Magi's Path

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “More layers of deniability are good. I’m glad you remember,” Hao smiled fondly. “We can do that tonight. I’ll have their carriage go straight back, and we can make a detour to Hemet’s. It’ll mean skipping the auction house tonight, but that’s a small price considering the good stuff doesn’t really show up until the last few nights.”

  “Thank you, Father,” Yukiko said.

  ~*~*~

  Nessa’s fight was after the second match, and she walked onto the arena floor without a single look back. She was focused on the other girl standing near the adjudicator. Gregory could tell there was a story by the way the other novice sneered at Nessa, but he didn’t know what it was. The girl waiting for Nessa said something, and the adjudicator clearly rebuked her for it. Nessa’s head had lifted at whatever had been said, but she just walked calmly to the center. The two women bowed as directed— to the boxes, to the crowd, and finally, to each other.

  The moment the fight began, the other novice had a burning ball of fire in her hand and she threw it at Nessa. Nessa did her best to avoid it, but she hadn’t been prepared for the flames. Even then, she nearly made it with a dodge and what looked like a brief gust of wind. Everything but her left arm cleared the flame.

  Nessa let out a ragged scream of pain as she hit the ground and rolled onto her burnt arm. The woman was clearly saying something, but no one could hear over the roar from those who had enjoyed the sight, including Carlisle behind the group.

  Nessa’s jaw was clenched in pain as she pushed herself to her feet, her left arm dangling beside her. Taking a defensive stance, she beckoned her opponent with her right hand. The other novice laughed at Nessa, sneering as she rushed her.

  Nessa waited until they were about to collide before sand whipped up hard from the arena floor. The other novice had expected some sand, but not the hard, gusting wall that hit her. She kept her head averted and her eyes closed, trying to stop short, but Nessa wasn’t going to allow that.

  With a beautifully executed front kick, she drove her heel into the other woman’s gut. When the novice sagged, clearly reeling from the first kick, Nessa spun on her heel and performed a roundhouse kick. With the way the other novice’s head snapped to the side when her foot connected, it was clear that it was a devastating blow.

  Nessa wasn’t about to relent, not with her left arm out of the fight. As her opponent went tumbling to the ground, Nessa followed her, kicking again and again. It took the adjudicator a few seconds before he called Nessa off.

  Stepping back, Nessa bowed to him as he raised the glowing metal disk to announce her the winner. While he made the announcement, the healers rushed out to see to her and the other novice. Before they could reach her, Nessa bowed to the boxes and her downed opponent.

  “Hmm… well, it seems she is sturdier than I anticipated,” Carlisle huffed, “but the healers won’t spend enough aether to fully heal her. It will make the next fight even tougher for her.”

  “That is indeed possible,” Hao agreed. “Only time will tell.”

  Chapter Fifty-nine

  It was late afternoon, and Daciana had won her third fight. Having dominated all three fights without using any aether, the crowd was cheering loudly as she walked off the floor. Most of the crowd was, at least— Carlisle looked like he’d sucked on a lemon and had gotten it lodged in his throat.

  “Well, it appears that you’ve lost both bets,” Hao said, looking back at Carlisle. “That’s one hundred and forty-four thousand vela.”

  “Yes, I can do my own arithmetic, Warlin,” Carlisle hissed, acutely aware of everyone nearby watching him. “I don’t carry that kind of money on my person.”

  “Hmm, but you surely have a bond with you. I’m willing to take a properly-sealed bond. Or…” Hao trailed off, standing and walking over beside him. “I don’t normally offer such things, but I’d be willing to take half of what is owed.”

  “On what condition?” The question was laced with venom.

  “Ten-to-one on them sweeping their fights tomorrow,” Hao smiled amiably. “You’ve voiced time and time again... what was it? Ah, yes. ‘Mere talking animals can’t win against real magi.’ I’m willing to let you fully embrace that belief.”

  Carlisle’s face went purple when he realized that Hao had just trapped him. If he declined, it would be him admitting that the novices were more than he’d been saying all day, but taking the bet would mean putting nearly a million vela on the outcome. All eyes, even those of the novices and their family, bored into him as he sat there.

  “Fine!” Carlisle snapped. Rising to his feet, he sneered at Hao. “If you wish to besmirch the Warlin Mercantile name by siding with beasts, clearly showing how flawed you are, far be it from me to stop you.” He scribbled out a bond and thrust it to Hao once he’d sealed it with blood.

  “Armsmaster?” Hao asked with a smile.

  “I have heard and witnessed the bet, as all here have, but I will make sure it is honored, on my blade,” Gin said, standing.

  Carlisle glanced at Gin, then behind him to where Inda and Indara were standing. It took him a moment, but he finally placed them. His eyes widened and his skin flushed deeper. “Of course you would, with those th—!”

  “If you say a word against my companions, I will ask for blood,” Gin said sharply, cutting the man off with the frigidity of it. “You have wagered. I have heard it and will make sure it is upheld, but to make a personal insult against those with me is to insult me.”

  Carlisle looked like he had swallowed his tongue. When he finally spoke, it was a single word, filled with all the hatred in his rotund body: “Fine.” He turned to the woman who had been sitting with him, snapping at her, “Move, you stupid cow! We’re leaving! Now!”

  The woman looked startled and fearful as she quickly hurried away with Carlisle following her.

  Those nearby had been so focused on the drama unfolding that they’d missed that the fight in the arena had started.

  Hao looked at everyone around them and gave them a small bow. “Apologies for disrupting your day and distracting you from the fights, though I’m sure you had entertainment enough.” His smile was knowing as he looked at the crowd. “And to answer any lingering doubts, no, I do not hold prejudices against those with eurtik blood. I call them friends and treat them as I would anyone else. Most I speak with are better-mannered and more pleasant than Carlisle. Now, if you will excuse us, my family and I have business elsewhere.”

  With that said, Hao led his family away from the stands, though they didn’t go far— they went to the front of the arena, where they waited. After a minute or two, the others came out. Ramon, Gufta, and their wives looked shocked, and the novices looked excited and a little fearful at what they had heard.

  Lightshield was wearing a wide smile and laughed when they finally stepped out of the arena. “Goodness, Warlin, you do know how to make an impression. I fully endorse what you did and why,” he said, holding up a hand to forestall any objection. “Those people will be questioning their own ideals for a while now, and maybe, Aether willing, they might even begin to change. Carlisle is a lost cause, though.”

  “He is, indeed,” Hao nodded. “Elder, we were told that we could use your box at the auction house, but tonight, my family will pass on that.”

  Lightshield’s eyes twinkled. “Yes. I wish you all a good evening, and I will have a staff member waiting to inform you of the correct arena tomorrow, just as I did today. Good eve to you all.”

  “Thank you, Elder,” Hao said, bowing his head. “Good eve to you.”

  As Lightshield left, Dia, Bishop, and Indara followed him.

  Gin chuckled and looked at Hao. “Thought I’d have to draw steel for a moment. If he tries to balk at paying later, I will make sure the debt is extracted. I hope you all have a good evening.” Turning, he walked away with Inda by his side.

  “Warlin,” Ramon said as Gin was leaving, “while I’m grateful for your faith in our daughter, I—”

  Hao
clapped Ramon on the shoulder, cutting him off. “My daughter believes in your daughters, and that belief has taken root in me. The trouble, if he wishes to create some, is a small price to help my friends know that they are not alone.” He looked at Gufta. “That includes you.”

  Both Ramon and Gufta shared a look, unsure of how to respond.

  “Husband, you are overpowering our friends,” Yoo-jin said with a fond smile. “Why don’t you and our family take the carriage and make the stops you planned? I will go with our friends. We have a reason to celebrate tonight. All three of you,” she addressed the novices, “are undefeated through the first day of the tournament. Hao and I made arrangements.” She gave the parents an apologetic smile. “I do hope that you’ll forgive our presumption, but we thought you’d like to enjoy a meal together without needing to cook it yourself,” she added the last while looking at Vana. “We have a private dining room waiting for all of us at the Golden Boar.”

  All four parents looked a little surprised at the destination, but it was Vana who spoke first, “We wouldn’t wish to cost you—!”

  “Cost us?” Yoo-jin smiled broadly. “Tonight was paid for by your children.”

  Gufta barked a laugh. “Yes! That fat fool paid for disrespecting our Daciana.”

  “His face was so purple, I thought he would burst,” Ramon snickered. “We accept.”

  “Good. If you’ll come with me, then?” Yoo-jin asked. As she moved, she took Victoria gently by the elbow. “And if it’s alright, I’ll stand in for your mother. I know I’m not her, but you did so well that you deserve someone to celebrate you just as much. Consider me a surrogate mother while I am here.”

  Victoria blinked as Yoo-jin guided her away. “But I didn’t win anything more. There were no bets on me.”

  “Only because the fool couldn’t be baited into it,” Yoo-jin explained. “We had the same confidence in you. The way you won your second fight…” her voice trailed off as they walked away from the arena.

  Hao let them get farther ahead before he looked back at Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn walking with him. “It appears we have a shopping trip to take care of. Hemet’s?”

  “Yes, Father,” Yukiko smiled. “We have a little over seventy thousand to spend.”

  “We can go beyond that, if needed,” Hao said. “After all, by tomorrow night, I’ll have nearly three-quarters of a million vela.”

  “You played him like a fiddle,” Jenn said with respect.

  “Well, he wasn’t that hard to manipulate,” Hao said. “I’ve dealt with too many merchants who took over from their fathers. The Carlisle family has run their business for generations. This one looked like the fool he turned out to be... he is wallowing in his family’s success and not understanding how quickly it can all come crashing down. Unfortunately, he’ll never thank me for this simple lesson.”

  “Father has done similar in the past,” Yukiko said proudly. “Six or seven families have been ruined by their disrespect toward me.”

  “Ten,” Hao said fondly. “You didn’t know them all, but as I once told Gregory, if you always react to known provocation, it becomes easy to manipulate you. Carlisle’s pride and assuredness that eurtik aren’t as worthy as others made him as easy to move as a jug.”

  “Let’s go help our friends. Even if we do have to distance ourselves from it slightly, they’ll still know,” Gregory said. “I don’t know if Lightshield wanted the clan to be synonymous with tolerance of eurtik, but it seems like that’s the path before us now.”

  “I doubt he minds,” Jenn said. “Dia has been with the clan for decades, and the traditions all point to them being tolerant.”

  “Fair enough, my darling wife,” Gregory smiled.

  ~*~*~

  The jingle of the bell announced them as they entered the shop. Hemet looked up and greeted them with a polite smile. “Greetings, honored Warlin and Pettits. How might my humble shop serve you today?”

  “Hemet,” Hao greeted the older man with a broad smile, “your shop isn’t humble. It’s a gem that others simply don’t know the value of.”

  “Ah, flattery. It is still sweet, even at my age,” Hemet chuckled. “Let us talk business, since that is obviously why you are here.”

  “Indeed. I’m looking to buy items for three novices.”

  “Earth, wind, and spatial magi,” Yukiko added.

  “Hmm... The first two are common enough, but the third is fairly rare, even if there were two last year,” Hemet said, stroking his long wispy beard. “Did you have anything specific in mind?”

  “It would depend on what you have that would work for them,” Hao said.

  “They each have aether storage earrings,” Yukiko said. “We’d like to get them items that will last them the year, at the very least.”

  “They will be joining your clan?” Hemet asked.

  “That is possible, but the elder hasn’t said with certainty.”

  “None of them are enchanters? I’ve been asked to teach someone in your clan,” Hemet said.

  “That would be Ling. She’s an apprentice,” Gregory said. “She’ll be joining the clan after the tournament.”

  “Which spares her the possible pain and humiliation for this tournament. Not many of us enchanters are skilled in combat. Very well, let me go see what I have for the novices. Please, have a seat.” Hemet paused in the doorway to the back. “Did you want some tea?”

  “We’ll be fine,” Hao said. “I’m sure you won’t be long.”

  Hemet nodded and left them alone in the front.

  “Do you have any ideas in mind for what you hope to see?” Hao asked Yukiko as he took a seat.

  “They have aether storage already, so…” Yukiko looked into the distance, thinking of what items would be the most beneficial to her friends.

  “The fire rings are always useful, but they aren’t common enough that he’d have more of them,” Gregory said. “Besides those, anything that’s tailored to their magic would probably be best. The shadow leap ring Yuki has was amazing for her.” Gregory stopped and looked at Yukiko’s ring as an odd thought formed in his mind.

  “Hmm, that is a good point,” Hao said. “As long as they aren’t deadly, like the spike that almost killed you. I’d prefer not to give them items like that.”

  “No. For the second tournament, maybe, but for the first, it’d be bad. Few have truly deadly magics at this level,” Yukiko said. “I can’t think of specifics, but Greg has the right idea.” She looked at Gregory and saw him staring at her hand. “Greg?”

  Blinking, he looked up at her questioning face. “Oh, sorry. Different thoughts. I can explain it later, after I think it through.”

  “Very well, dear one.”

  “They don’t really need help in unarmed combat… maybe Victoria could use a little, but even she is well ahead of most in her class,” Jenn said, wondering what Gregory had been thinking.

  “That’s true,” Gregory said, rejoining their conversation. “The arctic gloves that were here last year might do her well. They might even do her well in the second tournament if she can reach through a spatial hole.”

  “Oh, yes,” Yukiko agreed.

  “All we can do is wait and see what he brings us to look over,” Hao sighed.

  Chapter Sixty

  Gregory entered the private room first, giving the others present a smile. “Sorry for the delay, but it’s going to stretch just a tiny bit longer. Father is asking to speak with all of the parents, you and Umbrose as well, Mother.”

  Yoo-jin smiled as she rose to her feet. “Of course.”

  The other five followed her, clearly wondering what Hao wanted that couldn’t be discussed in the room. Jenn and Yukiko went to take their seats and Gregory shut the door once everyone had left.

  “Did something happen?” Daciana asked.

  “In a fashion,” Yukiko replied with a knowing smile. “Who can say when the winds of fortune can blow and in what direction?”

  Nessa’s eyes narrowed, h
er lips pursing as she stared at Yukiko. She never got the chance to ask because a mostly muffled exclamation came from Gufta outside the room.

  “But why?!”

  “Well, I’m sure that the winds of fortune are met with surprise,” Jenn snickered.

  “You did something,” Victoria said calmly, “with the bet that your father won.”

  “Hmm… but that might break the bounds of what a clan can and cannot do without getting in trouble.”

  Nessa nodded slowly. “A clan can give gifts, but there are... if not rules, then guidelines... that are adhered to. Normally, it is a single enchanted item and maybe some alchemical supplements to assist whoever they’re enticing.” Her fingers touched the earring she wore. The hand she used bore the lingering traces of the burn she’d received during her first match. “No clan has gone that far for us, though.”