by P. S. Power
"You there, are you ill?" Her long finger pointed at the smaller man rudely, but he just coughed, a wet and miserable sounding thing, and nodded. He had a grizzled look about him, but didn't stop working, scooping handfuls of the devices into sacks and boxes for others, calling for them to go quickly.
Petra didn't stop him either, just walking over and holding one of the small focus stone things to his neck. He paused for a bit, clearly having trouble healing that fast and moving at the same time, but uncomfortable or not, after a few seconds, he continued.
The pretty woman, with her richly dark skin and rose colored fighting leathers just looked at the people around her, a sense of admiration coming from her for some reason.
"You're all very brave and strong. Heal yourselves first anyway. You'll do better work that way and be able to keep going longer. We can't afford to have people falling on their rides and deliveries." When that first man was finished, color coming back to his cheeks and breathing becoming easy, she moved to another person, a tired and sweaty looking woman. Timon caught on to the idea and did the same.
It took a while but working that way, slowly, riders finally started to move out. No one blamed them for being late, but no one called out their thanks either. They had work to do after all. One of the people, a tall woman that he realized after a few moments was the Countess herself, had set up outside her front gate, handing the devices to passersby.
"Take them to your homes and heal everyone there, then pass them to your neighbors and have them do the same. Leave no gaps in this, even if it means traveling the land yourself to see it done." She sounded tired, as if she hadn't slept at all, but she kept saying the words, over and again. The scene really didn't change for hours, until newly healthy people came and took over. Guardsmen and minor officials mainly. That, or those in their families that lived and could take up their tasks. Some of the people were kids, who, healed or not, ran with gasping breaths to move the pieces around.
By mid-day no one was coming to be healed, the locals all having been given a chance already.
Heather finally walked over to them and oddly enough, gave Petra a hug.
"Pet. Thank you. Many have died of this and I fear more will yet, but thanks to your actions we might manage to save most. I won't forget this." She didn't let go of the slightly shorter giantess for a long time, holding herself up it seemed.
"Don't thank me. Tim was the one that set it all in motion. How did that happen anyway? I didn't know that you two were friends." There was no stress on the last word, but Petra knew about his personal problems as well as anyone really did.
He shrugged. For a moment he considered just lying, but it didn't really matter, did it?
"Kolb, the Weapons master from my sister's school wanted to get me out of the way for a bit, so that I wouldn't distract Tiera from her work, or something along those lines. He asked me to try and infiltrate here, but you know, I think I might be a little unhinged and suicidal on a subconscious level, so I just came to the door and announced myself. One thing led to another and I ended up bossing the King into fixing things instead of being prideful about it. It wasn't hard. I know that you don't agree Heather, but he's actually the best leader we can get for now. Everyone thinks they can do better, but how many would accept your word as enough to make things right like he did?" It was turning into a lecture, which the tall brown haired woman was clearly making herself eat without comment, so he turned back to his own friend and waved it all away.
She grinned a little at least.
"Well, however it happened, I'm glad that we're able to bring in the healing devices now. So many died..."
That pretty much killed the conversation at least. Petra made some communications efforts then, to let everyone know that the initial part of the job was, if not finished, at least started. Timon was given the job of getting in touch with the King, while she contacted Tor, since, as she put it, it would be easier that way.
"After all, Richard likes Timon. Constance isn't a big supporter there for some reason, but I'd have to go through six people just to talk to the man, Tim won't." It sounded like something that had happened before, even if it didn't make sense. Richard was a relative of hers after all. Closer by blood than he was by far.
It really did seem to work that way however, because a few moments after he found his second chest and dug out the old style communications device with its glowing sigils, the man himself was on it, having clearly scurried across the room just to chat with them.
"Is all well there, Tim?" The deep voice got attention from those that were still in the courtyard, including the grizzled looking man that Petra had gotten healed first. It wasn't just the magic either, since they'd all seen them being used that day already, a few moments before even.
"Yes, Sire. Things are going to plan. We need to arrange for some food shipments and possibly some other goods. Some coin too, to get things going again. People are healthier now, and thankfully it's winter, but a lot of people lost work for weeks."
The grumble that came back sounded a bit confused, but only slightly.
"Thankfully winter? Doesn't that make it harder?"
"Well, most already have food set by, so they aren't as desperate as they would have been otherwise, I don't think." It made sense to him, but no one seemed pleased to have that pointed out.
"Ah, I can see that. Still, the people of County Cannor and County Printer have stepped up their fishing efforts, knowing that harder hit areas might need their goods. We have special funds set aside for this, from your brother and his Lady wife. My son and your new brother, Gerent Lairdgren, are in charge of those funds I believe. Can you make arrangements with them on that score? I could send someone..."
"No, thank you. It will go faster if I do it, I think, even if that normally wouldn't make sense. I'll need to get with one of them and Collette Coltress. She's off in Barony Coltress right now, I think... Anyway, happy Noram Day. Please tell everyone I said that? Especially Aunt Constance. Rumor has it that we're not getting along well now and that she intends to sabotage my social life. I look forward to it, since that probably means she'll have to build one for me first."
There was a dead silence from the device in his hand, and people stared at him like he was insane. Heather actually looked away, her lips tight.
Finally there was a soft laugh, like bells, and a rustling that indicated someone was walking toward the device in the throne room.
"Things aren't that bad, yet. I was going to leave your name off some lists, but I think you might have a point. Taking away things that you don't care about won't do at all, will it? I'll have to fix that first." There was a general chuckle from the Palace, before she went on. "I look forward to it. Will you be in for the main celebration tomorrow?"
"After a set up like that? No, thank you." Timon actually smiled, meaning it for once. It was certainly more interesting now, such parties and what not, when the stakes were being raised. "We should get together and chat, soon. Tea or something? I can bring some winter cakes. I have a good recipe for them." That was just the truth. Enough so that he decided to try and make some for later that day. It wasn't too late yet. Not if he could get the ingredients.
The Queen answered as if he were actually a person at least and not an enemy, which probably meant she had an actual plot against him in mind.
"Let's say a week? Things will have calmed down here a bit by then, I think."
"I look forward to it. See you then, Aunt Constance."
There were a few minutes of pleasantries, and the King got back on to say good day properly, but the conversation was actually over. It wasn't until he looked up that he realized half the people around him had very strange looks on their faces. Countess Montblanc in particular. She was, for some reason, close to tears. Reviewing the conversation didn't shed any light on the whole thing, but Petra explained well enough, clapping him on the back and letting her hand linger. Protectively, he realized, rather than in any kind of closer manner.<
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"Well, very few would willingly go head to head with the Queen like that. Not so openly." She sounded a bit dark about it, for all that there was a very large smile on her face. It let her very white teeth show nicely, but was clearly fake at the same time, strained around the edges.
The Countess moved toward him and then bowed, going low.
"Forgive me. My actions have caused trouble for you with her. I..."
Timon grinned, then let out a small laugh.
"Don't let it worry you. She and I have never really been friends. She finds me a bit rude, I think. Which is correct most of the time, no doubt. Ill bred and poorly taught as far as manners go. That causes me to not think of her as kindly as I probably should, so, you get what happens. We go round and round, making problems for each other. This latest bit is just more of the same and has little to do with you or yours." It was just the truth, but he had to explain to Petra what the most recent thing was then.
That meant everyone else heard his story about building the new device that showed his fake crest too. They all actually seemed impressed at least.
The Countess bowed again.
"And that's what caused the extra tension. Timon protecting me from their scorn. I have to say, Richard was gracious enough about it all. I made a mess of things, didn't I? I should have stayed out of it." She looked miserable enough for the moment, so Petra distracted them all by trying to get in touch with Tor.
That didn't take long either, the actual device was, once again, in the hands of Trice. She really needed to get her own. It wasn't like Tor wouldn't give her one either. In fact, he probably had already. It was just the kind of person he was, handing out presents and coin as if it had no value. It was one of the best things about him really.
"Petra? Are you calling to tell me to back off of your boyfriend already?" There was enough playfulness in her voice that Heather actually smiled. Given everything that was actually good to see.
Petra, having missed the whole conversation the night before, looked at that and then worked out that it wasn't all about Tor on her own. She often acted far more innocent and slow than she was, but the woman had a keen mind behind the pretty face. Anyone thinking otherwise was going to be taken by surprise.
"Possibly. We should at least share. Work out a schedule or something. I was actually just getting in touch to let Tor know that his devices were being spread out and used in County Montblanc. I know he was concerned about them being withheld." She stopped and looked at Timon, but Trice cleared her throat.
"He's baking right now. We have about thirty people coming to spend the evening with Heather, to show there are no hard feelings. That means Tor personally feels like he has to bring food for a hundred and fifty. You know how he is. Still, it smells good in here. I take it that you haven't had a lot of chance to set up a party there? Don't worry about it. Ali and Sherri Bonner are coming in early to help with that. Tell Timon not to plan anything for tonight. We have a date, he and I." She made it sound naughty and like something was actually going to happen.
Petra just gave a gentle nod.
"I see. Well, if you do too much with him, I will remove some of your teeth for you. Just so you know."
That got a bit of a chuckle, but when Trice spoke again her voice was more serious.
"Fair enough. Don't worry, we'll keep to the letter of the law. We should be in about seven, but the girls will be out sooner. In fact they should be there anytime really. They borrowed my Fast Craft."
The conversation wound down with just a bit more teasing directed his way and he managed it without any blushing or flashbacks to horrible torture. It was kind of odd, but he liked Trice well enough. It was more of a friendly thing than she was hinting at, but that was a message for him, most likely. She wanted something from him and it wouldn't be sex. Not even if she were secretly a bit of a pervert. Tim could buy that she might be, but this was different.
There was only so much that she'd come to him for, so it narrowed things down a lot.
He had some gold, true, but she could get a lot more from Tor, or even the King, if it was needed. For that matter she was a Ducharina and probably had a rather nice allowance of her own to fall back on. If she wanted magic, well, living in Lairdgren she had access to about seven of the best young builders in the Kingdom, not including Tor. There wasn't a lot that Tim could do that they couldn't.
The same followed for almost everything else too. The only thing that he had, that she didn't, was contacts in other lands. Not that they wouldn't listen to her if she showed up, but it really would be easier for him to do something there. Except that, in his own organization, there was one person that was probably better connected that way then he was. Mark Morgan, Trice's older brother.
So, while there were things that he could do for her, none of them seemed to be all that pressing. Or at least shouldn't be. It probably came down to her not wanting to spend time with someone unpleasant, or possibly knowing she needed to be in more than one place at a time.
It didn't really matter, since he'd find out what she really wanted later that night, most likely.
Looking up he saw the Fast Craft first, a tiny black rectangle on the horizon. It came at them fast, but no one else really noticed it until he pointed.
"I bet that's Ali and her friend Sherri. Nice girl, Sherri. Chatty." It wasn't exactly a major sin, but the girl annoyed him a bit at times because of that. It made him cranky, which wasn't fair to her, since, as he'd just mentioned, she really was sweet, most of the time.
Also sleeping with his sister, which set off his brotherly Two Bends protectiveness. It was stupid, but still there, inside of him. Girls were supposed to get married to one man and that was all. Not have a dozen lovers, and if they did, the idea that some of them would be women was...
Strange.
He accepted it for all the nobles, but Tiera wasn't one of them, she was his sister.
Trying to let that go he forced him mind to go completely blank. After all, it wasn't Sherri's fault that he'd been raised in the woods, was it?
Not at all.
Chapter three
"Well, that's different." Tim put a pleasant expression on his face when he saw who was actually piloting the craft. It wasn't Ali, or even Judith, though she was riding with them for some reason. That was a little odd, since she had her own craft to use. She worked for him as a pilot after all.
It was Sherri that had flown them in. That reminded him that he needed to attend to his own Fast Craft grow operation. He hadn't that morning, but the whole thing was almost ready. He just wanted to make certain it had a chance to keep getting stronger for a while before testing them. If everyone was going to be learning to fly, he needed to hire as many of them as possible right off the start.
Otherwise it would be too hard to hold his monopoly on the Kingdom's fast transportation services.
Stealing the march, he moved in and gave Judy a quick hug. It was hard, since she was so tall that he actually felt a bit afraid of her, for all that they were friends. Then he gave a hug to Alyssa, who patted him on the back firmly.
"Tim! We came to help set things up for later, so that Countess Montblanc won't be caught out. I brought some friends, is that alright?" She searched the courtyard, but the only people left all seemed to be attached to the house. The remaining servants, most likely.
The Countess bowed toward her and managed to seem pleased, rather than put out.
"Lady Alyssa, I see that one should not take your words lightly? Welcome. Thank you all for coming. I'm afraid that we aren't really prepared to host guests, given the plague, but it's good to see new friends. I hope that next time we'll have things better prepared for your comfort."
Judy, who was busy giving a small hug to Petra, turned and shrugged.
"No one would expect anything, given the situation on the ground here. That's why we came, to make certain you don't have too much stress. Sorry, I should have introduced myself, we've met, but I was shorter then...
" She bowed, which got everyone else to do the same. It was kind of the rule. If you met people and anyone bowed, then everyone in your group did too. In this case it meant that everyone that could see them did as well, so Tim smiled and waved at the very tall fighter.
"This is Judith Press, Conserina first, Printer." It was an important thing to point out, since a lot of people missed the fact that the tall country girl was a true noble. Like him, she'd been raised to think of herself as pretty much a regular person, away from the city. Her current title would go away as soon as Countess Printer had a child, but so far that hadn't even been hinted at.
He kept going, or trying to, even as Heather moved in, taking both of the girl's hands.
"You honor me with your presence. I should warn you that your Countess is likely to be less than pleased with me. I won't take offense if you should choose to leave instead."
The big girl shrugged, her clothing being made to look like a student's brown canvas. All of the girls were dressed the same way. Probably because it marked them as being harmless. That wasn't the truth, but it was a good enough idea. They were school kids after all. Even the two he didn't recognize.
"Thank you for the concern, but that won't be needed. It was Holly Printer wot said I should see to your aid, if I could. Within reason of course." There was no smile with it, but her words didn't sound overly hard either. It was just a statement of fact to anyone listening. Judith had been sent there to see to things. Probably to report on what was happening as well.
Timon waved at Sherri then and walked over to her, opening his arms, even they weren't really that close. He was almost surprised when she hugged him, but only because she actually smiled at him warmly while she did it. She pretty much had to return the gesture, or it would be rude, but she seemed to mean it.
"This is a friend of mine, Sherilyn Bonner. Baronetta." He moved on, not adding in the number, because he wasn't really certain what that was, to be honest. "She's a homemaking student up at Lairdgren."
