by P. S. Power
To the King.
Tor was actually trying to beg, but it just didn't sound like it at all, did it? Gods. Well, hopefully he'd survive the beating to come for insolence.
Rich patted his back again. It hurt, even if not the thrashing he deserved.
“Done. Hear that Patricia? You are, for the duration of this investigation, attached to Smythe of Westend. Both of you need to report to him first thing in the morning. Arrange the rest of your schedule around that.”
They continued walking slowly, floating that way in his case.
Ali was easy to find, she and Karina were sitting in the main dining room of the guest house, maps and papers laid out all over the table, calling things out to Denno, who worked scrubbing the floor with a brush. He actually noticed them first, and looked up with a grin. It was “Greg”, but Tor got it, without checking his field even.
“Little brother! So good to see you. Finished your project then?” He stood up and dropped the brow bristled brush in the sudsy wooden bucket.
“Yep. Sorry it took so long everyone. I blame laziness and intractable slowness in my working skills.”
“Tor!” Ali said it first and ran to him, she stopped in front of him and looked to be about to hug him, but stopped.
“Oh… What… do you need? Food? Water? I…” She didn't wait, turning to Denno.
“Run to the kitchen and get food for him please? Water…” They had a pitcher on the table, and a nice glass with ice in it was handed to him moments later. She brought the whole thing though, cool enough for beads of condensation to start forming on the outside of the glass as he finished the water. She gave him two more, one right after the other. It tasted incredible.
Sweet, even if it was just pure water.
Then he realized that he hadn't checked it for poison. It was a slow realization and he didn't worry about it overly, since it had already probably been checked six times before it got set on the Princesses work table and twice more by the people sitting there. Tor automatically started his own check, just reaching out to the water with his mind.
And passed out.
Ah.
It was the only thing he could think when he came back, being shaken ever so gently by a tense looking wife as everyone else stood around with fear in their eyes. Except Trice who sobbed gently in the back. At first Tor didn't get it, but then looked down to see that his shirt front was covered with blood.
Nose bleed? He touched his face to make sure.
Yep.
Oops.
He blinked and accepted the cloth that Richard handed to him, one that was white and probably wouldn't be used for anything else now, no matter how well they cleaned it. It led him to start into an idea about how to clean fabrics without water. It was basically just like the earth moving equipment, only it would have to include oils and bits of biological material too… He'd even had the idea before, so…
Tor sighed and forced himself to smile, even if he didn't really have the energy.
“I… Hey, could someone takes notes for me?” Tor started speaking about the idea to the room, and without pause, Rich sat down, grabbed a pen and paper and started writing.
It was embarrassing, but he did have nice penmanship, a far nicer hand than Tor really.
When he finished the bleeding had stopped, letting him take the fabric from his face.
“Ah, well… Um.” He didn't know what to say to anyone. They all just watched him, not being useful at all. No one even tried to cover the silence, waiting for him to speak.
Jerks.
He was obviously in distress. The least they could do was help him out with some kind of face saving cover story, right? Tor smiled at that, a genuine if tired thing and winked at Ali, since she, out of the whole room, deserved the truth. But he didn't think Trice could handle it…
That was a lie.
She was strong, even after having been locked in a room by her own hand for months. It was more that Tor didn't want to risk her having an emotional reaction to what he had to say. That was cowardly though.
Darn this being a grown-up anyway, he thought, looking around.
“OK. Well, I…” How did he explain it? He wanted to shake his head and let them all guess, but soldiered on. It had to be done, it was kind of important.
Even he could see that.
Rolph stepped in, looking half freaked and ready to cry himself.
“Tor?”
“Oh… Yeah, so um, I pushed a little harder making that device for Trice than was wise, so I need to back off and act like a real person for a while, instead of a building machine. This,” he gestured at his face, indicating the bleeding that had pretty much stopped, at least for now.
“This was due to me trying to check the water for poison directly, so, you know, that's kind of telling…”
At first everyone just looked at him blankly, not speaking or even shifting too much. Except Trice who started sobbing harder.
“Oh, hush Trice. It isn't that big of a deal, I just need to not doing any building for a while again.” Because, if he did, he'd die. That was all.
They got it.
Well, Ali didn't, but Karina explained it to her pretty well.
“He pushed himself nearly to death. If he does even one more thing right now, anything… I think he'll just die. Can,” She took a breath so long and slow that for a minute it didn't seem like she'd say anything more.
“Will… you survive this? Can you recover?” Her voice sounded dark, gloomier than he'd heard it in months even.
Tor snorted, a far more credible one this time, no nearly choking to death or anything, so an improvement already.
“Yeah. It's like… just pretend I'm sick or something for a bit. No vigorous building or field work for a while and, you know, kind of keep the Tor beatings down for a time. I'll be fine. I just totally mismanaged this build, that was all. I needed to sit my butt down and plan, working slowly on it over a longer time, let it grow organically, not plunge in and play hero.” He shrugged, a motion that seemed weak and pathetic even to him.
“What can I say, I want Trice to like me.” He grinned.
Trice started to punch him.
It was a thing she did.
Bully.
Tor smiled at her sweetly.
“Um, seriously though love, do that and I may actually die right now. Even with a shield on.” That probably wasn't true. Not covered like he was, but…
Yeah, it was a real point. Everyone acted scared for a bit, that or gloomy. Except Ali, who started barking orders like a general.
“Let's get you cleaned and into bed then. Here. Um, Alphonse? Get us a room please. Kari, get one for Trice. King Richard, if you'd help me get them settled? We need them cleaned and in bed. Now.”
Everyone just did what she said.
It was cute.
Tor was led to his regular room there, which no one was staying in anyway, and Trice was just a few down the hall. The tub in the bathing chamber of his room was mostly filled and the water heated to warm. Richard had to help him in, which was embarrassing, but needed. He really couldn't manage it on his own.
The water stung the sores on his backside and legs horribly, but Tor didn't let it show as Ali and the King slowly washed the non-broken parts of his skin. They didn't use soap at first, but Ali finally did, making the wounds in the water burn. It wasn't even real lye soap either, just the lavender goop they used at the palace.
Finally they took him out and patted him dry, letting him float in the air using his Not-flyer, until the water all evaporated.
There was a bustle from the other room, so when Ali decided he was good for it, he got to put on loose and flowing “invalid” clothes, made by the magical amulet around his neck, which looked like silk. All in white. Tor changed the color to deep red as he floated, one half brown almost. It was cheery and would hide any blood that leaked from the wounds.
Ali just smiled, thinking he was being playful and taking it as a good sign. Rich
ard grunted softly, but didn't mention his real thoughts on it openly.
“Steward, bring me my brown trousers.” He muttered instead. An old joke, about facing a battle and hiding the results.
Tor nodded.
“I can't use a healing device right now. So, for the time being, that's pretty much the size of it. On the good side, I don't think I can get an infection of any kind, so no huge thing.” It really wasn't. Sometimes it paid to be a freakish semi-Ancient or whatever the heck he was.
The noise had been Rolph and Denno coming in with food. Trice sat at the table, looking at the plate in front of her, loaded with goodies. It looked and smelled good, but Tor noticed his place had a small bowl of oatmeal. Plain. He sighed, but that really was about the right speed for now. Throwing up would be…
Bad at the moment.
He hovered next to the table instead of sitting. The sores hurt less that way. Plus the table was high enough for it. He could work the spoon on his own, thank goodness, even though Ali looked like she wanted to do it for him. He winked at her and ate, suddenly not feeling hungry at all. He got the food down though.
Denno looked at him floating and shook his head.
“So, that doesn't take energy from you? Not at all?” He waved in a general way at the air under Tor’s feet.
“No… Why?”
“Oh, well, it might be more comfortable for you to sleep using that for a few days then. We used to do that, when we went into space. Just float weightless to sleep. Most relaxing to tell the truth. You don't want to do it forever, because you need to move and get your health back, but for a few days it will let you get real rest.” The look on his face was baffled though, almost like he was humoring Tor.
“Oh, right. You aren't mocking me, you just don't think that this is really magic. Um, seriously, can't you just think of it as a different kind of science? If I have it right it really is, or maybe a technology, but the basic rules really are the same.,”
Denno sighed and shook his head slowly.
“No. I know it's strange, but… I just can't. I've never been able to. Green and I have had this conversation a thousand times, literally, and it's just something I have to accept, I can't see it. I mean, I see you floating there, but I keep secretly looking for wires or a trick. I was programmed not to believe in such things. I never really knew why even. Most of us have something like that though. Personally I think the scientists where just trying to act cool at the time. Show off what they could do.”
Rolph snagged a piece of fruit from Trice's plate, strawberry it looked like and munched for a second.
“Cool? Tor says that sometimes. What does it mean? I always figured it was a Two Bends thing…”
The Ancient shook his head a little.
“No, not at all, I don't believe. It's an old, old word, it translates both into “cold” or possibly chilly, and was used to signify “good” or “pleasant” I'm surprised he knows it…” The man shrugged.
“Or maybe not. Even clones and twins share thoughts and memories at times. Another thing I didn't believe in for a long time, but Burks is Tor. I suppose it almost has to happen, especially if they spend any time together at all.”
The Prince nodded as if that actually made sense, and Tor was about to ask more, but he noticed the Trice wasn't eating. His little bowl was nearly empty, but the only food gone from her plate was what Rolph had taken.
“Trice…” He waved gently at her plate. “Eat something.”
He sounded bored, bland and sleepy. That was pretty accurate so he smiled.
“Because I'm going to sleep soon, whether I want to or not and we need to plan things out tomorrow. So… Do it or I'll…” He really couldn't do anything could he. Even pouting wouldn't work, since he was about to fall asleep at the table, lights on in the room or not.
So he waved at her instead.
“Or I'll make sure you get assigned all the really cruddy jobs from Smythe.”
It was lame, but she forced a smile and took a bite of some kind of green melon. It looked good, but he really couldn't eat any more just then. Instead he floated over to a corner and closed his eyes. It really was comfortable, just floating like that. Hours later, maybe longer, the sun hit him in the eye as it came through the window. He was still tired, exhausted and sore, but felt all right otherwise.
Until he tried to land on his feet. That did not work at all. He stopped the fall by triggering the Not-flyer again though and decided to just try and do what he could for a while, instead of forcing himself into manic levels of work. It was lazy, but…
Yeah.
He really did want to live.
Smiling he went to the bathroom and shaved, which took an hour, and a lot of work. He looked thin in the mirror, haggard and young. Like a slightly funny looking little boy that someone had forgotten to feed for a while. His stomach made a noise that felt far away, sounded like that too. He grinned, at least his body knew what it wanted. Food. He made himself finish cleaning up first and dressed in more loose silk clothing. It didn't look very professional, or adult, but it also didn't rub in any inconvenient places.
Ali wasn't in the bed, but it had clearly been slept in, so Tor floated to the door, hoping to score some food, if possible. Really, it should be, but he knew he might have to go get it himself. It wasn't like there would be servants standing around to wait on him. Really, there simply shouldn't be. He wasn't that important.
It took a second for him to work the door and he heard the urgent, but low, voices coming from in front of his door before he got it open all the way. The scene was funny, in a way. Trice stood behind Marvin Ward, on his countess’s arm, and the giant man whispered to a girl with short hair, a real fighters cut, leaving soft brown fuzz only, who had her hands on her hips and seemed to be about ready to throw down with the man.
“Go away. I heard what you did to him, and if you try it again, I'll… well, I may be your Squire Sir Patricia, but if you think I won't-”
Trice didn't move or say anything, but Maria's eyes went wide when he floated out and the girl stopped talking and looked back at him. She looked familiar, but taller than when they'd last met.
“Tor!” Gemma spun and started to grab him up in a hug, but didn't, turning back to the “threat” at hand.
She was a good Squire after all. Better at it apparently than he'd ever been. Or maybe not, since she was openly defying her Knight to protect him. Oops. Tor patted her on the back, getting her to look at him. She spoke quickly her voice low. Deadly.
Very cute. She was only thirteen. Tor blinked then and nearly shook his head. No, that was wrong, she had to be fourteen now. An adult.
“Run Tor, I'll hold them here.” It wasn't said seriously though, a hint of playfulness coming into her voice.
Good.
Maria sank to her knees and started to go all the way down to the floor, Marvin started to follow, but Tor held his hand out, the left one. The move was weak, but the Count stopped.
“Lets… not. I can't do the whole bowing and scraping thing today, maybe not for a while, and I no doubt owe the larger portion of the apologies all around. Can we just call it good and pretend the whole incident just didn't happen, and you know, um, not wake me up like that anymore please, Maria?”
She stood up, looking lovely, but a little tear streaked and nodded somberly.
“Yes, my lord.” Her voice was incredibly humble, which made Tor raise his eyebrows. He could do that at least. Good to know.
“Stop that. You're a Countess, and I'm not the “lord” of anything.” He gestured to the Count with a smile.
“By the way, um, it would be good if you didn't wake me up that way either Marv. Same goes for you Gemma. I knew you when you were shorter than me after all. It would be too weird.”
The girl grinned and nodded.
“Alright. You didn't mention Sir Patricia though…” The tone was naughty.
Tor mock glared at the side of Gemma's head. Trice just stood in the back and l
ooked at the floor, not even bothering to try and cry, just looked hopeless.
Tor shrugged, “Yeah, well, she's my girlfriend, so the rules are different for her, aren't they?”
For some reason that got a pleased gasp, from Maria. The Count straightened and then bowed his head just a little, a smile on his face at the words. Trice didn't move. Not for a while.
“What? I…” She stopped.
That really was an annoying thing. Tor hated it, people just stopping like that. She what? Didn't like him that way? Wanted to have a duel in the hallway? Thought he smelled like rhubarb? It could be anything, and he wouldn't know, because he couldn't check her field to get at the information.
Finally Maria hugged her, “I knew he was too good a man to let my indiscretion cast to you on the wind love. I can take his scorn, it's no less than I deserve. But I'm so happy for you!”
Tor was confused. He was scorning people? How exactly? OK, he'd kind of flipped like a goon, going all combat rage on a good looking woman for doing things that most men would gladly pay a lot of gold for. There were circumstances though, not the least of which was that he'd been asleep when it happened. If people wanted clear thinking they needed to at least let him wake up before having to make decisions.
Plus, really, by the noble rules, well, he'd been in the wrong…
It hit him then.
He'd been the Doretta, acting like he had. God these stupid rules sucked. Back in Two Bends when you messed up you just had to say “Hey, sorry about that, I was wrong, we all good now?” or something similar. Here it was a big speech, with groveling and abasements. Tor steeled himself and closed his eyes, then slowly sank to the floor. It kind of hurt, his body not ready for it, and everyone took a step back, as if fearing he was passing out or something.
“I… Forgive me Maria. I acted rashly, and without grace. It was not my desire to make you feel scorned or lessened, I just didn't think, caring only for my own concerns at the moment. I cannot expect forgiveness, but please know that I did not wish you harm. If-”
For some reason she started crying when he spoke then. Tor didn't get it, not until she collected herself almost a minute later. Marvin had tears in his eyes too. Trice looked…
