by P. S. Power
No one else even seemed to notice. It was like a super-power of hers.
“Trice, we need to get Smythe from the palace in the morning for the investigation. It's going ahead. I can fill you in later, but for now… Um, not to be high handed or anything, but could you do me a huge favor? I need to have Weasel picked up from Debbie's bakery? Debbie and Box too…” It was a lot to ask, after all Trice was a noble, not an errand girl.
He'd have sent Sam, but the boy didn't know where it was. Tor didn't even know if he had his own carriage yet. He should. The whole Lairdgren group should.
Blinking for a second Tor just nodded to no one, deciding something on the fly. Why not he was the Counselor of magic and the guy was a builder, wasn't he?
“If you could take Attache Sam here with you? I'd like him to get to know Weasel if nothing else. I mean, Builder Timon Baker.” He said the last bit proudly, but Trice didn't seem shocked.
“Yeah, those “air lances” are pretty good for an eleven year old. Not too powerful and not a real combat weapon maybe, but they sure made Rochester's forces stand down, didn't they? Your little friend, um, I mean Attache Lyn Cooper? She did most the copy work herself. Last night. At this rate you can stop building all together soon and go into farming or maybe being a boy whore on the side Tor.”
Everyone looked shocked, and Sam turned four colors of red, but before anyone could say anything Tor nodded.
“I'll skip the whoring part I think, but farming really could be fun. Who doesn't like growing things? At any rate, would you? I'd go myself, but…” He shrugged. “This. These people need to be updated.”
“Later then, tell Ali I'm sleeping with you two tonight? It's that or back to the house for me and I have a feeling that's going to be a pain.” She shrugged.
“Sounds wonderful. Could be a long night though. Just a warning.”
She just purred at him, as if that “long night” could possibly mean something other than work. Tor kind of wondered. He was, well, still really weak, pattern wise and sore as all get out, but other than that he felt both a lot better and a lot worse. He wasn't looking forward to meal time for a while. He had to eat, but everything smelled of rot. It got worse when it came to mind too.
Trice laughed and pulled Sam out with her, closing the door firmly.
Everyone in the space stared at him darkly for a bit, looking grim, so he stood and bowed, trying to make sure no one felt slighted. He'd bowed to his “assistant” but not anyone else. Oddly that could mean almost anything, from this being a trick to arrest or kill them all for the King, to what it did, which was Tor just being a little out of sorts.
“Apologies for taking so long. I…” the Baron looked down and shook his head, and Nita made a face that wasn't pretty at all. There was a woman that Tor had accidentally ignored too, a stunning older woman that had to be Ginger's mother.
“The Austrans have stated that if the killer is one of theirs, they support our investigation and punishments fully. The war being over does not, in any way protect them, if it is indeed one of their people. To facilitate our investigation they're allowing each of their spies to be questioned.” Tor held up a hand quickly.
“I don't know if we'll get them all, but I was told this by Dennorian Brown, the Ancient of Austra, himself. He's setting it up as we speak.” Tor stopped speaking, so heard the soft snort from the new woman.
“Oh? So you can't do more than fill us with fairy stories? The Ancient of Austra? I suppose the Green man will be coming later to rub my feet before bed?” It was derisive and got several outraged sounds from around the room, mainly from Maria.
“Mother! I can't believe… Argh.” She sank to her knees and started to bow low, looking at Tor.
“I apologize for her, Lord Baker, her lack of knowledge is my fault, I should have informed her-”
Tor stood and rather painfully helped her up.
“Gah, none of that today Maria. Wow I'm stiffening up.” He grinned and gave the Countess a small hug.
“Sorry anyway, um, Baroness Coltress?” Tor checked with Nita, who nodded, “I won't ruin anyone else's surprise here, but the short version is that the Ancients are very real, and have incredible influence in their own lands. Denno Brown will be by later, I think, Burks Lairdgren too. He's the Green man. As to foot rubs…” Tor smiled and shrugged. “Well, maybe if you ask nicely? I doubt it will be tonight though. Kind of busy, with several different matters. Plus, you'd have to argue with Bonita over that.”
The woman didn't seem convinced at all, but Maria spoke up nearly instantly.
“Mother… What Lord Baker said is not only true, his word is unimpeachable. I'd suggest you simply accept that what he says is true for now, and we can provide further evidence later if it's needed?” She didn't look at her mother when she spoke.
Tor got a sense that Maria and the Baroness really didn't get along at all. Mainly from the ten minute fight that broke out between them then. It was embarrassing, since after about three minutes the argument turned into a shouting match with Carol, the Baroness, suggesting that Tor wasn't a real investigator at all, but just a pretty boy that had gotten everything he had by licking the Queen’s ass. It was a bit vulgar really, and wasn't the only suggestion like that the woman made. With him having possibly licked things on the whole of the royal family and possibly some barn animals as well. Maria finally went dead silent, which seemed to indicate to her mother she was scoring a few real points.
“Remember, you wouldn't even be a Countess now if I hadn't sucked Marvin's cock for three years first dear. Just because you can use your position to angle towards the Queen’s toy, that doesn't mean he'll actually get justice for your sister. This is a farce. Maybe I should go and see to the King? Then we’ll get real action on this!” She spun on her Baron then, who'd done nothing more than wince a few times and tried to look apologetic towards whoever was currently catching the woman’s wrath.
OK, Tor could cut her some slack, after all, she was clearly upset about Ginger's murder. She should be. Tor was and he'd never even met the girl. The woman looked positively vicious then though. Nearly insane.
Which she turned on her own husband for some reason, even though, as far as Tor could tell, he hadn’t even twitched wrong.
“You! First you let that… Beast, get away with raping her, and now you won't even say a word to the King? Maybe we should have you see to him then? Since you like sucking his cock so much anyway! What I want to know is why have you done nothing? Baron Rochester is off screwing some little boy right now and you just sit here, not caring at all. You're weak and pitiful!”
She tried to hit him, but his shield kicked in. That meant it was a newer version. It made sense, Collette having had a box full of stuff to give away for months. Or… Looking again he realized it was more likely to be from Bonita, who suddenly seemed ready to apply a beating to the woman herself.
“Baron Rochester is dead Carol.” Count Ward spoke, his deep voice low and soft. “He challenged the Troll of Galasia to a duel without encumbrance, then made the mistake of letting him know that he'd harm a child as you suggested after he won. He was beaten to death.” The man stood and bowed towards Tor then sat again.
“I know that you just came in this evening from your estate, so may not have heard, given the other news. The man that raped your daughter is dead and will never harm another child. If I have the story right, the duel was in attempted retaliation for another beating that was delivered because of that specific event.” Then he went silent.
No one spoke for a minute. Finally the woman took a deep breath looked down.
“Good.” She hissed. “We'll get this Troll to find who killed her and let him deliver justice for it then!” She actually made a “humph” noise then, as if proving some kind of point.
Everyone just went silent again. Finally Maria took a deep breath and raised her eyebrows at Tor.
“Mothers a bit out of the flow of information. Funny that she got you were the Queen’
s lover though, but missed the rest of it. Really, with the sudden field of palaces that grew up here you'd think she'd get the Wizard part at least?” Rolling her eyes she turned to her mother and spoke in a tone that was more than a little snotty.
“Mother, this man is Tor. The Wizard? The Counselor of Magic for Noram? The Troll of Galasia? Also a Knight of the realm and, as you mentioned, the Queen’s boy toy. I know, why don't you suggest you suck his cock for a while, you old bitch!”
Tor turned to the Countess and shook his head.
“Maria. No. It's Postern and I can't let you two keep going on like this. It's… unseemly to speak to your mother in such a fashion. I won't command you apologize, it's not my place, but as your friend, I have to recommend it.” He looked at her steadily, half expecting a physical attack or at least a wall of screams and tears. Instead she just stood and bowed.
“I… I am sorry. This is a tense situation mother, I let myself become too worked up and spoke in anger.” She didn't wait for her mother to release her though, and simply stood. The words hadn't sounded fake at least, or sarcastic.
Her mother… growled.
“Bitch. All of you are a bunch of evil… someone could have told me all of this before we came, couldn't they? How am I supposed to know how to behave if I don't know who's important or not?” Her voice was angry. Tor got that. He really did.
It was easy to be angry when you spent your life tearing everyone around you to pieces. It meant you were a bad person and while not everyone was equally good, even those that were nearly evil wanted to be. Didn't they? Finding out you weren't, realizing it, would be hard. Tor just nodded to her, a single head bob.
“I generally try to do it by treating everyone as important. Sometimes you end up treating a stable boy as a Prince, but so far I haven't gotten any complaints. Not from that side of things at least. Still, I think that it's not unfair to suggest this was due to… stress and concern about seeing justice done, rather than anything else. Now, I… Well, honestly, I need to have the room, The Baron, Baroness and Nita please?” He looked around the room, not smiling, since things were still tense. He really didn’t want to set anyone off.
The others looked confused and in Maria's case triumphant, and the Baron sighed as soon as the door closed and stood, bowing.
“Should I go for a full abasement? I can only ask that you blame only me for what has transpired and not those under my charge. Please. I beg of you. Those of Coltress do not deserve destruction for my wife’s words. If you must take a life for this, I offer you my own.” He didn't sound scared, and only half humble about it. Looking up a little, he winked then.
“And hers, let's not forget that part. Though do be a good man and leave the kids alive?”
Tor stood up and gave a quick, very truncated bow. It wasn't meant to be rude, he just couldn't make himself bend any farther now. Oops. He just admitted to it and stood. No one seemed to take offense at least.
Tor smiled then.
“I know this isn't the best time, but I don't know when we'll all be together again.” He looked at Bonita, his heart aching a little at what he was about to do and sighed.
“I'm bringing the official request of betrothal from Count Burks Lairdgren for the hand of Baronetta first Bonita Galley Coltress. As mentioned earlier, he's the Green man, so this is a life time position for your daughter. He's wealthy, powerful, and more importantly a good man. Kind and not uncouth or base at all. I even hear he's a fairly attractive. I can personally vouch that he's of humble temperament and hard working, as well as sober.” Tor was ready to keep going, but Two things happened then.
First Nita smiled and made a happy noise, then Carol… sneered.
“Her? What is the man, some wizened husk that can't do any better even as a Count? You'd think he'd make a play for Collette at least instead.”
The Baron blinked.
“Ah, Dear? Burks Lairdgren? You met him once? At our wedding? The one you said you wanted to pack up and take with us on Honeymoon?”
“Him?” She glared and finally shook her head, like she needed to clear it.
She did of course. Tor was beginning to think she might just be evil. What kind of person would be mean to Nita? That didn't even make sense. Was she stupid or something?
The woman stared at Bonita and shook her head slowly.
“What did you use as the bribe? As a Count he's more money than we do, so it's not that. Can't have offered up your sisters or me, after all, he'd just be able to get any of us into bed by asking… So, kill someone for him or something?” Her tone wasn't kind. It was really catty and man in fact.
Tor sighed and shook his head though.
“That's ridiculous of course. Originally I was going to ask for her hand, since she's my girlfriend, but the Count won out in the end. He's older and better looking after all. I can't really compete there, can I?”
The woman looked at him and shook her head again.
“No, I think not. This smacks of one of those set-ups again Bonita dear. I can't let you walk into it and be hurt. I must refuse. Send the man my regards but the answer is no.” She glared at the Baron when she said it.
Tor touched her field, wondering what the actual deal was. Hoping it wouldn’t hurt him too much, but having to know. Was her motherly concern just so strong she truly feared Burks would play with Nita's heart? Or that he would?
It wasn't that at all. She was doing it just to be spiteful. She knew it wasn't one of those elaborate set-ups after all, didn't she? Since she was behind the rest of them.
All of them.
Ah.
It was all he could do not to yell at her over it. The bitch had made most of Nita's adult life a living hell, thinking she was too ugly and unwanted to ever be loved, and now she wasn't going to let it happen just to spite… The Baron? That seemed right, though Tor didn't get it really. Her goal seemed to be making things really hard for her own husband for some strange reason. Nita was just a pathway to do that with.
Shrugging Tor pulled out his communications device and hit the palace marker. After less than a few seconds Rich answered.
“Hey Rich, I need Connie please. In an official capacity. If you have a moment too?”
“Um, One bit.” There was a rustling sound. “Tor's on for you, official?”
The Baron looked at Tor, and Nita just smiled, getting what was about to happen? She was close to the Queen after all. It didn't seem Carol knew that.
“Tor! Is there an emergency?” Connie sounded a little breathless, apparently having run to the room to talk to them.
“Yes.” He filled them in with three quick lines, not mentioning the why of things, leaving that for later. Mother or not, that kind of abuse would not go unanswered for by the woman.
She'd hired people just to insult and play with Nita's heart, not just once, but dozens of times and not just for a while, but for years. If the women were a man Tor would probably be fighting with her about now. Probably even knowing he'd lose. As it was he’d have to be cleverer about the retribution.
“So, what I'd like is for you, acting as Queen, to overrule that please. I have a sense that in this case, you being aware of Burks and what kind of man he is, you might have a clearer head?”
There was silence then, for about five or ten seconds.
“Bonita dear? Is that what you'd like? Marriage to the Count? I know you two have been close for a while now.”
“Oh, yes! I mean, yes ma'am.” Her voice was shy and small then, but then she was a quiet person. Tor always kind of liked that in her.
“Very well then. Lord Baker, see to it.” Then she turned the device off on her end.
It was a trick, Tor saw. She'd ordered him to see to it, but hadn't acted as Nita's mother at all. She wasn't overstepping bounds, just giving him a chance to use her words to help his friend. Brilliant.
Tor didn't say anything for a few seconds, merely smiling at them all, as if happy things were resolved.
“There we
go. I suppose I'll send my own mother to discuss this with you Baron Coltress, and Connie? If that's all right?” He grinned. “Or, if you want, perhaps Maria or Collette would serve as well? I think Collette would do wonderfully, come to think of it, regardless of who else is involved. She has a superb sense of style. Should be good for a wedding.”
He turned to Nita and winked.
“Ohhh, and Petra would be perfect to do the gowns up for you. Oh! Um, I didn't think of that, do you still have that fireworks display from Warden? We should set that off tonight I think. Celebrations and all. The others went out already.”
“No… I think Marvin has it, shall I check on that?”
Tor jumped up and kissed her on the cheek. He'd have done more, but her parents were watching and pain stabbed through his back, which he chuckled about.
“Please love? I have to see to another of these now. Kind of a day for it I guess, marriages and betrothals. Burks really should be here later I hear…” Tor would have to talk to him first, because he didn't know he was getting married for certain yet.
He was though.
Soonish too. None of that waiting a year stuff that normally got done in noble society. After all, they didn't want to let Nita get away, did they?
He bowed himself out of the room, which got everyone else to get up, but it was really time to see to Lyn and that mess.
Tor laughed a little.
It wasn't a mess. It was a good thing, and probably wouldn't be half as trying as this was. Even if she didn't want to get married to Dorgal, that wouldn't be a big deal. The man was mainly doing it just to curry favor with her after all. They'd only met a few times. Tor found her standing in the front hallway, dressed in a cloud it looked like, her face still a little snubbed nosed and square, but only a bit. She'd used her disguise amulet to alter her features? It was still her and even looked like it. Only not.
He walked to her slowly and gave her a hug.
“Hey sis.” Tor winked.
“Brother. I… would you stand for me in this tonight please? Mother couldn't make it. I'm a little out of my depth here…” She looked down at the nice marble floor, which showed she wore comfortable shoes on her feet, nice white and red ones that look unusual and highly crafted. Magical constructs of her own devising? Amazing. Tor wondered at it and decided to get with her and see if she'd show him how to do his own like that.
