Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

The last couple of days marching to Coldwood were calm. The men put in even more effort during evening sparring and morning Peaceful Fist— Gregory’s display of fighting the bane bear had inspired them to do more.

Gregory smiled when they finally reached Coldwood, as the gate sergeant replayed an almost identical copy of the summons he’d gotten in Icelake. Gregory thanked the sergeant, but again decided to go the following day, as it was nearing evening.

~*~*~ 

Breakfast was delicious, with small omelets and bacon. Barny put in as much effort as he could on their days off, having the time and space to really go all out. The entire unit loved it, and it made the days off between patrols feel even more special. Gregory and Rafiq finished the last of the baked bane bear heart— it’d been potent enough to take three days to consume.

Saying goodbye to Davis, Gregory set out to get errands done before he went to see Magus Artok. His first stop was the bank; he’d given his own vela to pay the men before he left, so he’d use their normal paychecks to pay himself back. The bank in Coldwood was identical to the one in Icelake, used only for the guards and traders who needed to move large amounts of money.

The bank manager, Brenton Linok, was happy to personally assist Gregory with his monthly pay chest. Tea was served as the assistant, a buxom bovine eurtik, went to get the vela. Gregory managed to keep a smile on his face, though very fake, even when Linok slapped the woman’s rear with a leer.

“How have your patrols been, Magi?”

“Mostly quiet. Just a few bane beast attacks, is all.”

“Ah, yes. I’m sure the cost to help your men stay in shape is starting to put some strain on your pay chest.”

Gregory shrugged, not verbally answering Linok, who appeared to be angling toward something.

“I’ve helped other magi in the past who’ve had similar difficulties if you’re willing to be flexible on some topics.”

Gregory took a sip of tea. “Flexible in what ways?”

“Well, you’re supposed to take any slaves you capture to the market for fair sell.”

“That is the law, yes.”

“But if you captured any slaves— ones like my assistant, for instance— I’m sure we could come to an arrangement.”

“Just her type?”

“Oh, no. Anything that has sensuality would be good. She just has the massive chest to get my interest, but if you had a panther, that would work. I’ve seen those sleek ones, but have yet to acquire something similar for myself.”

Gregory managed to keep polite interest on his face, but the internal struggle was intense. “I see… I’m not sure I’ll be bringing any slaves in, but I’ll keep it in mind. The kind you’re asking for would sell for a nice amount.”

“True, true, but then you’d have to wait for the auctions. I’d pay cash in hand upon delivery. I’ll even make sure to cover the bribes for the guards. This way, it’s pure profit for you.”

“That’s an interesting offer,” Gregory said. “I’ll make sure to keep it firmly in mind.”

“Good,” Linok chuckled. “Ah, and here’s my assistant now.”

The slave brought the chest over, kneeling beside Gregory to open it. She wore a thick collar around her neck, clearly a symbol by the manager, as the mark on her chest was visible with her position. Gregory pulled the bags of vela from the chest, absorbing them into his ring with only a glance at the eurtik, mentally lamenting her fate.

Standing up once he had the money, Gregory inclined his head to the manager. “I’m sure we’ll have more to talk about in the future.”

“Excellent. Let me show you out.”

Leaving the bank behind, Gregory was busy formulating the best way to entrap Linok. Yuki would suggest enacting a fake sale to have firm evidence he’s attempting to bribe a magi. That might be the easiest and best route. I should hold off until I start coming down on the slavers… let the first crackdown happen, and Linok might see it as me clearing the competition out. I’ll have to entrap him before the third, or he won’t bite. It’ll be too obvious by then that I uphold the laws. Commander Roberts will be happy to help me, I’m sure, he thought as he walked toward Cleaned Cuts.

~*~*~

The butcher, Blasot Cutter, wasn’t as good as Frenton Block in Icelake, but he was the best Coldwood had.

“Welcome back, Magi,” Blasot said. The owner smiled widely as he put a couple of chests onto the counter. “I have all the meat ready for you. Magus Artok was happy about the gift, but almost demanded that I sell him more.”

“I’m heading to see him next,” Gregory said, opening the chests and pushing the smoked fowl into his ring. “You can keep the chests. I don’t need them.”

Blasot looked into the now-empty chests with a smile. “Gladly, Magi. I wasn’t sure your spatial item could hold them. I know you used it to deliver them, but you might’ve filled it with other things since then.”

“It was an admirable thought, but you can repurpose them.”

“I did want to thank you for your advice on how to prepare bane meat. I’m sure that my business will become even more popular in the future.”

“We should head into the back. I have more for you to work on,” Gregory chuckled.

“Oh, of course. Was it wolves? They’re the commonest of the bane beast we see.”

“It wasn’t,” Gregory said as he led the way into the back room. “It was this, instead.” He summoned the bane bear from his ring, letting it land on the prep station Blasot had.

“A bane bear…?!” Blasot whispered. “Didn’t expect to see another one so soon. If you want the meat to be as good as it can be, I’ll have to use the core on it.”

Gregory pulled out two normal bane cores. “Use these, instead. I’ve already claimed its core and heart.”

“Ah. Yes, sir, Magi. It’ll take me a couple of weeks to prepare all of it.”

“I’m sure. Set aside a tenth of what it produces and have it delivered to Artok, with my compliments.”

“Gladly, Magi,” Blasot agreed.

“I’ll let him know, so he’ll be expecting it.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll see you in two weeks.” Gregory smiled before he left the shop behind.

Blasot watched Gregory go, then wiped his forehead. “I wonder how many of his men died fighting you…?” he murmured before he turned back to the bear.

~*~*~

Gregory took the offered tea with a smile. Sitting back, he sipped from his cup while he waited for Magus Artok. It wasn’t too long a wait before Artok entered the study.

“Adept Pettit, I’m so glad you could visit.”

“The sergeant told me that you required my presence, Magus.”

“Required? He must’ve misunderstood my phrasing. I just wanted to make sure you knew I wanted to talk.”

“I’m glad. I’d been trying to think of what I might’ve done to be summoned.”

Artok laughed as he waved his maid over to make him a cup of tea. “Goodness, no. I just wanted to thank you for your gift of jerky. The butcher informed me that it was from the flock of bane vultures you killed last patrol.”

“Yes. It wasn’t a big flock, but flying enemies can be quite bothersome.”

“Indeed,” Artok smiled, taking the offered cup. “When I went back to inquire about more, he didn’t have any for sale.”

“I can easily remedy that, Magus. I paid for all of the meat to be treated. Besides the portion I had set aside for you, I have the rest of it.”

“I wouldn’t turn down another gift,” Artok smirked over the rim of his cup.

“If your maid can bring me a container for it, I’d be happy to pass some more off to you. It never hurts to have friends.”

“Indeed…” Artok murmured. He drank from his cup, but motioned his maid to go. “How have your patrols been, Adept? I don’t recall hearing about any of your men being wounded by the vultures. I know your reports normally go to the commander, but I was curious.”

“We didn’t suffer any major injuries; my men all carry crossbows. I knew that we might face bane fowl, so we came prepared for it.”

“I can’t think of the last adept who thought that far ahead. You are a true exception, Pettit. I have reports of how far Aether’s Guard has risen back into the ranks of the clans. All of it seems to have started with you.”

“I believe my wife, Yukiko, has more to do with that than me. She has a keen mind. Most of what I know I learned from her. I’m from the fringe; without her help, I likely wouldn’t have risen far at all.”

“Hmm… She must love you a great deal.”

“A love to last the ages,” Gregory said with all honesty, letting his full feelings be visible. “Without her, my life would not be nearly as rich as it is today.”

“You do know that many magi pairings have a tendency to fall apart when one advances far past the other, right?”

“I’ve heard that, but Yukiko and I have been growing at the same pace since the academy. We both train exactly the same way and have taken great pains to match our supplements to try to stay even.”

“Dedication. How unusual. You wouldn’t be willing to visit the Golden Collar, then?”

“I’m not one to give in to vice,” Gregory said, “but if you wanted me to accompany you, Magus, I would do so.”

Artok’s lips twitched. “I wouldn’t foot the bill for you, Adept. I heard from Adept… I mean Magus Grabil how much you cost him. He was quite vexed. I’m sure your report of the conditions he left the camps in has exacerbated that since he departed.”

“He should’ve taken better care of the patrol, sir. As for the cost of the Golden Collar,” Gregory chuckled, “he did tell me to enjoy myself.”

Artok laughed, setting his cup aside. “I’m sure you did just that. I’m going over to the Golden Collar tomorrow to conduct my annual review. They normally make sure I and any assistant are compensated for our diligence. I could use another set of eyes and ears to conduct the review.”

“I would be glad to accompany and assist, Magus. One must expand one’s knowledge to grow.”

“Quite,” Artok said, a little surprised. “I didn’t think you were a fellow mind path follower.”

“I’m not. I follow the Peaceful Fist as all my clan does, but I still try to learn. It might not help my aether, but learning is always worthwhile.”

“That is admirable.”

The maid hurried back in with a small chest. Setting it next to Gregory, she bowed before stepping back. Gregory opened it and held his hand over the empty box to summon the jerky. When the chest was filled, Gregory sat back with a smile.

“That’s a decent ring you have, Adept.”

“Thank you. It was a gift from my clan. It gives me room for more personal items now.”

“I’ll see you at the Golden Collar at ninth bell.”

“Of course,” Gregory said, standing up to bow. “I’ll be there at the appointed hour, sir.”

“Good,” Artok said, waving a hand in dismissal.

Gregory was led out by the butler. He had to hope that the panther eurtik, Thera, was available tomorrow. That would be the easiest way to maintain his ruse of using the premises while not doing so.

Putting tomorrow off for later, he headed for the commander’s office— he had a report about the bane bear to deliver. He knew it would also be a good idea to let Roberts know about the banker. That’d make setting the trap later easier.