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

wasn’t surprised to see Bryn and Lavox sitting with Dia and Micklen. “Good evening,” Gregory greeted them, echoed by Jenn and Yukiko.

“We wanted to hold a small feast for you all,” Bryn said.

“You’ve been exemplary pupils,” Lavox added.

“Helpful,” Micklen finished. “Thank you.”

“They approached me the other day and asked to hold this dinner,” Dia said. “I didn’t think you’d mind a last goodbye with your instructors.”

“We are honored,” Yukiko smiled. “Thank you for your tutelage and this meal.”

“Thank you for letting me into your forge and allowing me to work beside you,” Jenn added, bowing her head to Micklen.

“We will do our best to use the knowledge you imparted to us,” Gregory said.

A knock on the door stopped them from saying more before Brown entered the room. “Good evening,” he greeted them. “I have a simple meal for you tonight— rice, fish, and steamed vegetables.” He placed platters down on the table so they could serve themselves. The fish was on two platters, with one being salmon and the other koi. “When you are ready for dessert, just call for me.”

Bryn looked at the food with a frown after Brown left. “I’ve heard so many things about his cooking. I find myself a little disappointed.”

Lavox chuckled. “Only because you haven’t tasted it yet. If I’ve learned one thing about Brown, it is that appearance is deceiving.”

“At least there’s enough to sate us all,” Micklen said, taking a whole salmon onto her plate.

“The koi is obviously the only aether-infused food. Eat it slowly,” Dia told the three apprentices.

“Yes, Dia,” they said as they each took some rice and vegetables before serving themselves some koi.

“To Aether’s Guard, and a renewed friendship,” Lavox said, raising his glass once they all had food on their plates.

“To renewed friendships,” Bryn agreed.

“To new agreements and friendships,” Micklen added.

“From Aether’s Guard to you— our thanks for helping show our apprentices the hard work that most magi forget about. We hope that they remember this lesson for years so they never forget the hardships and work that goes on in the empire,” Dia replied. “And to new and renewed friendships.”

Everyone drank to the long toast before turning their attention to the food.

Bryn blinked at his plate, chewing slowly. “How?”

Lavox laughed between bites. “I told you.”

“But it doesn’t taste like fish,” Bryn said. “Fish always has that… fishy… taste. This doesn’t.”

“It’s surprising,” Micklen agreed, but not slowing in her consumption of the salmon.

“Brown’s the best cook I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting,” Lavox said, “but he’ll never tell you how he does what he does unless you become his apprentice.”

“I have my hands full with my own job,” Bryn sighed.

“You wouldn’t be able to become an apprentice to him,” Dia said. “Last I heard, he came up with cruel tests for the people who wanted to learn from him. They called him the cutthroat cook because of it.”

“What kind of tests?” Gregory asked.

“He only gives them thirty minutes to cook the meal he tells them to,” Dia said with a grin. “I know that doesn’t sound bad, but it’s never straightforward. Besides the short timeframe, he also gives them additional obstacles to overcome, like being made to use a katana as their only cooking implement.”

“No spoons or spatulas?” Yukiko asked.

“Exactly. It’s like he wants to punish those who have the audacity to try.”

“I’m glad I wanted to learn about bows and not cooking,” Gregory chuckled.

“I never thought about it,” Jenn said. “Smithing is all I wanted to do.”

“Family,” Micklen nodded with a mouthful of food.

Conversation lapsed for a while as everyone focused on eating. As the meal came to an end, everyone was near full, including Micklen, who’d polished off a salmon and a half along with her heaping helpings of rice and vegetables.

Dia gave them a smile. “I’ve called for dessert. I hope you’re all ready.”

“If it’s even half as good as dinner was, I might need help getting home,” Bryn laughed.

“I’m sure the stable has a wheelbarrow we can borrow,” Lavox snickered.

The knock on the door stopped Bryn’s reply. Brown came into the room, and a large smile spread across his face when he saw the empty platters. “I see you all enjoyed the meal. Good. For dessert, we have an old favorite of mine.” He touched the empty platters and they vanished, replaced by a new one that contained a pile of fried dough balls.

“Fried dough?” Micklen asked.

“My mother called them dough-balls. She was a little crude, but she was a good woman,” Brown said, the fondness in his voice obvious. “These have fillings in them. The trick is that no two have the same filling. Some are cheese, some meat, a few with berries, and so on. I hope you enjoy them. Magi, none of these are infused, so you can eat without worry.”

“I recall one had charid in it last time,” Dia said, staring at Brown. “How many of them have questionable fillings?”

Brown smiled broadly. “Seven of the forty-two have less than ideal fillings, because sometimes, life is shocking and disappointing. One of those seven is charid.”

“So we do have to worry, just not about our aether,” Gregory said, looking at the dough-balls.

“Have a good evening,” Brown said, stepping back over to the door.

A timid knock came a second before Brown opened it. The woodcarver stood there, looking uncertain. “Excuse me? I was looking for the magi.”

Brown stepped aside. “They are here.”

“I have the last figurine for them,” the woman said, digging out the carving.

“Thank you,” Yukiko said. “I’ll take it.”

The woman entered the room and handed off the figurine, bowing. “My thanks, magi.”

“Our thanks,” Yukiko replied. “The children will love them.”

The carver and Brown left, and the others looked at Yukiko. She