The sound of people filling up the stadium reached them as Gregory finished his story about marrying Yukiko.
“That’s so sweet,” Claudia sighed, a wistful smile on her lips. “How did Jenn end up joining your family?”
Gregory looked at the curtain cutting off their casual sight into the arena. “Why don’t I save that for later? We can go up and watch the game today, at least.”
“You’re that interested in it?” Claudia asked.
“I’ll likely end up in battle at some point. All magi do. This is just another form of training.” He paused as he stood up, offering her his hand. “Besides, my friends are playing, and I want to see how they do.”
“Future wives, you mean?” Claudia smiled as she let him pull her to her feet.
Gregory’s cheeks tinged. “Well, yes.”
“Then we should go. Knowing more about my future wives would be good for me, too,” Claudia said as she headed for the door.
“Confidence, you have an abundance of,” Gregory chuckled, “and most of it is warranted.”
Claudia’s cheeks pinked for a second. “My pride is my weakness, that I am sure of. I’ll find out in time when I find my resonance. I will embrace it, accept what is, then admit it to the others like Yuki said needs to be done.” Her hand rested on the door. “Be it a month, a year, or a lifetime, I’ll do what I must to join the family I’ve found again.”
Before she could open the door, Gregory’s hand reached over hers to rest against the wood. “I believe you will, Claudia. Step aside, please. I’m supposed to be your guard. I cannot let you go first.”
Looking over her shoulder, her breath caught. He was standing directly behind her, his arm coming just over her shoulder. She had a brief moment of thinking about what he could do to her like that before she lowered her gaze. “As you must, but I will not shrink back if danger comes for us.”
As she slid to the side, Gregory watched her. “I know. I won’t try to coddle you, just shield you.”
That trust in her made Claudia’s blood heat as a smile bloomed on her face. All throughout her life, people tried to coddle her, protect her from what they didn’t want her to see or do. Even the archmage was trying to wrap her in protection, but she wasn’t a fragile little girl. The fact that Greg and his wives accepted her as able and willing to face danger made her want to sing. “Thank you.” The two words held so much emotion that she wasn’t sure if they did the moment justice.
Gregory gave her a warm smile. “To stand with us, you have to be able to face everything that comes.”
“Why did you shield me when the assassin attacked, then?” Claudia asked, as it’d been bothering her slightly. It made her heart soar that he did, but she was worried that he’d always try to shield her.
“Reflex. It was natural,” Gregory said softly. “I could’ve cast the shield behind you instead of interposing myself, but my body moved with what was right. I didn’t stay to shield you, after all. I chased the man because I knew you’d be fine once you knew there was a threat.”
Claudia blinked slowly, her face heating again. “You did… Very well. I’ll never complain if you must stand between me and harm, as long as you allow me to do the same.”
“Yuki says my hearts must be ready to protect each other,” Gregory murmured. “None of us will try to stop you from doing that. I haven’t talked with Yuki about you in this way, but something in my core tells me that she’ll accept this.”
“That’s my dearest wish now,” Claudia said, then cleared her throat. “I’m ready, Greg.”
Gregory looked into the future briefly before opening the door. He stared at the six armored men in the hallway. “It’s safe?”
“Yes, sir. We’ll be making sure that only you two and the single maid are allowed into the hall,” the oldest of the men said, a ragged scar marring his head where his ear was missing.
“Thank you,” Gregory said. “Claudia, it’s clear.”
“Lead me, Greg.”
Gregory kept foresight running as he walked the hall. He felt foolish when they got to the box to see the arena, as nothing happened, but he’d rather be safe. The lower hall had stairs that led to an upper hallway, and that hallway only held a young woman, only a year or two their junior, in maid attire.
“Which box do we use?” Gregory asked, pointing at the six doors in the hallway.
“All of them have been covered with a light gauze,” the maid, Griselda, replied. “You can use any or all of them, changing as you wish.”
“Can people see into the boxes?”
“Only to tell that someone is sitting in them, but not whom.”
“Okay,” Gregory said softly as he considered things.
“Is there a problem, Greg?” Claudia asked.
“Thinking of how to make things even safer for you. We’ll take this box today. Miss, do you know the clothing dummies used by clothiers?” he asked the maid.
“Yes, sir.”
“Later tonight, or very early tomorrow morning before the arena opens again, I want five sets of them brought in, please. Just from the waist up.”
“You mean to sit them in the other boxes we don’t use,” Claudia said, seeing his plan. “You think it’ll be needed?”
“They were bold enough to try it once. I think their second attempt, if there is one, will be more involved. If we change boxes, shifting the dummies each day, it will help. The downside is that the dummies don’t move, but a little confusion can help.”
“Have the guards bring in heavy curtains,” Claudia said. “I want them placed inside the gauze so each can be closed as needed. They can start on that today.”
“So we can change boxes at any time?” Gregory nodded, seeing her idea. “Hmm… yes. I wish my wives weren’t waiting to be called in. They could make this easier. We’ll work with what we have.”
The maid stared at them in shock. It sounded like they planned to be attacked at any moment. “I… I’ll make sure it’s handled,” she stuttered before regaining her composure.
“Thank you,” Gregory said. “This box works for today. Can we get some tea? Orange or berry, please.”
“Oh, and some of those flakey pastries being sold in the bazaar,” Claudia smiled. “In fact, you’ll procure food every day from a random vendor. Don’t visit any vendor twice in a row, but after you’ve avoided them at least once for the same meal, you can revisit them.”
“They’d have to poison a lot of people to try getting you that way,” Gregory nodded. “That might be for the best.”
“It feels a lot like court,” Claudia sighed. “So much intrigue. I’d hoped to be done with it until Aliminus took an interest in me.”
Gregory gave the maid a nod. “Go on.”
The young woman hurried off.
“I’d like to hear that story,” Gregory said, opening a box other than the one he’d said they’d be in. He checked it, then waved her in.
“Why?” Claudia asked.
“Because I want to know what you think of his choices.”
“I mean why did you pick a different box?”
“A small test,” Gregory said.
“Ah. Very well.” Claudia took her seat, looking at the arena floor. The gauze made it hazy to see, but it was clear enough for them. “They really did a great job.”
Gregory whistled softly as he looked over the gameboard. The pieces were bigger and had banners that clearly denoted what was what so anyone could read them. “A lot of money went into this.”
“That’s what our country does,” Claudia said. “Money is prestige and power here. Even a rich merchant can find their way into nobility if they marry correctly.”
Taking his seat, Gregory turned to face her. “So, the archmage, when did he first single you out? It sounded like this tournament was going to choose his apprentice.”
“A lie to make it seem better to everyone. All of the other mages knew better. Okay, first, there’s a lot you need to understand about my family and the royal family.”
Gregory settled in, watching her. “Go ahead. We have time.”
Claudia relaxed. He wanted to know about her, and that made her happy. He wasn’t trying to use her for power— he was just interested in her the way no one else had ever been before. “Well, the Firetongue family can trace its line all the way to the founding of Buldoun. Technically, we can go back a few generations further than that, but no one really speaks of those years.”
Gregory just smiled as he watched her warm to the topic.
~*~*~
About a half-hour later, there was a knock on the door. Gregory triggered foresight before the door opened, then nodded. Claudia had cut off, confused. She looked toward the door as it opened to admit the maid with a tea set on a tray.
Griselda came in, shutting the door gently, before setting the tea service on a table to the side. “How would you like your tea?”
“How did you find us?” Claudia asked with a hint of suspicion.
The woman froze. “I…”
“Show me the ring,” Gregory said when she hesitated. “The ring the archmage gave you.”
Griselda swallowed hard, but she set the tea service aside, then advanced toward them. There was a simple silver band on her index finger.
“What?” Claudia asked.
“Sorry. I looked ahead when she knocked,” Gregory said. “He’s a man who sets multiple things in play. He doesn’t trust me entirely, so besides your bracelet to call for him, he gave your maid a ring so she can always find you. What else does it do?” he asked.
She flushed, looking down. “It will inform me if she’s injured or poisoned.”
Claudia exhaled roughly. “A guard ring?”
“What’s that?” Gregory asked.
“It’s paired with another item, like the bracelet. It reports on the health of the bracelet’s wearer. The royals use them, as do other powerful families. Normally, the head of the guard wears the ring.”
Gregory closed his eyes, recalling the hallway and the guard with the missing ear. “He has one, too. I didn’t think about him having a ring on his hand before now.”
“I’m not a glass doll!” Claudia hissed.
“It’s okay,” Gregory said gently, addressing the maid who’d gone white. “She wouldn’t harm you.”
“Sorry,” Claudia exhaled roughly. “I take one spoonful of sugar in my tea. Please serve us.”
“I thought he’d have other cards in play,” Gregory said. “Miss, how often are you to check on us?”
The maid wasn’t facing them as she fixed a cup for Claudia. “Every hour, sir. Twice a night at random, as well.”
“Only twice?” Gregory chuckled. “Or is that twice after we go to bed?”
“After bed, sir…” Griselda whispered. “Please… I’m only doing as I’ve been told to do.”
“It’s fine,” Gregory said before Claudia could say anything. “We all do as we must. Just knock so I can look into the future to see if it’s you. If the door opens without a knock, I’m likely to react as if it’s a threat.”
“Yes, sir,” Griselda whispered, then turned back with the teacup. “Your tea, miss.”
Gregory accepted it, taking a sip first. His eyebrow twitched. “Too sweet for me.”
“My taste tester, too?” Claudia asked him.
“I’ll take my job seriously,” Gregory said. “Every food or drink will be sampled first. Buldoun is known for poisons, after all.”
Claudia accepted the cup when he handed it to her. “Very well.”
“And you, sir?” Griselda asked, standing by the tea service.
“Plain.”
“Yes, sir.”
