Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

A few more weeks of patrols went by, staying completely routine outside of a bane bat attack one morning. Gregory had warned his men about them, so everyone had their crossbows ready nearby as breakfast ended. When the swarm came in, looking for easy prey, they found a volley of bolts. That single volley broke the swarm, the remnants fleeing before anyone could reload.

The bats were near chest-sized with massive wing spans. A few had their wings shredded, leaving them on the ground, ready to kill. The range of their naginatas once again ended the threat with no injuries. Rafiq suggested that they just remove the hearts and cores, leaving the carcasses to the wilds, as there wasn’t enough useful meat to matter on the thin-boned beasts. That did mean putting off Peaceful Fist for that morning, but they still got moving on time.

Barny was more than happy to cook the hearts with powdered core at Rafiq’s direction, giving them a little over ten infused hearts to supplement their jerky. He then began asking Rafiq how he could improve the magi’s food in the future.

Magus Artok had been quiet, not summoning Gregory since the incident at the Golden Collar… until they arrived back in Coldwood the day before. That left Gregory with only that meeting to attend to during their days off.

~*~*~

The day was going to be eventful— Gregory said his goodbyes after breakfast. He hadn’t told Davis about what was going to happen, as that future became even more chaotic if he did. Instead, he’d take the reprimand from Davis that evening without complaint, then explain.

On the way to Artok’s, Gregory stopped in at Golden Crusts. He’d come to enjoy the food from the baker, as had the entire unit. The shop was busy in the morning hours with people picking up meat pies and pastries on their way to work.

Gregory just got in line with the others. The first few times, it’d caused some commotion, but the regulars were used to him acting the way he did. The others who were shocked to see a magi calmly waiting were told in whispers by the regulars that it would be fine.

Erik Moda, the owner, gave Gregory a smile when he stepped up to the counter. “Magi, it is a blessing to have you in my humble shop again. Your usual order?”

“Yes, but I’d like to get a couple of scones, as well. I’m having tea with Magus Artok after this and thought that I’d bring something with me this time. Perhaps I can convince him that your scones are superior to his?”

The baker laughed, smiling broadly. “I’ll make sure to add my four best to the order, Magi. No extra charge. The chance of securing more business is worth it.”

“If you insist,” Gregory grinned back.

One of the people who’d never witnessed Gregory interact before stood there, slack-jawed. He was laughing and acting like a person instead of a magi. Moreover, he thanked the baker, paid for his goods, and then left like it was nothing.

Erik laughed, waving the man forward. “He’s an odd one, but always pleasant to me. What can I get you, sir?”

With his baked goods secured in his ring, Gregory walked toward Artok’s manor. His demeanor was casual, as if he had no worries in the world, yet his eyes picked up the features he recognized from his foresight vision that morning. Three buildings down from here… that’s where he’ll pop up to take his shot, he thought as he walked on. As soon as my back is to him, I’ll pull up foresight so I can time it perfectly.

The moment Gregory walked past the point he’d picked out, a man stood up on a roof, his bow drawn to fire down at the magi. He’d assassinated magi in similar attacks over the last decade. No magi ran barriers all the time, and killing them on the street was the easiest way. A smirk came to him just as he released his arrow, but that smirk froze when Gregory sidestepped without looking back. That was impossible, so he quickly drew and let fly again, but Gregory once again sidestepped at just the right time. Panic setting in, the assassin ran for the rope he’d tied off on the far side of the building as his getaway.

When the second arrow shattered on the street, Gregory took off running. The people nearby were shocked and fearful when they realized someone had tried to assassinate a magi— it would mean the magus in town would be looking for someone to blame, and it could land on anyone there. Everyone bolted to get as far away from the scene of the attack as possible.

Gregory knew where the assassin would come down, as they’d found the rope later in his first vision. Putting his aether into his legs, he ran faster than anyone not aether-touched could ever hope to. The man let go of the rope, turning to run, only to see Gregory in the alleyway, streaking toward him. Knowing he couldn’t get away, the assassin pulled his bow and loosed an arrow one last time before freeing his daggers.

Gregory again slipped to the side at the same moment the bowstring was released. The arrow sailed past him by inches, and the distance between him and the assassin was closing rapidly. He didn’t summon a weapon— he wanted to take the man alive, and in every future that Gregory used a weapon, the assassin let himself be killed rather than captured.

Hissing, the assassin leapt at Gregory, as the magi hadn’t manifested a weapon. What he didn’t expect was for him to return that lunge. The knives skittered off a conjured barrier before it plowed into the assassin as Gregory slammed them both into a wall. Eyes rolling up, he nearly passed out. By the time he started to try getting up, Gregory had his arms around the man’s neck.

“No dying! I want answers!” Gregory said tightly as he choked him. “You’ll pay for the attempt afterward.”

The chokehold was correct, so the assassin never even got the chance to reply before slumping unconscious in Gregory’s arms. Holding it a couple of seconds longer, Gregory slowly lowered him to the ground. He summoned the manacles from his ring, securing the assassin just as a guard came rushing around the building.

“Magi…! Is he dead, sir?” the guard panted.

“Unconscious,” Gregory replied. “Let the others know the threat is over, and then take this one to Commander Roberts. I’ll want to ask him questions after my meeting with Magus Artok.”

“Yes, sir.” The guard quickly blew a tune on his whistle, declaring it safe. “I’ll make sure he’s secured in the cells, Magi.”

“Thank you,” Gregory said as he fixed his kimono. “I’ll be along as quickly as I can.”

The guard shook his head at how calm Gregory was after a supposed assassination attempt. Reaching the assassin, he made sure the weapons were removed from his person, then collected the knives and bow from the ground. When another guard came trotting up to help, he sighed in relief.

~*~*~

Gregory declined any tea, but did ask the maid to bring a plate for the scones he’d purchased. It wasn’t a long wait before Artok arrived.

“Adept, I am glad you could make it,” Artok greeted him. “Not having tea?”

“I was waiting for you, Magus; I brought scones from Golden Crust. The baker there is skilled, and I wanted to share some of what I’ve enjoyed.”

“Ah, that is very thoughtful.” Taking his seat, he motioned to his maid to pour for them. “Tea and scones do sound delightful this morning.”

“I agree, sir. Is there a problem, Magus? I was surprised to find a summons waiting for me at the gates.”

“Problem? Not at all. Oh, Chainer is still upset with you, but your little stunt has given me the leverage I’ve been looking for. I heard that you were formally barred from their family businesses.”

“I’m not overly upset at that,” Gregory said, accepting the cup from the maid. “Magus Smitton was less than happy that I couldn’t assist her in a similar manner, though.”

“That’s just icing on the sweet roll,” Artok laughed. “She’s always been a frigid bitch. I tried to welcome her to the north for years, and she rebuffed my every attempt. It makes me happy that she had to get her hands dirty. Perhaps she even chipped a nail.”

“I had no idea,” Gregory said.

Artok set the tea in front of them, reaching over to pick up a scone. “No one else does. Now, the reason I’ve asked you to attend me today is not bad. I’ve made sure to secure yuzu fruit for the solstice this year. It is costly to import it up here, but traditions are there for a reason. If you are in Coldwood for the solstice, I would invite you to join me in the celebration.”

“You are too kind, Magus,” Gregory said as he selected a scone of his own, “but that does place me in a delicate position. Magus Smitton already offered for me to spend the solstice with her.”

Artok’s lips compressed. “Did she? Hmm… I see. You should apologize to her for not being able to attend. Your rotation will put you in Coldwood before the solstice, and that week is a week off for you and your men.”

“I see. You are correct that would put me in Coldwood before the solstice. I’ll need to inform my officers about their week off so they can plan for it.”

“This is quite good,” Artok said after sampling the scone. “That should leave you open to enjoy the solstice here.”

“I would be glad to as long as nothing changes in the schedule, Magus.”

“What are you doing with the slave you purchased?” Artok asked after a minute of enjoying the tea and scone.

“She helps serve the men,” Gregory said, trying the same line with him that he’d used with Justina. “Morale has never been higher.”

Artok snorted, his lips twisting up at the corners. “You aren’t the first to use that tactic. I guess it would stop your men from finding trouble in less savory places.”

“They haven’t seemed interested in finding those places.”

“Pity. You wouldn’t be willing to sell her, then, would you?”

“I’d have to decline,” Gregory said, wondering why both magi had asked to buy Thera. “Magus Smitton asked to buy her, as well.”

“No doubt Chainer’s brother wanted to acquire her for the Silver Collar,” Artok snorted. “The slave you purchased was one of his best, skilled in many forms of entertainment besides the one most would think of as her primary purpose. Chainer did let it slip that she was the most skilled masseuse he’d had on staff; that was my interest.”

“I had no idea,” Gregory said. “Maybe I’ll have her work my back later. Capturing the assassin made me work harder than I had thought I would.”

“Yes, tha—!” Artok began before he cut the sentence off. Setting down the remains of the scone and his tea, he stared at Gregory. “Assassin?”

“A man tried a couple of times to shoot me with an arrow from a rooftop. He’s in custody with the commander by now. I’m going to head over there to question him.”

Artok’s brow furrowed. “Adept, this is not for you. As town magus, I will go and speak with him.”

Gregory kept his smile in place; he’d known this would happen. He didn’t know the result of it, as he hadn’t been updated by the end of the day. If he pushed, he knew Artok would become less friendly, so Gregory acquiesced to the magus. “As you say, Magus.”

“Good. I’ll head over there now. We cannot tolerate assassins.”

Gregory stood when Artok did. “I look forward to hearing what you find out, Magus.”

“Yes. Whoever hired him will be having a terribly short life once I find out.” He turned to his maid. “Show him out.”

The maid bowed low, then opened the door. Gregory bowed to Artok before following the maid out of the manor.

~*~*~

When Gregory got back to the barracks, he stopped by Davis’ room. “Davis, we need to talk.”

Davis stood up as Gregory entered. “Sir? Is something wrong?”

“Not you, nor the men. I did something that you’ll be unhappy with.”

The pair took seats, Davis puzzled at Gregory’s demeanor. “What did you do, sir?”

“I kept back information from you this morning. I was attacked on my way to the magus’ residence.”

Davis frowned. “Are you okay, sir? Who would be dumb enough to attack a magi?”

“I’m fine. The answer to the second question is whoever could pay the man enough.”

“An assassination attempt?” Davis’ eyes widened as he asked.

“Yes. He had a bow— he missed twice from the roof, then again in the alley before we got into melee. I subdued him and handed him over to the guard so he could be questioned. I was going to handle that, but Magus Artok insisted that he be the one to question him.”

“Was the magus involved, sir?” Davis asked.

“He was surprised when I told him. He didn’t seem duplicitous to me about that. Now, we wait. I know I won’t hear back from him today, at least. He might take a few days to make sure he extracts everything he can.”

“I don’t like torture,” Davis said grimly. “Never thought it gave solid intelligence.”

“It’s out of our hands.”

“Yes…” Davis paused, meeting Gregory’s eyes. “Sir, we are your guard. Your welfare is in our hands. Why did you keep this from me?”

“Because every future that I told you beforehand made the man flee or, in the case of a more covert approach, got you killed when he came off the roof.”

“My life is a cost to be paid if it keeps you alive,” Davis said tightly. “We all appreciate your willingness to keep us safe, but our job is to keep you safe, sir.”

Gregory bowed his head. “I know, Davis. I know… I don’t disagree with you. But— and this isn’t to diminish you or the men— in some cases, it’s better for me to handle things. This and the bane bear, for instance. In time, there’ll be moments where I’ll have to bend and let the men pay for me. Until then, I’ll always be me.”

Davis stood up, pacing for a moment before he came back to the table. “Sir… next time, please tell me ahead of time? I at least want to know. If you go out to handle things alone and never come back… your wives would be quite unhappy with us.”

Gregory winced— Davis used the knife that would cut him the most. “Very well, Lieutenant. I’ll inform you going forward. You’re right, and I wouldn’t want my wives to take their anger out on you, especially not when you’d be blameless.”

“It’s more that you agree because your wives would be upset and hurt, sir,” Davis said softly. “I’ve come to realize who I work for. I won’t use that threat often, but if I need you to listen to me, I will.”

Gregory snorted, then met Davis’ eyes. “Accepted, Davis. Apologies.”

Davis took his seat again. “Tell me what happened, please.”