Aether's Blessing (Aether's Revival Book 1)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Yes, sir.”

  Yukiko sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Gregory with her unbandaged eye. “Seems we gave each other a scare.”

  “Yes. We should make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

  “As my heart wishes.”

  Lin returned with the fox-eared eurtik and a wheeled chair. “They have one for Gregory, sir.”

  “The lady should be fine to walk,” the eurtik told them. “You’ll need to carefully remove the bandage tomorrow morning, then lightly dab your face clean. Your vision in that eye might be fuzzy for a day or two, but it’ll come back. If you experience vertigo, wear a patch until you can see again.”

  “Thank you,” Yukiko said.

  “You don’t have a second chair?” Hao asked sternly.

  “The second one is already in use, sir. I’m sorry.”

  “I can walk, Father. I’ll lean on the chair,” Yukiko said, getting to her feet. “I don’t feel weak.”

  Gregory wanted to argue that she should take the chair, but if he did and injured himself more, Yukiko would be upset, so he stayed silent. Yoo-jin looked at the ceiling for a moment before shaking her head.

  “I’ll walk beside her to make sure she is okay,” Yoo-jin said. “Lin can push the chair.”

  Hao grimaced but did not argue.

  “If there isn’t anything else?” the eurtik said nervously, backing toward the door.

  “No, thank you,” Yoo-jin gave her a smile. “We’re just upset that our daughter was injured.”

  “I understand,” the woman replied and left the room.

  Lin moved the chair close to Gregory, who shifted into it, feeling bad he was the one in it instead of Yukiko. “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “It’s fine, your leg was badly damaged,” Hao sighed. “I just worry for her. We’ll walk slowly, and if you feel faint at all, tell us and we’ll find a different way,” Hao told Yukiko.

  “Yes, Father.”

  ~*~*~

  The trip to the tavern was slow, with the driver taking care to make it as smooth as possible. Gregory had difficulty getting into and out of the carriage without straining his leg, but managed without causing it to flare into a mass of pain.

  The tavern was completely full— the main room was standing room only. Cheers, applause, and whistles filled the room as the people caught sight of Gregory and Yukiko.

  Hao chuckled and had to shout to be heard over the noise. “It seems news of your victories has spread ahead of you.” Taking another step forward, he raised his hands, and the room slowly quieted down. “The two are honored and flattered, but today came at a heavy cost. Please give them some space tonight as they are recovering, but enjoy the evening. Ramon, the next round of drinks is on me.”

  A path opened up, allowing the family to move through the room. Silence followed in their wake as those present got a look at Gregory limping and Yukiko’s bandaged face. As they entered the hallway, quiet conversations sprang up behind them.

  “Thank you, Father,” Yukiko whispered, her hand lightly touching the bandage. “I don’t think I could handle them staring.”

  Gregory took her hand in his, “It’ll heal.”

  “Like your leg,” Yukiko replied.

  “Yes,” Gregory agreed, still trying to keep his weight off it as much as possible.

  Less than a minute after they had gotten seated, a knock on the door announced the owner’s daughter. She bowed to them when she entered, carrying a tray with crystal glasses and two bottles.

  “We have two wines,” she told them as she poured. “One for the mistress and master; it is the favored vintage of the house. The other is for the novices. Its alcohol content is greatly reduced so that magi can enjoy the same flavor.”

  “Thank you, Nessa,” Yoo-jin smiled. “We need the two rooms next to ours prepared, also. The novices will be staying here tonight.”

  Nessa’s tail twitched, “Umm… we only have a single room left.”

  “I can—” Gregory began.

  “Prepare it,” Yukiko said, cutting him off. “We’ll figure out who shall sleep where later.”

  Hao’s lips pursed and he stared at his daughter.

  Yoo-jin’s lips trembled as she fought to keep the smile off her face. “Yes, that does make some sense,” she managed to say with a straight face. “Please see to it, Nessa.”

  She bowed and left the room, glancing back at the two novices. Once she was gone, Gregory turned his attention to his wine. He sipped it, discovering that the flavor was predominantly blackberries. Hao and Yoo-jin looked thoughtful as they tasted the wine.

  “This is good... the flavors blend well together,” Hao nodded.

  “Not as good as what we have at home, but yes,” Yoo-jin agreed.

  “Gregory and I will share the room tonight,” Yukiko said without preamble.

  “No, that is unacceptable,” Hao said firmly.

  “We are both injured, Father. Do you think we’re going to ravage each other?” Yukiko said bluntly.

  “Too much like your mother,” Hao replied, grumbling.

  “Dear,” Yoo-jin said softly, taking his hand, “calm yourself.” Turning to Gregory, she continued. “You will behave, yes? Even if my daughter does not?”

  “I will not dishonor Yuki,” Gregory said. “Besides, she’s right. Neither of us is in any condition for anything improper.” His cheeks were burning, but he managed to say the words without stammering.

  “Just spending the night in the same room—” Hao began.

  “A compromise, then,” Yoo-jin sighed. “Yu and I will stay in our room, while you and Gregory stay in the new room. A little bonding time, so you two can get to know each other better.”

  Yukiko started to object, but instead sat back in her chair. “That is probably for the best,” she admitted.

  “I will agree to that,” Hao nodded.

  Gregory nodded, though he was a little sad that he would not get to spend the night with Yukiko. “Nothing to tarnish Yukiko, it is a good idea.”

  A knock on the door interrupted them. Nessa and an older woman Gregory had not seen before were waiting with a cart loaded with covered dishes. Gregory felt momentarily bad about thinking the term horse-faced, but the horse ears, tail, and when she stepped into the room, hooves, made the thought seem a bit more fitting.

  “I thought I would serve you myself tonight,” the woman announced. “We thank you for your generosity during your stay with us. We almost never rent the rooms on the second floor, even during the tournament, so it’s a novelty that we are sold out. With the inn just down the street, it’s very rare for travelers to stay here.”

  “We prefer a calmer place,” Yoo-jin smiled. “Though tonight, it seems to be quite busy.”

  “Yes, it’s been packed all day,” the woman replied. “Let’s get to the food, hmm? We have pheasant for you and your husband, and bane fowl for the novices. Both have been cooked in a citrus sauce to enhance their flavor. The sides are wild rice with bits of fruit mixed in and lightly-buttered charid with herbs. The wine should complement the meal.”

  Nessa was busy serving them while her mother described the dishes. In the center of the table, she placed two extra dishes with more rice and charid. Once she was finished, she stepped back behind her mother.

  “Thank you, Vana,” Yoo-jin smiled. “We’ve enjoyed every meal you’ve prepared during our stay. If you weren’t running a successful family business, we’d try to hire you as a cook and take you home with us.”

  Vana bowed low, “Thank you, that is high praise. I hope this meal also meets your expectations.”

  “Thank you,” Gregory said, bowing his head to her, the smells making his stomach growl.

  Vana and Nessa left them to their meals. Gregory looked down at his plate, his mouth watering. His eagerness dimmed a little at the charid; the long, green-stalked vegetables were not one of his favorites.

  “Aether, this looks good,” Hao said, cutting a slice off the pheasant.


  Everyone agreed, and they all turned their attention to their meals. Gregory and Yukiko were glad to feel their aether being replenished as they ate. Near the end of the meal, Nessa came in again to check on them. Seeing that they were nearly done, she brought in a small cake and four small plates.

  “Mother made this specifically for you,” Nessa told them as she placed it before Hao. “Cheesecake— she hopes you’ll enjoy it.”

  “Oh, it’s been years since I had cheesecake last,” Hao smiled as he deftly sliced the cake into four equal portions. “Thank her for us, please.”

  “Yes, sir. The room is ready for you, as well.”

  “We’ll need two mats in there,” Hao told her. “I’ll be sharing it with Gregory, and my daughter will be staying with my wife.”

  Nessa nodded, “I will make sure both rooms are set up correctly, sir.”

  Gregory looked at the plain-looking white dessert with a questioning gaze. He picked up a tiny piece with his fork, wondering about the texture. His eyes widened slightly as the rich, creamy flavor permeated his mouth and he was quick to begin eating it in earnest.

  “I guess you like it, dear one,” Yukiko giggled.

  Gregory froze, giving her a sheepish look, “I’ve never had anything like it.” Slowing his pace, he made sure to savor what remained of his dessert.

  Chapter Sixty-one

  Hao was already awake and dressed when Gregory woke the next morning. Gregory yawned and stretched, “Morning, sir.”

  “Morning, Gregory. Did you sleep well?”

  “I don’t recall any dreams and I feel better, so, yes.”

  “Good. You should work on your card playing. I’ve heard magi tend to favor it over other games of chance. You should also spend some time on bones, if you are to command troops. It would be a good idea to have something in common with them.”

  “Yes, sir. I didn’t expect to play cards with you and Lin last night after dinner.”

  “It is easier to pass the time and glean information from someone if they are focused on other things,” Hao chuckled. “It seems my daughter chose well. Any lingering doubts have been put to rest now.”

  “I’m glad that your doubts are fading… Father,” Gregory said with a smirk.

  “Not yet, but in six months, that will be accurate,” Hao nodded as he capped the ink he had been using. “You can work on this,” he handed over a Magi Square. “I just finished mine,” he added, putting a parchment away.

  “Thank you. I’d like to go check on Yuki before I do anything else, sir.” Gregory said, getting out of bed and putting his clothes on.

  “I’ll go see if they’re awake,” Hao said.

  Hao returned as Gregory finished putting his boots on. “She’s awake and asking for you.”

  Gregory followed him to the next room, where Yoo-jin and Yukiko were sitting and sipping tea. “Morning, Yuki.”

  “Greg, will you help remove the bandage?” Yukiko asked with a hesitant smile.

  “Of course,” Gregory knelt beside her. “I’ll go slowly. Let me know if I need to stop.”

  Yukiko nodded, her hands clenched on her knees. “I will.”

  His hands trembled slightly as he found the edge of the bandage and began to gently and slowly peel it away from her forehead. The sound of breathing was the only sound in the room.

  Gregory was glad to see unblemished skin as he worked. He went even slower as he pulled it away from her eye. A pad of clean cloth remained covering her eye as the bandage was removed. “Can you hold that while I finish the bandage?”

  Yukiko reached up and lightly touched the cloth, clearly afraid of moving it.

  When he was finished pulling the bandage away, the skin revealed was unmarred and healthy. “Done, Yuki. It’s time.”

  Yukiko’s hand trembled as she took the edge of the cloth in her fingers. With a shaky breath, she pulled the cloth away from her eye. A clear film coated her eyelid, still sealing the eye closed.

  “Water, please,” Gregory asked. “I’ll clean it, Yuki. Just try to relax. They said everything would be fine.”

  “I’m trying, dear one,” Yukiko whispered. “But if it isn’t—”

  “Then we’ll find a way to fix it or we’ll work around it. We’ll be together the whole time,” Gregory told her gently. Hao handed him a basin with a cloth in it.

  “I’ll believe in you,” Yukiko said as her hands stilled.

  Gregory swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her trust. Taking a deep breath, he wrung out the cloth. With infinite care, he began to clean the ointment from her eye. It melted away with hardly any effort.

  “Okay, Yuki.”

  Her eye opened and she inhaled sharply. “I can see, but everything is a little blurry in that eye.” She blinked rapidly and shook her head, “They did say it would improve. We’ll have to wait and see.”

  Gregory’s lips twitched at her inadvertent pun. “Better?”

  Yukiko smiled at him, “Yes. Thank you.” Leaning over, she kissed him lightly. “I just wanted you here, in case…”

  “It’s done now,” Gregory said, not letting the other option linger. “We have all day before the ceremony and our dinner.”

  “Indeed, we do,” Hao said. “You’ll need to change into newer robes for the ceremony and change again into your best outfit for dinner. I sent Lin to speak with Keeper Dia about retrieving some of your clothing. He should be back soon.”

  “Thank you, Father,” Yukiko said, still staring at Gregory. “Will you bring me some scissors, please?”

  “We’ll get them and give you some time,” Yoo-jin said, rising to her feet. “Come, dear. They normally train for hours. We can let them have some time to meditate and talk. Yu, we’ll be back at high sun.”

  “Thank you, Mother.”

  Hao looked like he wanted to object, but sighed and let himself be led from the room. Gregory watched them go before looking back at Yukiko, who was still staring at him.

  “Yuki?”

  She shook her head, placing a finger on his lips, “Wait, please, dear one.”

  His brow furrowed, but he kissed her finger and did as she asked. A minute later, there was a knock. Nessa was there with the requested scissors. Yukiko accepted them, thanked the young woman, then handed them to Gregory.

  Once Nessa was gone, Yukiko turned her back to Gregory. “Please even my hair for me.”

  A little confused, Gregory gave the scissors an experimental snip, feeling them move easily. Looking at Yukiko’s hair, he understood why she asked. More than half of her hair was little more than stubble from the fire. The rest was raggedly uneven.

  Gregory took his time, starting with the stubble. Neither spoke as he worked. Time lost meaning for the two of them, both falling into an almost meditative state. The moment he set aside the scissors, Yukiko exhaled.

  “Thank you, dear one. I didn’t think you would be that shallow, but I worried that my hair being this short might be a problem,” Yukiko said, not looking at him.

  “I didn’t fall in love with your hair,” Gregory said softly, kissing the back of her neck.

  Yukiko inhaled sharply, a shiver running down her spine at the kiss. “Dear one, please stop. I want it too much.”

  Resting his head against her, he put his arms around her and held her gently. “Sorry, Yuki. I’m not trying to tease you. I just want to kiss you and hold you.”

  Leaning back into him, Yukiko sighed, “I understand. I would love for that to be our entire day. The next six months will be difficult.”

  “Yes,” Gregory agreed, his voice a little rough. “We’ll manage, though, because we both want the same thing. To make your parents proud and to do the right thing.”

  “And your aether promised us dreams, so we can at least experiment there,” Yukiko whispered with a shiver. “I would love that, if you are listening, Gregory’s aether. Please make it happen occasionally, so we can be ready for when we may come together in the flesh. I’ll share him with you. I have a feeling you ar
e responsible for me being able to touch all three paths like him. I don’t believe it’s just because I believe it possible.”

  “You think so?” Gregory asked.

  “If that was the only thing required, others would have done it before now, Greg. I know we’ve read scrolls where people touch two and then lose connection with one of them, but I don’t believe it’s just a matter of belief. We may be stubborn, but there are magi even more strong-willed, I’m sure.”