Hemet met them with the rest of the clan in the hallway. “Are you ready to return to the encampment?”
“Actually, sir, we thought we’d invite the Wolf and Eagle Houses over to chat, then maybe do dinner together,” Gregory said. “We wanted to check with our friends before we do, though.”
“Hmm… interesting,” Hemet said, stroking his beard.
“We normally see Eagle House, anyway,” Clover said. “It’d be nice to see how they do together.”
“I agree with Clover,” Ling said. “I wonder how their houses interact?”
“I’m good with this idea,” Mindie said.
“If they’ll agree,” Roshana said. “They might not want to if they know the other house is going to be there.”
“True. Do you mind if we head back after we find them, sir?” Gregory asked.
“Very well,” Hemet chuckled. “Just be safe.” He walked away, leaving them in the hall.
Yukiko turned to the others. “If we go around, we might catch them.”
The group left the hallway, stepping out of the arena. The crowds had swelled over the last week, so moving— even for the magi— was a matter of slow progress. People did step aside for them, but they had to wait for others to give them room.
A handful of people cheered for them, and a few much farther away taunted them. At least one fight broke out because of their taunts. Gregory shook his head, already seeing guards coming over to break it up.
They were halfway around when Gregory spotted Claudia and her group heading their way. He waved to her to get her attention; Claudia’s eyes lit up when she saw him, and a smile grew on her lips as she waved back. It still took them a few minutes for the two groups to meet up, but when they did, a wider area had opened around them.
“We didn’t expect you to be about already,” Claudia smiled. She exchanged a hug with Yukiko. “You normally go and bathe first, don’t you?”
“Yes, but we wanted to invite you over to our encampment for dinner,” Yukiko told her. “We were also considering inviting Wolf House.”
Robert Kitch, the chaperone for Eagle House, spoke up before Claudia could, “No. We cannot allow that.”
“We?” Claudia asked sweetly as she turned to face him. “Please explain.”
“I was told to keep you from fraternizing with the other houses,” Robert said firmly.
“You’re telling me what I can and cannot do?” Claudia asked again, her tone even sweeter.
Robert hesitated. “No. I am telling you what the archmage told me.”
“Did he not also tell us to converse with the clans if we could? To foster friendships and goodwill?” Claudia asked pointedly.
“Uh… well… yes,” Robert conceded, all too aware of the crowd watching them.
“Then we’re doing that, and not the other,” Claudia smiled. She turned back to Yukiko. “Give us an hour to go get cleaned up? I would hate to head over in my current state.”
“Let’s call it two,” Yukiko replied. “We have to make it all the way to your area to invite Wolf House.”
“Ah, yes. There is that,” Claudia sighed.
“I could rip a portal?” Adriana suggested. “It’d only be good for one of you, though.”
“I’ll go,” Mindie said. “A healer is no threat, and I don’t need to clean up.”
Yukiko gave Mindie a bright smile. “Thank you, Mindie. Come back with them, or with Claudia. Okay?”
“I will,” Mindie said.
“Did you already have food prepared?” Claudia asked.
“Not yet,” Yukiko replied.
“We’ll bring it with us. The best we can arrange. This way, no one needs to rush for it.” Claudia turned toward Robert with a smile. “Make sure that I’m right.” She spun right back to Yukiko. “An hour or just past that?”
“That’ll be fine,” Yukiko smiled, then hugged Claudia again. “See you soon.”
“Mindie, are you ready?” Adriana asked as she stepped back.
“Yes.”
Adriana motioned and Mindie vanished. With a deep exhale, she blinked a few times. “I used more than I thought during the fight.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said. “See you soon.”
The two groups broke apart, leaving rumors in their wake.
~*~*~
“Welcome to Aether’s Guard,” Lightshield smiled. “Adept, thank you for bringing them.”
“It was my pleasure, Elder,” Mindie said, quickly bowing.
“Archmage, we are honored to host two of your houses,” Lightshield went on. “But now, I must hand this greeting over to Sage Windfoot.”
Laozi gave a small bow of his head to Lightshield. “We have been gratified to see the friendships that have started during this tournament. If you and the chaperones will come with us, we will be having a separate dinner. We do not wish to ruin the appetites of our young.”
Archmage Aliminus bent his head fractionally. “Yes. Sometimes, our power can grow a bit more than we realize. We shall accept. Mages, come with us.”
“Yes, sir,” both Robert and Otis said humbly.
As the powerful magi and mages went to Lightshield’s tent, Gregory exhaled. “Sorry about that, but it seems that your leader changed the plans a little, too.”
“He… does that,” Claudia said a little stiffly. “We did bring the food.”
“We have some rosem wine,” Roshana said. “The elder supplied it.”
“Does he really have foresight like you, Gregory?” Jessica asked.
“Better than me. He’s an elder and has had centuries to learn how to use it,” Gregory replied. “Our tent is over here.”
Small talk started up as Gregory led the way. As they neared the tent, Ivan slowed. Seeing him slow down, the rest of the group did, too. Gregory ended up having to stop, as the whole group had.
“You’ve fought here?” Ivan asked slowly, looking at the ground.
“We train here,” Jenn said.
“Train? During the tournament?” Adriana asked.
“Our days off in between,” Clover beamed. “We have to keep improving.”
“I told you we could, too,” Pavil told Claudia.
“I wanted to, but he said no. Told us we couldn’t quite explicitly,” Claudia sighed. “I argued with him.”
“One of the few times he’s told you ‘no,’” Adriana coughed.
“Some of us don’t even get told no. We just get looked at sternly,” Jessica said tightly.
Claudia grimaced. “I didn’t ask to be his…” She trailed off, taking a deep breath. “Trust me… you’re far luckier.”
“We had hoped for friendlier conversation tonight,” Mindie said.
Both Jessica and Claudia bowed, then spoke over each other, “I apologize.”
“Umm… who do you train with?” Ivan asked, pulling the conversation back on topic.
“The Iron Hand and Swift Wind have both joined us,” Roshana said.
“That would make sense for how trampled it is,” Ivan nodded.
Pavil and Lukas walked out into the open area, getting a good feel for the size of the training area. It was Lukas who turned back first. “It’s almost the size of the arena.”
“It is,” Jenn chuckled, moving out to corral them. “We should head inside to eat. After dinner, we were thinking of playing some games. We have a couple of Go and Shogi boards, and dice and cards to use, as well.”
“Are we gambling?” Pavil asked with a grin.
“Maybe low stakes,” Jenn said. “We just want to have some fun with friends.”
“That was what we had in mind. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent with both of your houses,” Gregory said directly to Claudia and Jessica. “We hoped to hear how the houses act with each other, too. I mean, our relationships with other clans range from the Eternal Flame to the Iron Hand.”
Claudia moved up and touched his elbow. “I don’t mind speaking on it.”
Jessica’s eyebrows shot up and she trailed behind them, shocked at how forward Claudia was being. She’d never thought that the icy princess of fire could actually be friendly with others.
Yukiko dropped back a step to walk beside Jessica. “Good fight today.”
“It was terrible,” Jessica smiled. “Thank you for pushing me. I felt more alive during that than I have for most of the others. There was a moment when I thought you had another trick you were going to use.”
Yukiko laughed. “I thought you did. I never saw your dagger leave your hand until it got me.”
Klim watched the group with a curious expression from the Iron Hand’s encampment. When they all entered the tent, she nodded slowly before going to find her apprentices.
~*~*~
Dinner was just ending when there was a knock from the post outside the tent. Elsa hurried to answer. “Magus, how can I help you?”
“I was hoping that my apprentices and myself might join the gathering?” Klim asked.
“Just a moment,” Elsa bowed her head.
“It is fine, Elsa. Show them in,” Lightshield said, appearing behind the Iron Hand in a gust of wind. “Magus Klim, if you will come with me? Those above adept are in my tent. We do not wish to stifle the young speaking together.”
“Ah. Very well, Elder,” Klim said, her lips ticking down slightly.
“You can have your match in a couple of hours,” Lightshield chuckled before a coughing fit took him.
Klim instantly grabbed his shoulder, trying to help him. “Elder?”
Lightshield exhaled roughly. “I am fine. Thank you. Please walk with me.”
“Yes, sir,” Klim said, moving away with him.
“Come on in, guys. We’ll introduce you,” Gregory said. “You know who our guests are, obviously. So, esteemed guests, let me introduce the apprentices of the Iron Hand clan…”
The conversation became a little more guarded as their guests felt out the new group. As they played the games, the tense atmosphere relaxed. Dave ended up in a debate of tactics with Ivan while they played Go. Jessica and Farin, their old classmate, had an animated discussion on how shadow magic could be used on the battlefield for more than assassination.
Gregory smiled as he came back from a trip outside. The moment felt right to him as he watched mages and magi speaking with each other. There were no hidden threats or ulterior motives— it was simply new adults of two nations comparing their lives and experiences.
“It’s quite lovely, isn’t it?” Claudia asked softly, going to his side. “If only those in power could agree to be as civil…”
“That’s true about so many things,” Gregory chuckled. “I had a question, but I don’t want to pry too far.”
“The archmage?” Claudia asked softly. “He has plans for me, partially because of which family I came from.”
“Oh… we had no idea.”
“It isn’t talked about much,” Claudia said, pushing some of her hair back from her face. “I want to be me, not part of him. I try to do what I want. Sadly, because of that, I’ve also been given more leeway than any other student. Now, can I ask you a question?”
“Only fair.”
“How many of them will be your mistresses?”
Gregory’s face went red. “What?”
“Come now, I’m not blind. Your wives seem to be encouraging them.”
Yukiko suddenly appeared behind Claudia. “None of them will be mistresses.”
Claudia stiffened slightly before exhaling. “Apologies for my forwardness.”
“I don’t mind. I find you to be a kindred spirit, Claudia.” Yukiko shifted to stand on the other side of Claudia from Gregory. “Your actions have spoken well of you, and I’ve caught no lie in your words. Now, before I clarify my answer, I want one from you: why do you ask?”
“A wishful fancy,” Claudia sighed. “It’s impossible. I just see them look, then see your smiles and his flushed face at times, and it’s obvious that real affection is there and being approved of.”
“Hmm… none will be mistresses,” Yukiko said again. “If they can pass my tests … they will be wives.”
Claudia’s cheeks heated slightly. “All of them?”
“There are others who are not here, too,” Yukiko smiled. “My heart will never want for love, nor for safety.”
“I would say not,” Claudia exhaled slowly. “Goodness, that would shock anyone of nobility in Buldoun. A single wife with mistresses is how things are done here.”
“I know that well.”
“Yes, you would, Yuki. Thank you for being patient with me.”
“It would be decades,” Yukiko said softly. “There will be many before your fancy. If you really want to know more, we still have at least a week to talk.”
Gregory’s eyes were wide as the implication sank in. “But… what?”
Claudia looked at him, then giggled. “He’s adorable.”
“He really is, and I’ve never met a kinder soul than my husband,” Yukiko said, taking Claudia’s arm. “Let’s play a game of Go.”
Gregory winced. “Yuki, be nice.”
“I’ll take it easy on her,” Claudia laughed.
“Oh, confident? That’s good. You’ll need it.”
Jenn came his way when Yukiko walked away. “Greg, are you okay?”
“I think… I think Claudia just asked to be more than a friend.”
“Oh? Did she ask?” Jenn smirked. “Yuki wins the bet, then.”
“What?!” Gregory asked, bewildered.
“We knew from our third meeting with her,” Jenn smiled at him. “Come on. It’s time for cards.”
