Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

Gregory had just finished bathing after his sparring with Jenga. Besting the magus three out of four times hadn’t diminished Jenga’s enthusiasm. As he’d explained, testing himself against an armsmaster was something to be proud of by itself. Jenga had only won the fight where Gregory was armed with a wakizashi.

“Sir, the other unit arrived,” Polka said, catching him in the hallway.

“Is the magi upstairs?”

“Yes. He asked where you were, and when told, said he would get settled.”

“Thank you, Polka. Is there any tea?”

“I put a kettle on. I can bring it up shortly.”

“Thank you. I’ll handle the snacks, since we’ll probably be talking until dinner. Have Davis interface with their lieutenant. I doubt we’ll have any trouble, but let’s make sure. We leave tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gregory made his way upstairs, chuckling when he brushed at his cyan haori. It was odd wearing the color of a magus, but he was officially that tier, even if he was still showing ten emerald circles on his medallion. He wondered if he should put his medallion on, since he hadn’t worn it for most of the year, but decided against it.

Knocking on the door, he waited to be told to enter. “Adept Walun, how are you today?”

Walun bowed to him. “Magus Pettit. I’m fine, thank you. Please, have a seat.”

“I have one of my helpers bringing tea up,” Gregory said after he’d bowed back to Walun. “And I have some snacks for us.” He set out a few choice pastries. “They come from Golden Crusts here in town. I recommend them if you like baked goods.”

Walun’s smile became real as he took his own seat. “Oh, I do actually enjoy a good baked treat now and again. I’ll have to see what they can do when I’m in town.”

“I’m supposed to give you an overview of what your posting is. I can show you my reports for the year, or I can relay it all verbally. Either way, I know you’ll have questions.”

“I read fairly quickly, so your reports would be easiest for both of us.”

Gregory summoned his reports, lining them up on the table. “The one closest to you is my first report; they’re in chronological order.”

Walun watched the growing line of papers, then exhaled. “Very well. Starting at the beginning is always for the best.”

Hours passed while Walun read. Polka dropped the tea off, giving them a smile as she poured, then left. Walun thanked her absently, thoroughly engrossed in reading. Gregory sipped his tea, had a snack, and waited for the questions. Walun asked a few after each report, which Gregory answered without qualms.

It was when Walun got to his report about the Golden Collar that he leaned forward. He shook his head slightly until he’d finished. Passing it back to Gregory, he looked concerned. “This man is still in charge here?”

“Which?”

“Either.”

“No. We’ll get to that in the later reports.”

“You did your job, as the magus told you to, but Phineas Chainer was unhappy and Magus Artok took advantage of it. What of the slave?”

“She died during the year,” Gregory said softly. “She was a good woman.”

“Pity. I’d have loved to talk to her to understand the free eurtiks more.”

Gregory’s eyebrow rose, and he gave Walun a searching look. “You might get that opportunity on your own. I’m sure there will be a group or two who will test you.”

“Test me?”

“Read on,” Gregory said, refreshing their tea.

Walun did so, and when he got to the report about the first slaver group, he looked disturbed. He didn’t stop reading, but it was clear he was going to have a lot of questions. When he finished, he handed it back to Gregory.

“You knew they didn’t have the paperwork, didn’t you?”

“As my earlier reports hinted at, it was clear that laws were being skirted, ignored, or outright broken. I took it upon myself to uphold them.”

“Those in power couldn’t have been happy with you.”

Gregory chuckled. “Keep reading.”

Walun kept asking questions, getting increasingly worried about what his year would be like. Gregory pushed off anything that would be answered in the reports. Walun dove right back in every time, eager to learn more. He was glad Gregory was making him read— it was a form of learning which trained his mind path.

When Walun finally got to the report where Gregory’s unit was ambushed, he looked startled. Seeing Gregory’s level expression, he shook his head, then went back to reading. Finally finished with the scroll, he passed it back to Gregory.

“Only three of your men fell against all of them?”

“Would’ve only been two if Donald hadn’t pulled one out of the scrum,” Gregory said softly. “That man turned over evidence, as the report stated; I only managed this because of my magic. Because we had warning about the ambush, we had few casualties this year. They were my only dead.”

“All year, just those three?”

“Yes. Even with the bane beasts and enhanced bane beasts.”

Walun drained his cup before rubbing his face. “How many will I lose?”

“I can’t say. That’s too far out. Did you research the post at all?”

“I didn’t have time. All I know is that it’s one of the most dangerous postings in the empire. I’m not sure what I did to get sent here, either.”

“Kind of like me, then,” Gregory chuckled. “Maybe the sage decided to test the strong by sending them here?”

“Daciana would be here, then,” Walun said softly.

“It’d look bad if the same clan got the same post two years in a row.”

“Hmm… Yes, that makes sense.”

“To answer your question with a generality, then, about six of your men will die. The worst few magi guard units were killed to the last man and magi. I just set the new record for the fewest men killed. Before me, it was five for a unit. The average is actually about ten, but the best always lose less, hence six for you. Prove me wrong by losing less, please,” Gregory said the last few words earnestly.

“I will do my best. I’ll try to beat your record.”

“If you do, I’ll buy you a meal when we next meet.”

Walun smiled. “Deal.”

“My year wasn’t over with that, though, so read on,” Gregory said, nudging Walun back to the reports.

Walun was gratified to read that the Chainers were dealt with, and that the new heirs were minding their business. When he read the part where Artok was replaced, he exhaled in relief. “Oh, thank Aether. I was worried I’d have to tiptoe around him. Is the grandmaster any better?”

“Read,” Gregory chuckled.

“Wait… what did you do?” Walun looked a little panicked as he grabbed the next scroll.

Gregory frowned slightly at the implication that he’d done something to the grandmaster. Pouring out the last of the second pot of tea they had, Gregory sipped while he waited for Walun to finish.

“There’s nothing in here about the grandmaster…” Walun said cautiously when he finished the last one.

“Oh, that’s because I still have to write up today as my last report,” Gregory laughed.

Walun exhaled, then finished his tea. “I worried you had done something.”

“Against a grandmaster? I appreciate your confidence in me,” Gregory snickered. “To answer your question, the new town magus is a man named Phillip Jenga.”

Walun frowned, then started to grin. “From my clan?”

“Yup, that’s him. I sparred with him this morning. You’re to report to him tomorrow morning. I’ll give you my final report to hand off, if you don’t mind? I want to be marching for Krogga with the sunrise.”

“Krogga?”

“That’s my magus posting. I requested it, as did my wives. This way, we can be together for our five years.”

“But Krogga? Why not Limaz or Buldoun?”

“Lightshield suggested it before his death,” Gregory said with a touch of melancholy to his voice. “He saw more than I do, and I trusted him with my life. In the end, he saved me from death. The least I could do was honor his wishes.”

Walun shook his head. “His loss was sad to hear. Our clan leader was shocked at the news. He imposed a day of silence on the clan in memory of him.”

Gregory swallowed, the news clenching his heart. “When you talk to your leader next, thank him for me. Lightshield was a great man. It makes me happy to know that others knew that too.”

The sound of the dinner bell got Walun’s attention. “Ah, dinner. I’ll be down shortly. I want to wash my hands and face, at least.”

“I’ll let them know,” Gregory said. “See you down there.”