That hit hard.
Well, what could he do? Die or switch careers? The answer he wanted to give was simple, the most likely one a lot harder. If he switched jobs, the sensible course, he'd eventually get caught in a situation like the day before and end up killing himself, wouldn't he? Maybe it would be better to just save up now and go out doing something that might actually help people? He nodded gently his eyes going a bit dim. It was what he'd made his life, it was why people even thought he was a person really, instead of just a stereotype backwoods bumpkin.
“So no building at all then? For the rest of my life?” The words came out sounding sad and weak. A little helpless. Lost. So, the way he felt really.
That worked for him then.
Burks looked at him strangely, his body being held oddly still, “you can build. But no direct effect work for at least three months, and absolutely no massive things like you did today, for at least several decades. Impressive, but also unneeded and ultimately foolish. There were a hundred other ways for you to handle the situation, more than that probably. There always are. Magic is just one tool Tor. You have a good brain and aren't any more responsible for the world than the next man your age. No less either, but don't take on too much for yourself. It can lead to bad things and an early grave.”
Tor wanted to go all “young buck” on the man and shout at him about how he didn't know what Tor felt or thought, or understand what it meant to be young anymore, but just couldn't come up with the will for it. After all “don't use yourself to death” sounded pretty reasonable to him really. The only problem was that Tor really did feel like he was responsible. For almost everyone and everything. That he had to help, no matter what. Didn't everyone?
Burks guided him back to his bedroom and shut the door on Petra, who'd been trying to follow them in, being part of the original conversation and all. It was a little rude, but what could he do about it? The man was old.
Sizing up the room, the vast window, the bed that would comfortably fit a dozen people and the writing desk in mahogany in the corner with matching chair Burks sighed. Grabbing the seat and settling in he waited. No gesture saying Tor should sit or indication he should do anything. Tor got on the bed and sat with his legs crossed. It was the position he took when he worked and one of the most comfortable for him, even if it generally wasn't considered polite in company.
Finally the man spoke, his voice bland and almost flat.
“I should have come and spoken with you openly about what's going on. It wasn't an attempt to hide information from you, just collect the needed data and analyze your genetic structure first, to see what would be needed. My people grabbed a sample after you were poisoned, I think your mother mentioned that to you? What we found was… given everything, about what I expected. One small surprise, but for the most part you're genetically me.” Burks gave him a wry grin.
“I know, how freaky is that?”
Tor raised his eyebrows at him and gave him a wry look back. If he was supposed to get the joke, then he'd missed something. Rather than ask a bunch of questions Tor nodded and just let words flow out, not knowing where they came from. That deep part of him that had been doing most of his work lately? Could be. All he knew was that he sounded far smarter than he felt at the moment.
“That makes sense. The field pattern that created the ancients has to be strong, doesn't it? It doesn't breed too often, almost never, but when it does it probably dominates, as far as traits go. It would have to in order to work at all, wouldn't it?” It did kind of make sense once he said it.
Burks smiled, a small thing that looked pleased rather than skeptical.
“Right! Genes, genetics, all that, it's a complete science, a field of study, but that is, essentially, what happens. A beings field pattern is what makes DNA, which if you ever get bored you should take a few years to learn about. I know you feel busy and rushed right now, but in fifty, maybe a hundred years you're going to start searching for things to keep you busy. Here's a hint right off the top that I had to spend centuries learning. Do stuff. Focus on the details and investigate to the very bottom of things. Then find the next thing to do. Strive to go beyond “good enough”, or you'll get so bored you'll probably kill yourself. I've seen it happen with some of the others, even though genetically it's almost impossible for one of us to suicide. Not out of grief or despair at least. Not the ones that have lasted this long. But it's happened anyway.”
Do things? It… made sense. Isn't that what he tried to do already? Keep busy, help people…
Burks shook his head, even though Tor hadn't said anything.
“Tor… as I said, in most ways we're essentially the same person. I know what you're probably thinking, and you're wrong. It's… part of you… of me, on the most fundamental level to try and help people, an essential part of our being if you will, designed to get us to serve and protect others. To feel unease when people waste things, and to forgive even the most egregious of wounds and attacks. That’s fine for the most part. You want to watch out for those situations where, even though it makes you feel horrible, you can't forgive people that will come after you over and over again, or those so truly insane they can't help themselves. That last is the biggest problem you know. People that don't know they're insane… It's not their fault, so how can you punish them by taking their life? But it will happen that you have to, even though it aches inside. You can't kill without a cost. Others can, but not you.”
Ah. It made sense then. So the magic of the Ancients was what punished him for killing?
“Like that smell of death? After I killed those Austran fast craft drivers… I keep smelling rot and decay all the time. I don't even get used to it!” Tor shuddered. It was gross, and in his nose even as he spoke of it.
Burks nodded and told him that it was just like that. He'd also have horrible nightmares, sometimes see visions of the dead coming back and more.
“Don't let it get to you that much though. Sometimes you have to be willing to pay the cost in order to protect others. However I think I can help you with your current problem more than a bit. Those craft weren't piloted by people at all. Driven as you said. No one living was on board, so you didn't kill anyone. They're devices… very complicated ones called “computers”, we don't use them here, it’s part of the original charter… Well, I'll go over all that with you when the war is over. The thing is huge after all. Basically, for now, it comes down to you needing to stick to magic and not wasting resources… Like this palace of yours! It makes my skin crawl just to be in it. Do you know how many families you could have fed with the gold you used to build it?”
Tor laughed.
“About none?” He patted the bed forcefully. “All magic. Not even made on copper, just focus stone. That's really just compacted dirt, it makes a kind of rock. Fairly pretty, I'll show you some later. Even the energy cost is all in potential. It isn't really here at all, it just seems like it. It works though, so why not?”
That led to a discussion about what else he'd been making, Burks eyes getting wider the whole time finally he shook his head and buried his face in his hands.
“Well, that explains part of the problem then. Most likely.” He heaved a sigh that felt familiar to Tor. He did that too didn't he? Did he really look like his grandfather? Probably not, since the Count was really good looking and he barely made average at best. This didn't get said because the elder was talking. When old people talked you listened, it was a rule.
Probably one made up by the man in front of him, a long time ago, but it still counted, didn't it?
“Denno Brown never did get the concepts of magic at all. Good guy really, since he's basically us, he'd have to be, doesn't look much like you or I though. More like your friend Petra or her brothers. In looks closer to the old Indus cultures. Good looking people, don't you think? Anyway, inside he's like we are in some ways, the aging thing particularly. But his focus on science kind of narrows his world view a lot. Denno was created that way, a generation after mine. That’s… I mean to say my, our template, was used to create his, about six years after I was born. He can't get that you're doing things like this without use of massive energy I bet. Probably thinks you're the great Unknown Factor come to destroy everything. I'd probably best send a letter explaining. You should too, if you don't want Larval assassins showing up every twenty years for the rest of your life. He's your brother after all, so don't feel too nervous about getting in touch with him.”
The things Burks said were fascinating, riveting. Little bits and pieces of things about himself kept coming out at he spoke. Tor asked questions and made what he hoped were solid and insightful remarks. Most of them making his grandfather laugh after a while.
“Right. You're always at the bottom of every social endeavor. Everyone's life, honor and wealth is as important as yours or more so. You go to a state dinner and get sat at the Queen’s hand and wonder why you aren't in servants green, and wouldn't blink to do it if they asked you to fill in? People call you Master Tor and you demure, because you know you haven't mastered anything yet? Women and men compliment your looks, and you just think they’re being kind or even lying to make you feel better about yourself?” This time there were smiles, but no outward chuckles. He held out his right hand and nodded.
“OK. You won't believe this, but it's the simple truth and you need to know it in order to understand why other people respond to you like they do. Your genetic structure, your field, it's built so that you'll do all that, think of yourself last in any given situation. Which is good for the most part, meaning you won't get a swelled head or think that anyone owes you anything you haven't earned through hard work. But, and I know this will be impossible for you to believe right now, maybe ever, so just try to remember it academically for now, your looks are designed to put you in the top three percent of human attractiveness. Given the current world, that's closer to the top one percent really. Before the changes people held to a very high standard of beauty and there were a lot more people over all, so the pool was bigger. That doesn't matter to the percentages directly of course. Perfect skin, hair, teeth and build. A bit thin right now, so eat, but you can't get fat biologically speaking. Not that you'd even be able to try, your nature won't let you waste that much food.
“You can't think you're all that bright either. I still don't think I am and I was raised with testing and daily evidence that proved otherwise. The fact is though, your nearly twice as intelligent as an average person, slightly more so. Your physical endurance is naturally about four times what a good athlete might have, though you need to stay active for that to really show as special. I recommend running about twenty miles four or five times a week, then triple that once or twice a month. Most couldn't handle that. You can. Your also going to work yourself to death eventually if you don't at least diversify your interests. Life is more than building. What are you good at? What do you like doing? Other than building.”
Tor focused inside himself. It was a harder question than it sounded like on the surface. He could barely define fun and now someone wanted him to list what he liked? Simple, no doubt. Still, there had to be something.
“I like baking… I probably would have done that for a living if I didn't have so many brothers and sisters…”
Burks grimaced, “Right. You mother isn't exactly being… economical in the amount of children, is she? That's genetic for her too, I'm afraid. I'll talk about that whole thing later, nearly as interesting as our own situation I think. Probably more so given your sister… Go on.”
What did he like? Building, Baking… nothing else came to mind, except sex. Tor blushed and looked down. Well, who didn't like that? He said it out loud, and got a single nod and a gesture that said to keep going on. Running? Well, he didn't like it, but he could see the use. Fighting? He wasn't good at it, but it wasn't boring. Painful most the time when he practiced, but never as bland as just running was.
“So, places to start, I recommend breaking your day up evenly among those for a while, look for other things to occupy your time too. I always found music diverting myself. It pays to keep up with what other people are doing as well. Trends and fashions, what people are concerned about. It may feel useless at first, or like a waste of time, but these factors shape societies. Also… and this will be hard for you, I know, but I can't stress it enough… Learn to let people do things for themselves. Don't give them bread or even create jobs for them. Let them do their own work and just help make it possible. You have to help. Yes. But you help people more by letting them be self sufficient in the long run. Letting someone become dependent on you is making them into a slave in a very real way, even if there are no chains.”
The rest of what they talked about was interesting, but didn't shake his world nearly as much, he realized when it was all over. That he was designed to help protect the world was less mentally taxing than some of the other things that were said. He was smart? He got that he did all right with building, but actually intelligent in all areas? It seemed unlikely, but Burks assured him that all he had to do was apply himself and his mind wouldn't fail him.
In regards to appearance he had to shake his head and, rude or not he called Burks, his Ancient grandfather, a liar. Right to his face. He expected a beating for it, but that didn't come. Instead he was sat in front of a mirror and they talked about what made a person good looking. It was all there, but he didn't see it. He couldn't. It was just him.
Sighing the old man sat and… got young.
His face melted into a younger one over the course of minutes, until he finally looked about fourteen or so. Then he gestured up at the face.
“Good enough looking? Don't be polite about it, I can take your honest appraisal. I've looked like this for longer than Noram has been around, by nearly a thousand years. Go ahead, really look. Rip me apart, I won't be mad.”
The face was bare and clean shaven, attractive, nearly too pretty really, kind of girlish. It was the kind of face that all the girls at school talked about wanting in a man and gushed over, when they weren't discussing how much they loved all the massive and brutish combat giants. The skin was still pale, like his, but that just made him look better somehow, exotic. Almost everyone had darker skin than this. He didn't, but even his brothers and sisters did. His Mother didn't. Tiera his thirteen year old sister didn't, maybe a little, but those were the only ones he could think of, except his uncle Dan, who was like they were. So an Ancient trait?
The look wasn't like Count Ward, who was about the best looking man Tor had ever seen, but it was darn close in level, if totally different. Maybe even better looking? He spelled all this out to Lairdgren, hoping thousands of years really would give him some perspective.
Tor was calling him a bit feminine after all.
The man didn't say anything at all, just gave a grin that was slightly playful and lopsided, then pulled him back in front of the mirror. Not exactly in front of it, off to the side a little. The Count moved in front keeping Tor out of view.
“Now look, in the mirror, what do you see?”
Tor's reflection looked back at him. Only it wasn't his, it was Lairdgren's.
Oh.
In the reflection the face suddenly looked plain and boring, maybe slightly homely. When Tor looked at Burks, it was the same face only much better looking. Just because it wasn't him?
“We're genetically the same person Tor. We think alike, we look alike, everything. Yes, there are differences in the pattern, the main one being the combat rage, which was a trait of the original Cordes. It must have slipped in from Douglas's genes somehow, or your grandmothers side of the family… No, it has to be from Douglas… I don't have the genes for that at all, no one else in the family does. Other than that we're closer than identical twins would be.”
Oh.
Tor had to not think about it, because it scared him a little. Not that he was actually good looking, that was… nice. It would make things easier, wouldn't it? People liked good looking folk better. It was hard not to.
No it was that he still looked into the mirror and saw… a troll. Not literally, but when it was him, he knew the same face couldn't be more than average at best, even though on someone else it looked… fine. Excellent really. It was a face he could credit someone pretty like Petra actually wanting to spend time with, and not just doing it to be nice. Or even Collette. Or the Queen. The idea shook him more than a little. After all, they only liked him as a friend, right? They were fond of him, which was mainly because they were good people, not having anything to do with him at all…
The Ancient distracted him by growing older in front of his eyes, it was amazing.
“You probably can't do it yet, wait till you're about twenty-five or so, if I remember that correctly, and it will suddenly kick in. You'll just wake up one day and know. It won't be hard for you then. This…” He gestured to himself, now looking like he normally did.
“Is about the limit. I think the doctors that did the initial design were giving an eye towards vanity. Back then being old wasn't a good thing, not in Noram, so they left it out. Some of the others, Black and Red, can look older, and Red was designed to not be half as good looking as the rest of us, part of the program to allow for variety, since no one really knew what would work in the end. She can also shape shift into… well, it's something to see. If you ever get the chance you should ask her about it.” He let his hands go wide and smiled, a thing that touched his eyes and turned into a look that seemed carefully crafted to get attention somehow.
“I don't bother to hide who or what I am any more. Most people don't concern themselves with it, to tell the truth. You'd think it would be a big deal, but most adjust pretty well. Best to be open and just let people know if they ask. With you it should be even easier. You're the great Wizard Tor, so of course you won't age. Dan had problems with it though and I imagine your mother will. Well, we can just tell people that she's your mother. That could work.”
Dan, of course looked different than he did. Good looking, but not the same as Burks. They just weren't as similar for some reason.
“Diversity is wonderful thing isn't it? He has the gene's, but he's just my son. A real, honest, got his mother pregnant, child of mine. Got my hair color too. You're closer to me than that. On the good side I can get you to take my place as Count in a few decades and no one will be the wiser as I go on some adventure or take up farming for a while. Growing things, now there's a good area for you to look into. I know I've always liked it. That's one of the things that never gets old. That's in our pattern too. Our line, mine and Denno Browns, it was originally meant to be a kind of super slave. Tractable without being dull witted. Willing to take on the hardest tasks without being forced into it. That kind of thing. That, isn’t actually genetic. Not for the most part.”
Taking a deep breath the Count shrugged and looked at Tor closely.
“I can go into it later, but a lot of these things are due to something else, something that’s been passed to you, but not Dan, not Laurali either, thank goodness. They’ll get to make up their own rules. Yours are more enforced, I’m afraid.”
It was all almost too much, which Burks seemed to know, so they started talking about other things. Girls and what he had planned for his future.
The Count looked down and took another deep breath, “Ah… Well, um, kids. I know Ricky told you that you may have some problems having children if you married Veronica? Well, it's a little more complicated than that. You can't have them at all until you mature a bit. A few hundred years. About five hundred actually. Then it's hard. Until then… adopt. It's what I did. Still do mainly. On the good side you won't accidentally be dropping kids on women every time you have sex like Marvin Ward is. I'm going to have to have a discussion with him on the topic soon. He's here, right? Maybe I'll do it today or tomorrow. We should talk more too. Probably for a couple of years all told. I don't regret your Two Bends upbringing, but you've missed a lot you’re going to need to know eventually. Still, we have time to get to it. If you have questions, just ask. I won't hide the answers from you.”
“Oh! I have one then.” This came out sounding a little bitter, but that was OK, he meant it that way.
“Who all do you have spying on me?” Tor waited for the man to flinch, wince or even laugh at him, but instead he shrugged. It was his shrug. Gah. It was eerie now that he knew to look for it. How did people not see this instantly? Probably the age thing really.
Burks was just older. So they couldn’t be the same, right?
“They're all spying for me Tor. Even your mother, though she doesn't think of it that way. Ricky and Connie tell me everything. So all their spies are functionally mine. Probably yours too if you bother to work out how to get at the information. Most of it won't mean much to you, but do give it a go, will you? I'll gladly share responsibilities with you for Noram if you want. I know you don't want it, but I'll probably ask you to anyway. I haven't had a real vacation in about two thousand years you know. Not since Cordes died.” This got an abstract look and after a moment of silence that spoke of old memories.
“Even during peace time, some Duke is always screwing some barons wife or the wives get worked up because the men are doing each other, or a cow gets loose and crosses a border and gets turned into steak or some such. It's why I finally set up “the rules” you know. So that I didn't have to spend half my life dealing with everyone’s poor dating habits. It's hard to ask royalty not to sleep around. Human nature really, people want to be loved and make contact with others. It only becomes a problem when the social rules prevent that from happening or make people feel guilty about it.”
Tor snorted at the man, which got a single raised eyebrow. Tor couldn't do it, but then he hadn't really practiced either.
“You made up the rules? Good, can you get me a copy? I have a book called “manners” but I don't think what's in there is complete. I keep missing things.”
Laughing they went to lunch in the dining room, filled with more people this time than last. Burks pushed food on him like a nervous granny, but then that wasn't too far from the truth, was it? In public they didn't talk about much at all, the weather and the rebuilding of the wall around the palace. How the Council of Counts wanted to cancel King’s day because of the attack and the King responded by opening the royal coffers to pay for added celebrations. Or more technically was using Tor’s money to do it. Burks had suggested it.
“I told them to just view it as the Lairdgren county special fund.” The man smirked at him using a look that Tor hoped he never had on his face, but feared was pretty common.
“Oh? That makes sense I guess. Well, Bonita and I will go over later to coordinate that stuff with them, if I'm paying for it. She's agreed to organize things for me, since I'm on “vacation” and not really allowed to work right now on anything. I… If I can't work for a long time… what will the King say?” It was a serious question, something that had really bugged him, but Burks laughed and patted his shoulder gently.
“Don't worry about it. Just because you can't go ripping your pattern apart defeating the Austran forces with a thought, that doesn't mean you can't do anything of value. Just no building or copying for a few months, then keep to no more than one or two novel builds per month for a few years. That's still better than most of the top builders put together. Really, I'd like to see you go into greater detail and skill rather than the brute force you've been using. Your things work and I love the energy usage, but you're basically bludgeoning reality into the shape of your will instead of using finesse. Skill and working with what's around you. Just a suggestion, but… remember what we talked about earlier, about attention to detail? That's the path to true mastery in anything. Keep finding ways to improve and never stop.”
Right.
Well, if he'd nearly killed himself doing it his current way, his way was wrong. So, more skill and finesse? Uhg. Tor had kind of thought he was getting a handle on that. Then again it was probably naive to think that an eighteen year old boy was approaching real mastery of anything. He nodded and started to think about how to improve, but Burks clapped him on the shoulder to snap him out of the deep state that was descending on him, hard enough that the blow never touched, his shield kicking in. It got his attention though. His grandfathers too.
“Oh, that's nifty. Turned on by itself? I'd like one of those if you have a spare.”
Tor did, on him even, so he handed it over, then, as an afterthought went and got him one of everything he had. The man was family after all. Plus, he could make his own copies if he wanted them, for people back in Grenwyn. It was hard to remember, but the man had actually invented the whole system of magic they used.
They found Bonita sitting in a room with Maria Ward and Trice, sewing, of all things. Cross stitch, from the look of the wooden squares being used. Terlee like it and would sit in the evenings after chores doing almost exactly what they were.
He'd have to see if she was in town visiting Tovey. They were getting married soon, so it wouldn't be surprising. She might even be pregnant already. She didn't have the Ancient patterns like he did… then his mother certainly didn't have any trouble having children, did she? He'd check. After all, she was spying on him, only fair to spy back. If he didn't she'd probably think he didn't love her any more.
Bonita shot to her feet and grabbed him as soon as he walked through the door. It was followed by a kiss that was a little awkward, but warm enough. Right, her family was watching. Burks was his family, but he'd known the guy less than a year, even if they did look alike when Burks wanted to bother. Tor took her hand and not letting go went over and kissed Trice just as warmly. Trice was better at kissing, using just the right amount of tongue and artful nibbles.
He focused on it for a second, trying to get what was being done exactly. Attention to detail. Finally she pulled away and gave him a doe eyed look that he wondered at. Was it real or all part of an act. He didn't dare even try to read her yet, his pattern was just too fragile. Once pointed out he could feel it. Kind of an “oops” moment, not realizing that before.
The stink of death had faded though, so the day was looking up. The Austran craft were run by complex devices? Amazing. For a second he wondered if that could be built using magic. It would be interesting to try, once he was healthy again.
“So. I've come to collect my girlfriends up and take them off visiting to the palace. If you want to come? I kind of need Bonita though right now, since she's agreed to help with the celebration plans. We need to coordinate with the palace people, whoever is in charge of that. I know that the Queen would love to catch up with Trice and her cousins would too…” Tor looked at Maria who was hanging her head a little, a humble look that he wasn't used to seeing on her. Was he being rude leaving her out? Probably.
Did he care?
Searching his inner self he realized he did.
Crud. It really made it hard to stay mad if you actually cared about everyone, didn't it? At least now he could blame some old time “scientists” for messing him up. Not that it would help.
Jerks. Tor had to fight a smile at the thought.
“Maria? Would you like to come along? Maybe Marvin would like to go as well? I know things are tense there, but if your both willing to knock your heads on the floor and grovel a bit… well, sooner done, the less likely to get me killed later, yes? That's how that saying goes isn't it?” The phrasing was awkward, but she smiled and him and stood.
“I'll collect the Count. At this rate I'm going to get calluses.” Her delicate hand went to her forehead.
Tor’s went to his own in sympathy.
“At least we'll go to the parties with the same decorations then. I've been doing my share of head thumping too, the last few days.”
The ride over was quick and silent, Tor using his magical carriage, which Burks had him re-color to look like a royal coach in fine golden wood and enameled cream, perfectly smooth and rather stately. It did look classier that way, if not as fun. Next time, Tor decided, he'd take it out in bright pink and purple, just to see if anyone noticed. On the ride over he sat in the very lead seat, being the driver. The Wards took the middle section with Burks sitting between Trice and Bonita, chatting them both up so expertly that Tor wondered if they'd run off with him for the evening.
He even had Nita laughing loudly, her hand going over her mouth for about half the ride. Well… The idea of losing the girl's company wasn't fun, but if she was going to be happier spending time with Burks, he could only encourage it. She deserved to be happy.
At the gate, the guard bowed to Count Lairdgren, Bonita, Trice, then did a double take, eyes going wide and did the same for the Wards. Looking at Tor the young guard gave a half wave.
“Hey Tor.” He said casually.
“Hi, Chet.” He replied with his own wave, happy that he remembered the guys name at all. He still mainly remembered him threatening to break his legs when he'd been sent away nearly a year ago to the day. One or two more days, he realized.
They still had to wait for someone to come out and vouch for them, which the Wards bristled at but Tor openly supported, given the latest attack.
“Any good looking tall people could claim to be the Wards. And any pale short guys could claim to be us. Trice is supposed to have one arm and I don't know how often Bonita has been here at all. I don't think I'd let us all in without swearing to who we were with truth devices on.” Which he had one of on him. To his surprise so did Trice.
“What? I went into your box of stuff and got extra. You always said too if we needed or wanted anything. If you changed the rules, that isn't my fault. Dead useful and since I have my own groveling to do as soon as I work up the nerve, I'll need it.” She glowed cream and gold the whole time, smiling.
Tor shrugged. “Good. I hope you got whatever else you needed? It's a pain, always handing things out. I should just put a box out in the foyer and leave a note. Would that work? I hate making people feel like they're obligated to me. It's off-putting. That way people could just take what they need and we could all avoid that annoying part where they “borrow” things without telling me about it. I think I'll do that.”
No answer came because Varley floated over using her Not-flyer. Before she could speak, before even moving past the safety of the gate, or out of public view, Count Ward climbed out, a little stiffly, then lowered himself to the ground. Not kneeling, not just bowing, laying flat on his stomach, dark suit on stone drive, head turned to the left, face on the drive, hands straight out to the front. Then he began to apologize as abjectly as Tor had ever heard anyone manage. If it wasn't genuine he didn't know what was.
Trice gave a wicked little grin and reached out dropping her Truth amulet on his back. It stayed pure the whole time.
Tor blinked.
As the Count listed how he'd failed and wronged the Princess it never even flickered. Ouch. That had to cost his ego more than a bit. Varley stared, crossed her arms and finally sighed dramatically.
“Guess I should call off that kill squad then.” She looked at the Royal Guard and gestured at them all. “I recognize everyone except for this lady…” The look she gave Nita was curious.
Tor slipped the brown hemp string of his own truth device over her head and asked her to affirm who she was, her intent, and if she had any ulterior motives in coming. It was soft, mumbled and forced Varley to strain to hear, but her word, with the device on, was accepted as proof.
Chet looked at the devices and simply asked if it was possible to get some for the palace given everything, “It would certainly make things safer, don't you think, Tor?”
It was a good idea, but Tor didn't want to lose his right now, or Trice's, in case the Wards needed them later, or they did. Trice pulled off two more and handed them to the man. Tor promised he'd send a full batch over later, so that all the gates would have them. The guard bowed to Trice again and winked at Tor knowingly. What he knew, that was beyond what Tor could fathom, but he seemed pleased and satisfied, so he let them through. Bowing the whole time.
Maria hmphed as they passed, getting Trice to ask her what was wrong.
“Patricia! Didn't you see that guard? He treated Tor like… I don't know, just some servant or delivery person! No bowing at all, just a wave and using his name like they were millers together or something. I… Tor saved us all! He protected the whole city and it hurt him to do it. Marvin told me how he had to carry him in after the attack and how he looked half dead. Plus he's a Countier and a Master Builder. We should report him and have him removed for insubordination. Or… or lashed!” She sounded serious.
That would be foolish though.
The man knowing him by name was a good thing. It meant fewer beatings most likely, and if he ever accidentally got left off a list or something he'd be more likely to at least check on it instead of making Tor wonder around the city, lost and alone.
Burks spoke softly from the back seat.
“Countess Ward… The man wasn't being insubordinate. He was simply treating Tor as he would one of his own were they to come through the gate. He probably didn't even realize he was doing it, to tell the truth. It wasn't meant to be an insult, but the highest compliment a Royal Guard has. He was treating Tor as part of his family. Probably because he unconsciously views what Tor has done as marking him as one of them. The protectors. It's part of the training, conditioning them to look at the royal family, and all of us, as children, to be protected from harm even at the cost of their own lives. Chet there was responding to Tor as he would a real adult, not someone to coddle. Don't take offense at the rest though, being thought of as a child, or if you must, blame me, since I came up with the program to train them originally.”
Whether that explanation sufficed or not with the blond Countess he couldn't tell, trying to focus on his driving of the low craft as he was. Varley was gliding right alongside, admiring it openly, and Tor really didn't want to bump her, even at low speeds. She had a shield on, but who knew what would happen to the baby if she was shaken around too much?
They were ushered directly in to see the King and Queen, who looked tense and drawn, Rolph who looked nearly as bad and Karina who looked glum again.
She was back to wearing black, this time a long plain dress that made her thin body look like a stick, instead of a cute Princess. Tor gave out hugs all around and shook the King’s hand, getting almost everyone else to follow suit. Which was funny in a way, since half of them didn't do it right at all, not being their custom. The Wards asked for the truth devices again and groveled for a few minutes until Varley pronounced herself satisfied again. For her part at least. There would, no doubt, be more groveling needed because of the stupid declaration of war.
Everyone else kind of had to let it go then, since she was the most wronged party in the room. It would take more than just a few apologies, no doubt, but it was a start.
There was a lot of discussion about safety and continued air attacks, but Burks shook his head with a small half smile on his lips.
“There are rules that Denno Brown adheres too. Three pods of Larvals at any given time, and it takes at least fifteen years for them to develop, and be trained enough to be a real threat. Before then good guards can beat them, if with effort. The drones… I think you're safe for now, honestly. When Tor took out the four he did that probably reduced the Austran air force by about ten percent. Even though he can't do it again, the Austrans don't know that. They won't risk it.” The voice had the confidence of long age behind it, but no one felt any better.
“He can't? I think you sell our Tor short sir.” The Queen said, not coldly, but not exactly sounding kind either.
Burks explained the whole thing with the pattern and how massive and repeated trauma's to it could lead to dissolution. No one at the table got it, except the Prince, who goggled at his friend.
“Crap! You nearly died protecting us? And if you do it again, for decades, you just die? Tor! You can't do that, we need you! I…” The Prince didn't finish the words, just letting them trail off.
Karina nodded.
“Yeah Tor. We can find some other way to protect ourselves. For your part, arm yourself better and make sure you don't need to do stupidly heroic things like that anymore. I'd rather have these new shields for all of us than you destroying yourself in one moment. I don't know how we stop them if they come again but-”
Well that was obvious at least.
“Squires Gerald and Gemma. I was a bit surprised they didn't take out the ones the other day really. Probably trapped inside the shield? That can be fixed though, if something like it is about to happen again.” Tor looked at the King who seemed baffled for a moment and then nodded.
“I'll see they're given what they need for the task. Very good. Well, I think that will protect us from the air at least. I'd forgotten how very able our Squires are these days. I for one feel much better now that I'm reminded, don't you dear?”
The Queen laughed eloquently.
“Of course! I'd been told, but I didn't think about them at the time! Yes, they'll do nicely. Thank you Tor.” Her smile was real, he thought. If she wasn't acting to make everyone else feel safer. Either way it was good to see and better than the drawn and pinched look of a few moments prior.
That left the planning for the celebration which was way more complex than he'd ever imagined. The Queen was in charge of it, and ran the whole thing like a battle campaign. Karina was her general, now that things had shifted about with the attack and they'd gone almost wild compared to what they normally planned.
As he'd been warned, the funds for it were coming from Tor's personal account in the royal treasury. The Special County Lairdgren Fund. It was more gold than he thought really existed, but he nodded anyway. It was only gold and if it got to the public, then all to the good. Everyone but Burks gave him a funny look when he said it though. The King acted like he'd just admitted lifting his purse, and the Queen blushed at him, but made solid eye contact and smiled prettily.
“I have some devices I made for it too. I don't know if it's going to really help, but it's something…” He listed everything off that he had planned. Which got appreciative murmurs from the room.
Rolph suggested that they give people rides in the magic carriages, and bring in some air transports, maybe even for free trips to other cities to spread the cheer. It would reassure everyone to see that they had aircraft too. That was a new thing, and Noram had kind of lived in terror of what Austra could do to them from above. Now the field was more even. Austra attacked and for the first time in history, Noram responded by simply destroying their craft. That had only happened before once. Back when Cordes ruled. He’d taken a single craft out much like Tor had.
Only while in a combat rage.
“But showing people that we have flight capability too, that should help people rest at night.” Burks assured them all, with that maddening little smirk he had.
They'd have to borrow some transports from the military, but it should be doable. That or get the new public ones in for a few days.
Humorously enough Burks suggested a “ducking booth”, a contraption that no one else had ever even heard of. The idea was to put someone, say a high ranking noble or two, up on a high platform, then let people throw heavy balls at a triggering device that dumped them into water below if they hit hard enough. For extra fun they could put small chunks of ice in the water so that it would be really cold and give the sitters funny costumes to wear the whole time. They could put nobles on it and people would flock to the event, the Ancient assured them.
Tor thought it sound like a fun idea himself, and agreed with Burks plan of charging a penny for three throws, and then donating the money to families left in need by the war. Who wouldn't want to dump a giant in freezing water? People would be pooling their funds together for the chance. It was probably as close as anyone would ever get to taking some of their own back from the royals that looked down on them, wasn't it? Tor put in that he might just slip some of the partiers some extra coin, just so more could have a turn. No one else loved the idea, since they were the giants in question, but grudgingly Count Ward agreed to sit the bench as a form of penance for his foolish declaration of war.
“I can’t apologize to every person wronged, but perhaps those that hear of my being humbled will accept it as a sign of true intent?” He didn’t look pleased about it, but Tor nodded to him anyway.
To real people, back in the villages at least, that probably would work pretty well It would have for him, if he’d heard of it as a child.
The man kept surprising Tor with his contrition and humility. He was supposed to be a jerk that was easy to hate and got all your girls pregnant, not a nice guy that… got all your girls pregnant. That was still there.
To his surprise Karina volunteered to do it herself.
The Queen started to speak about it not being dignified, but then grinned.
“Then again, it does no real harm for the citizens of Noram to see us as people too. Very well. That's two. I won't be doing it myself, but I may deign to lobe a few of these balls if the right person is up there. Who else is doing it? Burks?” She made her face so innocent that it had to be practiced in front of a mirror.
“Of course. I'll volunteer Tor too. Who doesn't want a chance to humble the mighty wizard? It will show them that they don’t need to fear him. We should leave the King and heir off, too close to treason, even if in sport. Hmmm.” He pointed rudely at Countess Ward. It was a single finger stabbing at her directly, an aggressive move that seemed nearly angry for the normally calm man.
The voice was relaxed though. Smooth.
“Wear something shear and white and men will line up to see you get wet. I… don't mean that precisely as it sounds… That too though, if you can manage it.” He chuckled at her as she turned red.
The tone wasn't biting, but somehow it hit home in a way Tor didn't understand at all. He got all the meanings of “get wet” now, but hadn't thought that the idea of doing either would have bothered the girl. It seemed like something she'd have enjoyed really. Except maybe the ice water. No one could like that. The idea made Tor shiver a bit already.
Then it was becoming clear that his idea of Maria as an evil bitch that destroyed innocent young men for no reason might not be the whole story. She was far from perfect, a bit vain, shallow, too free with her favors maybe. Maybe not, given royal society, he didn't know. She was said to be indiscreet, but so far Tor hadn't really seen it, except with Trice. And she was her girlfriend right?
Stopping, Tor blushed, it must have been a deep scarlet. He'd referred to Trice as his girlfriend earlier. After he kissed her. That kind of put the focus of the words on her at the time, hadn't it? Ooops. Well, if it bothered her, he'd hear about it, probably in a restaurant while she told the world how ugly and stupid he was, and how he kissed like a dog. How short and childlike as well. Since those were even true mainly, he couldn't argue the points. Only, he wasn’t ugly.
Burks had said he needed to remember that, but it was just so hard to believe.
No one noticed thank goodness and he got his face under control when Karina suggested some games. Just little things, like a ring toss and sheet pulling races. Tor had to ask what that was, being new to him, but the idea was simple enough. A team of four people pulled a fifth while they sat on a bed sheet, pulling them along the ground, racing against all other teams. Each team that won got a prize. Normally chilled fruit. It was a picnic game. It sounded like a good prize though. Who didn't like chilled fruit?
They went on like that for a while, with Nita taking notes the whole time, and making diagrams, for placement of events and a calendar of when things would take place. They only had a single day left to prepare, and vendors, entertainers and set-up still had to be gotten going.
When they got ready to leave Tor boldly asked if he could steal Karina for the night, so that planning could be done without contacting the Queen every ten minutes. It made sense even, and the Princess looked so happy about it that permission was given without discussion.
So… work to do or not, Karina had been moping? Well, it made sense. Tor had been downcast a lot longer than a few days himself after Trice, and what had happened to Karina was at least as bad. Worse. Tor had kind of suspected that the “engagement” had been a ploy the whole time. Karina had really thought that Lilli loved her. If anyone could get what she was experiencing it would be him, but that didn't mean the depth of pain would be the same.
The first thing they did was organize all the devices Tor had for the celebration and tried to find people to run the events. Most the Ward people jumped at the chance, even though they wouldn't get as much free time to wonder around or play themselves.
One of the women, the one that he'd talked to about shopping a few days before hugged him a little with one arm.
“Tor… you saved our lives. Twice. If you need something done, I don't think anyone here would blink about it. Plus, big celebrations are only fun if some people work part of the time, the more people taking turns the more everyone gets to relax. Don't worry about that, none of us will forget to take our turn too.” Her smile was dazzling in her dark face. If she wasn't great looking, she still had her charms, pleasant demeanor being the first one he noticed.
Taking his cue from her he smiled and thanked them all, and since most of them didn't shake hands at a rule, he started handing out hugs instead. It was awkward feeling, but everyone patted him on the back or said a little something friendly. He tried to do the same, even though he suspected he wasn't doing it right. No one said anything about how moronic he sounded and kept smiling, so he went with it.
That's what he was doing when Collette and Petra came in, both walking with a slightly older dark skinned man, the guy with the cold ice drinks from Warden, Tor couldn't remember his name if he'd ever known it.
Or could he?
If he just focused on remembering and dropped into a trance, it shouldn't hurt his field at all. Literally speaking he was strengthening it, concentrating on a part of himself. That made sense, and reminded him not to slack off on meditation. It really should help him rebuild his own field faster. The idea surprised him a bit, but he decided to try it. After a few moments the name came to him.
“Hi Morgan.” Tor hoped he'd gotten the name right. The man smiled big and said hello, but called him “Master Tor, sir”. Sticking out his tongue Tor said they should all just call him Tor, since it was his name and he definitely wasn't a master of anything yet. Everyone laughed, but Petra pushed Morgan forward a bit more. He was holding a tray of drinks, several different kinds in focus stone cups. They were mainly ice by the look.
“I'd thought to sell my wares at the King’s week festival here, and wanted to get permission. Counserina Ward and Baronetta Coltress both said it would be all right, but since I want to set up in your front yard to avoid ground rental fees…” He passed out the drinks, which Tor checked openly for poison first. The one Tor got didn't even have alcohol, but the others all did. They were even better than the ones from Ward, except there was none of the pineapple and coconut drinks. The red berry mix he had in front of him was good though. Bonita had something yellow and tart smelling, with waves of alcohol fumes wafting off and Trice had a drink that was a brilliant green. Karina had two, and suggested that they give them away for free. Morgan blanched, but Tor nodded, taking her meaning.
“Let’s do food too. Morgan, what will it cost? You won't lose money, probably make a lot more. I'll just cover it for everyone so a lot more people will probably have them. I’ll pay in advance, so you can get supplies. Can you work up something in purple and gold too?” Richard’s birthday, so his colors.
Nita made notes and Tor suggested a cold box for the ice to be kept in, using a freezing unit. He wanted to make a miniature snow box that would keep the cold in and make enough for all the drinks constantly, but even thinking about it was stupid, since it might just kill him at the moment if he tried. Instead Morgan and his helpers would use a metal blade rubbed back and forth to shave the ice. It worked and Tor knew it was better that way, letting other people do for themselves, plus the helpers got paid, so he kept his mouth shut and mentioned nothing.
He did give Bonita a box of gold to pay for everything she needed to, having Collette get it for them. It was just a few hundred gold, five hundred. He told her to just get more if it was needed.
That… earned him a funny look from the room, but she hugged him. Tor didn't get why people reacted to that. If she was his second in command for this, why shouldn't she handle the money? If he'd had a wife, she'd have done that for him surely, right? And she was one of his girlfriends. They'd both said so. That meant it was real.
Maria smiled at him then, looked down and back up at him. Now, over a year after the first time he'd seen her do it he understood what it meant. She was flirting with him. Him? The Troll of Galasia? The one she accused of all sorts of perversions and vile things, not the least of which had been trying to force her to have sex against her will, when they'd only ever even talked once, and that being mainly her attacking him verbally? Why? Did she have some plan in mind? Some game or trick to make him look stupid or some new way to hurt him? Sure, she'd apologized, but she'd also admitted that she didn't mean it at the time. Not totally, just because his flower arrangement had been too good. Pretending not to see he looked away and started going into the food arrangements.
They had some kitchen staff, but no other servants, which was fine with him really, the house mainly took care of itself after all, so when a knock came on the front door Tor jumped up and walked quickly to get it himself. The door was just outside the main dining room, the smaller of the two, but they didn't have to feed hundreds of people yet so it made sense to use that one, right?
It took him about a minute to get to the door, and on opening it he saw two older people that looked only vaguely familiar at all. He searched his mind and figured it out. It took another trance really, the data being a little obscure.
The very first royal party he'd gone too, the people being announced just ahead of him. The Duke Brettermere and his Duchess. They'd never spoken or anything. Well, perhaps they'd come visiting? They had luggage with them, a good ways back on the porch. Ah. Looking for a place to stay, but not wanting to presume anything?
“Look everyone! It's the Brettermeres!”
A small cheer went up behind him as the older couple smiled nervously.