Aether’s Apprentices (Aether’s Revival Book 4)

Dave had been knocked out, so both Gregory and Dave returned to the room to wait with the others. After bowing deeply and apologizing for his actions, Dave explained what he’d done to redeem himself.

The room was a little crowded, but Gregory sat in the corner with Yukiko on one side, and Clover and Ling on the other. The four of them sat in meditative, contemplative peacefulness, letting the meditation restore them. Farin sat between them and his clan, who were speaking softly with Dave. They were woken from their trances briefly when Ella stopped by the room and told them they were free to go get food. Everyone but the four of them left the room. Though Farin hesitated, he eventually went with his clan.

“Tell us what really happened?” Yukiko asked after a few minutes had passed and no one returned.

Gregory explained what Dave had said and done to split the group. “Which is why it came as a surprise when he sold himself out as he did. The Kroggian cavalry was wiped out, and the other units all took some damage. It might give Jenn a little longer to prepare for them. She has the Buldoun units and a non-magi commander, so she has a chance.”

“But they only need to kill her to break the army,” Clover said. “The mercs will walk off and the commander won’t be enough to firm the troops.”

“Yeah, it’s not great,” Gregory agreed. “Maybe she’ll pull another of you back in before that happens.”

“That would increase their buffs again,” Clover said.

“But if she brings one of you in and you run for it, then even if the defense fell, it wouldn’t be over right away,” Gregory said.

“And they’re both currently on the far western side of the map,” Ling said, looking thoughtful. “I’d tell her to go and leave us in the base. If she took a light cavalry unit, she could take enough supplies and a paychest with her. That would let her stay on the flank and watch the fight.”

“That’s a good plan,” Yukiko said, “but we can’t interfere with the game. We can’t tell her when we retire for the evening. The best we can do is be ready to support her.”

The other two nodded, and they lapsed back into meditative silence as they waited for night to come.

They didn’t react when the others came back to the room an hour later, though they did reply whenever someone asked them a question.

As evening turned to night and the break came closer, Roshana appeared in the doorway. “Excuse me, another magi is being fielded. She has asked for Klein Armit.”

Yukiko’s lips flashed in a smile when she heard the name, her mind having been chewing on possible combinations and counters.

Klein blinked as he was pulled from his meditation. “Me? Not one of her clanmates?”

“You, by name,” Roshana said, though she was clearly as unsure as Klein was.

“Klein,” Yukiko called out, “there is a reason. If you want to win, trust her.”

Looking at Yukiko and the others all still in the corner, he bowed formally. “Your clan has beaten long odds before. It is famed for it, all the way back to Lionel Lighthand. I will trust in that history.”

Dave looked a little sour, but stayed quiet as Roshana led Klein away.

Gregory saw his look. “Dave, she isn’t not choosing you because of what you did. If it was based purely on feeling, she’d have taken Yuki. Jenn has a plan that requires him specifically.”

Clover inhaled sharply as she jerked upright. “Oh…!”

Ling blinked. Her ears twitched and she nodded. “Yes, I see it now.”

Dave looked at them with a frown. “You both know what she has planned?”

Gregory laughed when he caught on to what they were likely thinking. Seeing Dave’s steadily deepening frown, Gregory held up his hand. “Do we ‘know’? No, but we talked a lot about strategy for the tournament. One of the things we’d come up with was what a spatial magi could do in unorthodox ways.”

“And?” Dave asked bluntly.

“Instead of attacking the commanders themselves and possibly losing, why not ruin their supplies, instead?” Clover asked with wide eyes.

Ben Ursage, the instructor responsible for this room, jerked upright. “Where did you hear of that tactic?” he asked sharply.

They all looked at him for a moment before Ling snickered. “We thought of it ourselves. Spatial magic can be used to transport people, sure, but it can also deliver items across distances— add rats to the grainstore, drop some poison into the well, and other ways.”

Dave looked disgusted. “That isn’t proper war.”

Magus John Dunn sighed. “It is exactly war, and it’s been done countless times, but it is a tactic that isn’t written down or discussed. If we can do it, so can others. It’s something to consider and keep an eye open for in the future when you command your men. Having men on patrol of your supplies is not a waste of manpower.”

Silence fell as Dave thought over what Dunn had said.

Gregory smiled, thinking of the tactic that Clover and Ling had brought up days ago that Jenn was going to employ in this game. He looked to the two women beside him and said in as low a whisper as he could, “Good job, you two. If we win, it’s your victory.”

Clover and Ling’s ears twitched, and their smiles widened as they sat back. They snuck glances at him before closing their eyes and lapsing back into meditation. Yukiko caught the exchange and gave Gregory’s hand a squeeze as she sat back to meditate again.

Gregory closed his eyes, thinking of the proud smiles he’d seen on them. Lightshield did say you’d be going for your own merits, Gregory thought. Maybe this is what he meant?

~*~*~

Two hours later, the instructors from the other rooms came past. One of them stopped to tell them the day was over and to be back at fourth bell.

The Shining Light clan and Aether’s Guard all stood and stretched, looking refreshed. They followed the tired people out of the room. Gregory let his steps slow, and those with him did likewise. He smiled over his shoulder when he caught sight of Jenn coming his way.

Jenn was tired, but not as tired as Roshana, who was dragging as she walked beside Jenn. “Thank you again, Roshana,” Jenn was saying. “You’ve been very helpful, more than some other coordinators have been.”

“Thank you,” Roshana said a little dully. “I’ll be back to continue assisting. I need to rest.”

“We’ll bring you some food,” Yukiko said, stopping entirely to let them catch up. “So sleep as much as you can.”

“If I can just rest for a few hours, I’ll be fine. I just didn’t find the right rhythm to meditate today.”

“Spirit path?” Klein asked, trailing the two women. “If you follow that path, you could speak with my clan. The Shining Light adheres to the spirit path. We know the benefits it can bring.”

Roshana looked at him blankly for a moment, then shook her head. “Thank you, but I think I’ve found a clan I am interested in. I just need to ask them. If they turn me away, I will come to speak with yours.”

“Not many will take a spirit path adherent,” Klein said, “but it is your choice. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he added, giving them all a nod of his head as he passed them.

“I didn’t get to meditate much, either,” Jenn yawned. “I need sleep.”

“We’ll help you,” Gregory said, giving her a smile. “Let’s go home.”

“Greg, I’m going to make sure Roshana makes it back to the dormitory,” Yukiko said. “I rested enough to miss some sleep. Get our wife settled and I’ll be home soon.”

“Be careful,” Gregory told her. “Roshana, thank you. Sleep well.”

Roshana’s sleepy smile was beautiful, her white teeth gleaming against her dark skin. “I will. Thank you, Greg.”

They split into two groups once they left the building behind.

Jenn gave the two behind them a grin as they walked. “I’m employing your tactics. If we pull this off, it’ll be because of you two. I wouldn’t have taken this route if Dave had stayed, but once he left, I knew I had to do something radical.”

“The hard part will be knowing where their supplies are to use the tactic,” Ling said. She inhaled sharply. “You said ‘tactics.’ Plural.”

“I did,” Jenn giggled. “I had to argue with Harrison some, but he finally agreed with my reasoning about scouting.”

“You’re going to put the balloon into the air?” Gregory asked. “That will help them find you.”

“Considering Gin died when he went out, they have a good idea of where I am, anyway,” Jenn countered. “That’s why they’re moving together now, to make sure they don’t get caught alone.”

“Fair point,” Gregory said.

“Use the scout balloon to find them, use Klein to ruin their supplies, and use the Buldoun mercs to thin them.” Clover was all smiles as they got closer to the clan hall. “Oh, I like it, I like it, I like it!”

They all laughed at Clover’s antics as she broke into one of her small, silly dances in happiness.

“But first, sleep,” Gregory said, taking Jenn’s hand. “We’ll see you two in the morning. Feel free to get there before us and tell the novices what you can.”

“We will,” Ling said as she snagged Clover’s sleeve and pulled the other woman ahead of Gregory and Jenn. “Good night.”

“Good night,” Clover added as she was towed along.

Gregory slowed his pace for a moment to let the pair get ahead of them. When he was sure they were out of earshot, he asked softly, “How are you, my heart?”

“Tired, angry with Dave still, but good. I think this will work, or at least push them to the brink. I have one last trick to play, too. If it comes to it, I’ll use a tactic that we almost never use against Krogga, but that they respect.”

Gregory inhaled slowly. “Challenge?”

“Yes. I won’t dare fight Egil, but Paul, who will have to fight without his aether… I think I can best him.”

“Okay. Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that. Now, let’s tuck you in, and I’ll hold you all night. I’ve slept enough already.”

Jenn’s smile was bright as she squeezed his hand. “That sounds wonderful, my heart.”