AR10 Ch5

Chapter Five

“There’ll be just as many spies today,” Gregory said as he sat between Mindie and Roshana. “Clearwind doesn’t have anything nearly as sensitive to talk about, so it’s not going to bother us. He is surprised at how many different people are involved in keeping tabs on us.”

“It is surprising,” Yukiko said. “They have had eyes on the office all day. I was tempted a couple of times to use my resonance to slap at their magic. That would give away how much we can do, though, so I resisted.”

“It didn’t feel welcoming,” Jenn muttered. “Because we can feel them, it felt wrong knowing so many eyes were on us all the time.”

“I’m glad we didn’t have to stay. Sorry, Yuki,” Clover said.

“It’s fine, Clover. We all have our own tasks to help with. Speaking of, I’ll need your weekly report on your creations.”

“I’ll get it to you before dinner.”

“Thank you. Ling, since we’re going to be watched anyway, come back after you finish your work. I might as well let you study the enchantment.”

“Is that wise?” Mindie asked. “Won’t it show them those enchantments?”

“Only a small part of them,” Ling said. “Most of those enchantments should be done the same way. I’ll stay away from their cores. I don’t need that part, having studied it already.”

“It was a good question, Mindie,” Roshana said. “Jenn, how bad is the paperwork as an assistant?”

“Makkar didn’t leave a lot extra for me,” Jenn said. “I think I got everything yesterday, but feel free to double-check for me.”

“Rudit doesn’t mention any missed paperwork,” Gregory said. “You should be good.”

“It never hurts to double-check,” Roshana said. “She might not have said anything because I caught it.”

“That’s true.”

“Clearwind is here after the Peaceful Fist?” Yukiko asked Gregory.

“A little bit after, but before tenth bell. I’ll do what I did with Spirit-Lotus, bringing him to the rest of you.”

“Roshana has the dates, and Ling will bring tea after breakfast,” Yukiko said, getting nods from the two she named. “We should be set. What do we talk about, Greg?”

“Mostly the war,” Gregory said. “He does nudge at the shipping issue, but doesn’t push. Then, he’ll tell us more about Limaz.”

“That’ll be nice,” Roshana said. “Does he bring more dates with him?”

Gregory chuckled at the hope in her tone. “He does, and he apologizes for the delay, too. He’s happy to take the older ones from us in payment for his delivery.”

“Wonderful. I can make sure that part of the report is ready before he arrives,” Yukiko smiled. “Now, our training needs to get done so we can get on with the day.”

“Before we get too focused,” Gregory said, “I told you about the advancement in my aether cavern. Should I utilize it, Yuki?”

Yukiko’s lips pursed as she sat back in thought. After a couple of minutes, she nodded. “Safety is worth more than the explanations that might need to be given. If you’re being cautious about it, then it’s an even better exchange for us.”

“I’ll need help getting my armor on to transfer it into my cavern, then.”

“We’ll be happy to help,” Ling said. “After meditation, but before breakfast?”

“Let’s do it now,” Jenn said. “As my family says, strike while the iron is hot.”

“Yes, now would work,” Yukiko said.

Gregory stood up and summoned his armor from his ring. “This shouldn’t take long…”

~~~

Gregory was still pondering how his soul storage worked exactly. It’d felt bizarre when he’d willed his armor to go from him to his soul, and then cycled it a couple of times. The fact that it came back in less than a second is what made the technique so potent for the spirit path. A brief moment of will and intent, and it would come and go. A stray thought wouldn’t summon it, thankfully, or that could get awkward. His naginata was in his soul space, too, but it would come to his hand that his ring was on, so no one should think that odd. The sensation of it vanishing and appearing was familiar, but the odd shift felt like insects buzzing near his ears in that second when it happened.

He set his thoughts aside when the carriage came to a stop at the front of the embassy; Davis had ensured there were no problems at the gate. The footman with the carriage opened the door for the Ambassador of Limaz, Mordecai Clearwind. Clearwind gave Gregory a smile when he stepped out. Pressing both of his palms to his chest, Clearwind bowed.

“Pettit, a pleasure, as always,” Clearwind said as he bowed.

“The pleasure is mine, sir,” Gregory bowed back, copying Clearwind’s bow. “Acting Ambassador Pettit is waiting for you.”

“Hmm? Which of your wives is that?” Clearwind asked as he followed Gregory into the embassy.

“Yukiko. Roshana is her assistant today.”

“Not a bad combination, and some valuable life experience for them.”

“Not that any of us will see an ambassadorial spot in the near future,” Gregory chuckled.

“Unlikely to be sure, but not unheard of,” Clearwind said. “Maybe you don’t know Lightshield’s history.”

“Oh?”

“He was a full ambassador back-to-back. That was centuries ago, but he was.”

“I assume between Limaz and Krogga?”

“Indeed. It is where I met him. He was given a tour of one of our holy sites, where I was training at the time. The senior guru leading him let him speak to those of us present. Lightshield was a gifted speaker, capable of framing his words to make it easy to see his points. What stuck out the most was that he didn’t speak of the empire at all, but about our history. He was respectful and knowledgeable, and that stood out to me back then. Looking back, I can see far more in his words than I did as a young guru in training.”

“I still find insight and wisdom in his words, too,” Gregory said softly. “I know he wouldn’t have lived much beyond this year or the next if he hadn’t died… but I miss the time I could have had with him.”

“We mourn for the living who have lost the loved one beside them,” Clearwind said solemnly. “It is one of the hardest parts of life, losing a loved one. As a guru, I have seen more weeping families than most magi.”

“The gurus help the families of the departed,” Gregory said. “I’ve read what I could about Limaz while in the academy, but if you have time, we’d love to hear more from you.”

“I will be glad to share what I can.”

They lapsed into silence just short of the ambassador’s office. Gregory led him through the outer office, which was empty, before knocking on the inner door. “Ambassador, your guest has arrived.”

“Ambassador Clearwind, it is a pleasure,” Yukiko greeted him. She was standing in the sitting area with all the wives. “Please, come sit so we can talk.”

Clearwind smiled back, bowing in the Limazian fashion, but his smile dipped when his resonance picked up all the spies. “I’m happy to sit and talk. I see dates, which is a topic I’d hoped to cover today.”

Roshana picked up the kettle. “We have a lovely black tea today. Cream or sugar?”

“A dash of cream, please,” Clearwind said. “I find a bit of mellowing is pleasant at times.”

“It can be,” Roshana nodded as she poured for everyone.

Once everyone had fruit and tea, Yukiko opened up the conversation, “You mentioned dates when you came in. Did you want to start with that topic, Ambassador?”

“I have the dates we owe your wife for our previous deal,” Clearwind said.

“Lovely,” Roshana said as she produced a small chest. “I have the last of our completed ones for you.”

“Wonderful. That makes this exchange simplicity at its best. I do wonder when you might have more?”

“A few weeks, but I can see about having them delivered to your embassy.”

“I can accept that. Thank you, Pettit.” Clearwind chuckled. “Maybe a touch of informality with all the Pettits here would not be amiss?”

“We don’t mind,” Yukiko said. “It has caused some confusion for others. We find it amusing, but wouldn’t have it any other way. To have these years together as a family is a blessing from Aether and Vera.”

“Yes,” Clearwind nodded. “I can see how that would be. Magi are at the whims of the empire and their clan. It seems doubtful that the majority of you will have another posting together.”

“A sadness that we will endure,” Ling said. “Before the day comes for us to part, we will enjoy these days together.”

“There was another subject I hoped for news on, if you don’t mind. I have heard that Gregory was at Bloodrock for the end of the war. I’d love to hear more about how that happened and how things actually ended.”

“Dearest?” Yukiko gave Gregory a smile.

“I don’t mind,” Gregory said. “I can’t tell you everything, obviously, but…”

~~~

“I see,” Clearwind said when Gregory finished. “It is true that a foresight user would make things easier for the empire. The loss of Lightshield would have been a massive blow for them. If they utilize you in such a fashion, it will help shore up that loss.”

“Which is likely how they will request the clan to assist them,” Yukiko said. “If you don’t mind, Ambassador, we’d like to hear from you about Limaz in return. We have all read some about your country, and Roshana’s family comes from there, but we’d like to hear more.”

“I don’t mind speaking about my homeland. Are there any specific topics you wanted to be enlightened on?”

“Gurus, if it’s not too much to ask,” Ling said. “You are the spiritual leaders of your nation, but the academy archive— at least for novices and adepts— was woefully limited on that topic.”

“Hmm… I can speak some on it, but like your husband, not everything can be shared.” Clearwind’s eyes shifted from the patio doors to a few dark patches in the office. “Did a fly or two get in here earlier?”

“I can’t say I’ve noticed,” Yukiko said with a knowing smile. “Even if one has, after a while, it would become something you ignore as best you can.”

“I see,” Clearwind nodded. “I’m sure Ambassador Glowstone will deal with them upon her return. Very well, let me see… Gurus are the spirit of Limaz…”