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

approached it. Something about it felt familiar— the thick stone was a dull white, and the front of the moderate building was nearly unadorned. The only markings Gregory could see were above the door.

Staring at the symbols, Gregory felt an affinity for them. Three were encased in circles; a brain displayed from the side, a lotus flower, and an arm flexed to show off the bicep. Those three circles had lines that flowed down to entwine with each other before touching a triangle.

Yukiko and Jenn stood beside him, also staring at the imagery. “It reminds me of something...” Jenn said softly.

“Yes,” Yukiko agreed. “I’ve never seen it before, but I know that it’s right.”

Shaking his head, Gregory entered the temple. The interior was vastly different from the outside. Where the outside was clean and austere, the interior was bedecked in ornamentation. Chandeliers of gleaming gold illuminated the room, and rich tapestries covered the walls, showing different depictions of Aether. Near the far side of the room, an old bald man was kneeling before a stone altar.

“You are welcome to pray to Aether,” the kneeling man said, not looking their way.

“Thank you, sir. We were hoping to be married,” Gregory said respectfully.

The man groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. “A marriage is a wonderful thing.”

All three were shocked to find the man had milky white eyes.

“Ah, yes, I am blind. I don’t recognize your voices, either, so you must be visiting our fair town.”

“We are, sir,” Gregory replied. “We’ll be on our way back to Wesrik soon.”

“Wesrik? Hmm... New apprentices?”

“Yes, sir,” Yukiko said. “Aether’s Guard.”

“It has been years since your clan was here. How is Elder Lightshield?”

“He is well,” Jenn said.

“Ah, he is fading, then. A pity, not that I have room to talk.”

“How…?” Gregory started to ask, but trailed off.

“Her tone,” the priest replied. “I have only my ears. I’ve had only them for the last few decades. It is fascinating what you can hear, if you listen. Her answer held a trace of hesitation and she stressed ‘well.’ To me, at least. I am Grandmaster Baltur, the priest of this temple.”

“An honor, Grandmaster,” they replied.

“Now, which two of you are marrying?”

“I wish to become his second wife,” Jenn told him.

Baltur nodded slowly. “Your names?”

“Gregory Pettit and Jenn Bean, sir,” Gregory replied.

“Behind the altar is a chest. Find the appropriate form and fill it out. Once you have, I will conduct the ritual. Then, you need to merely deliver the form to the city registrar.”

“Yes, sir,” Gregory said, going to do as instructed.

“You know our elder, sir?” Yukiko asked.

“Oh, yes. He’s been the clan head since his father split off to form the Iron Hand. I used to be part of your clan, myself. Back when I was younger, of course.”

“But you left? Why?”

“A very long story,” Baltur said. “I grew disillusioned that Aether would return. Instead, I felt it better to keep one of the old temples in good repair. This temple has been here since before this town was built.”

Gregory went to the far side of the altar as the others talked. A thick chest sat against the stone, and Gregory knelt to open it. The conversation faded from his perception as he stared at the stone. The same icon as above the door outside was carved into the stone. The image seemed to shimmer to Gregory and, instinctively, he reached out to touch it.

Chapter Seventeen

 

His aether flared when he touched the triangle, and the lines leading from the emblems lit up with blue fire. Jaw dropping, Gregory watched each of the icons blaze blue before part of the altar slid into itself with absolute silence. A small cubby was revealed and Gregory could see a glint of something inside. Reaching in, he pulled the item out.

“Is something wrong?” Baltur asked.

“Uh, no, sir!” Gregory said quickly as he stuffed the item into his bag and opened the chest up. “I was distracted. I’m sorry.”

“Hmm, yes. Do you have the forms?”

“I’m going to fill them out now, sir.” As he shut the chest, Gregory was surprised to find the cubby closed again.

“Very well. You are sure this is what you want, Bean?”

“It is, sir,” Jenn replied.

“It is very unusual for apprentices to wed, much less for them to have multiple wives. You must be quite powerful, Pettit.”

“I’m equal to them, sir.”

“Interesting... You don’t come from a powerful family, as I’ve never heard of your surname. You don’t see yourself as powerful, and are in a clan that is all but gone, yet there are two women here that love you enough to share you?”

“I was surprised by it myself,” Gregory commented as he finished filling out the papers. “I have the forms done, sir.”

“Very well. Take her hand please,” Baltur said.

Gregory handed the papers to Yukiko and moved around to take Jenn’s hands in his.

Baltur went to the side of the room and picked up a pair of cups and a bottle. Going back to the altar, he set the cups down and poured a measure into each, then slid the two cups before him.

“This small ceremony is in sight of Aether, being in one of his old temples,” Baltur said. “Two magi come together and wish to tie their lives together. Aether and Vera would smile upon this union, as your love is obvious even to an old blind man.”

Gregory and Jenn blushed slightly, but were looking at each other as Baltur spoke.

“You met because of Aether, and wed in his house. Let this drink be to him in thanks for his flame tying you together.”

Gregory and Jenn picked up the cups and drank, then exchanged them with each other to finish.

Baltur smiled and poured into