Everyone agreed that the food was delicious. The children had regular boar for theirs instead of bane boar, but the same glaze and rice had been served to everyone. Baylyss started to gather the dishes as Elsa darted out of the room with one of the carts.
A minute later, Elsa was back with two covered platters. “Dessert goes well with what we had,” Elsa said as she pushed the cart to the middle of the table. “It is also in celebration of two birthdays. Jenn’s is officially tomorrow, but we missed one. Clover’s was a couple of weeks ago. After dessert, we have gifts for the both of you.”
Clover blinked in surprise. Her eyes misted over as a big smile grew on her face. “Oh... Thank you.”
The children wished them both happy birthday, followed by the magi doing the same.
“I had no idea you were celebrating me, too,” Clover sniffled.
“The children wanted to celebrate with you, but we didn’t have the time off,” Ling said.
Elsa uncovered the dishes, then served everybody a single slice of dessert. Each piece had a ring of spiker fruit on the top of the cake. “This is known as spiker upside-down cake. Baylyss directed me, but I was the one who made it. I hope you enjoy.”
“We only have water to go with it, as most tea will conflict with the flavor,” Baylyss added as she topped off people’s glasses.
Gregory cut a small piece of the cake, making sure to take a part of the spiker fruit ring. It was sweet, tart, and wonderful, and he made an appreciative sound as he chewed.
Elsa’s smile grew bright as she watched them and heard the happy sounds everyone made as they tried a bite. She eagerly ate her own slice, happy that her efforts were enjoyed.
The children demolished theirs first, but the others weren’t far behind. It was only a couple of minutes before the plates were cleared away from the table.
“Now we can present Clover and Jenn with their gifts,” Baylyss said. “Since Clover’s only present today is from the children, we’ll start with hers.”
Enzo swallowed as he presented a drawing to Clover. “This is from all of us.”
Clover unrolled it and her breath caught, her smile growing gentle as she looked over it. After a moment, she turned it around so everyone could see. The drawing depicted the children sitting in front of Clover, who was reading to them.
“It shows that we learn from you,” Enzo said.
“I love it, and it will go with my other drawing,” Clover said, looking at the kids. “Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
The children beamed back and all talked excitedly about Enzo drawing them.
After a few minutes, Baylyss cleared her throat. “Time for the next gift.”
Enzo shifted down to Jenn and held out another drawing to her. “This is from all of us.”
Jenn opened it and her smile softened as she looked at it. “It’s a good future,” she said. Turning it around, she showed the others. Yukiko, Gregory, and Jenn stood in a grand hall. All of the kids— older and dressed in livery— were bowing and curtsying to them, clearly welcoming them into the grand manor.
The children beamed at them, hope shining in their eyes.
“Hope is good,” Gregory said. “It does look like a good future.”
The children again all began to talk excitedly about how they hoped for that future. Baylyss let them continue for a few minutes before getting them to settle down and take their seats.
“From us,” Ling said as she pulled out a small wrapped gift.
Jenn smiled as she took the package. Moments later, she had unwrapped the gift to show everyone the simple gloves. They were supple black leather with the clan emblem stitched into the backs.
“They aren’t very special, but you fight in close a lot and punch people,” Clover said. “These will protect your hands from damage and not impact your ability to hurt them.”
Jenn put them on, flexing her hands. “Oh, a minor enchantment?”
“Just enough to keep them from being damaged and protect your hands. Hemet said they won’t interfere with your other enchantments that way,” Ling explained.
“I’ll wear them anytime I fight,” Jenn smiled as she pulled them off and put them into her ring.
“Which leaves us,” Nessa said as she put another gift in front of Jenn. “From the three of us.”
Jenn took the package and unwrapped it. A small charm for an anklet or necklace was inside. It had an inscription that Jenn read out loud, “Family by choice, if not by blood.”
Nessa set an anklet chain beside the charm. “We have ours on, and gave them to Clover, Ling, and Yukiko.”
Jenn blinked looking up at Yukiko, who smiled at her. “I’ve put mine on, already, Jenn. Right after we bathed.”
“We did, too,” Clover beamed.
“I…” Jenn paused, then reached over and hugged Nessa with one arm. “I love it, and all of you. We are family in our own way, and that makes me happy.” Her smile turned knowing and she gave them a sly grin. “We have a surprise for you, too, but it’s for after we leave here.”
“Oh?” Daciana asked, sitting forward.
“Just wait,” Yukiko laughed.
“Umm, may I?” Roshana asked.
All eyes turned to her and she dipped her head. “I heard that your birthday was coming up. It might have been presumptuous of me, but I also have a gift for you.” She placed a small bag in front of Jenn. “It isn’t much, but I wanted to show you my friendship.”
Jenn opened the bag, revealing a cluster of small fruits. “Dates?”
“Stuffed with pecans and glazed to preserve them,” Roshana said. “My grandmother grows them and Mother prepares them. The glaze is a family recipe handed down over generations.”
Jenn picked one up and bit into it. A smile grew on her lips before her eyes widened. She swallowed as quickly as she could. “Aether-infused?”
“Some powdered core and a couple of other things,” Roshana said, bowing her head. “They’ll keep for months, easily. If stored right, a year is not unheard of.”
Jenn held the half piece of date out to Yukiko. “Try this.”
Yukiko leaned over, biting into the offering and leaving a quarter of it. Her eyes widened as she chewed. Jenn held the last piece out to Gregory, who took it from her before popping it into his mouth.
Gregory chewed slowly. The infusion of aether warmed his core, but also reminded him of something. He felt like he’d had this exact food before, though he knew he’d never had a date in his current life.
Roshana watched the three of them with trepidation. “Is it too much?”
“I like it,” Jenn said.
“It’s very good, and the aether is intense,” Yukiko said. “Do they only make it at that strength?”
“Yes,” Roshana added. “It was difficult to handle when I tried even slivers of them during my novice year. I still need small pieces to ingest them. The fact that you can handle half in one go is amazing.”
“Your grandmother and mother are magi?” Gregory asked.
“No. They also make a version that isn’t aether-infused.” Roshana pulled out a smaller package and held it out to Baylyss. “Thank you for allowing me into the home.”
Baylyss accepted the gift. “Is it safe for the children?”
“Yes.”
“Children, come get a single piece, and eat it slowly,” Baylyss said, stepping away from the table.
“You should all try it,” Jenn said, pulling out two more dates and cutting them into sections for the others.
The novices breathed slowly and deeply as they ate theirs. Clover and Ling both ate slowly, surprised at how much aether was in the single bite. Roshana watched them all, waiting to hear what they had to say.
“Powerful,” Daciana said.
“Intense,” Victoria agreed.
“Can we get more?” Nessa asked. “These would help when we’re training hard.”
“Agreed,” Ling added.
Clover nodded as she continued to eat hers.
Gregory watched the children each take theirs from Baylyss before she ushered them out of the room, leaving just the magi and Elsa in the room.
“It’s time for the surprise,” Jenn said as she put the dates into her storage ring. “Roshana, we were going to part from you here, but now, I’d like to invite you.”
Gregory felt a pit open up in his stomach. “Is that a good idea?”
“I’ll ask her,” Jenn said. “Why don’t you take the others to the door, and Roshana, Yuki, and I will be right there?”
Yukiko touched Gregory’s hand. “It’ll be her choice.”
Gregory looked down, considering if he really objected to Roshana being there if she wanted to be. She was earnest and seemed eager to join the clan, and the date had a familiarity that felt comforting. Nodding, he got to his feet. “Okay. Ladies, let’s go.”
Elsa led them to the front, where people began putting on their normal shoes. She whispered to Gregory, “This is an adult surprise?”
Gregory blinked, surprised at Elsa asking the question, before he nodded. “Yeah. Sorry, Elsa.”
Elsa shook her head. “No. I’m still a girl. I understand. I can’t be included in everything. I hope you all have a good day, and that we get to see you again before the tournament.”
“Me, too,” Gregory said. “Thank you, Elsa, for everything. The cake was delicious.”
Elsa smiled, then stepped back and curtsied to the room. “Thank you for coming. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.”
“And we look forward to coming back,” Yukiko said as she led Jenn and Roshana over to the others. “Elsa, thank you. You always make our time here better.”
Roshana bowed to Elsa. “It was a pleasure to be greeted graciously and welcomed into the home. I hope to come back again.”
“Any friend of Aether’s Guard is welcome here,” Elsa replied.
As Gregory led them outside, Jenn paused at his side and whispered into his ear, “She accepted. Are you okay with that?”
Gregory was about to say something, but a flickering memory came to him. His dream last night had been the bath they were about to go to. Roshana had been there, accepted by the others with smiles.
Is it premonition or just fantasy? Gregory asked himself before he exhaled, thinking again about the familiar feeling he had earlier. “If they are, then yes.”
Jenn kissed his cheek, then went to where the others were grouped together. “Ladies, are you okay if Roshana joins us?”
“She’s going to join the clan,” Victoria said. “Since she is, she should join us.”
Roshana bowed her head. “I hope to join the clan. I need to ask and be accepted, and I am waiting to do so.”
“Now or two months from now is the same,” Daciana said. “If you’re dedicated to the clan, then it’s fine.”
The others agreed with Daciana, then waited for Roshana’s answer.
“I thank you all for inviting and accepting me today,” Roshana said. “I really do hope to be worthy of the clan and all of you.”
“We think you will be,” Yukiko said. “Now, onto the surprise.”
Chapter Forty-two
They walked down the long, winding streets and passed into the lower ring of the city. They weren’t too far from the gate when they reached their destination. The majority of the group stopped, looking at the building.
“A bathhouse?” Clover asked.
“Yes, we’re going to share a bath,” Yukiko replied, her hand resting on the door to the establishment. “If you don’t want to do so, that’s up to you.”
Six pairs of eyes went to Gregory, who was blushing lightly, but met each of theirs.
“The choice is yours,” Gregory said. “I’m worried about what it might mean in the future, but all of you expressed a willingness before.”
Daciana went the few feet forward to stand by Yukiko, Victoria almost in step with her. Nessa hesitated a second longer before joining her two friends. Clover and Ling clasped hands, then moved to stand with the others. Roshana looked from all of them to Gregory.
“You don’t mind me being here?” Roshana asked.
“No,” Gregory said softly, “but it’s your choice.”
Roshana searched his face for a moment before bowing her head. “My spirit trembles with hope. I will join all of you.”
Jenn walked with Roshana to the others, then looked back at Gregory. “Last chance, dear one.”
Gregory looked over the group of young women. Daciana and Nessa had been friends for a little over a year. Victoria felt even a little closer to him than Nessa and Daciana, though he’d known her for less time. Clover and Ling had been his friends for a little over half a year, but his affection for them had grown faster than he thought it would. Roshana was the oddity— she was the outsider, and yet also felt right the same way Victoria did. All of them were wearing hopeful and slightly worried expressions. He felt that their worry wasn’t over him being there, but that he might turn away.
Taking a deep breath, he met Yukiko’s and Jenn’s eyes. Both radiated only happiness, and hope. Swallowing hard, he knew that today was a step that would likely propel all of them down a path he was still a little unsure about.
“Okay. Since you’re all united, I will be, too,” Gregory said, nodding.
Yukiko’s smile bloomed wider and she opened the door. “We have a room reserved for us.”
The proprietor was an older woman. Her gray hair was wound in a tight bun above her head. When the mass of them entered the building, she straightened up, giving them a professional smile. “Good afternoon. How might I assist you?”
“Reservation under Pettit,” Yukiko said, approaching the counter. “We had two connected bathing rooms.”
The older woman brightened. “Of course. We have everything in order and waiting for you.” Reaching back, she pulled on an orange cord. “One of the staff will be here to take you in a moment.”
Less than a minute later, the door beside the counter opened and a woman in a simple robe tied at her waist came out. The woman’s ears were odd— clearly not human— and higher on her head than most eurtik’s ears were. “I’m Gertrude, your helper while you are here. Follow me, please.” As she turned to go, Gregory was surprised at the broad, flat tail that hung just off the floor, peeking out from under the edge of the robe.
Gregory was the last one to follow. The receptionist gave him an appraising look as he passed the counter. Gregory tried not to feel self-conscious and failed.
They were led down a hall, past a number of small rooms, all the way to the back where the doors were widely spaced. Gertrude paused before the next to last one and opened the door.
“This is the first of the two rooms reserved. It can hold half of you,” Gertrude told them. Going to the last door in the hall, she opened it, too. “This one can hold all of you easily. There is a connecting door between them, in case you wish to use both. The door can be locked on either side to create privacy.”
“Thank you,” Yukiko said, motioning the others into the larger room. “Are all the cleaning items already laid out?”
“Everything that was requested is waiting for you,” Gertrude replied. “There are orange bellpulls in each room. If you pull one, I will be notified.”
“Understood,” Yukiko smiled. “I doubt we’ll need anything more, but knowing is always good. Have a good day.”
Gregory was standing in the hallway with Yukiko and Gertrude. When Gertrude left, he asked softly, “Should I use the other room to start with then open the doors?”
Yukiko considered his question for a moment, then nodded her head. “Yes. Go ahead and rinse, then join us. I’ll make sure the doors are unlocked on this side.” She touched his cheek. “Dear one, are you sure?”
“No,” Gregory admitted, letting his nervousness show. “I worry about it hurting our friendships, but they all a
greed. We have the second room to split up, if needed.”
“That’s true, dearest.” Yukiko looked down the hall, then kissed him lightly. “Go on. We’ll be waiting.”
Gregory swallowed as she entered the room with the others, shutting the door behind her. Taking a deep breath, he went to the other room. Using the latch, he locked the door to the hall, then started to strip down. He let all of his clothes and items go into his storage ring, meaning he put nothing into the baskets by the door.
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