Mages of Buldoun (Aether's Revival Book 5) Read online

  “Like us,” Clover grinned.

  “Ling, would you like to start?” Yukiko asked. “Mindie, why don’t we talk?”

  Rafiq was suddenly holding a staff in his hand, and he held it out to Ling. “Fight well.”

  Gregory shifted over to stand by Rafiq while everyone else cleared the yard for Ling and Egil. The crocodilian eurtik gave him a knowing smile. “You can use aether, Rafiq?”

  “I’ve never been formally trained, as I am a pure-blooded eurtik,” Rafiq said as he watched the two face off, “but yes, I have some aptitude for physical enhancement, not that I’m allowed to use it much.”

  “Because of your enslavement?” Gregory asked softly as Egil and Ling clashed.

  “My brand doesn’t let me use it for anything other than self-preservation, and never against a magi. That is the way it is for all eurtik of the empire.”

  “I had no idea...”

  “It isn’t in any of the texts you’ve read. I would’ve been surprised if you knew.”

  “But you can use your aether?”

  Rafiq’s gaze darted from the fight to Gregory, then back. “I have trained my mind, much as you have. It is not ideal for a physical enhancement magi, but perfectly ideal for one of the archive.”

  “You have a spatial enchantment?”

  “I have one for the books, scrolls, and resources that I need for my time outside of the academy.”

  “Only magi can use them… or is that wrong?”

  Rafiq’s smile grew wider. “I’ve never seen a spatial enchantment that a non-magi could use.”

  Gregory considered his wording as he watched Egil work Ling over. Egil wasn’t going for a quick win— he was obviously showing Ling her flaws.

  “Can my questions bring you trouble?” Gregory asked when he saw Egil change from teaching to ending the fight.

  “It’s possible, depending on the questions.”

  “If I ask one that will, please let me know so I might better phrase it?”

  Rafiq clapped when Egil won, but asked Gregory, “Worried for me?”

  “I always care for friends,” Gregory replied.

  Ling went to Clover, handing off the staff. “Do your best.”

  “I will,” Clover grinned as she went to face Egil.

  “Yes... you do cherish your friends,” Rafiq murmured. “I’m constrained on what I can and cannot do, but I will do my best. Please do not hold my task against me.”

  “I don’t, but you also know my likely avenue of assisting.”

  Rafiq chuckled as Clover and Egil bowed. “It’s obvious. Master Damon still hopes that you will be as forthcoming as possible.”

  “Lightshield told me what will happen after the tournament,” Gregory said. “How long after that will you be my shadow?”

  “That will depend on what the academy overseer wishes.”

  “I see. Thank you.”

  Rafiq just smiled as he watched the fights.

  Egil did the same with Clover that he had with Ling— he exposed some flaws she had, then beat her.

  Clover turned to Mindie, who shook her head. Clover hesitated, then returned the staff to Rafiq. “Thank you, Rafiq.”

  “You’re welcome,” Rafiq replied, taking the weapon.

  Jenn stepped forward, having finished removing her sheath from her belt. She’d tied the hilt and sheath together, making it impossible to draw the weapon. “I’ll fight you now, Armsmaster.”

  “With your sheathed sword?”

  “I need practice with it,” Jenn smiled as she moved to stand across from him.

  Gregory grinned. He knew what she was up to, and he knew she also wasn’t wrong— she hadn’t had enough practice with her new weapon. Rafiq looked at Gregory curiously, but didn’t ask what the surprise was, though he knew there was one.

  “Very well,” Egil said before bowing.

  Jenn bowed back, then took a defensive posture.

  Egil considered what the trick might be for a few seconds, then rushed Jenn. He was sure there was something, which is why he didn’t aim to attack. Instead, he feinted, trying to draw the trick out, but Jenn saw the feint for what it was. When Egil pulled up suddenly to stop his attack and dropped into a defensive posture, she slipped to the side, darting in for a simple thrust.

  Egil managed to parry the attack, but had to pivot with her, as Jenn had gone to slip past him. When he found a katana instead of a wakizashi suddenly coming for his head, the surprise was evident in his eyes, but he still slipped away from the strike and gained ground. “Intriguing,” was all he said as he reset his stance.

  Jenn held the katana steady, but it was clear that she was a little frustrated. She attacked Egil, her blade drawn back for a hard thrust. Egil wondered why she was telegraphing the attack, and was ready to parry and riposte. When Jenn stopped short of where she needed to be, Egil was briefly puzzled— that nearly cost him when an odachi suddenly came at him. Egil abandoned his plan and parried, giving ground again.

  Jenn tsked as she reset her sword to a wakizashi. “Almost, twice.”

  “Yes. Your blade is very interesting,” Egil said. “I can see where you would need to train with it. I’m now ready for what you’ve shown me.”

  The match took longer than the previous two combined, and in the end, Egil still won. Breathing a little roughly, Egil bowed his head to Jenn. “Your skill is impressive, as I knew it was. If you keep focusing on the basics, you will eclipse most swordsmen. With your aether, you will be a tough opponent for nearly anyone. If you get used to your sword… You will be a surprise for anyone you face.”

  Jenn bowed formally to him. “Thank you for the instruction, Armsmaster.”

  Roshana stepped forward with two training sai in hand. “Armsmaster, I cannot give you the same fight, but I would still love to learn.”

  Egil nodded. “Just give me a moment. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  Mindie went to his side, her energy rushing into him. Egil grimaced for a moment before he nodded. “Thank you, healer. Do you not wish to train?”

  “I do not cause harm, sir. I withdrew from all the fighting in the academy,” Mindie said softly.

  “I see. Did you not even learn to defend yourself?”

  “I trained the basics, sir.”

  “Very well. I hope you never have to use your limited knowledge.”

  Mindie bowed before moving away.

  Roshana bowed and set herself to defend against Egil.

  Egil did what he had with Clover and Ling, testing her and showing her weaknesses before eventually defeating her. Roshana grimaced and went over to Mindie to heal the bruised rib she’d collected.

  “I’m glad there’s a healer here,” Egil said.

  “We all are,” Yukiko said, giving Mindie a smile. “Rafiq, might I borrow your training wakizashi?”

  “Of course,” Rafiq said, holding that out to her, then a practice naginata to Gregory. “I am glad to assist.”

  Yukiko took the weapon and went to stand opposite Egil. “Armsmaster, thank you for your tutelage.”

  “I am not teaching. I am merely paying the price for what I asked for,” Egil said formally. “If I was to teach you, I am sure I would be tasked with doing it for others.”

  “Ah. I apologize for my words,” Yukiko said, bowing.

  “Accepted,” Egil replied, bowing back to her.

  The fight with Yukiko wasn’t as long as Jenn’s, but it also didn’t have the same feel as when he’d fought the other three. It was clear that he was focused on winning, not teaching.

  Yukiko bowed when the fight ended. “Thank you for the match, Armsmaster. I will work on my weaknesses.”

  “If you do, I will have a harder time winning next time,” Egil said, clearly showing respect.

  Gregory exhaled, then moved to take up the open spot as Yukiko walked by him. He could feel all eyes on him as he bowed to Egil. “I am ready, sir.”

  Egil bowed back, then took up a ready stance. “As am I. Come now
, show me your skill again.”

  Everyone watched, fascinated, as the pair fought. Rafiq was the only one who hadn’t seen it before, his eyes wide as he followed the clashing of wooden blades.

  Both Egil and Gregory were grinning as the match went on and on. The thrill of fighting their hardest, of actually being challenged, made them both laugh. Gregory managed to nick Egil’s arm after a triple riposte combo. Egil hissed as he let his right hand drop off the naginata. It was only a few seconds later when Gregory used his superior leverage to completely disarm Egil.

  “Yield!” Egil panted.

  Gregory grinned broadly. “Accepted. Thank you, Sensei.”

  Egil shook his head. “If this fight was recorded, you would gain a lot of attention. Luckily, it wasn’t official in any way, but I wish for one more fight.”

  Gregory hesitated, as Egil was clearly still winded. “Sir?”

  “Healer, please.”

  Mindie refreshed Egil, then stepped well back as Roshana handed Egil his naginata.

  “Use your foresight, Pettit. I want to see how I can do against everything you have.”

  Gregory swallowed. They’d never crossed weapons one-on-one with Gregory using foresight. “As you wish, sir.”

  Egil bowed and set himself to defend. “This is a learning moment.”

  Gregory bowed back to Egil, set himself to attack, then triggered his foresight. The fight was even more fluid than the last. It was clear during the first exchange that Gregory was leading the dance, and Egil was barely able to keep up. Seconds ticked by as Gregory tried again and again to breach Egil’s defenses. The armsmaster had decades of practice with his preferred weapon and he’d fought countless opponents, so even though he could only defend, he held Gregory off with his skill alone. It was still less than a minute later when Gregory slid his wooden blade against the side of Egil’s neck when the older man just missed a parry.

  Egil backed off and bowed. “Did you learn?”

  Gregory stared at Egil for a long moment, then bowed low. “Thank you, Armsmaster.”

  “Good. Now it’s time to bathe.”

  Rafiq went inside with Egil, leaving Gregory with the practice weapon and his friends.

  “Greg?” Yukiko asked, as Gregory was still standing where he’d been when he’d finished the fight.

  “Sorry... making sure I remember it all,” Gregory said, turning to look at his wives and friends. “I need to study it again and again, but Egil showed me his best defense.”

  “Oh...” Jenn exhaled. “The cavern?”

  “Yes. I will be able to replicate what he just showed me.”

  “Do you need any healing?” Mindie asked softly.

  Gregory blinked as he let the weapon vanish into his ring. “No, I’m fine. Mindie, when was the last time you sparred?”

  “The first half of my novice year,” Mindie admitted, not meeting their eyes. “I can’t…”

  “It’s okay,” Clover said, hugging her. “We all have things that make us us.”

  “I will worry for you, but I would never ask you to go against your beliefs,” Ling said.

  “We’ll just have to keep you safe,” Jenn said.

  “Our friend needs us to guard her so she can guard us,” Yukiko said, touching Mindie’s shoulder. “We will, if you let us.”

  Gregory exhaled. “I won’t speak against you, Mindie. Like everyone said, we’ll do our best to keep you safe.”

  Mindie sniffled, then looked up at them. “Thank you.”

  All of them hugged her, leaving Mindie in the middle of the warmth of her friends. She’d been so afraid that they would sneer at her as so many others had, calling her weak or pathetic. Instead, they embraced her, speaking comfortingly and promising to help her. She felt her care for them grow even more.

  After a few minutes, Yukiko cleared her throat. “We should bathe. After that, we can see about meditation until dinner. Some of you are still working on your resonance.”

  With agreement from all of them, they trooped inside. The night was far from over.

  Chapter Three

  Entering through the back door of the inn, Gregory slowed his pace. He knew that five of the six in front of him would be okay with a shared bath, but Mindie was another story. She was so reserved that he had doubts.

  “Mindie,” Gregory called to her gently, “can I talk to you for a moment?”

  Mindie paused as everyone else went past her. “Greg?”

  When Mindie went over to Gregory, Yukiko looked back and she nodded— she was sure that she knew what he was doing. Gregory caught Yukiko’s gaze and dipped his head in return.

  “I had a question, and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable,” Gregory said. “Would you be more comfortable if I bathed in the other room?”

  Mindie blinked for a few seconds as her face burned. “Oh! Uh...”

  “It’s your choice,” Gregory said softly.

  Fidgeting in place, Mindie bit her lip.

  “That’s answer enough,” Gregory smiled softly. “I’ll see you after bathing.”

  “Wait…!” Mindie said when he stepped past her. Her face was flushed, but she could imagine what everyone else would say when she came in alone.

  “Mindie, we all value your friendship,” Gregory replied softly. “None of us wants you to be uncomfortable. I’d hate for you to push yourself and have that distance you from us.”

  Mindie swallowed— she knew the others would’ve been trying to convince her. She was still standing there a minute later when a door opened and closed behind her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Turning, she went to the bathing room that the other women had entered, worry rising as she waited to be derided.

  Gregory disrobed, letting all of his clothing and items vanish into his storage ring. Entering the bathing room proper, he gave Egil and Rafiq nods. They were already in two of the four copper tubs available. Gregory mused that joining the others for a bath might not have gone well at all.

  “We weren’t sure you were going to bathe right now,” Rafiq said.

  “Have to be clean for dinner,” Gregory said.

  “You will have a hard time with that this coming year and beyond,” Egil said.

  “I’ll wash my hands and face, at least, if possible,” Gregory said.

  “‘If possible’ is a good addendum,” Egil chuckled. “The field will make you truly appreciate a good bath.”

  “I grew up with a wooden tub just large enough to sit in that came to my navel,” Gregory chuckled. “I already appreciate a good bath.”

  “I suppose you do, then,” Egil chuckled again.

  “It will be different,” Rafiq said. “I was born and raised inside the academy walls. Roughing it is something I’ve read about in detail. This will be my first time doing so.”

  “You will miss the baths most,” Egil sighed. “I always do.”

  “I had a question, if you don’t mind, Armsmaster,” Gregory said as he got wash water pumped. “What is next year going to be like for me and my friends?”

  “Training,” Egil sighed, trying to get comfortable in the tub that was just a bit too small for him. “You will be placed near a town with your men. You will learn how to command them and what it means to command them. There will be drills, and you will teach them how to react to ambushes or how to set various attacks or defenses.”

  Gregory listened as he sat down— this was more than he’d heard before.

  “You will be taught how to handle pay, rotate days off, and more. There will be an empire soldier who will teach you all of this. It’s his report that will influence where you are placed the following year.”

  “Isn’t that already known?” Gregory asked, thinking of Lightshield.

  “No... though for your elder… maybe,” Egil chuckled before sitting fully upright. “Right near the end of the year, you will be tested on all you’ve learned.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Pettit, my dear friend believes in you, and I ha
ve seen enough to put some hope in you,” Egil said as he stood up. “You’re truly skilled with the naginata. I’d recommend you begin learning another weapon, as I had to. It will save you in the future when your preferred weapon becomes banned at times.”

  “I will do my best, Armsmaster.”

  “I will see you both at dinner,” Egil said, grabbing a towel to dry off.