Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

Winter was finally giving way to spring, so the men were able to shuck their coats most days. Though the three-day cold snap that came with a blizzard was terrible, they huddled in Coldwood, as Gregory had seen it coming. Another squad of slavers had set out a few days before the cold spell, and Gregory briefly wondered if they’d survive the storm. He didn’t give it much thought, though, as he had no love for them. Once the weather finally warmed up enough, the coats were packed away.

The unit faced down another couple of bane beast attacks. Neither had a special aether-using leader, so they managed it without any injuries. The three squads that were down men were settling into not being fully staffed, though Gregory hoped to fill the open positions before they arrived in Krogga.

A month after Claudia’s resonance, resting in Coldwood for the two days between patrols, Gregory watched the future and readied himself for the day. When he’d finished with foresight, he lapsed into meditation to do a Magi Square with his aether flame.

~*~*~

“Good morning, sir. Another quiet day today?”

Gregory gave Davis a shake of his head. “Afraid not, Lieutenant. I’ll be getting summoned to Artok’s. His clan head is here.”

“Do we need to get geared up, sir?” Davis asked with a hint of worry, but full of resolve.

“No. The men should enjoy their day off. I won’t need you to march to help me.”

“Yes, sir, but how bad will it be?”

“Not as bad as it could be, but I’m not about to be praised, either.”

“But you’ll be okay, right?” Basal asked, having come out of his room with Hanz.

“I’ll be unharmed and back here in time for dinner. I still need to stop in and pick up the rest of the jerky, too.”

“Did you want me to accompany you?” Rafiq asked, the last to come out of his room.

“No. That future went terribly,” Gregory sighed. “You were blamed for my wanting to free slaves.”

“Ahh. I will stay here, then,” Rafiq said.

As the group started for the stairs, Davis changed the topic, “Only two months left, and then we’ll be marching across the empire to Krogga.”

“Feels like we’ve been here for years, but it’s only been ten months,” Gregory murmured. “Though the last couple of months haven’t been terrible.”

“The first seven were the worst,” Davis agreed. “No one has done anything since then to warrant us getting involved.”

They were passing the floor where Sergeant French was watching the men get ready for the day. “Good morning, sir,” he said.

“Morning, French. Keep up the good work.”

“Yes, sir.”

As they descended past the barracks floor, Gregory lowered his voice, “How’s he been doing?”

“French has been admirable. His unit has rallied around him being promoted; no issues at all with them. The others who were under consideration have made sure to stay just as focused, too. Each of them is hoping to be considered in the future.”

“That does remind me…” Gregory said softly. “How do I see about filling the ranks?”

“We just need to hire people in,” Davis said slowly. “The trick is making sure they’re as trained as our current men, that they can fold into our diverse unit, and that they won’t cause problems with the things we do. Three at once isn’t terrible, but it means three chances of trouble. It’d be best to see if any of the guards here in Coldwood are about to be released from contract. Roberts would be able to point us at people who might work.”

“I’ll have to have a talk with him, then. Maybe after I speak to the grandmaster.”

They’d reached the mess hall, and Davis winced. “A grandmaster, sir? Are you certain you’ll be okay?”

“Yes. I’ll be fine, if a bit grumpy afterward.”

“We’ll do our best to help cheer you up,” Hanz said.

“Thank you, Hanz,” Gregory smiled.

~*~*~

Gregory was summoned to Artok’s manor after he’d finished the Peaceful Fist with his men. He didn’t bother getting Legacy saddled; it wasn’t a long walk and the weather was pleasant.

The butler bowed to him when he invited Gregory in. Taken to the study, Gregory wasn’t surprised to find Artok and a gray-haired magi already there, as his foresight had shown him they would be. Bowing respectfully, he announced himself before being invited to sit.

“You are prompt, which is good. I am Grandmaster Matt Case, clan leader of Gentle Breeze. Do you know why I am here, Adept?”

“My report to your clan,” Gregory nodded.

“Yes.” Case motioned to the maid. “Serve us, then leave.”

The maid scurried forward, pouring a cup for each before she left the room. The pressure was already building, and she was glad to not be there for what might happen.

Artok was grim as he sipped at his tea. There was anger and hatred burning in his eyes, even though his face remained calm. Gregory pretended not to notice while he waited for the grandmaster to speak again.

“I was shocked to receive a report from Coldwood, much less from the magi stationed here for his adept posting. It was disappointing to read what you’ve reported. Twenty years Magus Artok has been here, doing good work. To hear that he allowed a non-magi to attempt killing a magi— and multiple times, at that— was hard to accept on just your word alone.”

Gregory didn’t interrupt, nor did he shift in his seat, though the growing pressure in the room had built enough to make Artok squirm. Wrapped in his resonance, Gregory was as calm and placid as a winter lake.

Case watched Gregory with a hint of disapproval while he continued speaking, “Which made me take time away from other important duties to come up here to investigate. More than that, I was asked by Heavenly Rain to check on their magus, too. I do enjoy having favors owed, but it was disconcerting to read the report about Magus Smitton. It was similar, but not nearly as damning as the one for Artok. Possibly, that is because Smitton hasn’t been in Icelake for twenty years, or possibly because she wasn’t as eager to set aside decorum as Artok was.”

Gregory shifted in his seat, the pressure on his resonance having finally become uncomfortable. “I was only following the laws of the empire, Grandmaster.”

Case’s eyebrow rose; he was applying close to his full displeasure and the adept had only just shifted. His gaze tracked to Artok, who was sweating and breathing a little laboriously. Retracting his aether, Case sat back. “I’ll be going to speak with Smitton tomorrow, but today is about addressing this damaging report you sent me.”

“Not just you, sir. It was tendered up the chain of command.”

Case’s lips thinned. “That is disappointing. Still, I can arrange for that.”

“The scribe sent with me by Sage Windfoot sent a copy to the archive, as well,” Gregory went on, glad the pressure had faded. “By now, the sage will have read it, sir.”

The pressure from before came back, but intensified. “Now that is unacceptable.”

Gregory felt the sweat bead on his brow. His voice was labored as he spoke through the strain, “All my reports have been sent to him. It was not my intent to cause trouble. I sent you a report so you could do what you needed to do, sir.”

Case’s lips pursed and he withdrew his aether again. Artok wheezed, able to breathe without strain, earning a withering glare from his clan head. “An adept can withstand that, yet you, a full magus, cannot? That is pathetic, Artok. You’ve caused the clan loss of face that will require effort from me personally to smooth over. You will be leaving in a week. I have a new posting for you, and you will not enjoy it. Until your replacement arrives, I will have to stay here to fill in for you, which makes me even less happy.”

“Sir, I—!” Artok began, but cut off when the air was ripped from his lungs.

“Silence! You will stay quiet until I tell you to speak. Understood?”

Artok nodded emphatically, desperately wanting to breathe.

“Good.” Case ignored Artok’s gasps as he focused back on Gregory. “Your clan head will hear from me, Adept. I will let them know how close you came to opening a rift between us.”

“Yes, sir,” Gregory said stiffly.

“I did find out you are slated for Krogga for the next few years. I’m happy that I will not have to dirty my hands to reprimand you. I’m sure the savages in Krogga will do more than enough for you to learn not to anger your betters. You are dismissed, Adept.”

Gregory stood, bowing to the magi.

“Oh, and before you go,” Case said when Gregory turned toward the door, “if you involve yourself in the capturing of eurtik, I will insert myself, as well. Understood?”

Gregory looked over his shoulder at the grandmaster. “I will uphold the laws, sir. If you want to involve yourself while I do that, it’s your choice.”

Case’s eyes narrowed. “Dismissed, Adept.”

Gregory marched stiffly out. The moment the door closed behind him, he exhaled roughly. It had gone as well as it could have. He was fairly certain that his last few words were enough to make even the grandmaster hesitant to break the laws. He knew that any report would go to the sage, which should temper him from being too eager to throw his power around.

Shaking his head, Gregory found the butler by the front door. Giving the man a dip of his head in thanks, he left the manor behind, hoping the next time he was inside, it would be the last time.

~*~*~

Gregory made a quick stop by Cleaned Cuts to pick up the jerky from the butcher. When he had the meat from the last set of bane beasts stored, he headed for the command post. The man on the outer door saluted him as he let Gregory in.

“Come in,” Roberts said a minute later when Gregory knocked on his door. “Pettit, what can I do for you today?”

“I had a question about your men coming out of contract soon. I’m down three from a full unit and was wondering if you had any understanding men who’d be interested in signing on.”

“Hmm… maybe? I’m not sure you’d be able to entice them, though, not with Krogga being the next posting for you. Not many people are eager to end up where everyone would want to fight them.”

“That’s true…” Gregory nodded slowly. “If any of them are interested, knowing where I stand on some subjects, I’d like to talk with them.”

“I’ll see who is coming up and might fit in with your men. You’re fine with the ones who have some eurtik blood, who would be the most likely to accept. I’ll have something for you when you cycle back this way after your next patrol.”

“Sounds good. Just so you know, Magus Artok will be leaving soon. His clan head is here to take over until the replacement can arrive.”

Roberts stared at Gregory for a moment before sighing. “What tier?”

“Grandmaster.”

Roberts shook his head. “I’ll have to warn my men. Goodness knows a magi of that strength isn’t going to be pleasant.”

“He likes pressuring the people near him,” Gregory said, “so that might be a good idea.”

“Two months and you’ll be heading off… even if it is to Krogga, you have to be looking forward to it.”

“I am, for multiple reasons,” Gregory said with a smile touching his lips.

“Your wives will be there. You have said that before. That has to be the biggest reason.”

“It really is,” Gregory chuckled. “I’ll look forward to seeing if any of your men will fold in with us.”

Roberts stood when Gregory did, shaking hands with the magi. “I’ll do my best. Aether watch over you, Magi.”

“You, as well, Commander.”