They made a small stop at an herbalist where the men were asked to wait outside. Hao wore a bemused smile and exchanged a knowing glance with Adolphus. Gregory was sure he knew why, but was never going to ask his wives. After that, it was a pleasant trip back to Warm Slumber.
The conversation before dinner focused on what the apprentices would likely be seeing and doing in the coming years. Dinner was a three-course meal— the magi were surprised at how rich the aether in the food was. They passed their compliments to the cooks, but time slipped away and soon, it was time to go.
After saying their goodbyes, the apprentices left the room, pausing when the other dining room door opened and revealed four people. The one in front was clearly related to a wolf eurtik. The person directly behind him had strong panther eurtik blood, and behind her was a dwarf and a human. All four of them were wearing robes embroidered with a wolf, howling at a moon.
The leader of the other group was the first one to recover from the surprise. “Aether’s Guard, we are surprised to see you here.” His voice was pleasant, but held a subtle growl.
“We just finished having dinner with my family,” Yukiko smiled. “Mage…” she trailed off, clearly looking for a name.
“Manners. Yes, manners,” the man exhaled before standing up straight, bringing him even with Gregory in height. “I am Mage Otis Fang, chaperone for the students of my house.”
“It is an honor, sir,” Gregory said, bowing formally. “You’ve heard of my wives and I, but we should introduce the rest of our clan here.” He went over introductions for everyone else in their group.
“We hope you are enjoying your time in Buldoun,” Otis said. “You’ve heard of my students.”
“We are pleased to make your acquaintances off the field,” Yukiko smiled.
Jessica Hofen, the part-panther eurtik, dipped her head. “As one shadow mage to another, you did well.” Her voice was soft, but also carried a faint hint of a growl to it.
“Our fight will be interesting. I’m not sure the crowd will see much,” Yukiko said.
“It will all be shadows, as long as they don’t make us fight during the middle of the day.”
“Good job on your fight with Jason,” Gregory told the dwarf, Lukas Grimm. “He’s a tough one.”
“Yes, one blast is normally enough for most,” Lukas replied. “Foresight… I’ll be interested in testing you.”
“I wish to congratulate you on your win,” Ivan Armstrong told Jenn. “I will have to work on what you were doing.”
“We should start walking,” Otis said. “Are you heading back?”
“We are. I’d thought you’d be housed in the city,” Yukiko said.
“No, this is a learning time for them. A few days of discomfort will prepare them for later.”
“Soft beds and a staff member,” Jessica snorted. “Better than most of my life.”
“Agreed,” Lukas chuckled. “We’re not from privileged families.”
Ivan grimaced. “Can we not, please?”
“Oh, you’re fine. I’m thinking of others,” Lukas said, slapping Ivan on the shoulder.
“We’re leaving now,” Otis said before starting away.
They followed the Wolf House mages out through the inn. A lot of rumors started up as they left, so Otis looked a little sour when he stopped outside.
“That will cause some discussion with the other houses,” Otis snorted. “Are you to be here often?” He directed the question at Gregory’s group.
“My family is staying here. We have whenever we’re in the city for years now,” Yukiko replied.
“Because of your heritage?” Jessica asked.
“It’s one of the few inns that was comfortable for me,” Yukiko replied.
“Same reason we use it,” Jessica said, staring at Otis.
Otis sighed. “Yes, that is one of the reasons. The other is that my nephew is the cook.”
“Oh? He did very well with dinner tonight. I guess we know why now,” Clover smiled.
“I do enjoy his steaks,” Otis exhaled. “As long as you behave, we will. Deal?”
“Sir,” Gregory said, “Aether’s Guard is a clan that doesn’t try to start trouble. We aren’t the Eternal Flame. We try to get along with as many people as we can. None of us here have strong feelings against your clan… err… house, nor against Buldoun itself.”
“He did catch Stallo,” Ivan said. “He had no reason to do that.”
“It’s just a tournament. It’s a place to show our strengths, not a battlefield,” Gregory said. “There’s no reason to act like Parks did when on the arena floor.”
“True… your wife didn’t try to break me into pieces,” Ivan nodded.
“We will fight with all we have, but within the guidelines,” Yukiko said. “If only everyone felt that way.”
“Hmm… not weak, but not bloodthirsty. I will be interested in seeing how the tournament goes,” Otis said.
“Back to the encampment?” Ling asked. “We could walk with you?”
“I’d prefer if we separate. The rumors because we were seen together will already be high. Good evening to you, magi.”
“Good evening, mages,” Yukiko said before all of them bowed formally.
Otis grunted, then bowed back to them, his students mirroring him.
“We’ll wait here for a few minutes,” Gregory said.
“Thank you.”
As the Buldoun mages left, the group of magi smiled to themselves. “They were pleasant. More than even some clans we know,” Roshana said.
“A low bar to clear for some,” Mindie smiled.
“True,” Ling laughed.
“When we fight them as a group, I’ll give my ring to one of you,” Gregory said. “Probably Jenn. My armor will handle the flames.”
“That would be for the best,” Yukiko agreed.
“She’ll be as hard to deal with as Yuki is,” Clover said. “Does she remind you of the archivist?”
“Yes. Both are panther eurtik, and have shadow magic,” Yukiko said.
“She did display it during Gregory’s Magi Squares duel,” Jenn nodded.
“What Magi Squares duel?” Roshana asked.
“I’ll explain while we walk,” Gregory said. “It was the second half of our first year…”
~*~*~
“Excuse me?” The voice that called out was beautiful, but carried a hint of command.
Clover was the first to turn around, and she smiled. “Hi. Eagle House, right?”
In the lead of the four people approaching them was Claudia Firetongue, the fire mage who’d fought Nick. Her robe was embroidered to display an eagle in the sky. Her two fellow students were just behind her with an older mage behind them, looking decidedly unhappy.
“Aether’s Guard, yes?” Claudia asked as she got closer.
“That is our clan,” Ling said, eyeing her.
“Oh, that’s right. Your clan is in both tournaments,” Claudia smiled. “That explains your size. First, though, manners. I am Claudia Firetongue, and these are my fellow students in Eagle House. Pavil Cutter,” she pointed to the wind mage who had beat Binder, “and, of course, Adriana Locus, who was beaten by Yukiko Pettit.”
“And?” Roshana asked, looking at the man behind them.
Claudia looked back, then sighed. “Robert Kitch, our chaperone.”
Robert rolled his eyes. “Glorified babysitter for someone who doesn’t listen.”
“Ignore him. We do,” Claudia smiled.
“What can we do for you?” Gregory asked, a little puzzled at her dismissing her senior.
“Oh, we wanted to meet you.”
“You wanted to,” Pavil Cutter said.
“Fine,” Claudia sighed. “I wanted to meet you. Rumor has it you bested Shun and his clan repeatedly in your tournaments. Is that true?”
“We have,” Jenn said.
“Excellent! Anything to tarnish them makes me happy,” Claudia beamed.
“Sounds like a story?” Mindie said questioningly.
“Oh, yes,” Claudia said. “Shall we walk? I can explain while we do.”
“Please,” Gregory said, motioning to her.
“Such a gentleman. Completely unlike that boor Shun. It makes sense that you have two wives already,” Claudia said, eyeing Gregory up and down briefly. “If only you’d been born in Buldoun…” Tsking to herself, she started walking, but touched Gregory’s elbow so he was beside her. “The story about my family and Shun isn’t a terribly long one.”
Yukiko’s eyebrow went up at how quickly Claudia seemed to take over the moment. She was about to move in beside Gregory when someone touched her arm. “Excuse me.”
“Yes?” Yukiko asked.
Adriana started to walk beside her. “Thank you for earlier.”
“Oh?”
“We both know you could have blinded me with any of those throws. You could’ve gone for my neck at least twice, yet you didn’t. Why?”
“As my husband loves to say, it’s just a tournament, not life and death,” Yukiko replied. “We’re here to represent our countries and clans or houses, not to kill and maim each other. While some don’t understand that, we do. We’ll defend ourselves, but we don’t actively seek to harm like that.”
“Ah. I see. You have been happy with your clan?”
Yukiko gave the other woman a brilliant smile. “Yes. It’s our home. Our clan doesn’t hold prejudices against people.”
“We’d heard that all eurtik in the empire are… lesser.”
“The prejudice is high. Even eurtik like me are given troubles, but our clan isn’t like that.”
“Is that…?” Adriana trailed off, as the question was indelicate at best.
“No, but also a bit of yes,” Yukiko smiled. “Our clan firmly believes in Aether’s return, but the idea of being accepted might’ve drawn some in.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“To Nick’s father?!” Ling asked in shock, which got Yukiko’s attention.
“Yes,” Claudia sighed. “We thought it would benefit both his family and ours, but as soon as she got to the empire, we stopped hearing from her. We heard she’d given birth to twins from some people, but she never reached out to us.”
“He never speaks of his mother,” Jenn said. “Greg?”
“He’s mentioned his grandfather only, and his father once, but that was it,” Gregory said.
“Damn them…” Claudia sighed. “Mother has been upset and petitioned your emperor, but has heard nothing back.”
Yukiko excused herself from Adriana and closed the distance to Jenn who was beside Gregory. “What did I miss?”
“Claudia’s aunt is married to Nick’s father,” Jenn said. “It was supposed to result in children who would be given to both families. Not only did that not happen, but they also haven’t heard from her aunt since the marriage.”
“So I was thanking you for hurting them,” Claudia said, giving Yukiko a smile. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Have we met?”
“I don’t believe so.”
Lips pursed, Claudia nodded slowly. “Very well… you remind me of something, but I can’t recall it.”
“Yuki was betrothed to Dan Yulin for years,” Gregory said. “They broke the betrothal when she tested as a magi.”
“That pig!” Claudia hissed.
“Dan Yulin truly is that,” Yukiko nodded.
“I’m glad you got away from him,” Claudia said, then recognition dawned. “Your portrait was displayed in their home for a few years. Much younger, of course. That’s why you look familiar… I… sadly… was a childhood playmate of his for years.”
“Of course,” Yukiko sighed. “The Firetongue family. We missed you thrice during our trips into Buldoun. Your family always left a day before we arrived.”
Claudia moved around Gregory and Jenn to walk beside Yukiko. “I remember now… Mother was always wanting to leave before you arrived.” She exhaled, giving Yukiko an apologetic smile. “I don’t hold her views, though. I find your hair quite lovely.”
Yukiko blinked, then giggled. “Thank you. Your blonde ringlets are beautiful, too.”
The conversation turned into small talk as they got closer to the arena encampment. Mage Robert Kitch trailed them, sighing. He hated the fact that he’d gotten stuck with the students, but if he failed to do his job, the archmage would kill him, so he did the best he could.
