Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

The first two food vendors weren’t anywhere near what he’d call “good enough.” The third was a baker, at least, so Gregory entered the shop. The scent of baked goods filled the interior, and the lack of burnt or rotting food was a good sign.

“How can…?” the baker began before clearing his throat. “How may I serve, Magi?”

“I know it’s late in the day, which means you’re probably low on some goods, but I hope you have what I’m looking for.” Gregory went to the counter, reading the slate behind the baker that listed the day’s goods. “Hmm… what meat is in the pies today?”

“It’s mutton, Magi.” The baker licked his lips nervously. “It’s not the best at this point. Might be a bit gamey.”

“I’ll still take one for my squire. The berry tart, what kind of fruit?”

“Winterberry. It’s out of season, and I needed to use it or toss it.”

“It hasn’t gone bad yet?”

“There were no spots on them when I used them.”

“I’ll take one of them, then. Could you make sixty adzuki buns by tomorrow evening?”

“I’d have to check, but I think so, Magi. Umm… I don’t use the normal pastry you’d be used to. I use a steamed bun… will that be acceptable?”

“Steamed bun? Do you have one on hand?”

The baker went into the back, coming out a moment later with a white, fluffy-looking bun. “This one has winterberry as the filling.”

Gregory took the bun with a smile. It was vastly different than what he was used to, but still good. He finished it off, nodding as he did. “Sixty adzuki, or thirty adzuki and thirty with a different fruit. I want uniformity for them, though. Don’t mix and match.”

“Yes, Magi. I can have them ready by tomorrow evening.”

“I’ll also need two pies, but any fruit is fine for them. I’d like them pre-cut into eighths. On top of that, I want your best bread. Three loaves.”

The baker nodded rapidly. “Of course, Magi. I’m glad to provide them for you.”

“If they’re up to what I want, then I’ll be getting the same with you every two weeks,” Gregory said. “Oh, and tomorrow, I’ll want two meat pies— whatever you have that’s the best— and another two fruit tarts, again with the best fruit you have.”

The baker was smiling broadly as he jotted down notes on a small pad. “I’ll have my wife help with them. She has a keen eye for the best fruit.”

Gregory pulled a coin pouch from his ring, placing it on the counter. “Let’s talk prices, shall we?”

~*~*~

Smiling as he walked on to his next stop, Gregory was happy. He knew the baker had undercut what he’d normally ask for by more than Gregory thought was fair to the man. His suggestion for a slightly higher price would’ve made Yukiko frown, but he hated the idea that magi basically bullied everyone into submission.

“Stop! Thief!” someone yelled out.

Gregory looked back in time to see a partial eurtik child in rags darting down an alleyway. The man chasing the child was one of the food vendors Gregory had declined to buy from. Panting, the man came to a slow halt near Gregory.

“Which way did the little rat go?!”

“Who?” Gregory asked politely.

“The thief! Little rat bastard stole one of the skewers from my tray and took off running!”

“I didn’t see anyone. Must’ve gone down an alley. If you’re here, though, who’s watching your cart? Couldn’t the first one’s friends be robbing it blind right now?”

“Krogg’s balls!” the man grunted as he turned to rush back to his food cart.

Gregory let the man go, then triggered foresight as he walked toward where the child had gone. He paused halfway, knowing that the rat eurtik was hunched behind a stack of refuse.

“If the child could hear me, I’d tell them to avoid that man. The vendor is someone who’ll press matters next time. Alas, the starving boy was too quick for me, so I was unable to capture him or give him my wisdom.” As he turned to go, he pulled a few twenty vela coins from his ring and let them bounce off the wall he was near. “Damn, I dropped some money. Ah, well. Someone who needs it will find it.”

Gregory walked away, but as he left the alley, he imagined doubling back. His foresight caught sight of the waif picking up the money while stuffing the skewer into his mouth. Letting go of his magic, Gregory smiled as he headed for the nearest tavern— the child would be okay for a time.

A drop in the bucket, he thought after a few seconds, but it’s something. He and the others like him, the half-bloods born into this town, are abused and used. Even if there is an orphanage here, it probably treats children like him badly. Hell… they were in Wesrik. Here, it’d be even worse. Those thoughts wiped the smile from his face.

~*~*~

It was late afternoon when he made it back to the barracks. The place was busy, with men in dirty clothing filling half the tables. None of Gregory’s men were visible, for which he was grateful.

“Adept, you are the one replacing us?” a sergeant asked, standing up from the closest table.

“I am. Is your magi upstairs?”

“Gods no!” the man barked a laugh. “Magus Grabil stays at the Golden Collar when we rest here.”

“That’s the place on the main square?”

“Yeah. Very posh there,” the sergeant grinned. “Probably being scrubbed by three of them collared pets right now.”

Gregory’s eyelid twitched once. “Hmm… I’ll go over there to speak with him, then. Did my lieutenant or sergeants explain which barracks we’d taken?”

“Figured ours was the empty one, sir,” another man said, coming in behind Gregory. “Lieutenant Simmons, sir, attached to Magus Grabil.”

“Simmons, is there any trouble with us being settled in?” Gregory asked.

“No, sir, though I’d ask your cook to make dinner for our men, too, if that’s okay?”

“I’ll let him know before I go find your magi. My lieutenant should be upstairs, or he’ll be returning shortly. If you’d fill him in on anything he should know about, I’d appreciate it.”

“Yes, sir. Magus Grabil is at the Golden Collar, sir. He’ll likely be having dinner in an hour in one of their private rooms.”

“I’ll find him there right after I inform my cook. Oh, Lieutenant? Make sure your men treat my staff properly. If any of them complain, I will be upset.”

Simmons swallowed as the magi who hadn’t felt threatening at all suddenly felt stronger than Grabil. “Y-yes, sir!” He saluted on reflex.

“Good. Thank you,” Gregory said before heading for the staff quarters.

~*~*~

It hadn’t taken long to inform Barny, Dot, and Polka of what he’d been asked. Gregory told the sisters that they could skip serving the other unit, making sure they understood that any problems should be brought to him or Davis. They thanked him, opting to only serve Gregory’s men, though they would be helping Barny make dinner.

Gregory handed his reins off to the stable hand at the Golden Collar, his gaze roving over the exterior of the four-story structure. The place certainly did business— the paint on the building was bright and festive, far different than the majority of the town.

Entering the building, he paused to find not a taproom, but a vestibule with a receptionist and guards by the inner doors. The woman was a partial-mink eurtik. She lacked the fur and snout, but had the ears, eyes, and tail of a mink.

“Welcome to Golden Collar, Magi,” she greeted Gregory with a business smile. “You must be the magi who will be replacing Magus Grabil.”

“Adept Gregory Pettit,” Gregory introduced himself. “I’m hoping to speak with Magus Grabil.”

“He’ll be having dinner soon. I can enquire if you may join him? Would you like to step into the lounge while you wait?”

“That might be for the best.”

“If you wish to sample anything, the bill is paid at the end of the night, Magi. None of our guests have ever left unsatisfied.”

Gregory’s gut dropped when he realized that this wasn’t so much an inn, but something else. “Thank you. I’ll just be having dinner. My wives would frown on… more.”

“Ah, yes,” the receptionist said softly. “We, of course, have the utmost discretion, but I will make sure the staff knows to give you space.”

“Thank you,” Gregory said as he headed for the lounge doors.

The two guards opened the doors for him, allowing him to see the room. Polished wood oiled to a gleam and soft lighting set the tone for what wasn’t quite an oiran house, but was trying to be similar.

A man with a lightly-oiled chest flexed his pecs slightly when the door opened, quickly turning away when he saw Gregory. Women in barely-concealing silk dresses lounged around the room. Of the six, four were speaking with customers already. The other two smiled brightly upon seeing him. Their eyes went past him before they turned to other distractions.

Gregory chuckled softly, sure that one of the guards had sent a signal to leave him alone. He approached the bar where a human man was fixing drinks for others. “Tea, please. Something light in flavor.”

“Yes, sir,” the bartender said. He quickly finished the cocktail he was making and leaned through a doorway behind his bar, sending the order for berry tea. Coming back to Gregory, the man smiled a little stiffly. “Would you care for some food or other… delectables?”

“No. I’m just waiting to hear if I am having dinner here or not.”

“As you wish, sir,” the bartender said, going to the far end of the bar to mix another drink.

After a minute, another woman, this one a full panther eurtik, came slinking his way. “Magi, if you will accompany me, Magus Grabil will host you this evening.”

Gregory’s eye caught the brand just below her neck, nestled above the gentle swell of her breasts. He continued looking up without pause to her yellow eyes. “Lead me.” He didn’t add a please, but his tone was soft.

With a small bow, the eurtik led him from the lounge into the back hallways. Her tail twitched lazily side to side in counterpoint to her hips. Gregory’s lips pursed, as he wasn’t sure if the slave was happy to be there or not. She was clearly trying to be enticing, but unluckily for her, Gregory was faithful to his wives.

If she’d been a fox, she’d have reminded me of Jess. That might’ve been a bit trickier to keep my thoughts above the gutter, he admitted to himself.

The woman paused outside of one of the doors. She knocked once before cracking the door slightly. “Magus, your guest has arrived.”

“Send him in,” a man chuckled from inside.

The panther eurtik opened the door, bowing Gregory in. “The magus welcomes you, sir.”