AR10 Ch11

Chapter Eleven

“Good morning, Rudit.”

“Good morning, Gregory. Looking forward to meeting your potential in-laws?”

“We all are.”

“You have a present of welcoming for them?”

“Of course. We wouldn’t want to lessen our family or clan in their eyes.”

“Very well. What do I need to know about your time away?”

Gregory’s eyes flicked to the few spots where people were already spying on the room. “Nothing of note, ma’am. As you know, it isn’t perfect when I look further ahead.”

“Yes, I remember our discussions of your limitations. While you do have foresight, you aren’t an elder magi. What you need to do for the trip is make the family understand that Mohadottir would be welcome in the empire, that she and any child she might have will be cared for by your family and clan.”

“Yes, ma’am. We have discussed it and will be doing our best. I’m also sure that we’ll have unseen guards accompanying us.”

“To ensure that you don’t try anything foolish with the family. Yes, it’s likely the Kroggian Council would want to ensure their safety. We might have just been engendering goodwill in a very long ruse. I’d like to think we’d plan it better than taking the first opening presented, if we were.”

“Yes, ma’am. I think it’s also to stop others from using us as scapegoats if they try something.”

“There are a few clans we have angered enough for them to attempt that. Of course, if they tried and were caught… it would be far worse for them. I doubt any would be so foolish as to incur a breaking of a treaty barely three months later.”

“I can think of at least one clan that might, but even they should know better.”

“Undoubtedly. Very well, if there is nothing else, let us join the others in the yard for the Peaceful Fist today. I will walk with you to the gate to see your family off.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Gregory said, standing up.

~~~

Ragnar and Verka had just reached the gate when the family, plus Rudit, approached from the training yard. “It’s almost like he can see the future,” Ragnar laughed. “I hope you’re all ready for a long walk today.”

“We’re prepared,” Yukiko smiled.

“Ragnar Ivarson and Verka Mohadottir, I entrust my assistants into your care for the next few days. As they are also part of my clan, my trust in you to ensure their safety is higher than it would be otherwise.”

Ragnar’s smile fell away as he slapped his fist to his chest. “On my honor, I will defend them as if they were already family.”

“If they do become injured, I will heal them from any misadventure that might befall them,” Verka added, her expression serious as she placed her fist over her heart.

“I accept your assurances,” Rudit said, bowing as a magi to them. “I will be waiting for their return on the evening two days hence.”

“We will have them here at that time,” Ragnar said.

“Good travels to you,” Rudit said before turning away.

“Lieutenant,” Gregory addressed Davis, “open the gate.”

“Yes, sir,” Davis said. He was miffed that none of the men were accompanying the magi, but with all of them going, there was nothing a single squad of guards could do that they couldn’t. “Safe trip, Magi.”

Every guard saluted as the seven of them left the embassy. The family bowed back to the guards before walking out the gate to join their friends for the trip. As they left, the gate was shut, but Davis stayed watching them go until they turned a corner.

“Didn’t expect the ambassador to see you off,” Ragnar chuckled.

“We are taking all of her helpers for a few days,” Verka said.

“She raised minor concerns that another clan might use the trip to attack you and frame us,” Gregory said. “I assured her things would be fine. Beyond all of us, I expect that the council has us being shadowed.”

“Very likely,” Ragnar snorted. “With all the eyes on us, it might even be warranted.”

“If anyone did think to attack us, they’d have to send at least a grandmaster,” Verka added. “You are all maguses in power, and we are at that level or higher.”

“And it would take someone far superior to our entire group to take all of us,” Ling said. “The gap of power between magus and master is big, but when we have so many of us, that gap isn’t as significant. A grandmaster would be very difficult for us to defeat, and an elder or sage would be nearly impossible.”

“Doing so three months after the agreed-upon treaty would be foolish in the extreme,” Rangar said, a hint of anger in his tone. “Stenson himself might make that a clear fact if they did try. If they tried and failed… the entire nation would likely rise up. I don’t think your army, which has barely finished their war with Buldoun, would be prepared to cross back over to our border again.”

“It would be bad for all involved,” Gregory nodded. “It is doubtful anyone is so committed to harming our clan and killing you that they’d attempt it.”

“For now, at least.”

The group fell silent as they walked through the city. A bit of a dour mood hung over them from the previous conversation.

As they left the city gates behind, Clover tried to cheer them all up, “Verka, thank you again for the astra petals. I used some of them the other day.”

Verka’s lips turned up at Clover’s happiness. “I hope you cared for them while they dried. They lose a lot of their potency otherwise.”

“Umm… I did,” Clover said, not liking that she had to lie. Her ring had kept the petals as fresh as the moment she’d gotten them. Most storage enchantments didn’t keep things fresh, so she couldn’t say that when they were being watched. “I messed up the first attempt and had to use more, but I completed the ointment I was making.”

“Which ointment?” Verka asked.

“It’s for… umm… can I say later?” Clover asked, looking away.

Verka chuckled, as she was sure she knew now. One of the ointments astra petals could be used for was to encourage healthy horn growth in those with eurtik heritage. It was considered a waste to most who used aether, as the petals could do so much more for those blessed by Aether. “That’s fine. I’m sure my mother will love it.”

“Awww, you know?” Clover asked.

“I didn’t for certain, not until now,” Verka said, slowing to walk beside Clover. “It made sense with you suddenly wanting to wait. It is one of the reasons I had the plants for so long. It’s a waste to some, but important to me and mother.”

“Just that would be considered a good gift to my parents,” Ragnar said.

“We have another gift for them,” Yukiko said. “Clover’s ointment is in addition to it.”

“I’m sure they’ll love it,” Verka said. “I didn’t expect you to try making that when I gave you the petals. Out of everything you can make with them, that was at the bottom of my list.”

“It seemed like a good gift to me,” Clover said, then produced a small jar. “I made two batches.”

Verka’s smile softened as she accepted the jar from Clover. “Thank you, Clover. It is a thoughtful gift, and I’ll make sure to use it when spring comes.”

“Because it’ll help improve the blood flow when you have the sheathing on them?” Roshana asked.

“Yes.”

“I was hoping I could ask more about that,” Mindie said, moving up to walk beside Verka. “If you don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind at all,” Verka smiled.

The mood shifted back to happiness as the group chatted with each other while they walked.

Gregory quickened his pace to catch up to Ragnar in the lead. “I was hoping to ask if you spoke with Angala again.”

“I did. Yesterday, in fact,” Ragnar nodded. “She’s taking up the spear to honor her mother.”

“I hope she has someone to spar with to help her train with it.”

“A friend of mine is going to assist her while she gets used to her new weapon,” Ragnar said. “I expect her to do well during the solstice. At least, if she doesn’t face you.”

“Do you think they’ll ask us to fight again?” Gregory asked.

“I hope so, but it’s a purely selfish reason why,” Rangar laughed. “Honestly, no, I don’t expect the council to ask. It might strain things if they did. You should get a chance to experience more of the festival this time. I know your whole family was in the boxes last time. A pity you didn’t get to walk the grounds outside the arena.”

“If they don’t ask, I’ll see if Rudit will allow us a day to do that.”

“I’m sure that my sister would be happy to show you all the sights,” Ragnar laughed. “This year, I won’t be allowed to compete. I’m sure that I’ll be asked to be beside Stenson during the festival.”

“Are we planning the wedding after the festival?” Gregory asked.

“It isn’t set yet. A few days before to a few days after is the window right now. The council is looking at what would work best for the city. The wedding will be an event all on its own. An honorable magi and a priestess of Krog happily marrying? Shocking and unprecedented.”

“It’ll be divisive for some.”

“Your empire’s clans will likely try to use it against you.”

“I don’t doubt that. It was approved by General Ruzi and Elder Ironhand, so I hope that’ll help mitigate the worst of it.”

“And you’ll try to woo my sister back to the empire while you’re posted to the embassy.”

“Of course,” Gregory said.

“As she will try to woo you to stay.”

“Naturally.”

“Politics… bah,” Ragnar said.

“Easier for you to say than for others to avoid.”

“All too true. Stenson told me about your spar the other day. You have an enchanted item to shadow leap?”

Gregory knew that secret was out because of the spies during the spar, so he shrugged. “It was a purchase years ago and has saved my life multiple times.”

“I’d like to hear more of those times.”

“One or two, maybe,” Gregory said, “but not all of them.”

“We have a long walk ahead of us, so whatever you want to tell is enough.”

“Very well.”