The dream with Darkness and Clover was the only major moment of note for the entirety of the six weeks since he’d left Grakle. The training continued on schedule for everyone in the unit. Gregory and Rafiq had their game nights and spoke of history together, being mindful of Basal sitting nearby. The run through the obstacle course at the end of each week was always a high point for the entire unit. The officers ran it as a trio before everyone else came down to participate.
The day before Gregory was planning to make his second trip to Gardenia to resupply, Polka brought forward a unique request. Gregory then took it to Davis and the sergeants. After some debate, the whole contingent allowed it. When the entire unit took to the obstacle course next, Polka and Dot were with them— they’d argued that they should be prepared to brave dangers to assist in combat; running supplies would mean being able to navigate dangerous terrain.
That day, the men gained more respect for the sisters. Polka and Dot were fast— Gregory could keep up if he used his aether, but no one else would have a chance. The duo could easily speed ahead of everyone else and, for the first run, they had. They struggled with the strength obstacles, as they were still working on getting stronger, but the balance ones didn’t slow them down at all. The rest of the day, the pair stayed back with Davis, ready to run off as he directed.
That gave Gregory an idea that he talked with the sergeants about later that evening. He suggested splitting the unit runs into what he called “combat conditions.” They’d send the scouting squad ahead of them by a full minute, then send the others behind them at a steady— but not breakneck— pace.
Willof interrupted, asking why he was suggesting that course of action. It got everyone’s attention, as he didn’t interject often. Gregory explained his reasoning, and Willof laughed as he made notes; all he would say was that everyone would be surprised later.
~*~*~
Gregory gave the sisters a smile. “You did great yesterday. I’m also happy you want to go into town.”
“Just a few errands,” Dot said softly. “We’re glad to help you with your things, too.”
“That’ll be fine with me. You can handle the oxen?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m sorry for asking this, so please forgive me,” Gregory said slowly. “Could no one really tell you and your sister apart? I’ve never had any trouble.”
Dot looked down, her smile fading. “No one cared to see the differences, besides the others like us. We sound and look similar enough that people just think they remember wrong.”
“Sorry,” Gregory said. “It was the same with Nammi and Netty. I just don’t see how people could confuse you two or them.”
“Because you take the time to actually see us, sir.”
“Maybe…” He trailed as he thought about what that said for society as a whole.
“We wanted to thank you for allowing us to run with the unit,” Dot said. “We’ve had a lot of fun.”
“You impressed the hell out of everyone. Next week, you’ll have extra roles to do when we do that.”
“We’ll do it,” Dot said with a big smile.
“I know.” Gregory went to take the reins of his mare from Basal. “Same as before?”
“If you could get one with lamb, that would be perfect, sir.”
“I’ll see what he has. You and Hanz deserve the treats; you two make things easier for Davis and me.”
“It’s our job, sir.”
“There’s doing just enough to get by as opposed to the extra lengths you two go to.”
Basal bowed his head. “We just want to do as much as we can. We’d feel bad if we were the only two in the camp not doing that.”
Mounting up, Gregory couldn’t fault the young man. “A fair point, Basal. I’ll do the best I can about the lamb pie. Hanz,” he called over to the other squire, “any preferences this week?”
“Any of the fruit is fine with me, sir.”
“Got it.”
Willof walked over to mount up. “You spoil the hell out of your men, Gregory. What’ll you do when you don’t have access to easy rewards?”
“Hope they understand, then treat them when I can.”
“Good answer,” Willof nodded.
Davis came striding their way. “Sorry about the delay, sir. I’m ready to go.”
“We’re off as soon as you mount,” Gregory said.
~*~*~
As they reached the gates of Gardenia, Bill raised his hand to stop them. “Magi, sorry for the delay, but the mayor wants you to come by. He knew you’d be coming today.”
“I’ll see him first, then,” Gregory replied.
“Have a good day, Magi,” Bill saluted.
“You, as well.” Gregory returned the salute before leading his group through the gate.
As they made their way down the street, Gregory slowed to ride beside the wagon. “Dot, Polka, go with Davis to the distillery, please. I’ll come back to get you as soon as I’m done with the mayor.”
“Yes, sir,” Polka replied.
“Willof, with me?”
“Yes. I’m interested in why he’s summoned you,” Willof said.
The pair split away from Davis and the wagon, heading for the mayor’s house at a fast walk. Gregory figured it had to be fallout from his sending the owner of the Blushing Maid to the magistrate.
The butler was cordial, leading them straight into the inner part of the home to the study. He left them there to get the mayor.
It wasn’t a long wait before the mayor arrived. “Ah, Magi Pettit and Captain Willof. I wasn’t sure if the captain would be with you.”
“I have to record how he comports himself,” Willof smiled. “I won’t get involved unless necessary.”
“Very well. Magi, you had a business owner arrested a couple of months ago. I was only informed in the last couple of weeks. He has since been summarily executed for attacking a magi. His property, though, is a point of contention.”
“What’s the contention, Mayor Kestral?”
“His sister has petitioned to have the business turned over to her, along with all goods.”
“I’ll leave that with you, Mayor. I won’t confiscate anything other than what I already have.”
“That’s the contention. You took eight slaves from the premises, didn’t you?”
“He broke the law. His slaves were taken per article twelve, subsection three of the eurtik slave laws. I fail to see what the problem is.”
Kestral blinked at him, clearly not having expected Gregory— who’d been friendly and affable their last meeting— to become cold and unmoving. “You can’t just take them.”
“Do you have the law books on hand, Mayor? Because I’ve read them in detail. Now, I don’t wish to have a bad relationship with you, so let’s find a middle ground.”
Gregory offering an olive branch mollified the mayor some. “Good. I didn’t want this to tarnish our relationship, either. If you’d return half of them—”
“I can’t,” Gregory interrupted, but not harshly. “There are only three left with me. The others were taken by other magi and are no longer in reach of here. The remaining three serve my camp. I won’t be giving them up, either.”
Kestral sat back, clearly thinking. His clan must have taken them, and why not? He is in the right. Hmm… a change of tactic, then. Nodding slowly, the mayor smiled. “Very well. I should reimburse the deceased’s family, since the property cannot be returned.”
Gregory’s eyes narrowed fractionally; Yukiko had worked with him to realize when someone was going to extort him. “You’re a generous man, Mayor, to give a criminal’s family money after they broke the law for years and then attacked a magi.”
Kestral went silent again, feeling a trap closing on him. He hadn’t expected the magi, who was reportedly from the fringe, to sense his motives so easily. “Those are good points. I will speak with her again. Clearly, she should be happy I’m not confiscating the tavern in recompense for the years he defrauded the city and empire.”
“That is a sound plan to me,” Gregory replied, back to being amiable. “Was there anything else?”
“Not for today. I just wanted to understand the situation better.”
“Very well. Thank you,” Gregory replied. “Captain, when are we slated to work on patrols in the town?”
“After the solstice, sir.”
“Mayor, when the time comes, I would like my men to be given the worst sections of the town. It’s best to work them as hard as possible now so they’re ready later.”
Kestral was surprised— most magi had asked him or his father to have the calmest sections of the town for their patrols, as their conduct was part of the report for the tournament. Maybe the magi in front of him didn’t realize that? Gaze darting to Willof, he held back. Gregory had thwarted his easy access to slaves, so it was best to let him reap that folly. “If that’s what you want, Magi. I do try to help.”
“I appreciate it,” Gregory said. “If there’s nothing else, I have supplies to gather.”
“Doesn’t your lieutenant do that?” Kestral asked as he stood up.
“I pick up extras, not the normal supplies,” Gregory said, leaving it open for interpretation.
“Of course. Have a good day, Magi.”
“You, as well, Mayor.”
Willof walked out with Gregory, staying quiet the entire time. Once they were riding away from the home, he finally asked, “You know he was trying to extort you, right?”
“Yes. He wasn’t going to return the slaves to the sister; he was going to keep or sell them for himself. I’ve set him against us, though I’m not sure how he’ll find a way to repay that.”
Willof chuckled. “You already gave him his path.”
Gregory rode in thought for a minute. “Patrols in the town?”
“Those get marked down for the tournament. Your entire report factors into the tournament. You just gave yourself a massive handicap.”
“The hard paths make the best magi. I would bet the same is true for our guards.”
“If they survive,” Willof added, having been reading the journals Gregory gave him.
“I have faith in my men.”
“As they do in you. I look forward to the tournament this year and next.”
“They’ll surprise you.”
“No, they won’t. They’re part of your clan, and close friends of yours. I’m fairly certain they’ll be very much like you and your wives.”
“That’s true,” Gregory chuckled. “I’m going back to get the sisters. Did you want to come with me?”
“Yes. I have a stop of my own to make.”
“Oh?”
“I wanted to get some pascal leaf.”
Gregory chuckled. “She’ll enjoy it.”
“I hope so.”
