That week, the Yamato clan and Han clans became more entrenched in hindering each other; the two novices who joined the Hardened Fist came to almost daily challenges against the Iron Hand; two were removed from Marcia Han’s economics class after being late two days in a row; and one of the clanless was found dead, drowned in a pond.
~*~*~
Leaving the archive, Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn were discussing what they’d been reading. “The reasons behind the limit of enchantments a magi can wear are varied,” Yukiko said. “No two agree on more than a single point, but they all agree that it’s obvious when you’ve gone too far— your aether gets smothered. Removing the extra items will bring your aether back, but it may take days for it to return to normal.”
“I’ve been fine,” Gregory said.
“We all have, but I wouldn’t try adding another enchantment until we break into the apprentice tier,” Yukiko said.
“I’m happy I reached the ninth rank,” Jenn grinned. “I know you’ll both be reaching the tenth soon, but I finally caught you, however briefly.”
“The alchemy items have been helping?” Gregory asked.
“Yes. Thank you again, Yuki.”
“No thanks are needed,” Yukiko smiled happily. “How have your law books been, Greg?”
“Slow,” Gregory sighed. “The further back I go in history, the more archaic the laws become. There are some laws that are still valid, but they’re never used.”
“Are you going to change topics?” Jenn asked.
“I don’t think so. If we end up in a place where we have to enforce the laws, it’d be good to know them. We have no idea what our adept year will be like.”
“That’s a good point,” Yukiko said. “What about your reading, Jenn?”
“I finished the wars, at least, but this current book is taking me some time. The rules and regulations to the troops that initiates and adepts are responsible for are complex.”
“Oh, I’ll read that after you’re done,” Gregory said. “Yuki, you should, too.”
“I’ll read it after Jenn finishes,” Yukiko replied. “I’m almost done with the enchanting book. That and alchemy have been so different to learn about. It’s refreshing.”
“That’s something to consider. We might want to break up the heavy learning with something that really interests us,” Gregory said. “After the laws and the book about the troops we’ll be responsible for, I think I’ll find something different.”
Arriving at the postern gate, they waited for the group of novices who arrived before them to get approved to leave. Gregory noticed the familiar face in the guards and gave the man a small bow. The sergeant gave him a nod of his head in return.
With the Han Merchant Exchange novices leaving, the initiate on duty turned to them. “Clan and names?”
“Aether’s Guard. Warlin, Pettit, and Bean,” Gregory said.
The initiate looked them over for a long moment. “You know the rules. Sergeant, let them out.”
“Men,” the sergeant said to the two guards next to the door.
“Sir, we didn’t catch your name,” Yukiko said to the sergeant.
“I never offered it, Novice,” the sergeant replied. “I’m Sergeant Willof. Enjoy your day off.”
“Thank you,” Yukiko smiled. “We hope you have a pleasant day, as well.”
They left the academy behind and got to the main street in time to see the group of Han novices climb into rickshaws and head into the city. Gregory shook his head, thinking about all the times they’d taken rickshaws during their days off before Jenn had joined them.
“Off to Gin’s for training,” Yukiko said.
“Jog the entire way?” Jenn asked.
“We don’t want to get there too early,” Gregory said. “We can walk and let our muscles warm up.”
~*~*~
Elsa opened the door, her smile wide. “Welcome back. The garden is prepared for you.”
“Thank you, Elsa,” Yukiko smiled. “How has your studying been?”
“She’s done very well with arithmetic and good with reading and writing, but she’s slipping on history,” Baylyss said. “I don’t believe she enjoys it.”
Elsa looked down, her face flushed. “It’s boring, but I’m trying.”
“Maybe you need an incentive?” Jenn offered. “My father used to let me spend an hour in the forge every week, helping him, if I learned as well as I could. If I didn’t do my best, I was banned from it.”
Elsa looked at Jenn with wide eyes. “Could I train with you if I do better?”
Baylyss looked thoughtful and gave Yukiko a questioning look.
“If Baylyss says you did exceptionally well, you can join us for our meditation,” Yukiko said. “If you don’t apply yourself fully, then you’ll not be allowed to serve us when we’re here. Every reward has a corresponding risk.”
Elsa had looked eager, but her face dimmed when she heard the rest of what Yukiko said. “What if I do my best, but don’t do exceptional?”
“Then nothing changes from our current day off.”
Elsa chewed her lip for a moment before she nodded. “I accept.”
“Very well,” Baylyss said. “We’ll measure your week from the moment they leave today until the moment they come back the next. The bar will be high, Elsa. I do hope you do your best.”
“I will,” Elsa said confidently. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, clearly centering herself. When she opened them, she gave the three novices a smile. “If you will follow me to the garden? Once you’re settled, I’ll make sure that water is brought in case you need some while you meditate.”
“We’re ready,” Yukiko said.
~*~*~
Jenn was deep into a game of Shogi with the instructor, both of them focused on the game. Gregory shook his head in frustration— he wasn’t seeing the end game for either of them yet. Looking at the other side of the table, he watched Yukiko place her next stone, capturing a group of black stones.
“They’re both quite good at their respective games,” Vexlin said. “Yukiko is more reserved in her tactics. She’ll rarely take an uneven trade, opting to pull back to get better ground. If she ever has men under her command, they’ll know she values them. Jenn, though… she only sees victory and is very adept at using her pieces to arrange that. Her men will know that she will always strive for a victory, but that it might cost their lives. Two completely different command styles.”
“We grow stronger through our differences,” Gregory murmured, not wanting to break the concentration from the players.
“You’re between them. Cautious, but aggressive when you see an opening. I’ve seen you learn over the last few weeks. You don’t get caught in traps as often anymore. If the three of you are ever in the same battle, I would pity your opponents.”
“That’s kind of you to say, but I still have a ways to go to match them.”
“Next week is our last week to be here,” Vexlin said. “Did you have any requests for a finale?”
“I hadn’t considered it. Do you have any suggestions?”
“There’s a game that you might find interesting. It requires an even number of players, because we play in teams. After we play it, you might want to keep us around for a few more weeks.”
“What’s the game?”
“It’s one you would be taught next year,” Vexlin grinned. “Empire’s Gambit.”
“I don’t know it,” Gregory said.
Vexlin frowned before suddenly snickering. “I forget that you said you came from the fringe when you arranged for us. It’s easy to forget most times— you don’t speak like a fringer, or act like one. Even then, you would only have heard of it if you’d been around the army or were raised in a magi family.”
“I’d like to learn, especially if it’ll be taught to us next year. Being ahead of the others would serve us well.”
“I doubt you’ll be ahead of some of your contemporaries, but early study might get you to be just behind them. I’ll arrange for the game to be here and ready next week. If you do wish to continue our instruction on that game, we will be here.”
“Very well.”
“You win,” Lon said as he finished adding his points. “Well played.”
“Thank you. Our teachers have been the reason we have done so well,” Yukiko smiled.
“I concede,” Cal said. “That was a difficult game.”
“Thank you for playing against me,” Jenn said. “That move about halfway through the game.” She started to reset the board to the placement she had a question about. “I’d like you to explain it to me.”
“Ah, yes. I’d hoped that would throw you off your game. It failed. What I did—”
The door to the room opened and Baylyss entered. “It’s time.”
“Just a moment, please? I want him to explain this,” Jenn said.
“I can explain next week,” Cal said. “Being late to the academy is bad from what I’ve heard.”
“We’ve avoided it so far,” Gregory said. “We’ll also be doing Empire’s Gambit next week.”
Both Lon and Cal looked happy, and Vexlin chuckled. “It’ll likely be more than just next week. We’ll see you then. Come on, Cal, we have to make sure all the pieces are in order.”
Cal got to his feet. “Next week, I’ll explain the move before we start.”
“It’s for the best,” Jenn said. “I look forward to it.”
~*~*~
“Welcome back,” Sergeant Willof greeted them as the gate closed behind them.
“Thank you, Sergeant,” Yukiko smiled. “I hope your day was quiet.”
“Day off on gate duty is always busy,” Willof replied. “I hope your day was good.”
“It was entertaining and informative,” Yukiko said.
Saying their goodbyes, they went away from the gate and toward the clan hall. Jenn frowned, waiting for them to get a bit farther before she spoke.
“Petak was near the administration building, watching us come in,” Jenn said softly.
“Likely the Eternal Flame plotting their next move,” Gregory said. “We’ll need to keep our eyes open, especially on our day off. Fureno tried to tail us, and Petak was waiting to see when we came back.”
Yukiko nodded. “That’s wise, but that doesn’t preclude something happening this week, either.”
“Stay alert and ready all the time,” Jenn snorted. “Maybe they’re just trying to make us paranoid?”
“Could be, but Nick is more a ‘rub your nose in it’ kind of guy,” Gregory said. “They might be going a little slower right now, but I fully expect something before the next tournament.”
“It’ll be more than one thing,” Yukiko said. “He doesn’t lose graciously.”
“Not at all,” Gregory snickered.
“Today was good,” Jenn said. “I really enjoyed the match against Cal. I wonder what Empire’s Gambit is going to be like.”
“I wonder, too,” Gregory said. “Any idea, Yuki?”
“I’ve heard Gin and Lin talking about it when I was younger. I don’t recall any details, though.”
“Well, a surprise it is, then, unless one of us wants to read up on it this week?”
“I can do that. I’m almost finished with the enchantment book,” Yukiko told Gregory. “When Jenn finishes with hers, I can switch with her.”
“I should finish the day after tomorrow,” Jenn said.
“After you finish it, Jenn, I’ll take it. I can get back to the troop book after that.”
“Okay,” Jenn said. “We’re working on economics again tonight after dinner?”
“You’re almost caught up with us,” Yukiko grinned. “By the end of this week, we’ll be able to focus on something other than economics for our last hour study session.”
“That’ll be different,” Gregory chuckled. “It’s been economics before bed for half a year.”
“Yes, it’ll be interesting to pick a new topic,” Yukiko nodded. “We should start thinking about what topics we’d like to cover next.”
“Something to ponder,” Gregory said as the clan hall came into view, “but that’ll be tomorrow.”
