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

Gregory pulled out eighty vela and placed it on the table. “For all of these, plus the extra, and having it delivered.”

“Thank you, magi,” the woman said, bowing her head and collecting the coin. “May Aether bless you.”

“May the Traveler watch over you,” Yukiko replied.

The three of them gathered up their carvings and headed back to the inn.

~*~*~

Entering the inn, they found Dia with a false smile on her face and Magus Yang seated at the table with her. Her eyes went to them and she gave them a questioning look.

“Excuse us, Magus,” Yukiko said, coming over to the table, “we have some questions we need to ask our senior. Is it okay to take her from you?”

Yang’s lips puffed out briefly before he rose to his feet. “Of course. She has her duty to help guide you, and I should be going to check on some business dealings.” He turned his attention back to Dia. “A pleasure, as always. I shall come back tomorrow so we might continue our conversation.”

“Of course,” Dia replied. “I shall look forward to it.”

Once he was gone, Dia exhaled and gave Yukiko a grateful smile. “What can I answer for you?”

“Would you like him to leave?” Yukiko asked with a small grin.

Dia laughed softly. “Yes. It is most appreciated. Did you complete everything that you wanted done today?”

“We did,” Jenn beamed.

“We even got gifts for the children,” Gregory added.

“I’ll let Brown know to make something special— and safe— for dinner tonight,” Dia said. “A celebration for the wonderful event.”

“Thank you, Dia,” Jenn said.

“What are your plans until this evening?” Dia asked.

“Empire’s Gambit?” Yukiko asked the other two.

“The game is almost over,” Gregory agreed. “It would be good to finish. It might give us time for one more.”

“We are leaving in three days,” Dia told them. “We won’t be using the enchanted carriages for the return.”

“Not enough for another game,” Gregory said, sighing. “I hope I win this one, or I will have lost all of them.”

“But you’ve been competitive in all of them,” Yukiko said.

“I’ll see you for dinner,” Dia said, standing up. “Enjoy your game.”

With Dia gone, they went upstairs and put the carvings away, then moved Jenn’s things over to the other room. When that was done, they went down to finish their game.

~*~*~

Gregory smiled broadly. “I win!”

“Indeed, dear one,” Yukiko nodded. “That was a good ploy at the end. I hadn’t expected the light cavalry, nor it being combined with a charge.”

“Right when you were taking me out,” Jenn chuckled. “I thought that flank was secure, too. It was a brilliant combination, Greg. You were going to use them as skirmishers if that hadn’t come up, weren’t you?”

“They were going to raid your supply lines until my next unit could be brought in.” Gregory flipped over his last facedown card, showing them an Iron Hand magi. “The bonuses from him would have increased my morale to the point that I wouldn’t have had to worry about my conscripts breaking.”

“I had a fire magi coming up. I was going to use him to devastate your conscripts,” Yukiko sighed.

“I had a shadow magi, but he was turns away,” Jenn shrugged. “I was going to assassinate your commanders.”

“That would have broken my conscripts and gutted my soldiers,” Gregory said.

“I didn’t get the chance,” Jenn said, “and that is what this teaches us— war is fluid, and even your best plans might come to nothing. I should have played the turtle defense card three turns ago. It would have given me a chance to survive Yukiko’s attack, at least.”

“Let’s put everything away,” Yukiko said.

It took them a while to get everything cleaned up and get the table covered again.

“We have a few hours before dinner,” Yukiko said softly. “I was thinking, Greg... you should take our wife back to the room and enjoy some time alone.”

Gregory blinked and looked at Yukiko, who was smiling at him. His gaze shifted to Jenn, who was turning red as the implication of what Yukiko was suggesting registered.

“Jenn?” Gregory asked softly. “There’s no rush, but if you’d like—?”

“Yes.” The word was barely audible, and Jenn wasn’t looking at him as she shifted in place.

Gregory looked back at Yukiko, who gave him a soft smile.

“I’ll meditate and have some tea. I’ll let you know when it’s time to bathe,” Yukiko told him.

“Okay,” Gregory said slowly, searching but not seeing any distress in Yukiko’s face. “Upstairs, it is.”

Jenn followed Gregory, her face flushed and her breath coming a little faster with each step.

Chapter Eighteen

Gregory’s nerves were rising as he entered the bedroom. It wasn’t because he was worried about sleeping with Jenn— he was looking forward to it. He was nervous because he was worried about Yukiko.

I’m not sure she’s really okay with this... She says she is, but is she? The idea of her with another man makes me want to punch someone… but the idea of her with Jenn is exciting. Jenn wants this, even if she’s as nervous as I was with Ria. Is she worrying about what Yuki might be feeling?

Shutting the door behind Jenn, Gregory swallowed and tried to calm himself.

“Greg,” Jenn said softly, “I know you might be having doubts. I know how much you love Yuki. I understand. I worry some, too, that she’s only putting on a front for us... that this will hurt her.” Swallowing, she turned to face him. “So I have a big request to make.”

Seeing her concern, Gregory nodded. “What do you need, Jenn?”

“I do want some time with it being just us, but maybe...” She hesitated before rushing the words out, “Maybe Yuki should join us this time? I could use her guidance, and then we’d both