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

the cups again. “The second drink is in thanks to your ancestors. It is because of them that this love can bloom today.”

Again, they drank from their cup, and then the other’s.

“The third drink,” Baltur went on, pouring again once they placed the cups back onto the altar, “is to each other. You wish to join your hearts together, and this pledges just that.”

Gregory and Jenn stared deeply into each other’s eyes as they drank for the last time.

The moment the cups were set down, Baltur spoke again, “You are now wed in the eyes of the gods, your ancestors, and your fellow wife. Once you turn the forms in, it’ll also be in the eyes of the empire.”

Yukiko let out a happy sound and rushed over to hug them both. Gregory and Jenn were also smiling as they held each other and Yukiko.

Baltur gave them a moment before clearing his throat. “Was there anything else I can do for you?”

“No, sir. Thank you,” Gregory said as he let go of his wives and bowed to Baltur.

“Thank you,” Jenn and Yukiko echoed.

“Go enjoy your day, for you have reason to celebrate.”

“Thank you, Grandmaster,” they each said before they left the temple.

As they walked a little way down the street, Gregory pulled the item from the altar out of his bag. The sun gleamed off the white metal of the medallion. The design etched into the metal was simple— a simple burning flame. The flame was solid ryuite that went all the way through the medallion.

“Mythrum and ryuite?” Yukiko half-asked in a whisper. “That is worth a fortune.”

“Is it enchanted?” Jenn asked.

Gregory swallowed, as he could feel the power in it. “Yes. It prickles my hand just holding it.”

“Mythrum is for holding aether,” Yukiko said. “That could hold much more than my earrings. I’m not sure what ryuite does, though.”

“Is it from the Eternal Flame?” Jenn asked. “The flame imagery is what they normally use.”

“No...” Gregory said softly. The medallion felt old, but also familiar, to him. “This doesn’t belong to the Eternal Flame. This is much older.”

Yukiko’s gaze jerked from it to Gregory. “It was yours? The ryuite of the Blade glowed for you.”

“I think it was... I touched the emblem on the altar and this came out of a cubby there. I pocketed it when Baltur asked if everything was okay. I had a feeling that telling him about the cubby would be bad.”

“You think it was tied to you?”

“It has to be. I’m sure other magi have touched the symbol before.”

“Which means the rock in the park was likely you, too,” Yukiko nodded slowly, “or someone close to you.”

“Baltur did say the temple had been here since before the town,” Gregory said.

“We should keep it secret,” Yukiko said. “Put it away, Greg. We can decide what to do with it later. We need to take the forms to the registrar.”

“Yes,” Jenn said quickly.

Gregory put the medallion into his pouch. “We’ll have to talk about it later. It makes me wonder what other temples might hold.”

“There is that,” Yukiko agreed, “but later. Today is Jenn’s day.”

Jenn smiled. “Thank you, Yuki.”

“After we drop it off, are we going to look through the shops and see if we can find something for Elsa and the others?” Gregory asked.

“Yes,” Jenn nodded. “I want to find them all something nice. Today will be like our day off at the academy.”

“Let’s go, then,” Gregory said.

~*~*~

The registrar didn’t comment as they took the marriage form and the vela required to have their marriage registered. Leaving the city building, they saw a guard standing outside. It was the first one they’d seen since being in Waterrock.

“Excuse me?” Gregory called out to the man in armor.

“Can I help you?” the guard asked with a put-upon look.

Gregory was surprised at his attitude, but pushed past it. “We were looking for a place to buy trinkets for children. Where would you suggest?”

Seeing their kimonos, the guard’s attitude changed. “Magi, I’m sorry. It depends on the children, but the market square is probably your best bet, unless you want custom-made items.”

“We’ll check there,” Gregory said.

“Magi, I hope you find what you seek. The square is down that way.”

“Thank you,” Gregory said.

It was only a few streets over to the market square. Stalls were set up, and the merchants were calling out to people who were browsing the items on display, but the majority had nothing they were interested in. They moved over to a stall with wood carvings on display.

The older woman sitting there gave them a bow of her head. “Magi, how might I help you?”

“We’re looking for things for some children we know,” Jenn said.

“Ah. Do they like wood carvings?”

“We aren’t sure, actually,” Yukiko said, “but you’re one of the few vendors who might have something suitable.”

Gregory picked up a wooden magi in a kimono, seated on a bench. “Do you have more like this one? Magi, I mean? And how much for this one?”

The woodworker pursed her lips before she stood up and looked over her table. She swiftly had another dozen magi set down in front of Gregory. Seven of them depicted men, and all thirteen pieces were in different poses, from meditative to weapon out and poised to attack. “Five vela each, magi.”

“These will work,” Gregory said. “I’ll take all of them, please.”

“There are seven with Elsa, Greg,” Yukiko said. “There aren’t enough for two each.”

“I could carve another in a day or two,” the woman said.

“That would be nice,” Jenn said. “Can you make it a woman to balance these, please?”

“Of course, magi.”

“We’re staying at Aether’s Rest,” Yukiko said. “If you could have it delivered for us?”

“Yes, magi,” the woman