The next few days were a little more awkward than even their first bath had been. Jenn would blush when Yukiko touched her, but she never shied away. Their awkwardness didn’t stop them from doing what they had been— training in the morning with Dia at the park before going off to work.
Yukiko finished her first full set of leather armor, and like Jenn’s sword, it wasn’t good, but it was the first thing she’d made start to finish all on her own. She paid to have it shipped to her family, along with a letter explaining it.
Jenn continued to help Kassidy with her work while also listening to her explain how to tell when a smith cut corners, which would result in poor steel. The two of them doubled or tripled Kassidy’s production, and the taciturn smith went so far as to tell Jenn that she would miss the much smaller woman.
Gregory was learning quickly how to tell good arrows from poor ones, as well as spotting the more common mistakes with bows. The majority of his time was spent making arrows, which Bryn said there could never be enough of. Gregory thought he’d be able to make arrows in his sleep with as many as he’d made.
Brown didn’t serve them personally over those days, and they featured dishes they’d had before. Dia explained that when Brown went on an experimental endeavor, his normal meals ended up being things that he was confident in making without too much thought. The apprentices couldn’t complain, as their food was still delicious and aether-filling, but each meal dimmed their hope that he would have a breakthrough.
Their fourth game of Empire’s Gambit was in full swing, with all three of them having returned to playing magi of the empire. Gregory opted for a magi with spatial magic, Jenn went for a wind magi, and Yukiko was playing a water magi.
~*~*~
Bryn had Gregory finish the final two steps of making a composite bow on his own. Smiling as he set the bow down, Gregory felt elated. “Sir, it’s done!” Gregory called out.
“Bring it up here,” Bryn called back.
Gregory picked up the completed creation and took it to the front of the shop. “Here it is, sir,” he said, laying the horn-backed bow in front of Bryn.
Bryn looked over the bow, taking his time to examine it. As Gregory waited, he watched Bryn for any hint that he had made a mistake.
“String it,” Bryn said.
Gregory fetched a bowstring and, after a moment, recalled how to properly hold a composite bow to string it. Taking a deep breath, he put action to his memories and got the bow strung.
“That is the easiest and most well-known way,” Bryn nodded. “Remember to unstring it if you are not going to be using it, though, to prolong the life of the bow.”
Gregory unstrung it and set it on the counter. “I’ll make sure that I remember, sir.”
“Good. You lost track of time. It’s time for you to return to the inn.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, sir,” Gregory said, turning to go.
“Don’t forget your bow,” Bryn told him.
Gregory paused, turning around with a confused expression. “Sir?”
Bryn pointed at the bow in front of him. “Your bow.”
“Sir, I only finished it at your instruction. The majority of the work was yours.”
“Yes, but the one you started will be finished well after you return to the academy. Anyone who trains in the craft deserves to have a finished product of their own. This is the best I can do for you. It’s why I had you finish this one, and you did so up to my standards. If you hadn’t, I’d have had you make another simple bow to take instead. Now, come collect your bow.”
Gregory cupped his right fist with his left palm at chest height and bowed to Bryn formally. “I am honored, sir. I will treasure this gift.”
Bryn chuckled. “Take it and go. You’ll be working on arrows from tomorrow until the day you leave. Set aside your best hundred, as those will be yours, as well.”
Gregory bowed again before collecting his bow. “Yes, sir.”
“Ask your wife to make you a cover for it,” Bryn said with a crooked smile.
“You know about Yuki, sir?”
“Lavent, Kassidy and I have shared a drink or two since you three showed up. We’ve compared notes. Now, go on. It doesn’t do to keep a woman waiting.”
“Yes, sir,” Gregory said.
~*~*~
After dropping the bow off in his room, Gregory hurried downstairs to join the others in the bath. He was so wrapped up in what he wanted to tell them that he didn’t pay as much attention to the baskets when he stripped off his clothing. Entering the room, his steps faltered when he saw not two people in the tub, but three.
“A little late, but I can’t fault you when I’ve been behind since this morning, too,” Dia said. “You won’t have long, as dinner should be ready soon. In fact, I should go check with Brown about that.”
Gregory had no more warning than that before Dia rose from the tub and went to leave. He knew that Dia was older, as her sister was old enough to be his grandmother, but she didn’t look that old. In fact, she looked just slightly older than they did. The most eye-catching thing about her were the scars on her lower abdomen. She had large, raised scars that spoke of trauma he couldn’t even begin to imagine.
“It’s impolite to stare, Apprentice,” Dia chided him gently when she went past him.
Gregory’s face burned and he coughed. “Sorry, Dia. I didn’t mean to.”
“I know. Your wife and friend did, as well. They can tell you what I told them, but do hurry. Brown gets a little upset if his dishes aren’t eaten while they’re hot.”
The door shut behind her, and Gregory looked up to find Yukiko and Jenn staring at him. “I’m sorry,” he said, bowing to them both.
“No, it’s fine, dear one,” Yukiko giggled.
“We both stared, too,” Jenn said. “First because I hope to be that fit when I reach my seventh decade, and then because of her scars.”
Gregory exhaled. “It was still wrong of me. I’ll hurry with washing.”
“I’ll get your back,” Yukiko said. “We were going to be getting out, too.”
“I’ll skip the soaking,” Gregory said, heading for the washing area. “I finished making a composite bow today.”
“Oh? How did it go?” Jenn asked.
“Good. Bryn said I did as well as he would have. As I went to leave, he stopped me,” Gregory said while he started pumping water.
“What did he want?” Yukiko asked as she stepped out of the tub.
“To tell me to take it with me,” Gregory said, glancing at Yukiko. “I tried to decline, but he insisted. It’s in our room now.”
“Must have heard about Lavent and Kassidy,” Jenn said as she got out of the tub. “Kassidy mentioned that they got together for a drink and to talk about us. He is the one that told Lightshield about Kassidy. I was originally supposed to learn from the shop next to hers.”
Gregory grimaced. “I don’t think you would have enjoyed that.”
“I doubt I would have. The other smith has glared at me every day. His father used to teach the clan apprentices. He hasn’t taken Kassidy being chosen over him well, and has had unkind words about her heritage… and mine.”
Gregory had been moving to take a seat, but froze when Jenn added the last two words. A spike of anger surged through him and he exhaled.
Yukiko wasn’t silent about her feelings, “What did this person say, exactly?”
“I didn’t hear him clearly, but I heard mention of dwarf and knew he wasn’t talking about Kassidy,” Jenn answered. She touched Yukiko’s shoulder. “But thank you, Yuki.” Her eyes drifted to Gregory, who was still frozen in place. “You, too, Greg. I saw the anger on your faces.”
Yukiko turned to Jenn and laid a hand on her friend’s cheek. “I will always be angry when someone upsets you. You are special to us,” she looked over her shoulder at Gregory, “even if he is still struggling to accept what will be.”
Jenn leaned her head into Yukiko’s hand briefly before kissing her wrist. “Thank you, Yuki. Knowing that you both care that much soothes any pain I might have felt.” She stepped back. “I’m going to get dressed. I’ll see you both shortly.”
Gregory watched her go, his mind whirling. I felt as angry as I do when someone hurts Yuki like that… or at least, very close to it. She obviously has real affection for Yuki, too. Aether, why couldn’t there be a tea house here? Snorting, he shook his head and sat. Aether, indeed.
“Dear one?” Yukiko asked, kneeling behind him.
“I offered a prayer to Aether in my head,” Gregory said. “That’s what made me snort.”
Yukiko giggled. “Yes, it is a bit odd, though it makes sense. You did offer prayers for years. You felt the anger, too?” she asked. “It sparked inside of me as sharply as when someone speaks ill of you.”
Gregory lowered his head. “It was the same for me.”
Warm hands touched his shoulders, and firm high points pressed into his back. Warmth touched his ear as Yukiko whispered, “I’m not mad, dear one, just as I hope you aren’t mad at me for feeling that way.”
“No,” Gregory said, “I’m not mad… Maybe I’m being an idiot? It’s cheating to try and get Darkness to help me see the future. Very few people would be able to do that, and most still make decisions like this.”
“You worry so much for my sake and hers. Neither of us will gainsay you the caution. Honestly, we both find it endearing. We’ll wait for you to be comfortable… we want you to feel comfortable with where this will go.” With that said, she eased away from him and picked up the bar of soap.
“Thank you, Yuki. Jenn, too, even though she isn’t here to hear it.”
“You’re welcome, dear one. Now relax, and I will wash you.”
Gregory breathed deeply and slowly as Yukiko washed his back.
