“One of them will take the top spot,” Yoo-jin replied, sounding certain. “I would love to talk more, but we are keeping my husband waiting. Have a good meal.”
Lin stopped to check in with his second in command while Yoo-jin, Gregory, and Yukiko continued down the hall to the private dining room. Entering the room, Yoo-jin smiled at her husband, “Dear one, how are you feeling?”
“Better, but still recovering,” Hao replied. His smile widened upon seeing the two behind her, “I heard you both won, which is good.”
Gregory was concerned about Hao’s health. The merchant had deep circles under his eyes, his hands shook slightly, and it seemed like he had more traces of gray showing in his hair. “Yuki will be facing Nick Shun tomorrow. I’ll be facing Jason Argon or Klein Armit, depending on who won the last fight.”
“Jason will be your opponent. Word was brought to me while you were out,” Hao replied. “I wanted to know before you arrived.”
“You arranged that greeting?” Yoo-jin sighed with a fond smile.
“They need to get used to it, as they will become well known to many in the coming years.”
“Father,” Yukiko shook her head, “we have time.”
“Not as much as you might think,” Hao said seriously. “All the great clans are interested in you, and you have made it to the top four in the first novice tournament. I trust you to be able to handle those who will try to use you, but you need to guard him.”
“I will,” Yukiko said simply. “No one will harm my heart.”
“The proctor who brought me in warned me,” Gregory said. “I’m aware that not everyone who appears friendly will be. Nick has helped prove that point, as well.”
“Good,” Hao replied. “The drinks—”
A knock on the door cut him off. The owner’s daughter came in, delivering drinks for them. Once they all had beverages, she bowed, “Your meals will be brought shortly.”
“Thank you,” Yoo-jin smiled. “Let your mother know that we are looking forward to it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Dinner was wonderful. The steaks were cooked to their individual preferences and served with a garlic honey glaze that had them all smiling. The vegetables were steamed so they were tender, but still firm. Dessert was cream puffs, served with honeyed fruit on the side.
Sipping the tea afterward, Gregory felt sated and a little sleepy.
“Oh, your gloves are being examined by Hemet,” Hao said. “He sent word that he’s having trouble with them. I left the box with him as well, so it will appear that we haven’t opened it. He has already returned that. He offered to buy it until I told him the price. I’ve reached out to the Han clan to see if they would be interested and I should hear back from them tomorrow.” Pausing, he looked down, “I’ll likely be missing the fights tomorrow. I’m sorry, but it’s taking me longer to recover than I had expected. I am discovering that I’m not as young as I used to be.”
“Father, rest and recover. I know that you need time after moments like that. I’m not surprised that it’s more extreme after facing down a grandmaster.”
“We understand, sir,” Gregory said, though he clearly did not.
“It’s a family secret,” Yoo-jin said to Gregory. “You’ll learn once you officially join the family.”
Thinking about his own secrets, Gregory could only bow his head to her, “I understand.”
“In that vein,” Hao said with a smile, “we will be holding your betrothal dinner at Gin’s. We need to know by tomorrow night who you would like to attend.”
Gregory and Yukiko exchanged a glance, wondering who they should invite. After a moment, they both had the same thought. “The eurtiks?” Yukiko asked first.
“Yes,” Gregory smiled. “They’ve been our only real friends, though I’m not sure they would be able to attend. We’ll have to ask them tomorrow.”
“Do you have an approximate number?” Hao asked.
“At least ten?” Gregory asked Yukiko.
“At least, though depending on their families, maybe four or five times that. We’ll ask and have them notify you here, Father.”
“That will work,” Hao nodded. “I had to invite Marcia Han. I apologize for that, but it is a concession to keep the Han clan, if not happy, at least neutral to us.”
“I understand, Father,” Yukiko replied. “Considering the Eternal Flame is going to be hostile, it will be good to have at least one of the other major clans not ranged against us.”
“Hopefully the other great clans won’t be as upset as the Eternal Flame is going to be,” Gregory said worriedly. “Besides Grandmaster Shun being upset because of the auction, their two frontrunners are going to lose to us tomorrow.”
“Yes, there is that,” Hao agreed. “It would be good to find a clan you can both agree on, but with them against you, I can’t think of any smaller clan that would take you in. If you would even want them to take you in,” Hao finished.
“I’m fairly certain I’ve heard from all the clans that are represented inside the academy walls. I could check with Keeper Dia, she would know for certain,” Yukiko said. “The clans not represented don’t want to involve themselves in the politics of the academy, which is a point in their favor, but also makes it harder to know if we would fit in with them.”
“If things stay the same, we will keep supporting you in place of a clan. Truthfully, we would anyway,” Hao chuckled. “My beautiful daughter deserves everything I can give her.”
“Dinner is done, and the two of you have a big day ahead of you. It would be best for you to get going,” Yoo-jin said. “Get your sleep. I will be at the arena again tomorrow, waiting for you.”
“Thank you, Mother, Father,” Yukiko smiled as she rose to her feet. “We will do our best to make you proud.”
“Thank you,” Gregory bowed to them both. “I will do everything I can to protect and help Yuki.”
The two of them left the older couple in the room. As they entered the main room, conversations stopped and all eyes turned to them. The tavern was busier than it had been and the room was now filled with people.
A man with wolf ears stood up and bowed to them, “My family thanks you.”
“As does mine,” another added, bowing as well.
As more of the customers in the inn spoke up, Gregory realized that the majority of them were eurtik, either full-blood or of mixed descent. Yukiko stood beside him, feeling just as awkward as Gregory was.
“We will be rooting for you tomorrow,” another said.
“As you’re facing two who will be joining the Eternal Flame, it’s a bit poignant to us.”
More comments of similar sentiment piled on and eventually, Gregory raised a hand to get them to quiet down. “We are honored that you are thanking us. We will do our best tomorrow, for both ourselves and all of you.”
Gregory and Yukiko got into the carriage and were taken back to the academy. One of the staff from the dormitory met them short of the building and led them up the back stairs again.
“Is Keeper Dia free?” Yukiko asked their guide.
“I will let her know you wish to speak with her,” the staff member said before slipping away.
“Your room?” Gregory asked.
“Since I asked for her, it’s for the best,” Yukiko agreed, opening the door.
They had just started to work on Magi Squares when a soft knock came on the door. Yukiko answered it, stepping aside for Keeper Dia.
“What may I help you with, Novice?”
“My family is holding an announcement party the night after tomorrow, and I was asked to find out how many would be attending,” Yukiko explained. “It is family or friends for this event, but that is difficult for us. We don’t have any real friends among the other novices, but you and your staff have been very helpful, so I would like to extend an invitation to all of you. It would be late, after the final match.”
Dia’s lips turned up at the corners, but she shook her head. “I must s
adly decline. I’m to remain neutral in all things where those in training are concerned. I will ask my staff if any of them would like to go. Congratulations on making it to the final four, and best of luck on making it to the final.”
“Very well. We had hoped, but we understand.”
“I’ll have an answer for you in the morning, if that is acceptable,” Dia replied.
“Yes, Keeper, and thank you,” Yukiko said, bowing her head to the older woman.
“Thank you, Keeper,” Gregory added from his spot at the table.
“Of course. I shall look forward to hearing about the matches tomorrow,” Dia replied, bowing her head before she left the room.
“Figures,” Gregory sighed. “I had hoped, but I understand why the rule would be in place.”
“Yes. We’ll ask the cooks and archivists tomorrow when we see them,” Yukiko sighed as she came back to her seat. “Let’s finish these puzzles and then call it a night.”
“That’s probably best,” Gregory agreed, stifling a yawn.
Chapter Fifty-seven
Exiting the dormitory the next morning, Gregory and Yukiko were in good spirits. “Good morning, Keeper,” they greeted Dia, who was exhaling a smoke ring.
“Good morning to you both. Good luck in your fights today. I have been informed that twenty of the staff, plus ten spouses, would like to attend your event. More would have accepted, but I need to keep some here to help run things. If you need it to be less—”
“That’ll be fine,” Yukiko said quickly. “The more friendly faces, the better.”
“Very well. I told them to let me make sure it was okay for that many of them first. Are you going to return here before this evening?”
“No, we aren’t planning on it.”
“Very well. I will tell the clan representatives who show up to see you so they don’t continue to take up a room,” Dia said, drawing deeply from her pipe and blowing out a column of smoke rings.
They said their goodbyes and headed off to the mess hall.
“Do you think your parents are going to be okay with so many people showing up?” Gregory asked curiously.
“Yes. Gin’s place can easily accommodate over a hundred, and Father will be able to make sure the food and drinks are ready.”
“Is it usual for the betrothal party to be large?”
“This will be a small event compared to the last,” Yukiko said, a little distant as she was thinking of her first betrothal.
“Huh. We didn’t have betrothal parties. It’s just the two interested parties telling their parents that they’re courting.”
“That would be nice,” Yukiko smiled. “It would have been much simpler for us, too.”
“True,” Gregory admitted thoughtfully. “Not sure I would have admitted that I was so interested in you, though, especially since you were already promised to another. We might have ended up in the same place.”
“No, it would have been easier for me to admit to you, my parents, and myself. Courting isn’t quite the same as a betrothal, though. To most of society, a betrothal is a very serious thing, and breaking one is an insult. I’m sure Father will have made them sorry for doing so, which makes me happy. The one I was betrothed to was… like Nick and Hayworth.”
“An arrogant ass?”
Yukiko giggled, “Roughly speaking and crudely said, but honest. It’s one of the things I like about you. We might want to work on your tact a little to make it easier when we have to deal with people in powerful positions.”
The eurtiks serving in the mess hall greeted them noisily. “There you are! We heard your match was very close,” Ravol said to Gregory.
“Hers wasn’t. We laughed for a long time over how you tricked your opponent into slamming into the wall,” Zenim grinned at Yukiko.
“We are glad to hear you won’t be facing each other until the final,” Velma cut in.
“Having to face the two forerunners of the Eternal Flame today will be rough,” Steva added.
“It’ll be rough, but we’ll do our best,” Yukiko smiled. “The fights today are after high sun, so can we get snacks today as well, please?”
“Yes, I’ll put them together while you eat breakfast,” Velma said, quickly handing over Yukiko’s plate and touching her medallion.
“Thanks. We’ll need all the help we can get today,” Gregory added as he took his plate, tucking his medallion back into his kimono.
“Before we go, my family is holding a party tomorrow night. I’ve been asked to invite my friends. Would you five,” she glanced at Quilet in the washing area, “like to attend?”
“That would be difficult... we don’t stop working until—”
“It’ll be fine if you need to arrive late. Your wives and husbands are welcome to attend, as well,” Yukiko cut off Velma. “It’ll run late, as these things usually do. We’re likely to miss breakfast the next morning, ourselves.”
Gregory blinked, not having expected that, but accepted it. “We aren’t friends with the other novices. You have all been welcoming and friendly to us, so we’d like you to come.”
The four cooks exchanged a look and Ravol spoke up. “Are you sure? We’re slaves, and—”
“That doesn’t matter,” Gregory cut in. “The only thing that matters is if you would like to come.”
“Please,” Velma said first, bowing low to them.
The others voiced their agreement and bowed. Yukiko looked over to see Quilet bowing to them from his station.
“I shall let my parents know that you five will be there a little late, and that your spouses will be there, too,” Yukiko smiled. “We look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning for breakfast and for the party.”
“We will look forward to it,” Ravol said, echoed by the others.
“Oh, I need to get your snacks ready,” Velma said, rushing off to do that.
~*~*~
“Good morning,” Rafiq greeted them when they entered the archive.
“Good morning,” Gregory and Yukiko said in unison.
“Working on Magi Squares again today?”
“Yes. We have a question to ask you. Would you like to attend a party my family is having tomorrow night?”
Rafiq leaned back a little, “An unusual request. Truthfully, I would like to accept, but I must decline. The rules of the archive forbid us socializing with those attending the academy.”
“All archivists?” Gregory asked.
“Yes, everyone who works in these halls. I believe it was one of the reasons Master Damon left us to become the keeper of the blade.”
“Oh, we apologize. We didn’t know,” Yukiko replied, bowing to him.
“No, it is fine. As I said, I would accept if not for the rules. I’ve never seen novices as studious as you. It makes me happy that at least some of the young are willing to accept our knowledge instead of just relying on the clans.”
“We’ll be in the back until just before the ninth bell,” Gregory said. “Have a good day.”
“You as well, and good luck to you both in your bouts today.”
They smiled, bowing to him, before heading off to train the mind path.
~*~*~
Gregory and Yukiko shared a smile as they wiped off the sweat from training the body and spirit paths together. They knew they were making progress, even if it was not easily apparent from day to day. Afterward, they decided to use the bathrooms attached to the training hall. They split up to shower and refresh themselves before heading to the arena.
Gregory paused at the entrance of the bathing room, seeing that Magus Paul was currently using the facility. The plethora of scars that lined the older man’s back and arms were disconcerting to Gregory. Shaking his head, he moved over to the bench and began to clean.
“Novice? Did you train this morning?” Paul asked when he noticed he was no longer alone.
“Every morning, sir,” Gregory replied.
“Even though you’re fighting in a couple of hours?”
&nbs
p; “Because of that. It is only through training that we can improve. I’ll be replenishing the little bit of aether I lost and be ready for the fight.”
Paul grunted, “Unusual. I believe the other novices are relaxing before they show up to the arena.”
“No, sir. Yukiko is currently bathing, as well.”
“She would be,” Paul nodded. “The two of you are always together. It’ll make it harder for you when the clans pull you apart.”
Aether's Blessing (Aether's Revival Book 1) Page 45