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

that would mean you would take care of my rooms and any other need I may have. Since we are here and not at home, you will attend me when I am here, and care for the room we use. Do you understand?”

“Yes, mistress.”

“Very well. Take your station.”

Elsa went to stand behind Yoo-jin, putting her back to the wall and crossing her hands over her navel as she waited.

There was another knock on the door— Lin opened the door to reveal Vana with a cart. “It’s good to see our favorite guests have come back,” Vana smiled. “I have the brunch you requested.”

“We’ve been looking forward to it,” Hao smiled. “No other place we’ve stayed at since leaving home has had the same quality as you do here.”

Vana’s smile widened and she bowed her head. “Thank you, sir. I do hope that we can keep the standard up during your stay.”

“We have no doubts,” Yoo-jin said. “Please, serve us, and tell us about the meal.”

~*~*~

With their brunch over, Gregory stood up. “I promised Nessa that I’d speak with her father about him attending the tournament. If you’ll excuse me?”

“Hmm, I’ll come with you,” Hao said, standing as well. “If he or Vana do attend, we can always give them a ride up.”

“Since the men are leaving, I’d like to hear more about how the wedding came about,” Yoo-jin said.

“Oh, yes, please,” Umbrose smiled.

“Well,” Jenn said slowly, “it started before we left for our training outside the city—”

Gregory and Hao left the room. Hao stopped them walking halfway down the hallway. “Gregory, a question— are you sure you will still love Yu as much as you always have, even with Jenn being a part of your relationship?”

“Honestly, I worried about it a great deal, Father,” Gregory said. “It’s odd, though... I don’t think my love for Yuki has dimmed at all. If anything, it’s grown, if that’s even possible. It could be that love is like aether— there isn’t a finite amount, and it’s something that can expand if you feed it.”

Hao blinked slowly for a second, then chuckled. “Shared love grows?”

“It feels that way to me,” Gregory shrugged. “I love Yuki as much as I always have, if not more now, but I also love Jenn. Maybe not as much as Yuki, but there’s only a very small amount of difference between them now, where before, it was a noticeable gap.” Taking a deep breath, he met Hao’s eyes. “And Yuki and Jenn are the same. We all love each other a great deal. We’ve not had a single fight in the time we’ve been together. Now, that hasn’t been all that long, but even if we do argue or fight, I don’t think it will be bad.”

“Hmm... Very well. Yu is happy, I can clearly see that. I just worry that you’d minimize her in favor of Jenn.”

“Never,” Gregory said.

Hao smiled. “That’s quite clear, and it makes me glad. Now, let’s go speak with Ramon.”

The taproom had a handful of other people besides the guards. A few of them glanced at the pair as they entered the room, and two raised their glasses to them. Gregory gave them nods back, vaguely recalling them being in the tavern before.

Ramon, once he’d seen them, came to the end of the bar. “You wanted to talk?”

“Yes, but I also don’t want to stop you from making a living,” Gregory said, looking at the man who’d just gone to the other end of the bar for a refill.

“Hang on,” Ramon said, hurrying down to refill the man’s mug and quickly coming back. “Sorry. It’ll be fine, if it can be discussed here.”

“It should be. Nessa was wondering if you, Vana, or both of you would be making it to see her fight?”

Ramon deflated slightly, looking at the bar top. “I wanted to, but I don’t have anyone who can stand in for me. Vana’s sister is going to come work the kitchen for her.” He paused, looking up at Hao. “That means the food will decrease in quality slightly. She’s good, but she isn’t Vana.”

“Hmm, understandable,” Hao said. “Considering the reason, none of us will say a word.”

“Thank you,” Ramon said tightly. “I don’t have someone I trust to run the bar in my absence.”

“Well, maybe I can help?” Hao offered. “Hintle, come here, please.”

Lin’s new second-in-command got up and went over to Hao. “Yes, sir?”

“How long has it been since you left your family’s business?”

“Ten years, sir.”

“Could you do the job again?”

Hintle hesitated, looking at Ramon. “I’d want to be refreshed and to know how things were done in this establishment, sir, but yes.”

Ramon looked between Hao and Hintle. “You want him to take my place?”

“It’s just an option,” Hao said. “My men are the most trustworthy people I know. It will be up to you if you wish to take advantage of the offer but, as Hintle said, he’ll need you to show him how you want things done.”

Ramon licked his lips, clearly considering the offer. “Can I have a moment to think, please?”

“As long as you’d like. Hintle, if he accepts, this will be your task while we are in the city. I’ll make sure you are provided a bonus for going outside what your job normally entails. I’ll warn Lin about it, as well.”

Hintle exhaled slowly as he watched Ramon go into the kitchen. “I’ll do my best, sir, but may I ask why?”

“His daughter is a novice, and she will be in the tournament,” Hao said softly. “I know what it feels like to worry for your only child during that time. Their family has been good to us, and repaying kindness is something I have rarely been able to do.”

“Understood, sir. If he accepts your offer,