Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3) by Daniel Schinhofen (best black authors .TXT) 📗

you are not going to be using it, though, to prolong the life of the bow.”

Gregory unstrung it and set it on the counter. “I’ll make sure that I remember, sir.”

“Good. You lost track of time. It’s time for you to return to the inn.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, sir,” Gregory said, turning to go.

“Don’t forget your bow,” Bryn told him.

Gregory paused, turning around with a confused expression. “Sir?”

Bryn pointed at the bow in front of him. “Your bow.”

“Sir, I only finished it at your instruction. The majority of the work was yours.”

“Yes, but the one you started will be finished well after you return to the academy. Anyone who trains in the craft deserves to have a finished product of their own. This is the best I can do for you. It’s why I had you finish this one, and you did so up to my standards. If you hadn’t, I’d have had you make another simple bow to take, instead. Now, come collect your bow.”

Gregory cupped his right fist with his left palm at chest height and bowed to Bryn formally. “I am honored, sir. I will treasure this gift.”

Bryn chuckled. “Take it and go. You’ll be working on arrows from tomorrow until the day you leave. Set aside your best hundred, as those will be yours, as well.”

Gregory bowed again before collecting his bow. “Yes, sir.”

“Ask your wife to make you a cover for it,” Bryn said with a crooked smile.

“You know about Yuki, sir?”

“Lavent, Kassidy and I have shared a drink or two since you three showed up. We’ve compared notes. Now, go on. It doesn’t do to keep a woman waiting.”

“Yes, sir,” Gregory said.

~*~*~

After dropping the bow off in his room, Gregory hurried downstairs to join the others in the bath. He was so wrapped up in what he wanted to tell them that he didn’t pay as much attention to the baskets when he stripped off his clothing. Entering the room, his steps faltered when he saw not two people in the tub, but three.

“A little late, but I can’t fault you when I’ve been behind since this morning, too,” Dia said. “You won’t have long, as dinner should be ready soon. In fact, I should go check with Brown about that.”

Gregory had no more warning than that before Dia rose from the tub and went to leave. He knew that Dia was older, as her sister was old enough to be his grandmother, but she didn’t look that old. In fact, she looked just slightly older than they did. The most eye-catching thing about her were the scars on her lower abdomen. She had large, raised scars that spoke of trauma he couldn’t even begin to imagine.

“It’s impolite to stare, Apprentice,” Dia chided him gently when she went past him.

Gregory’s face burned and he coughed. “Sorry, Dia. I didn’t mean to.”

“I know. Your wife and friend did, as well. They can tell you what I told them, but do hurry. Brown gets a little upset if his dishes aren’t eaten while they’re hot.”

The door shut behind her, and Gregory looked up to find Yukiko and Jenn staring at him. “I’m sorry,” he said, bowing to them both.

“No, it’s fine, dear one,” Yukiko giggled.

“We both stared, too,” Jenn said. “First because I hope to be that fit when I reach my seventh decade, and then because of her scars.”

Gregory exhaled. “It was still wrong of me. I’ll hurry with washing.”

“I’ll get your back,” Yukiko said. “We were going to be getting out, too.”

“I’ll skip the soaking,” Gregory said, heading for the washing area. “I finished making a composite bow today.”

“Oh? How did it go?” Jenn asked.

“Good. Bryn said I did as well as he would have. As I went to leave, he stopped me,” Gregory said while he started pumping water.

“What did he want?” Yukiko asked as she stepped out of the tub.

“To tell me to take it with me,” Gregory said, glancing at Yukiko. “I tried to decline, but he insisted. It’s in our room now.”

“Must have heard about Lavent and Kassidy,” Jenn said as she got out of the tub. “Kassidy mentioned that they got together for a drink and to talk about us. He is the one that told Lightshield about Kassidy. I was originally supposed to learn from the shop next to hers.”

Gregory grimaced. “I don’t think you would have enjoyed that.”

“I doubt I would have. The other smith has glared at me every day. His father used to teach the clan apprentices. He hasn’t taken Kassidy being chosen over him well, and has had unkind words about her heritage… and mine.”

Gregory had been moving to take a seat, but froze when Jenn added the last two words. A spike of anger surged through him and he exhaled.

Yukiko wasn’t silent about her feelings, “What did this person say, exactly?”

“I didn’t hear him clearly, but I heard mention of dwarf and knew he wasn’t talking about Kassidy,” Jenn answered. She touched Yukiko’s shoulder. “But thank you, Yuki.” Her eyes drifted to Gregory, who was still frozen in place. “You, too, Greg. I saw the anger on your faces.”

Yukiko turned to Jenn and laid a hand on her friend’s cheek. “I will always be angry when someone upsets you. You are special to us,” she looked over her shoulder at Gregory, “even if he is still struggling to accept what will be.”

Jenn leaned her head into her hand briefly before kissing Yukiko’s wrist. “Thank you, Yuki. Knowing that you both care that much soothes any pain I might have felt.” She stepped back. “I’m going to get dressed. I’ll see you both shortly.”

Gregory watched her go, his mind whirling. I felt as angry as I do when someone hurts Yuki like that…