Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

Arriving at the gates of Coldwood as the evening sun touched the horizon, Gregory gave the gate sergeant a nod. “Patrol completed. Any slavers?”

“We had one group come in with seven. The new magus came down to brand them, but made them turn one of the eurtik loose and fined them for going over their allotted number.”

“New magus? Is Grandmaster Case gone?”

“He left yesterday, sir. Magus Jenga is the new town magus, he’s with the Swift Wind clan, sir. He asked that you come to see him as soon as you arrived.”

Gregory smiled at the name— he remembered Jenga, and while their few interactions hadn’t been all positive, he thought they’d left on a good note. “Message received, Sergeant.”

“I’ll get the men settled, sir,” Davis said.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Gregory turned back to the sergeant. “Sergeant, thank you for your hard work this year. I don’t know who’s replacing me, but maybe they’ll give you less grief.”

The sergeant’s lips twitched, but he kept the smile off his face. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry you had troubles. Things look to be improving since the debacle they caused.”

“They do, indeed. Good day, Sergeant.”

“Good day, sir.”

The pair saluted each other before Gregory rode off toward the magus’ manor. He had known who the magus was because of his foresight that morning, but it was easiest to act clueless to the sergeant. He and Jenga had parted on decent terms, but he was still unsure why he’d been the one sent. Maybe it was to help Walun? That was the only reason Gregory could come up with. Jenga had only been a magus for a year, so to suddenly move him to this posting was unusual.

The ride to the manor was pleasant enough, the summer weather was warm, but not blistering. Legacy’s tail swished at some flies as Gregory tied him to the post out front. Patting the gelding’s neck, Gregory murmured soft words for a moment before heading to the front door.

Bowing, the butler ushered Gregory inside. Once he’d gotten him settled in the study, the butler left, but the maid was quick to pour tea for him. Gregory thanked her as he accepted the cup; she gave him a small smile before retreating to her station by the door.

Probably glad to be rid of Grandmaster Case, Gregory mused.

A couple of minutes later, Magus Jenga entered the room. His cyan kimono bore the Swift Wind icon. He gave Gregory a smile as he approached. “Pettit, I’ve heard a lot about your year.”

Gregory set his cup aside, standing to meet Jenga. “Magus, I’m sure you have questions.”

“To put it mildly,” Jenga snorted. “Pour, then have the cook prepare dinner for two,” he addressed the maid. Once she was gone, Jenga relaxed further. “Now, why don’t you tell me what happened up here?”

“Did you have my reports?”

“I’ve read them, but I also had to listen to Grandmaster Case deride them. One of my clan’s adepts is coming to take your posting, and I’m to make sure his year goes as smoothly as possible.”

“Very well. It started with me taking over for Magus Grabil…”

~*~*~

It took hours to retell just the important portions of the year for Jenga. They’d relocated to the dining room to have dinner while Gregory told his story. The magus sat quietly, not asking questions until he was finished.

“Your only fatalities were from the ambush?”

“Yes. Three dead, as I said.”

“While you took down double your own, plus a physical enhancement mage from Buldoun…? Pettit, I dearly hope our clans never come into conflict.”

“With my friendship with Hayworth, your goodwill, and Walun’s fondness for his peers in my clan, hopefully, we won’t have any troubles at all.”

“That would be nice,” Jenga sighed. “I did what I could the other day when the group brought in too many.”

“You let one of them go and fined them. The sergeant told me about it. If you and Walun just hold to the laws, they might stick to it even longer. You should check to see if they’re being bribed to brand a few extras before the group comes through. They might hold a couple of men back, sending someone in for papers and then rushing out to bring the extra in.”

“It would be obvious, as I have to sign off on the paperwork. Me signing off and then the slave being brought in the next day is kind of stupid if they want to be sly about it.”

“I haven’t noticed high intellects from those who have gone out to capture eurtiks.”

“Fair enough,” Jenga laughed. “You’d have done the impossible if they hadn’t tried to kill you. You know that, right? No deaths for this posting is an impossibility.”

“I’d hoped for none at the start of the year… Make sure Walun is ready for the special bane beasts that can use aether. Those were the worst of them.”

“Between us, he should be prepared for anything,” Jenga sighed as he sat back. “Why’d you do it, Pettit? You took a hard stance on the slave laws, and it caused all this turmoil. Why?”

“It was the right thing to do,” Gregory replied with a shrug. “If magi don’t uphold the laws, then who will? We shouldn’t ignore them, and we shouldn’t be above them.”

“I’d have laughed at you if you’d said that during the first half of my apprentice year. You humbled me and made me reevaluate my stance on things. I won’t push as hard as you did, but I will make them hold the line.”

“That would be good. I’m not sure what Magus Smitton will do, or if she’ll be replaced, too.”

“Oh, she is,” Jenga said. “I was dispatched with another who’d been at the academy. Magus Gotin, with the White Eagle clan. He uses ice magic and was part of their combat group during our apprentice year. Fierce, but he seemed pretty honorable to me.”

“I’ll have some hope, then,” Gregory said.

“When Walun arrives, please let him know to report to me. Take a day to brief him on the posting before you send him, though. That’ll make it easier on me.”

Gregory laughed as he stood up. “Yes, sir.”

Jenga grinned and stood, as well, bowing formally to Gregory. “Pettit, you made waves this year. People took notice, but you held to the law, so you didn’t draw too much ire except for a few clans. Your time in Krogga will likely be just as dangerous as your posting here. I pray Aether will watch over you.”

Gregory bowed back. “Thank you, Jenga. I pray that you don’t have any attacks on the town during your time here. If you do, I’m sure you’ll make them regret doing so.”

“You’ll be here for a few more days, at least, correct?” Jenga asked with a wide smile.

Gregory laughed. “Every morning, my men and I spar after the Peaceful Fist in the barracks. If you’d like to spar, come over.”

“Perfect. Maybe this time, I won’t lose right away.”

Gregory’s lips twitched. “We’ll see.”

Jenga laughed while he walked with Gregory out of the room. “I’d like at least one match without your foresight.”

“That’s fine, if you don’t use your magic, either.”

“Gladly, gladly. Rumor is you’ve been granted the armsmaster title.”

Gregory summoned his medal from his ring. “Not a rumor. It’s a fact.”

“Perfect. If I can beat you, I can claim one of three armsmasters defeated for my own title.”

Gregory chuckled as he absorbed the medal back into his ring. “We’ll see.”

~*~*~

Gregory rode back to the barracks. The night was busy with people going to and from the local taverns, but otherwise quiet. Riding into the barracks, he started getting Legacy settled for the night when Basal came running into the stable.

“Sir, I got him.”

“Very well, Basal. Thank you. I need a bath.”

“Did the meeting go well, sir?”

“Yes. Magus Jenga and I knew each other at the academy. He was one year my senior. The incoming adept is from his clan, so they should work well together.”

“Will they do what you did?”

“They’ll hold to the law, but won’t be as strict. If you didn’t hear, he only fined them and let the extra eurtik go.”

“It’s a step in the right direction, though, isn’t it, sir?”

“I hope so, Basal… I really hope so.”

“Davis was looking for you, sir. He was getting worried. Also, Barny has a plate of food waiting for you.”

Gregory chuckled. “Jenga had me stay for dinner during my debrief. I’ll check in with both of them. Come next week, we’ll be on our way to Krogga. Are you ready for that?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Besides your age day?”

Basal flushed. “Still, yes.”

Gregory laughed. “Good. You’ll be an adult soon enough, Basal. I hope Aether blesses you with what you want the most, be that being a magi or not.”

“I’d just as soon pass on that, sir. Though… I was thinking of maybe finding a home in a nice fringe town. Dot and I would be welcome there, wouldn’t we?”

Gregory met Basal’s hopeful expression with a soft smile. “Alturis would welcome you. There aren’t many jobs outside of mining, but I’m sure you’d find your place.”

Basal smiled broadly. “Thank you, sir.”

“Let’s get you through age day,” Gregory said, “but first of all, a bath for me.”