Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3) Daniel Schinhofen (books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📖

“Yes. We’ll be there every day we’re off,” Clover replied.

“We’ll send word one way or the other.”

Both of the clanless apprentices bowed to them, again expressing their gratitude.

~*~*~

“They won’t be fighters, but an alchemist and an enchanter who are dedicated to the clan will be boons,” Yukiko said. “And Darkness thinks they will be loyal, or else she wouldn’t be helping them like she is.”

“That’s true,” Jenn agreed. “Clover will help raise our spirits, too.”

“She does do that,” Gregory chuckled, “even if she did let your army get slaughtered.”

“I don’t blame Clover for that. She did what she thought might let her hold the field until she could do more, but we both know that once you trapped her men in the mud, you would have turned on her the next round.”

“That was our plan.”

“I never thought you’d use carrier pigeons,” Jenn sighed. “When did you think that up, anyway?”

“A week ago,” Gregory said. “I was wondering if my father had made it home safely, and had been thinking about sending Gunnar and him letters after the tournament. It led me to think I should use them for short messages when on campaign.”

“What did Paul make you pay for upkeep?” Yukiko asked.

“Same as the other messengers,” Gregory snorted. “It was a little over my projected cost, but worth it, as it turned out.”

“Something for us to keep in mind for later,” Yukiko said with a grin. “What’s good for the gander is just as good for the goose.”

Gregory winced. “Other way around, dear. ‘What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.’”

“Normally, but you did it first, so I think my twist stands.”

“I approve,” Jenn laughed.

Reaching the archive, Gregory just shook his head. “Let’s greet our friends, get our studying in, then head home.”

Simon welcomed them as they entered. “Apprentices, it is good to see you. Did you need new reading material?”

“I was wondering if the second floor had anything on combining the spirit and mind paths,” Gregory said.

Simon’s lips pursed and he looked into the distance for a moment. “Maybe. I will have to look into it. If we do, I should have it by the time you get up to the second floor.”

“Thank you,” Gregory bowed.

“I had the same question, but about mind and body,” Jenn said.

“Ah, yes, that does make sense for you,” Simon smiled. “I, again, will have to check.”

“I’m fine with mine,” Yukiko said. “Thank you, though.”

“Very well,” Simon smiled. “May your study time be enlightening.”

They had barely started working on the Magi Squares blanks when Daciana was at the table. “Good morning,” she said, taking her seat beside Jenn. “How did the game go?”

“Gregory and Ling won,” Jenn said. “He used a tactic I hadn’t considered to gain the upper hand.”

“What was that?” Nessa asked, having heard the conversation as she approached.

Jenn took a minute to explain what Gregory and Ling had done while the novices listened intently. When she finished, she shrugged. “They deserved it.”

“Pigeons?” Nessa mused. “Interesting.”

“Falcons would be a problem,” Victoria said. “Any hunting bird actually, but if on campaign, falcons.”

“That was my thought,” Yukiko smiled at her. “If you’re going to use pigeons, you might want to bring falcons to hinder your foe, as well.”

“You’ve been looking into Empire’s Gambit?” Gregory asked.

“We’ve been reading a little about it around other topics,” Nessa said. “Considering it’s the major class next year, it seemed prudent to get started early.”

“It’s fascinating,” Daciana said. “I can’t wait to try it.”

“I’m not as enthusiastic, but I will give it my full attention,” Victoria said.

“Two weeks until the tournament!” Daciana said, completely shifting the topic to what had her excited.

“She’s nearly counting the hours,” Nessa giggled.

“Three hundred and forty-one,” Daciana said. Everyone blinked at her, and she grinned widely. “I knew she’d say that, so I counted on the way here.”

Muted laughter came from the table at her announcement.

Chapter Forty-seven

The chill, biting wind and sleet slowed Gregory’s reflexes, but he still kept up with Magus Vemril. Blocking, shifting, and riposting as he could, Gregory still had partial awareness through the rest of the fight.

The weather hampered the fire magi with Vemril, but the water and earth magi thrived. Small pockets of quicksand and mini water vortices hindered Jenn as she did her best to close and defeat them. Yukiko was happy for the cloud cover. They gave her a uniform shadow to work with, but she’d targeted the fire magi first, which had been the worst choice.

The other two stood, angled shoulder-to-shoulder, limiting her ability to get behind them in a safe place. Jenn, normally quick on her feet with her aether, was having to burn more than she wanted as the two magi focused their attacks on her feet and legs. The one time she’d almost reached them, a wave of mud suddenly wrapped around her knees and pinned her long enough for them to get distance again.

“You’re damned skilled with that blade,” Vemril told Gregory. “I was sad to hear we’d only be having a half-day today. Fighting you hones my edge.”

Gregory didn’t reply. He hopped to the left just a moment before an earthen hand tried to grab his leg. He used the butt of his naginata and broke it apart on reflex.

“Foresight is such a pain to deal with,” Vemril sighed, “though rumor has it that a spirit path user in meditation can give you fits. Sadly, I’m on the body path, so I can’t test that.”

Gregory stayed silent, partially because it didn’t do any good to banter while fighting, but also because his teeth would chatter if he tried.

Yukiko picked her time. She didn’t leap as she would have preferred, instead creating hands to grasp and pull