Entering the private dining room, they took their seats. “Sorry for the delay, Dia,” Yukiko said.
“You’re not late,” Dia smiled. “You must have rushed your bathing.”
“We hurried, but we made sure to do it properly,” Jenn said.
“Very well,” Dia replied. “Brown should be—”
The knock on the door cut Dia off, and Brown opened it a moment later. “Ah, good. The food doesn’t have to wait.” He wheeled a cart in and began to offload the covered platters onto the table. “I prepared several dishes, so there should be something for everyone. I have the desserts in progress. When you can only eat a little more, just call for me.”
The moment the first cover was removed, the scent of grilled koi made Gregory’s stomach growl. Brown chuckled as he continued to unveil each dish. By the time he’d finished, all four of them were ready to dig in.
Gregory reached for the koi, taking a small helping. Yukiko went after the steamed rice with pickled purity plums. Jenn was taking a large ladleful of soup, smiling the whole time. Dia watched them all with a soft smile before snagging half of the koi.
Dia waited for them to finish filling their plates before she cleared her throat and held up her glass. “Jenn Pettit and Gregory Pettit, this meal is to commemorate the special occasion of your wedding. It might have been different than you had envisioned it would be, but I have the feeling it is still a day you will treasure for years to come.”
Jenn was all smiles as she raised her glass back to Dia.
“Your union will be celebrated again when we return to the academy, as I know your friends in the clan will wish to do so. I will do everything I can to see you three posted in the same place during your adept and magus years.”
“Thank you, Dia,” Gregory said.
“To you, on behalf of the clan,” Dia said, raising her glass a little higher before drinking.
The others sipped at their wine in honor of the toast.
“Now, let’s enjoy the feast that’s been prepared for us.”
They had barely started when a knock came on the door. Dia frowned and was in the middle of turning to look at it when the door opened and Magus Yang gave them all a broad smile.
“I just heard that two of your apprentices registered their marriage,” Yang said. “I came to offer my congratulations. It is a beautiful thing to see two young magi already pledging themselves to each other.” The smiles at the table dimmed when Yang shut the door behind him. “I also brought a gift, from me personally, to you both.” Coming over to the table, he reached into a pouch on his hip and pulled out a small box. “There you are— properly prepared koi jerky, guaranteed to help your aether grow or recover.”
They couldn’t rightly ask him to leave after he presented the gift, so Dia said, “Magus, that is a truly extravagant gift. I’m sure my juniors will enjoy it in the future. Would you care to join the meal?”
Yang waved off the offer. “No, no. I can see this is a clan affair, so I will not stay.”
The three apprentices felt relief at his words, but they smiled and bowed their heads to him respectfully.
“If you are free after dinner, though, Ursinda, I would love to talk some more.”
Dia lowered her head fractionally. “Will you be in the main room?”
“I was thinking,” Yang said with a widening smile, “that you might come to my home. I know your time here is coming to an end shortly, and I haven’t had you over yet.”
Dia’s smile became fixed. “I shall be over, Yang.”
“Good, good.” Yang beamed and he moved toward the door. “I’ll make sure my carriage is here to bring you.” He looked back to the apprentices. “Congratulations again, and I wish you a delightful evening.”
When the door shut behind him, Dia’s smile fell away. “We’re here for a few more days. If I don’t show, it will strain things.” Tsking, she gave them an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry that this celebration was dimmed in that manner.”
“It’s fine,” Jenn said. “Is koi jerky really that rare?”
Dia nodded. “It is. Proper preparation of koi jerky is something only a true…” Trailing off, Dia looked pensive. “Brown.” Without saying more, she pulled the rope behind her chair. “Please, go back to enjoying your food.”
They did as she bade them, but they waited, as they knew Brown would be coming soon.
They didn’t have to wait long, and when Brown arrived, he looked a bit unhappy. “I’m sorry, but the dessert is still—”
“This isn’t about dessert,” Dia cut him off. “Did you ever prepare koi jerky for Yang?”
Brown blinked, unprepared for the sudden curveball. “It’s been a few months, but yes. I was surprised he wanted it, considering the surcharge I put upon it.”
Dia snorted. “The idiot tax?”
Brown chuckled. “Indeed. It has served me well over the years. The fact that he could pay it at all was a surprise all by itself, but he did, so I made him a box of jerky.”
“Considering your normal price for such, yes, it is curious that he could afford it,” Dia sighed, “which means that his gift is even more extravagant than I had thought.”
Brown frowned, but when he saw the box on the table, his lips pursed. “He gave the newlyweds the jerky?”
“He has been trying to get my attention since we came to town,” Dia replied. “He delivered this just moments ago and then asked me to stop by his home after dinner.”
“I don’t envy you,” Brown said. “Yes, that box is the one I gave him for the koi jerky. If there is nothing else, I need to return to the desserts.”
“That is all. Please bring them when you’re finished. Don’t wait for us to call you.”
“Very well,” Brown said, giving her a small bow before leaving the room.
When the door shut, Dia gave them a smile. “I can promise that jerky will be first-rate, now that I know who prepared it.”
Gregory set his fork down. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
Both Yukiko and Jenn nodded in agreement with him.
Dia shook her head, a smile touching her lips. “No. I do thank you three for the thought, but everything I can think of wouldn’t work, considering it is your wedding night. I shall endure. I have endured far worse than Yang.”
“We still wish we could help,” Yukiko said.
“Alas, if wishes were horses, we’d all own a stable,” Dia said. “Enjoy the meal. Don’t let his coming overshadow the joy that should be.”
They did as she said, and went back to happily eating.
Brown brought the desserts in just as they were finishing. He was all smiles when he saw they had eaten nearly everything. “I’m glad that my efforts were not wasted,” Brown smiled. He placed a single platter on the table and gave them all a grin before removing the lid.
Gregory looked at the vela-sized black things on the plate and was at a loss for what they could be. The center of each was golden-brown with white sprinkles on them. He looked to Yukiko, who was looking at the dessert curiously, as well.
“Oh, salted caramel brownie bites? It’s been a long time since I’ve had them,” Dia grinned. “This will almost make going to Yang’s bearable.”
“Enjoy them,” Brown grinned as he left the room.
“Dia, you’ve had them before?” Jenn asked.
“Yes. Each is two bites,” Dia said, picking one off the platter. “Just try them. Bite it in half, but be careful, as the center will try to ooze away.” She showed them what she meant by biting hers in half, then tilting the other half when the center tried to get away.
Seeing Dia obviously enjoying hers, they all took one from the tray. With a shared look, they bit into them together. Their eyes widened as they quickly tipped the brownie back to keep the rest of the caramel from escaping. No words were spoken as they all quickly finished their first bite of the dessert.
“I’m glad to see that you like them,” Dia laughed. “There are enough for us to have three each. Just savor the moment— don’t rush them, for they will be gone too quickly as it is.”
They did what she said, but even taking the time to savor them, they were gone all too soon. Gregory sighed and touched his stomach— he felt full, and his aether was burning brightly.
“We’ll be leaving in three days,” Dia told them. “The next two days are the last with your instructors. Learn all you can, and finish any projects you are working on.”
“We have a figurine coming from a woodcarver,” Yukiko said. “I believe it will be here the day after tomorrow. If it isn’t, may we check the market before we leave?”
“That is acceptable. We’ll be returning by normal carriage and detouring to come back from a different direction,” Dia told them. “Any questions?”
“No, Dia,” they said.
“Very well. I wish you all a good night.” Her smile tilted into a subtle smirk before it faded entirely. “A much better night than I’ll be having.”
“Night, Dia,” they said, feeling a little bad they couldn’t help her.
When Dia left the room, Gregory shook his head. “She’s only going to make it easier for the clan to come back next year, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” Yukiko said. “The politics of the clans.”
“Any chance he’ll be gone before next year?” Jenn asked.
“He’s a magus, so it’s unlikely,” Yukiko said. “I doubt he’d want to go, considering that it’s almost a given that he’s skimming the coin for the town for his own profit.”
“Could we use that to help push him out?” Gregory asked.
“Not subtly enough that it wouldn’t come back onto the clan,” Yukiko sighed. “I’ve considered it a few ways already. Dia might know of some avenues that we don’t, but if she was willing to take them, I doubt she’d tell us, just in case.”
“I’m glad she’s been in charge of us,” Jenn said softly. “She’s very understanding.”
“She is, indeed,” Yukiko nodded.
“Motherly,” Gregory said softly. “A few times, she’s reminded me of my mother.”
Yukiko gave him a sad smile and covered his hand with hers. “Yes… she does feel like a surrogate mother.”
“But less huggy,” Jenn said with a wry smile.
Yukiko giggled. “Your mother does love to hug you.”
“Enough of my mother,” Jenn said as she got to her feet.
Yukiko stood up a second behind her. “Back to our room?”
“Yes,” Jenn nodded with a grin. “Now that we won’t be interrupted again, I want to take the time to explore you, Yuki. I haven’t gotten to do that yet.”
“Fair is fair,” Gregory smirked as he got up. “She’s been the only one not given that treatment tonight.”
Yukiko gave them both a large smile. “If that’s what my dear husband and beautiful wife wish.”
