Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

Gregory reminded his men to stay in groups when they went out. They were in high spirits, having been given their pay, then told of the best places for them to visit. One of the squads would always be at the barracks, with them rotating who was staying behind. It would give the men more time to keep their gear maintained, so no one complained.

Gregory had places to visit, so as soon as breakfast was over he was out the door. The first place was the tiny bank this town had. It was mostly there to make sure the magi guard unit got their pay on time, but the rest of the town also used it. The manager had been more than happy to hand over the men’s pay to Gregory, but let him know that he’d have to use Coldwood’s bank next month.

With that done, Gregory went to the courier’s office. The pigeon tower stood tall, making it easy to spot. The courier’s office was vastly smaller than most offices he’d seen— it was only the tower and sign out front that made Gregory sure he was in the right place. Inside, instead of multiple desks for each province, this place had only a single man behind one desk.

“Excuse me, sir? I have four letters to mail out,” Gregory said, as the man hadn’t looked up from his paperwork.

Gregory’s voice got the part-deer eurtik to look up. His horns were cut down so he didn’t have a rack of antlers, but it was clear he would have them, otherwise. “The price is… oh, Magi! Yes, sir. Where are they going?”

“Different places for all four. I’m surprised it’s just one person handling things here.”

“Ah, well, Icelake doesn’t get much correspondence that isn’t official. The standard fee for magi sending letters will apply, and I’ll need you to fill out the forms for each… if that’s okay?”

Gregory was surprised; the man seemed ready for a rebuke at him having to do paperwork. “That’s fine. Have other magi not wanted to fill out the forms?”

“Ah… a few have found it beneath them. I took care of it for them.”

Gregory shook his head. “I’ll fill out my own forms.”

The partial-eurtik was quick to hand over four forms. “Yes, sir. You can use the sideboard to fill them out.”

Gregory accepted them. “It’s just you that handles the mail?”

“My son fills in for me once a week, sir.”

“It’s good to have some rest. If mail comes in for me, just hold it. I’ll check in periodically.”

“If you’re holding to the patrol route, sir, I can have it brought to you.”

“That will work, thank you. We’ll probably mostly adhere to it, but I might deviate sometimes.”

“Yes, sir. If that happens, we’ll try again the following day or two until you arrive.”

“Is there anything about Icelake that I should know?” Gregory asked as he filled out the paperwork.

“Just the usual. This place is for the frontier types, with slaves being the leading economic business. All the nearby towns send people every quarter for the auction. Some clans do the same.”

“I have a good number of part-eurtik guards in my unit. Where would they be most welcome?”

“Oh… uh… I’d suggest the Groomed Mane, sir. Lowen Pointer, the owner, is a retired guard and he doesn’t put up with problems. Most magi have preferred spending their time at the Silver Collar… though your men, outside of maybe your lieutenant, wouldn’t be able to afford it.”

“I’ve heard that,” Gregory said. “I won’t be going there, myself.”

“I didn’t mean to imply—”

“It’s fine,” Gregory cut him off gently. “My wives wouldn’t approve. That’s all.”

“Ahh, I see,” the man chuckled awkwardly. “My wife wouldn’t, either.”

“How many years have you been married?”

“Twenty years, sir. We got married right after our age day.”

“I look forward to reaching twenty years together with my wives,” Gregory said wistfully.

“It’s a wonderful thing, sir. I take it your wives are with you?”

“Huh? No. They’re at their own postings.”

“Magi wives, sir?”

“All three of them.”

“Three… three magi wives…?”

Gregory chuckled as he brought the forms to the courier. “I’m a lucky man.”

“Vera either loves or hates you.”

“I hope she doesn’t hate me. Those stories always end in sorrow.”

“True. May Aether bless you, Magi.”

“He did on my age day,” Gregory laughed. “What’s your name, sir?”

“Oh… Klee Hort, sir.”

“Well, Klee, thank you for the conversation. Here are the forms, letters, and vela. I’ll have more outgoing mail later in the year.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure they go with the next set. That won’t likely be until next week.”

“That’s fine. Have a good day.”

“Good day, Magi,” Klee said. When Gregory left, Klee shook his head; he’d never met a magi that personable before. “Not sure the wife will believe me, but it’s worth telling.”

~*~*~

Icelake’s magi had a home very much like Magus Artok in Coldwood. The biggest difference was that this manor was made of stone, not wood. The butler took Gregory to the parlor where a maid served him tea. Both staff were full eurtik slaves who kept their heads down, not looking him in the eyes.

“Ah, Adept, I’m glad to see you know to check in,” the magus said as she entered the room. “I hate to chastise the young for not knowing decorum.”

Gregory stood when the magus entered, bowing formally to her. “Magus, only a fool wouldn’t check in with one of their superiors.”

“And yet it happens frequently. Twelve years at this posting and five adepts have failed to do so.” Taking her seat, the magus motioned idly to the maid. “My usual.”

The maid brought the cart forward, fixing a cup for her, then refilling Gregory’s cup. With that done, she went back to standing by the door, her head still bowed.

The two magi drank their tea in silence until the magus motioned for him to speak.

“Adept Gregory Pettit of Aether’s Guard, ma’am,” Gregory said, making sure he was being formal. “I’m here to patrol between Icelake and Coldwood for the year.”

“You replace Magus Grabil. I shouldn’t need to have you visit again unless there is a problem. Oh, yes, and my manners. Magus Justina Smitton, Heavenly Rain.”

“Yes, ma’am. Speaking of problems, though,” he produced his report, setting it on the table between them, “my report on the conditions left by the outgoing magi.”

Lips thinning, Justina glanced at the scroll. “Was it so terrible that a report was needed, Adept?”

“If it’d just been an isolated incident, then no, ma’am. It wasn’t isolated, which made it necessary to report.”

“Very well,” Justina sighed. “I’ll pass it along.”

Gregory knew Justina didn’t care; it was obvious from her demeanor and tone. “I had a question, Magus, about the way the slavers operate. What’s required for them to capture eurtik?”

“Just that they check in with me before they go out. I will brand ten slaves per group at the normal price. Anything beyond ten and the price goes up accordingly. Aether needs to be used correctly, after all.”

“Just them seeing you first is enough to let them go out?” Gregory asked, sipping his tea.

“They pay the empire-sanctioned fees to me, which get handed over to the bank,” Justina shrugged. “I know who is sanctioned and who is not. A group coming in with slaves not sanctioned by me… I make sure those slaves are confiscated for the empire.”

“I see. What if I brought slaves in?”

“You’re a magi. It’s different for us, though I doubt you could do more than a couple at a time. I’ll make sure you’re given the right pricing for the brands being enforced.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Gregory said. “I’ll try not to tax your aether or your time.”

“Hmm… don’t hold back, Adept. I don’t mind bringing the beasts under heel. If needed, we can work out a discount.”

Gregory put a smile on his face. “That would be helpful. If I come back with unbranded slaves, I’ll make sure we have that discussion. I do have to ask; where would I pick up the right crystals for the brands?”

“Of course. I forgot,” Justina laughed lightly. “Myself and the commander of the guard have access to them. They’re locked up at the bank, otherwise. I’ll write out a writ to have ten released to you. This way, you can have them on hand. I’m sure you wouldn’t use them on any eurtik other than those you personally catch.”

“No, ma’am. I’ll make sure they’re only used by me.”

“Wonderful,” Justina smiled. “It’s been over a decade since I was last in Wesrik. Tell me about the academy. Has anything changed?”

~*~*~

Gregory was almost to the guard’s office, still thinking about how blatantly the magi were ignoring the laws. It reminded him of another quote from Lionel Lighthand’s journals: “Who will watch the watchers?” Lighthand had questioned magi being raised far above all others in society.

“Who, indeed…?” Gregory murmured. “If the laws aren’t being enforced, then all of society breaks down, doesn’t it?” He set aside his musing when he approached the command post.

The guard outside the building stood up a little straighter. “Magi, can I assist you?”

“I’m here to see the commander.”

“Inside, top floor, sir.”

“Thank you,” Gregory replied as he entered the building.

The interior reminded him of Gardenia’s command post, but there was no retired guard sitting in the lobby to direct people. Gregory wondered if Gardenia was the oddity in that, or if it was odd for Icelake to not have one. He made it to the top floor, strolled down to the office marked as the commander’s, and knocked on the door.

“Enter,” the cultured voice from inside commanded.

Gregory walked in, appraising the man with graying temples behind the far desk. “Commander, I’m Gregory Pettit with Aether’s Guard. I’m the adept patrolling between here and Coldwood.”

“Ah, yes,” the commander nodded. “It is that time, isn’t it? Come in and have a seat, Magi. I am Commander Trida. What can the Icelake guard do for you?”

Gregory took a seat, then summoned a copy of the same report he’d given Magus Smitton. “I have a report to file about the conditions left by the previous magi, sir.”

“Hmm… unusual.” Trida took the scroll, broke the seal, and read it. His lips were pursed as he finished it. “That is terrible. I will pass it along, but you should know that almost nothing will come of it.”

“It needs to be recorded, sir. Records are as important as laws,” Gregory said, trying to gauge Trida’s reaction.

“Laws are what keep us civilized, unlike the eurtik,” Trida smiled tightly. “I will push this along the chain of command, but you will never hear of it.”

“That’s fine, sir. I don’t expect to hear about any repercussions.”

“Very well, Magi. I can’t think of the last time a magi reported on a fellow magi.”

“Who will watch the watchers, sir?”

“Hmm? A history buff, are you?”

“History can teach us to not make the same mistakes.”

“Or guide us into the worst of them,” Trida smiled. “The man you quoted isn’t beloved in the empire. You surely know this.”

“He was a hero, sir, even if his later thoughts about the emperor were treasonous.”

“That is true… we might have lost the First Eurtik War if not for Lighthand’s actions. Few dive deeply into the subject of the man, knowing his current spot in history.”

“Understood, sir. If I see a guard taking vela to look the other way from a minor crime, should I report it to you or let it be? I’ve known commanders who have done both.”

Trida’s lips twitched down. “My men know better. If you see one of my men doing so, come to me. Anyone outside of my command isn’t my problem.”

Gregory nodded. “Understood, sir. Thank you for taking my report.”

“Magi, if you dip your toe in that pond, I do not want to know about it.”

Standing, Gregory saluted. “Understood, sir.”

Trida stood up, saluting him back. “Good day, Adept.”

“Good day, sir.”

“Which tavern will you unwind at?”

“I haven’t decided yet, sir.”

“My command staff and I generally use the Gilded Cup. You and your lieutenant would be welcome to join us.”

“I will see about doing so, Commander. I still have things to accomplish today. Oh, which baker in town is the best?”

Trida was not expecting the question, but he answered it. When Gregory left a moment later, Trida took his seat again, wondering if the new adept was going to be a problem.