Umbrose exhaled and pulled her daughter in for a hug. “Oh, thank goodness... I was so worried. Your father was, too, but I told him you’d agree. Your brother and sister have been okay with it, but he worried about you.”
Yukiko leaned against Gregory, smiling, glad that their wife had been okay with this news. Gregory watched them and felt a small twang of sadness that his own mother couldn’t hug his wives. Looking away, he was the first to spot the novices and their families coming their way.
“They’re coming,” he said.
“Ah, good. We can go to dinner,” Hao said.
“Excuse us,” Nessa said as they got closer, “the three of us wanted to go check on Frederica before we go. Do we have time to do so?”
“Of course,” Hao said. “They’re holding the room until we show. The rest of us can go to the Golden Boar and wait for you there.”
“Thank you,” Nessa said, bowing to him. “We won’t be long. I just want to check on her.”
“Take your time,” Yukiko said. “You’re doing a good thing.”
“We’ll be waiting for you, but don’t rush yourself,” Hao said.
~*~*~
They were making small talk in the private dining room when the novices arrived.
“Sorry for the delay,” Nessa said as she led the others into the room.
“How is she?” Gregory asked.
“Fine now,” Nessa said. “I did significant damage, but the healers had her fixed up. She’ll have to rest for a few days, and the instructors have been informed.”
“She took it well,” Victoria said. “Didn’t say a word against Nessa. She just congratulated her and told her to beat Daciana so she could have third place.”
“She asked if we’d decided on our clans yet,” Daciana said. “We told her we’d have one after the tournament. She’s been approached by the Iron Hand, Hardened Fist, and Yamato Shipping, but hasn’t agreed to any of them.”
“She’d be a good ally,” Jenn said, “but if she isn’t a believer, then she’d not enjoy being in our clan.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Victoria nodded.
“Shall we have dinner?” Hao asked as the novices took their seats. “After dinner, we’ll head back to Stabled Hunger. This will be our last meal all together until the… hmm, I was going to say the next tournament, but that won’t be the case.”
“Because we’ll be at the Buldoun event,” Yukiko nodded.
“Well, then, let us enjoy this meal with each other, though I’m sure that some of you will have many more together,” Hao said, glancing from the novices to the apprentices. “I was meaning to ask... Vana, would it be okay to have dinner brought to Stabled Hunger tomorrow? I had my men find a place that will cater it. I figured you should celebrate the tournament in your home.”
“Yes, that’s fine. Thank you,” Vana said, bowing in her seat.
“No thanks are needed,” Hao chuckled. “Our families will be friends for many years with our offspring growing up as magi together.” He pulled the rope near his seat to inform the staff they were ready. “In fact, let’s celebrate that and the potential of Aether’s Guard taking first place in both sides of the tournament.”
~*~*~
Dinner was good and their conversations revolved around the fights. Their parents were asking questions to better understand what happened, and the apprentices explained when the novices couldn’t.
When they arrived at Stabled Hunger, Gregory caught Jenn’s sleeve and had her hold back. The novices followed Hao, not thinking about being dropped off in the front instead of the back like they had been most days.
“What?” Jenn asked.
“Just give them a minute,” Gregory said. “They deserve their moment.”
Cheers, whistles, and applause erupted inside the tavern, and Gregory smiled. After a minute, he nodded and motioned his wives ahead of him. Yukiko shook her head and started inside. Jenn followed her with Gregory bringing up the rear.
More cheers and whistles erupted when Yukiko entered the room, and they didn’t diminish when the others came in after her. Like the last two tournaments, the room was mostly eurtik, with Warlin guards scattered throughout.
Ramon was thanking everyone and promising drinks on the house, which only caused more cheers. A few of the patrons stopped the novices to talk with them, or Gregory and his wives. It took them a bit before they left the main room behind. Their parents stayed in the main room to chat with the patrons, allowing the six magi to have time alone in the private dining room.
“Vicky, how are you?” Gregory asked when he shut the door behind them.
“Upset with myself,” Victoria answered truthfully. “I feel like I should have done more, even though I know I had nothing more to give. I could have struggled on, but that would only have meant Daciana would have had to hurt me more. If I had to lose, at least it was to her.”
Daciana smiled at her. “I would’ve felt the same. You had me worried when my aether was used up and we had to fight hand-to-hand.”
“You’re still my superior in that, but I will at least equal you before the next tournament.”
“Good,” Daciana smiled.
“And tomorrow, I’ll beat Daciana,” Nessa said with quivering lips, trying to keep the smile off her face.
Daciana barked a laugh. “Nope. Tomorrow, I’ll win again. I know your tricks.”
“Just as long as no one has any hard feelings,” Yukiko said. “Pushing each other to succeed is fine, but grudges aren’t.”
“Even if she wins,” Daciana said, motioning to Nessa, “I won’t feel bad because all of us have proven we’re worthy of the clan.”
“Of the clan, yes,” Yukiko nodded. “Time will tell about the rest of it.”
“We have our own fights to get through tomorrow,” Jenn said quickly. “Swift Wind and the Eternal Flame... I
