a comment that Yukiko had to stop me from responding to.”
Hao’s eyes glittered. “Did he, indeed? Well then, maybe an abject lesson is in order...”
Chapter Fifty-eight
Daciana walked out of the tunnel, the first fight of the day. Gufta yelled her name out and rose to his feet. She looked back at him, waving with an embarrassed smile. Her eyes drifted to the side and she suddenly drew herself upright, giving the clan a nod. Turning back to face the arena proper, she walked toward the adjudicator, who was wearing a cyan-colored robe with a clenched fist emblem on the back.
“Why do they even bother?” the man from before asked behind Gregory. “It’s not like any of the breeds ever win enough fights to make it worthwhile.”
“Missed last year’s fights?” Hao asked, turning to look at the portly man.
“I was away on business, though I heard that someone almost repea
ted for the novices.”
“Very close. They lost in the finals,” Hao nodded. “I overheard you say you don’t believe the novice on the sands can win?”
“Against her opponent, I doubt she can,” the man laughed.
Hao looked back to see the other novice leave the far tunnel. The young man that came out was nearly as large as the magus adjudicating the match. “Hmm... Yes, he will probably make it difficult, but I’d still be willing to back the first novice.”
The man gave Hao a look that he clearly doubted his sanity.
“If the odds are good, I’d be willing to place a thousand vela on her,” Hao said.
A smile appeared on the portly man’s face. “I’ll give you five-to-one, then.”
“Not as sure about the other novice after all?” Hao asked with a snort.
“Eight-to-one,” the portly man said, giving Hao a smirk, “unless you’re going to retract your bold statement?”
“Agreed. Eight-to-one,” Hao smiled. “Armsmaster, did you hear the bet?”
Gin looked back and nodded. “I did, Warlin.”
“An armsmaster? Here?” the man asked in shock.
Gin turned around so he could look at the man. “I’m the physical instructor for Aether’s Guard.”
“Aether’s Guard? Didn’t they disband?”
“No. In fact, the winners of the last two tournaments are in the clan,” Gin said, “as well as a magi who placed second and third, respectively.” He motioned to the three of them sitting behind him.
“Hmm... I doubt they will be able to resurrect that clan by themselves. Just three of them might have a problem against some of the more robust clans.”
Hao grinned wider. “Would you care to wager on that?”
The portly man’s lips twisted. “And how would I find you to collect?”
“The same way I would,” Hao said. “The armsmaster will back and collect the wager. Surely you wouldn’t doubt him?”
“Fine, but it’ll be an even bet, since you want it so badly.”
“Even odds when they’ll have to win every fight?” Hao laughed, and others around them snickered. “Pardon me if I fail to see that as generous.”
“Fine. What odds would you call fair?”
“Ten-to-one, and I’ll go so far as to bet up to twenty thousand vela that they will win the apprentice tournament.”
“Done at twenty thousand,” the portly man laughed. “Ten-to-one odds are fair, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Your name, sir?” Gin asked.
“Dustin Carlisle, purveyor of fine meats. You might have heard of my company, ‘Carlisle Cuisine’?”
“I have,” Hao nodded. “I’m Hao Warlin of Warlin Mercantile.”
Carlisle’s lips pursed. “Warlin? Yes, I’ve heard of you.”
“And my daughter, Yukiko, is part of the group that you just bet against.”
“Ah, that explains your foolish bet,” Carlisle laughed.
“The fight is about to begin,” the woman next to Carlisle said primly.
That brought everyone’s attention back to the arena. The novices were bowing, and a murmur of excitement filled the air as the spectators waited to see the first fight of the tournament.
Gregory realized that he’d missed the normal announcement of the tournament, having been caught up in the drama with Carlisle. He exhaled and focused on Daciana. Come on, Daciana... show them all that you’re better than them.
The magus backed away after the novices bowed to each other, his hand going up. The few seconds it took the adjudicator to back up felt like an age to Gregory. When he finally stopped moving, his hand came down sharply and Daciana charged the other novice.
The bigger novice started to backpedal immediately, clearly afraid of Daciana, shocking the crowd that had been expecting the bigger novice to be the one charging. Daciana caught him quickly, and the man lashed out with a punch, but Daciana dodged. She grabbed the offered arm, latching onto it.
She pivoted into him, sweeping her leg behind him and catching his knee. When his balance broke, she jerked back the other way, tossing him over her hip. She never let go of him— instead, she twisted his arm and locked her legs around it. Daciana fell to the ground, pulling at the locked joint.
The man slapped the ground repeatedly and the adjudicator stepped forward, clearly speaking. Daciana let go of his arm and rolled to her feet, wearing a large grin on her face as she looked at the silent crowd.
Gufta was the first one to make significant noise, jumping to his feet and shouting, “That’s my girl!”
“Winner, Novice Lyall!” the adjudicator announced.
Cheers went up for Daciana while others laughed at Gufta’s proud father moment. Carlisle was glaring down at Daciana in disgust, and Hao turned to face the portly man.
“Yes, yes, I’ll pay you,” Carlisle said before Hao could speak.
“Actually,” Hao smiled, “I was going to give you a chance to win that back.”
Carlisle hesitated. “Go on...”
“She has two more fights, both in this arena, I believe. I’d be willing to go triple or nothing on each of the next fights.”
“Without knowing who her opponents will be?” Carlisle asked incredulously.
“Yes. If she loses either, you owe me nothing, but if she wins, it is triple the profit for each.”
Carlisle thought about it, then glanced back toward the arena where Daciana was grinning their way, and his nostrils flared. He had no idea that Daciana was grinning at her friends— all he saw was a cocky eurtik-blooded novice acting like she was the best.
“Done!” Carlisle hissed.
“Armsmaster?” Hao asked.
“I heard the bet,” Gin said simply.
“Excellent,” Hao smiled as he turned back to the front. “Today is turning out to be a wonderful day.”
“Do you know him?” Gregory asked softly.
“Him personally? No. His business? Yes. He can easily afford the loss. I’d try to get him to bet against Nessa, as well, but I’m not sure he’ll bite.”
“He might after her first fight,” Yukiko said.
Daciana came into the stands and gave them a grin before turning to her friends and exchanging congratulations. As she went to sit, Nessa stood up, giving her mother a smile before heading down.
“Figures they’d know each other,” Carlisle snorted. “Animals know they have to band together to survive.”
“You know, Carlisle,” Hao said with false cheer, “it dawns on me that my bet against you might net me nothing at all today.”
“It will net you nothing,” Carlisle laughed. “I don’t believe for an instant that the pup will win twice more.”
“That’s why a man of the world knows when to back the right horse,” Hao said, hiding how much he hated playing into the other man’s prejudice.
Carlisle laughed, “I see. You believe her equine friend can do the same?”
“If they don’t fight each other, I’d be willing to bet she can,” Hao said, hedging against the one thing that would kill both bets easily.
“A sweep?” Carlisle asked as he watched two novices enter the arena.
“Yes.”
“Odds?”
“Same as before?” Hao offered.
“Done and done,” Carlisle laughed. “Did you see that, dear?” he asked, turning to the woman beside him. She was easily twenty years his junior. “Easy money. This is why I love the tournaments.”
“Yes, I remember,” the woman said. “I just like to watch them beat each other. The last one wasn’t nearly bloody enough.” The sadistic smile on her face spoke volumes about her.
“You heard that one, as well?” Hao asked Gin.
“Indeed. You now have three active bets against each other.”
When the next fight started, Yukiko asked her father what he intended to do with the money when he won.
“Half will go to them. They’ll have earned it,” Hao told her. “Or did you have somet
hing else in mind?”
“If you took the winnings, which, at this point, will be substantial, and went to Hemet’s, you could get them items that would be better than what they have... but it’d be better if you gave the things to their parents to give to them. It separates the gifts a little more.”
Magi's Path Page 45
