Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

Gregory replayed the bane boar attack in his aether cavern while he meditated. Foresight hadn’t shown him anything bad for the day; in fact, there was something he was even looking forward to. There were other things he had to do before that, and all of that came after training and breakfast.

There wasn’t much his unit could’ve done better in how they handled the boars. The broken weapons saved their lives, making the loss negligible in comparison. Gregory already knew the weaponsmith had the four he needed so his men could be re-equipped right away. The quality wasn’t as good, but he’d remedy that when they left the north.

Fourth bell chiming came a moment after the replay ended. Getting to his feet, he stretched out his muscles, then left his room. After greeting the others, they trooped downstairs together for breakfast.

“Gregory, are you going to Cutting Block?” Rafiq asked when they reached the mess hall.

“Yeah, for the boars. Did you want to come with me?”

“If it’s not any trouble.”

“That’s perfectly fine with me. I’m sure Kona will be happy to monopolize you for a few hours.”

“She’s a quick study on different methods of preserving meat,” Rafiq said.

“Loving her job is good,” Davis commented. “Few people do.”

“True enough,” Gregory said.

~*~*~

Kona smiled broadly when Gregory and Rafiq entered the butcher shop. “Welcome back. I take it you have more work for us?”

“Six bane boar sows and fourteen piglets,” Gregory said. “I’ll drop them off in the back.”

“Thank you, Magi,” Kona said. “Dad’s back there. You can work out pricing with him.”

“Will do,” Gregory nodded.

Frenton looked up from the half-cow he was working on. “Ahh, Magi. What do you have for us?”

Gregory reiterated the number and types of bane meat. “What do you think?”

“That’ll take at least a few weeks. You want the extra infused types, right?”

“Yup. Any cores you don’t use, just set aside for me.”

“I’d do the six sows for part of the piglets. Their size will let me know how many to set aside.”

Gregory went over to the same spot he’d set out the beasts before. He started with the sows, then pulled out the piglets. When he finished, he stepped back. “Well?”

“Three weeks, as I do have other orders to get to. I’d say nine of the piglets to me, and the rest to you.”

“What about the skins?”

“Takes an extra bit of work with the sows; the piglets should be better. If you’ll just hand the skins off to me, I’ll knock two of the piglets back to your side.”

“Deal. I’ll pick up some next time I’m in town, and the rest the time after.”

“That should work nicely for me.”

“Rafiq’s going to chat with Kona. Is that okay?”

“Very much so. He’s given us a lot of ways to improve our output. I won’t insult anyone by asking to buy him, but I half-wish I could just to have him continue to help us beyond this year.”

“Thank you,” Gregory said. “If you’d asked, I’d have been upset. Though the fact that you’d treat him well does mitigate that. His wife and son will be waiting for me to take him back to the academy after my magus posting, so I’d decline, regardless.”

“My daughter already told me. I worried she’d get a little too fond of him. She set me straight after the second time they’d talked.” Frenton laughed nervously. “Father worries.”

“One day, I might know what that’s like,” Gregory said. “I don’t think it’ll be for years.”

“Best to wait until your obligations are done, just like when I did my stint in the army.”

“Yeah, we’ve agreed on that. Have a good day.”

“You, too, Magi.”

When Gregory went back to the front, Rafiq and Kona were debating what types of wood to use with what animals when smoking them. “Rafiq, are you staying?”

“For an hour or two, Gregory, unless you require my aid?”

“Stay and talk. Enjoy the time. Aether knows we might not get too many quiet days now. I’ll see you back at the barracks.”

Rafiq and Kona wished him a good day; Gregory was glad that Kona realized Rafiq wouldn’t be staying past the year. He was even happier that Rafiq found some small amount of happiness while being away from his family.

~*~*~

The weaponsmith was a surly man who was glad to take Gregory’s money. Gregory wasn’t entirely enthused with the quality of the naginatas, but he needed them for his men. He’d be checking Coldwood when they got back there, hoping the weaponsmith there had better quality goods.

With that done, Gregory made a quick stop at the local bakery to resupply the desserts for his men. He told the baker there the same thing he’d told Erik in Coldwood, to hold off on making his usual until he came in to ask. As it was, he bought all the day-old baked goods that’d been ready for him the day before.

The last stop was the one he’d been looking forward to. “Klee, are there any letters for me?” Gregory asked, entering the courier office.

“Magi? How did you know? I just got it from the dispatchers a few minutes ago,” Klee Hort said in surprise.

“Guess I was just lucky,” Gregory chuckled as he went to the man’s desk. “I’ll take it with me instead of making you send a runner to the barracks.”

“Gladly, sir,” Klee said, getting up to grab the scroll. “It came from Tivano.”

“My wife’s family is from there.”

“Your in-laws like you?”

“I hope so,” Gregory said. “Thank you for your hard work, Klee. I’m sure you would’ve sent a runner shortly.”

“I was going to have my wife take over so I could check.” Handing the scroll over, Klee smiled. “Have a good day, sir.”

“You, too.”

Gregory took the scroll, letting his ring absorb it. With quick steps, he was out the door and headed back to the barracks. He knew it was a letter from Elsa; he just didn’t know what it said yet. His glimpse during foresight had him mentioning the letter to Davis when he checked in that night, so Gregory had an easy checkpoint.

~*~*~

Back in his room, Gregory opened the letter.

Greg,

I’m happy to hear you did the best at the tournament. I’ve read all of your letters twice before writing my own. Yuki and Jenn both garnering the next two places made me giggle. You three always show me that, as long as I strive, I can accomplish everything.

I’ve missed you all year. It’s been more than a year by the time your letter arrived, and well past that before mine reaches you. Hao told me about your posting, so please, be careful. Bane beasts, angry eurtiks, and people who’ll hate you just because you’re kind. I like Hao. He never tries to hide things from me. If I ask him a question, he gives me the unvarnished truth. Yoo-jin does, too, but she isn’t as forward about things. She’ll try to hold things back to not make it sound as terrible.

They’re good people, but that was a given, since they raised Yuki. I’m treated like staff except for an hour each day. Then, they treat me as more than a maid so I can learn from them. I’ve asked them to school me in things that might help me later when I’m with you all again, which means a lot of math. I’m doing my best, and they both continue to push me to do more.

The other maids were a little jealous, but it’s been made clear that I’m training for Yuki. That got them to settle down… well, mostly. A couple still think if I do badly, Yuki might ask for them, instead, but I’ll never fail to do my best, not when my goal is set.

I’m writing Yuki and the others back, including Nessa, Daciana, and Victoria. I was shocked to get letters from them, but also very happy. All of them have said they look forward to seeing me again. I’ve gotten letters from the orphanage, too. Enzo writes to me for them, and he even sent me some pictures. He’s very talented at drawing, and I’m glad he’s decided to hone that skill. He’s reiterated that he’ll be the butler to match me at your home. The others are all making sure to learn positional skills, too. We’re looking forward to when we’re together with you all again.

Greg, please be careful? The idea of you being hurt wakes me at night occasionally. I jerk awake, thinking of you crying out for help with none of us present to be there for you. I’ve woken some of the others from those nightmares… I hope to see another letter from you before your year ends, but I’ll really be looking forward to getting one from you all when you get to Krogga.

I’ll be an adult before we see each other again. I might be a magi or just a maid, but either way, I’ll make you proud of me. Honestly, I don’t know which one I want more. As a magi, I could join Aether’s Guard and help people see magi as they should be… like you: kind, caring, helpful. But I also just want to be a maid so I can welcome you back from your posting. I’ll curtsy deeply and welcome you home. I’ve dreamt of doing just that, and every morning I wake from those dreams, I’m happy all day. Only Aether knows if I’ll be blessed or not, but either way, I’ll be happy.

I should end the letter soon. Know that I’m doing my best, as I always do. I’ll learn everything I can, then even more. Every day, I make sure to do a Magi Square, an hour of the Peaceful Fist, and some meditation before bed. The others think I’m crazy, but they just don’t have a goal like I do.

Your friend, maid, and maybe a clan member in the future,

Elsa Bommot

Gregory set the letter down with a wide smile. “You always make us proud, Elsa.” Taking a deep breath, he unrolled the second letter that’d come with hers.

Gregory,

You’ll have read Elsa’s letter first, I’m sure. I just wanted to add a small note to hers. If you wonder if she is telling you the truth, let me help ease your mind: she has been exemplary in all things. Some days, I wonder if she is a young girl or not. Elsa is the most driven child I’ve ever met, maybe even surpassing my own dear Yu.

Hao and I have taken to spending an hour a day with her. It started as a reward that we thought would fall away, but she is dedicated. Hao and I trade days off, but she has never failed a single day to earn her time to learn from us. Her preferred choice has been commerce, but we do manage to distract her with other topics for a day or two.

Yuki will have a maid that surpasses even mine, and Aubrey is the best maid I’ve ever known. She has been as firm as she can be, but Elsa rarely commits the same mistake twice, and never three times. I’d never thought I’d hear Aubrey praise a maid-in-training, but she has praised Elsa repeatedly, only in private to me. We’re not letting Elsa get a big head— she gets told sparingly so she knows that we’re impressed, but not as often as she truly deserves.

Hao will be visiting Alturis this year, mostly to see Yu rather than to check on his business. Jenn’s posting and yours worry us. Hers isn’t as deadly as yours, but it still has peril. Please, stay safe. You are my daughter’s heart, and I would not wish to see her heartbroken.

We’ll keep Elsa learning and ready for her place as your maid. If she does become a magi like you, we’ll make sure she’s helped as much as we can. When you settle in at Krogga, Hao and I will likely come visit. I’ve never been, and I’ll have reason to go.

Stay safe.

Your mother-in-law,

Yoo-jin Warlin

Gregory set the letter down, exhaling slowly. “Thank you, Mom. I’d never think Elsa would lie to me, but hearing how well she’s doing from you is nice.”

Picking up Elsa’s letter, he read it again. When he finished the second time, he summoned paper and ink to reply with. She’d have gotten his first letter before he received this one, but he wanted to tell her he was safe.