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

a few months, but yes. I was surprised he wanted it, considering the surcharge I put upon it.”

Dia snorted. “The idiot tax?”

Brown chuckled. “Indeed. It has served me well over the years. The fact that he could pay it at all was a surprise all by itself, but he did, so I made him a box of jerky.”

“Considering your normal price for such, yes, it is curious that he could afford it,” Dia sighed, “which means that his gift is even more extravagant than I had thought.”

Brown frowned, but when he saw the box on the table, his lips pursed. “He gave the newlyweds the jerky?”

“He has been trying to get my attention since we came to town,” Dia replied. “He delivered this just moments ago and then asked me to stop by his home after dinner.”

“I don’t envy you,” Brown said. “Yes, that box is the one I gave him for the koi jerky. If there is nothing else, I need to return to the desserts.”

“That is all. Please bring them when you’re finished. Don’t wait for us to call you.”

“Very well,” Brown said, giving her a small bow before leaving the room.

When the door shut, Dia gave them a smile. “I can promise that jerky will be first-rate, now that I know who prepared it.”

Gregory set his fork down. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

Both Yukiko and Jenn nodded in agreement with him.

Dia shook her head, a smile touching her lips. “No. I do thank you three for the thought, but everything I can think of wouldn’t work, considering it is your wedding night. I shall endure. I have endured far worse than Yang.”

“We still wish we could help,” Yukiko said.

“Alas, if wishes were horses, we’d all own a stable,” Dia said. “Enjoy the meal. Don’t let his coming overshadow the joy that should be.”

They did as she said, and went back to happily eating.

Brown brought the desserts in just as they were finishing. He was all smiles when he saw they had eaten nearly everything. “I’m glad that my efforts were not wasted,” Brown smiled. He placed a single platter on the table and gave them all a grin before removing the lid.

Gregory looked at the vela-sized black things on the plate and was at a loss for what they could be. The center of each was golden-brown with white sprinkles on them. He looked to Yukiko, who was looking at the dessert curiously, as well.

“Oh, salted caramel brownie bites? It’s been a long time since I’ve had them,” Dia grinned. “This will almost make going to Yang’s bearable.”

“Enjoy them,” Brown grinned as he left the room.

“Dia, you’ve had them before?” Jenn asked.

“Yes. Each is two bites,” Dia said, picking one off the platter. “Just try them. Bite it in half, but be careful, as the center will try to ooze away.” She showed them what she meant by biting hers in half, then tilting the other half when the center tried to get away.

Seeing Dia obviously enjoying hers, they all took one from the tray. With a shared look, they bit into them together. Their eyes widened as they quickly tipped the brownie back to keep the rest of the caramel from escaping. No words were spoken as they all quickly finished their first bite of the dessert.

“I’m glad to see that you like them,” Dia laughed. “There are enough for us to have three each. Just savor the moment— don’t rush them, for they will be gone too quickly as it is.”

They did what she said, but even taking the time to savor them, they were gone all too soon. Gregory sighed and touched his stomach— he felt full, and his aether was burning brightly.

“We’ll be leaving in three days,” Dia told them. “The next two days are the last with your instructors. Learn all you can, and finish any projects you are working on.”

“We have a figurine coming from a woodcarver,” Yukiko said. “I believe it will be here the day after tomorrow. If it isn’t, may we check the market before we leave?”

“That is acceptable. We’ll be returning by normal carriage and detouring to come back from a different direction,” Dia told them. “Any questions?”

“No, Dia,” they said.

“Very well. I wish you all a good night.” Her smile tilted into a subtle smirk before it faded entirely. “A much better night than I’ll be having.”

“Night, Dia,” they said, feeling a little bad they couldn’t help her.

When Dia left the room, Gregory shook his head. “She’s only going to make it easier for the clan to come back next year, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” Yukiko said. “The politics of the clans.”

“Any chance he’ll be gone before next year?” Jenn asked.

“He’s a magus, so it’s unlikely,” Yukiko said. “I doubt he’d want to go, considering that it’s almost a given that he’s skimming the coin for the town for his own profit.”

“Could we use that to help push him out?” Gregory asked.

“Not subtly enough that it wouldn’t come back onto the clan,” Yukiko sighed. “I’ve considered it a few ways already. Dia might know of some avenues that we don’t, but if she was willing to take them, I doubt she’d tell us, just in case.”

“I’m glad she’s been in charge of us,” Jenn said softly. “She’s very understanding.”

“She is, indeed,” Yukiko nodded.

“Motherly,” Gregory said softly. “A few times, she’s reminded me of my mother.”

Yukiko gave him a sad smile and covered his hand with hers. “Yes… she does feel like a surrogate mother.”

“But less huggy,” Jenn said with a wry smile.

Yukiko giggled. “Your mother does love to hug you.”

“Enough of my mother,” Jenn said as she got to her feet.

Yukiko stood up a second behind her. “Back to our room?”