“No, no,” Gregory said, “not even going to consider what those things might be.”
“Or Dia,” Jenn added. “I mean, I never would have guessed that about her.”
Gregory gave her a hard stare. “You’re just messing with me now.”
Jenn laughed. “Maybe.”
Gregory shook his head and got out of the tub. “Nope, not being baited. I’ll see you both for food.”
“We’ll be out soon,” Yukiko called after him. “I want to soak a little longer.”
“We won’t be too long, though,” Jenn added.
~*~*~
Gregory stepped into the main room and found Dia sitting at a table. “Dia, are we doing dinner as a clan?”
“We are. I take it they wanted to bathe a little longer?”
“Yes.”
“How was your first mixed bath?” Dia asked with sparkling eyes.
Gregory felt the blood rush to his face again. “Different. Why is the clan bath segregated if we’ll be in places with mixed bathing?” Gregory asked as he took his seat.
“Because you could have opted to bathe on your own. No one is forcing you to bathe with them. The clan hall would be problematic, though, especially once we have more members.”
“Oh, right,” Gregory said.
“Would you like some of the wine?” Dia asked, nodding to the two bottles on the table. “It is made for magi, so it’s safe to partake in moderation.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said, pouring himself a glass. “Dia, you’ve been here before. Do you know the history of the rock in the park?”
“No one knows,” Dia replied. “When I came here as an apprentice, I did my best to find out, but there are no records going back that far that I could find, here or at the academy.”
“A mystery, then,” Gregory said.
“So it seems,” Dia smiled. “Here come the others, and the food. Very good timing.”
~*~*~
As they finished eating their dinner, a rotund man in a cyan kimono came walking into the inn. Seeing them, he came directly toward their table. Several people quickly got out of his way as he approached them.
“Apprentices, Magus, I was not informed that we would have guests in town.”
“Magus Yang,” Dia said, her tone neutral, “I didn’t know that magi had to check in with you when in town. It has been quite a few years since I was here last. When did this get instituted?”
Yang gave Dia a frosty stare. “It is polite, is it not, to announce yourself before entering another’s domain? What clan are you with that this isn’t known?”
“Aether’s Guard,” Dia replied. “I seem to have the advantage on you, so let me introduce us, now. I am Dia Ursinda, and here with me are Yukiko Pettit, Jenn Bean, and Gregory Pettit.”
“Aether’s Guard? That clan died years ago.”
“Our clan might not have kept its name on the tips of tongues in the last few decades, but that has already begun to change,” Dia replied. “Gregory Pettit won the first novice tournament and came in second for the second tournament. Bean finished in the top eight, then won the second. Yukiko Pettit placed second and third, respectively. When could any other clan claim the same?”
Yang hesitated, his posture shifting. He bowed formally, but shallowly, with his left hand cupping his right fist. “I apologize. Your clan was thought to have ceased their existence some years ago. This was obviously in error— to have such talented apprentices is an honor to the clan. Apprentices, welcome to Waterrock.”
“Thank you, Magus,” Gregory said, echoed by the other two. “We have only been here a single day, but the town is a wonder.”
“Your guidance must be a boon to the citizens,” Yukiko added.
Yang’s chest puffed up a little, nearly meeting his gut in size. “I do my best for them.”
“Apprentices, dinner is done, and I know you have things you have to accomplish. Be about them. I shall speak with Magus Yang. Perhaps upstairs, so not to disturb the inn? I know they have a lovely wine here that would help ease the conversation.”
Yang glanced at the room and nodded. “Yes. That might be for the best.”
“If you’ll pardon us?” Yukiko asked politely, rising to her feet and bowing to Yang and Dia.
Gregory and Jenn mirrored her before the three of them walked away from the table.
“They are very polite. A credit to their teacher,” Yang said.
“You flatter me,” Dia replied. “Let me go see about the wine.”
Instead of heading for the stairs, Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn went down the hall, instead. They found the war room with a bit of trial and error, interrupting a private meal once and apologizing for it. The board for Empire’s Gambit was clean and waiting, along with the figures on the shelves and the decks on the table.
Shutting the door behind them, Yukiko sighed. “That man is a toad.”
“Yang?” Gregory asked.
“Yes. He reminds me of merchants my father dealt with. They only care about lining their pockets, not doing their jobs properly.”
“I feel bad that Dia has to even speak to him,” Jenn shuddered. “He thinks she’s beneath him. You can see it in his eyes.”
“Dia will be able to handle him,” Gregory said. “When he puffed his chest out, I saw his medallion. He might wear the cyan kimono, but his aether is emerald and only five ranks in.”
“He must have just been posted here,” Yukiko said. “That would explain why he felt so threatened by us being here. The emblem on his kimono belonged to the Swift Foot... they’re a branch family of the Swift Wind clan.”
“Hayworth’s clan. Glad we didn’t go with them,” Gregory said.
“It wasn’t likely, not with the way he treated you,” Yukiko snorted, “though I will admit that he did mellow during the second tournament.”
“Part of that was Greg proving he was strong enough to win,” Jenn said. “The change
