Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

Gregory considered his foresight visions while he sat in his aether cavern, solving a Magi Square. With resonance, he could placate Artok today, though that was one of the less likely futures. Most had him and Artok coming to blows, ending with the magus dead at his feet. Gregory wanted to put that off, and his resonance agreed with him.

“If I can just wait until the Chainer family makes a bold move against me, I could use that to push Artok back. He wouldn’t want to openly back someone who tried to kill a magi. Obviously, he covered up who was behind the first assassination attempt. There was no evidence to point at Phineas Chainer besides the dead man. Artok would’ve pressed for even more from the family for helping cover that up.”

Numbers of flame filled in spaces as Gregory committed to them. The fire under the puzzle sat strangely quiet and still, as if listening to him.

“Artok leaves at the end of this year, so it’s not like he’ll get as much out of their debt to him in the future… unless his clan is already slating another of their clan to take over. Then that debt would pass to the next magus. I don’t have anyone I can get that information from easily, either, so give up on knowing that.”

More numbers filled in, bringing the complex Magi Square closer to completion.

“It would mean that Artok might be willing to cut ties if they make too overt a move. Hmm… it would end them if they made an obvious move and I survived. I’d have full authority to execute Phineas and his brother, at the very least. Would they do that?”

The puzzle finished and the flames flew down the channels.

“It’s a moot point for now. Today’s about Artok. I need to placate him for today, and see if I can’t get a better position to deal with him next time.”

Fourth bell rang and Gregory got up. It was time to start the day, no matter if he was looking forward to it or not. Stepping out, he greeted Rafiq, Hanz, Basal, and Davis.

“Problems today, sir?” Davis asked.

“Besides my meeting with Artok, you mean? Nothing reported. I’m glad the men are willing to rotate out— if they stayed as single squads, it’d be so much worse.”

“I’m thankful the larder here wasn’t ransacked again, nor did we have extra pests to deal with.”

“That was nice. I half expected it to become the norm after the first time.”

“Maybe because we didn’t make a fuss about it?” Davis suggested.

“Perhaps. Just like when dealing with a bully, if you fail to rise to their provocation, it confuses them,” Rafiq commented.

“Agreed,” Gregory nodded. “I’ll be returning as soon as my meeting is over. I want to leave tomorrow morning. We’ll be staying in towns less until things settle. The less we’re where they can find us easily, the better.”

“But they know our patrol route, sir,” Davis pointed out.

“Yes, but casual problems won’t find us outside the walls. Only the hard-bitten men would try to give us trouble out on the road.”

“True enough. If they do attack us on patrol, at least the answer for it is simple.”

“It is. I’ll do my best to make sure we’re not the ones bleeding and dying.”

“Which is why the men never question your commands, sir. They know you have their best interests at heart. They’re also willing to do their duty, giving their lives in place of yours.”

“They’ll be dearly bought if it comes to that,” Gregory said grimly.

Hanz and Basal exchanged a glance, the last two on the stairs. They knew they couldn’t help with any of the problems, outside of making sure everything was in order, but hearing the conversations between Gregory and Davis always reinforced their desire to do as much as they could.

~*~*~

Gregory wasn’t surprised to be left sitting for almost a full hour when he got to Artok’s. He did think it was a little too long, but the magus clearly wanted his displeasure to be known before he even set foot into the room. The maid not being there to serve him tea further emphasized Artok being upset.

When he finally did arrive, Artok carried a mug into the room with him. “Pettit, you’ve caused quite the ruckus.”

Gregory stood when Artok entered, bowing to the magus. “It wasn’t my intent, sir. I have my reports on the table for you already.”

Taking his seat, Artok took a deliberate sip before setting the mug on the table and collecting the scrolls. As he read, Artok let his aether pool out to pressure Gregory. Gregory sat there with a placid smile, not at all affected by the attempt to make him uneasy.

Artok glanced at Gregory as he read, a small frown marring his features— the adept wasn’t sweating. Going back to reading, he tried to redouble the pressure his aether could produce.

Gregory didn’t react at all; showing he wasn’t easy to intimidate would help when Artok was ready to talk, but it walked a razor’s edge of seeming arrogant enough to make the man lash out.

Finished reading the reports, Artok dropped them on the table. He stared at Gregory with a touch of anger, but also confusion. Once he’d picked up his mug again, he sat back, letting the silence stretch as he brought his full ability to pressure people to bear.

Gregory let a frown cross his features and shifted in his seat. He wasn’t at all affected by Artok’s aether, as the man wasn’t a master or grandmaster magi, but he knew acting like he was feeling it would soothe the magus’ ego.

“Do you know what you’ve done, Pettit?”

“Upheld the law, Magus,” Gregory said flatly.

“Don’t be flippant, Adept!” Artok snapped. “You’re poking at powerful people using flimsy old laws as a shield!”

“Legal laws aren’t flimsy, sir,” Gregory said. “If someone’s upset with the fact they’re being enforced, they should make sure they’re in compliance.”

Artok shook his head minutely. “You fail to see the larger picture… in half a year, you’ll be gone, and things will go back to how they were. All you’ll have done is make enemies. If you continue down this path, you’ll only gain more trouble.”

Gregory sat back, wiping his forehead as if he felt strained while thinking. “You don’t think upholding the laws is worth anything?”

Artok snorted. “Don’t try putting words in my mouth, boy. I’m only being as cordial as I am because you amused me earlier this year. I will not stand between you and those you have angered. I suggest you take a few days to consider if you really want to set yourself up for heartache and pain for no clear gain.”

Gregory bowed his head. “That might be for the best… I do have a question for you, sir: if I walk through the fire and come out on the other side, what then?”

Now, Artok sat back. He hadn’t considered that angle; it was mostly ludicrous. An adept couldn’t survive what a family as rich and connected as the Chainers could bring to bear. He wasn’t even sure he could if Phineas or his brother wanted him dead. Gregory had a slim point, though. If he survived any concerted effort, there’d likely be evidence to point directly back to the Chainer family. If that happened, people would be killed for attempting to take a magi’s life. He’d considered removing the adept to make Phineas even more indebted to him, but now, he was unsure. He’d had to focus on pressuring him before the adept had even felt uncomfortable. That made him worry that Gregory might have more hidden surprises that could harm even him.

Taking a drink, Artok withdrew his aether. “Hmm… a valid point, if farfetched. I will have to consider it. If you do hold to this path and survive any reprisals, it will force action from others.”

Gregory exhaled as if a great weight had been lifted. “I’ll give your words due consideration, Magus. I just have a hard time ignoring laws. This might be a time where a blind eye is better than a warm grave.”

“Exactly, Adept,” Artok nodded. “You are dismissed. If there’s another incident with someone bringing in eurtiks again, I don’t think our conversation will be as cordial as this one was.”

Gregory stood, bowing to him. “I understand, Magus.”

“Before you go, what businesses have you frequented?”

“I’d rather not paint them as more than mere business interests,” Gregory said, trying to slide past the question. “It would be wrong to paint a baker as someone who should be targeted for selling bread to another.”

Artok’s lips twitched. “Hmm… you’re savvy enough to see that, but not enough to know what you’re willingly walking yourself into?”

“What I do affects me. It shouldn’t affect anyone else other than me.”

“You and your men, you mean?”

“Yes, Magus.”

“I think this is a valid point. If anyone asks me similarly, I’ll point out that costing the town businesses is messy. Good day, Adept.”

“Good day, Magus.”

Gregory bowed before he left. When the door closed behind him, he let any pleasantness drop away. He’d avoided killing a magus today, and perhaps even managed to stop it entirely. He knew he might still come into active conflict with Artok, but he gave himself the chance to not kill someone unless he was attacked first.

The butler saw him coming and bowed low. He’d half-worried he’d have to remove a corpse from the study again, so he was very happy that he didn’t have to today. Ushering Gregory to the front door, he saw the adept out before he went to check on Artok.