Gregory rode ahead of his men toward their camp. He was thinking back to how happy Jenn had been with the bracelets. The day he spent with her felt shorter than normal, but he knew that wasn’t true. He just didn’t want it to end, but he couldn’t stop time, so the day had slipped away.
Mindie got approval from Egil to head out to Yukiko’s camp so they could discuss the letters. That way, she could get them sent out before two more months passed by. She was going to see Yukiko the day Jenn left the city, which wouldn’t cost Jenn a day with Mindie.
Their parting had still been unpleasant, but Gregory bowed to Jenn when he left, knowing that he’d see her again for far longer soon. The knowing pain in her eyes told him about her own feelings on their temporary parting.
Separating after the tournament will be much worse, Gregory thought as they got closer to the camp. Not seeing them for the entire year unless Darkness can swing a dream or two… even short ones just so we can see each other.
The sun was barely twice its height in the sky when they started to set camp. The tables had been left behind— the town guard used the obstacle course while they were away, so Gregory hadn’t seen a need to have them picked up.
As everyone started to get things organized, Davis came over, looking grim. “Sir, we have a problem.”
Gregory finished helping Basal get the central tent post set before he turned to face the man. “What?”
“Come with me, sir.”
Gregory followed Davis out of the tent. As they approached the tables, Gregory was sure he knew what had happened. When they got there, he was proven right— someone had marred the clan emblem on every table.
“I’m disappointed,” Gregory said. “I’m sure the guards will have no idea, either.”
“What did you want to do, sir?”
“I’m going to visit the commander. Nothing will come of it, but he should know. I’ll also arrange for better furniture when we leave here.”
“We’d need another wagon for the tables, sir. Do you want me to arrange for it?”
Gregory met Davis’ eyes, then smiled. “No, Lieutenant. It’s time for me to do more. We’ll reduce these down to kindling before we leave; I won’t let the clan emblem be seen by anyone else in this state. Let the men know that it was simple jealousy and pettiness that caused it. They’re not to seek answers or recompense for it.”
Davis drew himself up, saluting. “Yes, sir.”
“As for needing a second wagon, no. We’ll need one for emergency supplies. I’ve put off doing what I could, as we were training, but from the time we leave until the contracts run out, we’re together. I have faith in my unit to hold things in trust.”
“I’m not sure I follow, sir?”
Gregory touched the table, and it vanished into his ring. “I can carry more than I’ve let on.” He held up his hand so the band around his finger was visible, showing Davis the simple mythrum band. “My ring is special in what it can hold. It was a gift from my clan elder before he passed.”
Davis stared at the ring for a moment, then finally looked back at Gregory. “You’re going to carry supplies for us?”
“More than you probably think. I’ll be back before dinner. You have the camp, Lieutenant.”
Davis saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Gregory headed back to the tent that Rafiq was helping Basal with. “Basal, I apologize; I’m heading into Gardenia to see the commander. Rafiq, can you finish helping him, please?”
“We will have it done,” Rafiq nodded.
“I’ll get the horse—” Basal started to say.
“I can saddle her,” Gregory cut him off. “Focus on the tent and getting things organized, please. Going forward, it’ll be easier.”
Rafiq’s eyes widened slightly before he nodded. “Ah. Can your ring manage it?”
“We’ll find out,” Gregory said. “See you for dinner.”
“Can his ring handle what?” Basal asked.
“That is his secret to tell or not,” Rafiq said. “Let us finish as we said we would.”
~*~*~
Bill raised a hand in greeting when Gregory came trotting up. “Magi, just you?”
“I’m here to see the commander,” Gregory replied, his normally friendly tone subdued.
Bill snapped to attention. “Yes, sir. Don’t let me detain you.”
Gregory rode past the gate. He had the horse moving at a fast walk, making it clear he had a place to be.
Larry whistled softly. “He’s not happy. Bet it was Keslin and Poltar; they were both snickering a little too much when they came back from the obstacle course the other day.”
“No bet,” Bill said. “He was friendly before, so maybe he won’t ask for their heads.”
“No bet,” Larry called back.
Bill just nodded and went back to watching the road.
Gregory dismounted, tying his horse to the post outside the command building. The guard on duty saluted, but didn’t say anything after having seen Gregory’s face. He just hoped whatever had happened wasn’t his fault.
Garf looked up from a scroll before he sat back in his chair. “Magi. Here for the commander?”
“Is he in?” Gregory came to a stop by Garf’s desk.
“He is. You know the way, sir.”
“Thank you,” Gregory replied before he strode away.
“Oh, you dumb bastards… what did you do…?” Garf muttered as he watched Gregory go upstairs.
Tudyk was surprised when Gregory came in after knocking. “Pettit, what can I do for you?”
“I have a problem, Commander. I’m not asking for you to hand anyone over to me, but I would like it addressed with your men.”
That had Tudyk’s full attention. “What happened?”
Gregory summoned the table into the space behind the guest’s chair. “Come see.”
Tudyk wasn’t surprised by the table appearing; he knew magi could use spatial items. Rising from his seat, he came over to see what the problem was, recognizing the table as one of those left behind by Gregory’s unit. When he got closer, he saw the defacing on the clan emblem and stiffened. “I see.”
“Commander, this was a deliberate provocation against not me, but my clan,” Gregory said softly.
“All the tables?” Tudyk asked grimly.
“Every table left.”
“Left because my men would be out there every day,” Tudyk said. “We discussed it, and I assured you they would be there when you returned.”
“The tables are still there, just… defaced.”
“It could only have been my men. No one else would bother making the trip out to do that during the evening or night.”
“My thoughts exactly, Commander.”
Tudyk rubbed his face. “I’ll find them.”
“They’re yours to punish as you see fit,” Gregory said. “You know who had issues with my unit. I do not seek recompense for them, and the tables will be destroyed when I leave. This does mean I need to get new ones before I go, though.”
“Before you go? You’re going to cart tables in a second wagon?”
Gregory’s lips twitched. “I’ll manage, Commander. My men deserve some simple perks for doing all they do for me. I think that having tables they can eat at is small enough.”
Tudyk shook his head. “Very well. Do you want to be informed about what happens?”
“No. My men will be coming back to continue their rotations through the town. In two months, we leave for the city, then the tournament. I will be back to administer the age day ritual. Please arrange for that.”
“It’ll be in eight weeks, in the main square, and everything will be ready for you,” Tudyk nodded.
“Thank you. If your men disagree with the punishments, we will discontinue our joint training. I don’t want either of our people to be forced to deal with anyone that actively hates them.”
“Understood,” Tudyk sighed. He extended his hand to Gregory. “I’m sorry, Pettit.”
Gregory shook his hand, meeting his gaze. “So am I, Commander. If your men speak up, just remind them what the punishment would be if it was any magi other than me.”
“Oh, I will,” Tudyk snorted. “Are you heading back out?”
“No. I have stops to make and things to arrange for when we leave the town.”
“Very well. I hope your day is better than it has been.”
Gregory absorbed the table back into his ring. “Yours, as well, Commander.”
~*~*~
The sun was low in the sky when Gregory came riding back into camp. Basal rushed out to meet him. “Welcome back, sir.”
“Thank you, Basal. Can you see to her?” Gregory asked as he dismounted the mare.
“I’ll handle her, sir.”
Gregory patted Basal on the shoulder as he headed for the middle of camp. The men were gathered loosely around the area. When Gregory headed their way, everyone came to attention. Gregory walked to where the last table should be, then summoned it from his ring.
Turning to his men and seeing them all watching him, he raised his chin. “Our unit was marred and my clan disgraced. Commander Tudyk will see it settled. None of you are to lash out, inquire into it, or act on this provocation.”
It was clear that his men weren’t entirely happy with that.
“These tables are not worth the cost for us or those that follow us. I trust Tudyk to handle it, so let it go.” Gregory exhaled, then rubbed the back of his head. “Besides, part of this is my fault.”
The anger became curiosity in the onlookers.
“I was half-assing some things because showing off its capability was something I was hoping to hold back.” Gregory looked over his men before he went on. “When we leave, the tables will be coming with us.”
They seemed okay with the idea, but almost all of them were thinking of a second wagon.
“I have purchased a second set of gear that will remain packed in the wagon unless it’s needed.”
That had a lot of frowns, as Gregory clearly hadn’t come back from Gardenia with that much equipment, much less a wagon for it.
“I will personally be transporting the tables and our normal tents,” Gregory went on. “Before you all start asking, I can do it at little cost to me.” He held up his hand, his thumb tapping his ring. “I can and will make sure camp sets quickly, easily, and that we have the small perk of tables we can use.”
The men clearly wanted to ask questions, but none of them spoke up.
“We had to train, and we did, but in two months, we go back to Grakle, then on to the tournament. Training is nearly over, so it’s time to do more. I share this now so you all understand that you are my men. I will do what I can to make your time under me be not just a job, but something you can proudly hold your head up for when you tell others. I trust you to do your best so that when I speak of you, I can be just as proud.”
“Sir, you’re going to transport all the camp equipment?” Milton asked.
“Most of it,” Gregory clarified. “I have some backups for the wagon, just in case I can’t be there when camp is set. I won’t leave you without. I don’t know if I can put a fully set tent into my ring and pull it back out yet, either, but I’m confident I can. If so, the only real setup you’ll have to do is your personal equipment and the latrine. No one gets out of that shit detail.”
A laugh started up and built along the men. It was a terrible pun, but they appreciated the fact that he could say it with a straight face.
“Together, we’ll show others what it means to be magi and magi guards. I trust you to keep these things among us. Don’t brag to the other guards, be they magi, civilian, or army. Any questions?”
“Sir,” Bunson asked, all eyes focusing on him, “can I extend my contract now?”
Laughter erupted among the men, but others started asking the same thing.
Gregory laughed along with them. “We’ll discuss it later. I believe dinner is about done.”
Barny rang the bell, announcing dinner.
“It’s almost like he can see the future,” Townson deadpanned, earning more laughter.
