Gregory kissed his way back up Yukiko’s body. “One day is too short, dear one.”
“Agreed,” Yukiko sighed. “We’ll do what we must. Our lovely healer will keep you company, and you’ll get to see our dear fighter again before you leave. Give her a kiss for me, as I miss her, too.”
“We will,” Mindie said, stroking Yukiko’s hair. “I’ll love them both for you the way I did you for them.”
Yukiko giggled. “They’ll be well loved, then.”
The chime of the fifth bell got them out of bed. They’d stayed in bed, forgoing meditation and studying so Gregory could have a little more time with Yukiko, but it was time to get up and get dressed.
They trooped down to the dining room; Egil, Willof, Davis, Max, and Ben Ursage were taking their own seats at the table.
“Pettit,” Ben greeted Gregory. “How has your training been?”
“Good, sir. My instructor has been pushing me as hard as I push myself, much as you’re doing for Yuki.”
Ben laughed. “You and your wives are still as driven as you were last year, which is good. The three of you will make waves at the tournament if you can keep yourself and your men as focused as they currently are.”
“No fear there,” Max snorted. “He gave up Buldoun’s best shields and weapons to our unit. Enchanted items, at that.”
Willof’s eyebrow went up before he nodded slowly. “Not the chosen weapon for the unit?”
“Gladius and shields only,” Gregory said.
“That makes more sense,” Willof nodded. “You’ll still need shorter weapons for some urban patrols.”
“Their current swords can suffice for that, and the shields would be a waste entirely. We did get enchanted armor for the men. How did that go over, Lieutenant?”
“If you weren’t already popular, sir, you will be now,” Davis said. “I’d bet not a single man acts out this time at least.”
“Much as ours haven’t,” Max smirked. “Wish that second set of armor had been for us, but it was marked for Jenn Pettit.”
“We set it aside for her,” Davis assured Gregory.
Egil watched it all, even when he rang for the cooks to serve breakfast. Yukiko and her men would be on the road with the sun. “Makes me wonder if Jenn will have her men as orderly as you two have managed.”
“I do not doubt she will, sir,” Gregory replied.
“I was going to ask about the eurtik slaves that are staying with your men, Gregory. Initiates aren’t known for keeping them.”
“Luckily, it doesn’t break the laws, sir. Yukiko will be taking two of them with her.”
“Yes, while another has moved into the servants’ quarters here. A personal maid for Mindie.”
“She’ll be finding another to serve in time, sir,” Mindie jumped in. “I’m just going to help her until I find someone who will care for her.”
Egil’s head dipped slightly. “I will accept it, then.”
“Thank you.” Mindie bowed her head to him.
“Reminds me of our time near the borders,” Ben chuckled, looking at Egil.
Egil raised his hand. “We promised not to discuss that.”
“And I’m not. I’m just remembering it.”
It was clear that there was a story behind those few words, one that neither of the two older men would willingly discuss.
“After breakfast and seeing your wife off, Gregory,” Egil said, changing the topic, “I will see you back here for our three hours of sparring.”
“Yes, sir.” Gregory bowed his head.
Davis cleared his throat. “Might I also get some time with you, Armsmaster?”
“Heard from Pellant, did you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Same as him, then. You’ll get an hour. Let’s do that tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just then, the door opened, letting the cook into the room with a laden cart.
“Focus on the meal. We’ll be saying goodbye to half of you after that,” Egil said.
~*~*~
Everyone but Egil and Rafiq went to the barracks after breakfast. Their goodbye was short, with quick kisses from Mindie and Gregory to Yukiko. A few murmurs came from the barracks’ staff, but no other comment was made.
All of Gregory’s men were there, lined up by squads to see their contemporaries off. His men stood in their new armor; the gleaming black metal was emblazoned with the Aether’s Guard shield on the breast and back plates.
Yukiko’s men wore new scabbards on their hips and carried shields with the same emblem. Her squads looked similar to his; the only exception was the squad of women with a female sergeant leading them.
A wagon laden down with fresh supplies stood ready to follow them out of the city. Nammi and Netty held the leads to the oxen. Beside them was a part-wolf eurtik, which Gregory figured was their chef.
“We march!” Yukiko called out after she mounted up. “Move out!”
As her men began to move, Gregory and his men came to attention. Gregory bowed as a magi to his wife while his men saluted. His eyes met hers when she bowed in her saddle to him. The pain of once again separating were clear in both of their eyes.
When the wagon cleared the gates to the yard, the younger members of the family rushed to close them. When they were closed, Gregory’s men went back to standing at attention.
“Magi Pettit, the men stand ready for you to inspect them,” Davis announced from beside him.
“Very well,” Gregory said. He went to the closest sergeant, Milton.
The inspection let him get a good look at the plate armor that Buldoun had sent. It would clearly mark his men apart from other units of the empire, as the preferred styles were vastly different. He could honestly say that each set looked to be made by a master of their craft. The emblem of his clan and its aether flame was vibrant. Gregory noticed that the coloration at least wouldn’t hinder them if they had to conduct night maneuvers. Davis agreed, glad that the archmage had sent them blackened steel.
Gregory thanked his men for seeing his wife off, then let the sergeants dismiss them. The walk back to the manor was quiet. Mindie walked beside him while Davis and Willof trailed them.
No sooner had they gotten back than Egil summoned Gregory for his three hours of sparring. Gregory didn’t object— he went to learn from the armsmaster without hesitation. The pair of them tested his skill with the guandao, naginata, and finally a wakizashi. Egil hadn’t expected Gregory to choose that weapon, but he agreed to it.
After sparring was over, Gregory went to clean up. Mindie had gone to bathe with him, pampering him as she healed and washed him. Gregory was glad to return her soft touches as he washed her in return, making sure to get the base of her ears in thanks.
With a half day left to them, Gregory opted to stay in with Mindie. He was glad he had, as Mindie did something she hadn’t done for him before: she pulled out a flute, playing a couple of songs for him. He listened with his eyes closed, letting his wife’s gentle music fill his mind.
When she stopped, she brought him the letter from Nessa so he could read it for himself. Gregory chuckled as he read about her challenge from Brown to become his apprentice. With limited supplies and only an old shield as a cooking surface, she had to present a dinner she would be proud to serve her mother. She’d made a simple stir fry out of fish and vegetables, but she’d nailed the sauce, which gave her the pass from Brown. He complimented her knowledge of which seasonings to use to bring the most out of the meal.
Finished with the letter, he wrote his own back to Nessa, Daciana, and Victoria. He then added another for Roshana, Clover, and Ling. Gregory was careful with his wording, but he hinted that he hoped their resonances had been found, promising that he was eager to speak with them as soon as they could.
That didn’t leave much time left in the day before dinner. Gregory suggested they relax with a few games of Go and Shogi. Mindie gave him an amused smile, but acquiesced to his suggestion. As they played, her foot trailed against his calf, making it harder for him to concentrate on the game. When he asked her about it, Mindie blushed and told him that Yukiko had done it to her. That had Gregory laughing before he returned the foot caress while they continued to play.
~*~*~
Dinner was ending when Egil asked, “How has your training been, Gregory?”
“Good, sir. Both Davis and Willof have been pushing me to learn all I can.”
“We have to, as he pushes himself that hard,” Willof said. “His wife was the same according to Ursage.”
“Yes, and no doubt his other wife will be similar,” Egil nodded. “I wanted to know how you think you’re doing, Gregory.”
“Good, I think, sir. Davis has told me that not many have men as loyal as mine are. I’ve been walking a line of working them hard and favoring them. Part friend and part commander.”
Egil looked at Willof, who nodded. “Gregory has balanced the line near perfectly, sir. He’s spent some of his own money to manage that, but that has only pushed the men to work harder.”
“Because men appreciate comfort, but they also appreciate a man who will work as hard as they do,” Egil smiled. “Very good. I have hopes for the tournament this year. What are you struggling with?”
“Riding,” Gregory admitted. “I believe I’m getting better, but that’s been my weakest point so far.”
“True, but by the time we return here again, he won’t even have that as a problem,” Davis snorted. “Of course, we’ll have to see how he does with disciplining the men when they need it. I’m not sure any will act up here, but when we go back, we’ll start rotating them through the town.”
“I look forward to those reports, then,” Egil said. “The next four days are yours. The day after that, your wife will arrive. I’m sure you will do as Yukiko did when you arrived, which means you will need your lieutenant to get your men ready to move.”
“I’ll handle it, sir,” Davis told Gregory.
“I have no doubts,” Gregory replied.
“I will not intrude on your time with Mindie. Mindie, your break continues until Jenn leaves,” he said, addressing her with the second comment, “though we might need you to heal an injury or two.”
“I’m always ready to heal, sir. I’ll leave my schedule with Flopsy when I go out.”
“Very well,” Egil said as he stood up. “Good night to you.”
The others said their goodnights, as well, which left Gregory and Mindie heading back to her room. Hand in hand, they climbed the stairs, both of them thinking about what would happen when the door closed behind them.
