by P. S. Power
He looked down, ashamed for these others, and it was a bit shocking, Sara had to admit. Also a much easier resolution to her own investigation than she'd expected. Nearly too easy. Pulling a Truth amulet, she handed it to him.
"Say that all again?"
The man did, scowling at her a little. There were some lies in there, but they were small things really. For instance, at first he'd kind of liked the idea, himself. Until he realized that it might cause a war with Harmony, against the people of his land and others. A thing that he knew, first hand, no one could win, if it took place. His shame over admitting that was real, however.
It was a conflicted mess, but she nodded when her questions were done, and took the amulet back, turning it off.
"Well! I can see it, even if the whole thing is insane. They all have reason to dislike magic though, don't they? And people are being helped by it so much now that many are probably starting to see it as a sign that there is no All High. Though..." She shook her head a little and grinned at the man. "Even if it was all made up, magic existing doesn't prove that there is no god. Or gods for that matter. The All High is actually just as valid, or more, with magic existing. The rule against it came from the Black Ancient, from a time before anyone could use it at all. It was just meant to be another thing to control people with. Still, who's to say that the All High didn't plan that out and give the idea to him? Maybe so that people could learn to get along with others now, in their time of greatest need?" She could see it, as a possibility. It was probably not the truth, but the small man in front of her seemed relieved, hearing her say that.
"That sounds of the way! I shall inform those of our land that you have said thus. My land, forgive my misspeaking. They will be gladdened that others can see such, so clearly. What can we do now? I fear that there is naught but war to be had here now. Once the blow that brings death was started, how may any forgive those of my kind? They come from all lands, or many, at any chance... What should I do? Go and throw myself on the mercy of those wronged, as sacrifice for those that know not what they do?"
She thought she got the idea of the words. He was offering to beg mercy and give his own life, instead of those of his people, if it would be allowed. Unfortunately he didn't have that kind of power. Not yet. If he were to die, those that had been attacking would simply keep on doing it. Hopefully they'd keep failing at the same time.
She shook her head though.
"Not this time. We just need to find the right people and ask them some questions. Or more to the point, have that done. Luckily, you can start that process tonight, after dining with the King here. He can have people picked up and questioned. Then..." Normally they'd be put to death, for almost starting a war, but she could see other ways were possible. Maybe even something that could lead to something better than what they had before?
She pulled her communications device though.
After a few moments, a cute, and very young looking, Sam Builder was on the screen.
They'd met, but weren't all that close.
"Sam? This is Sara. Debri. I just got word that you're probably one of the targets, along with Tim. You should get out of there for a bit while I run things down. It could be a few weeks. Can you do that? I can arrange to have you picked up and taken somewhere safe..." The boy didn't even bother to shake his head, his eyes were a bit soft and dreamy looking, showing he was in a trance state.
"Not needed. I'll be gone from here within the hour. Keep me up to date? I don't want to lose any work time on the new city here. How long do you think it will take to have this handled? I'll work better knowing I'm not about to be killed. I'm a bit sensitive that way."
She nodded at the words, but smiled.
"Aren't we all? Anyway... My guess is about two weeks to a month. Less than that if the whole thing isn't too big. It's the One God believers, and the followers of the All High." Roget made a small, hurt, sound, so she amended her words. "Not all of them. A paltry few, only. They reached out to Ambassador Smithson, here in the Noram Capital. He isn't in on it and told me at the earliest chance, so you can trust him. More or less. I'll bring him by after this is done and you can make a contact there? He's a good man."
There was a single nod.
"Let's do that? I should meet with him really, if he's the Ambassador to Noram. That's my area. I'd go to him, of course, but right now..."
"Understood. Head out now. I'll contact you daily, or sooner if I have news." She let him go after only a minutes worth of goodbyes, but at least he was willing to do it. There was a bit of time left, she understood, before they needed to be at the Palace, so she made more calls. It would strain things a bit that evening, but needed to be done. Just in case someone managed to kill her and Roget before they could report to enough people. The man was helpful however, and gave what names he'd been given earlier, to the King directly. The man wasn't displeased, even though part of the plot had started inside his boundaries.
At least he was willing to have people picked up and spoken to. Harshly, if needed. Considering it functionally wasn't his problem at all, that was probably good enough. They just needed a chance to find a lead or two. Then, no matter what the people had said to the Ambassador, it was also possible that they'd been lying to him, in order to... Sara had nothing past that thought, but knew it was always possible. Half the time or more, any new story was going to be a lie. No spy ever took anything at face value. Hence her asking to have some folks picked up, and checked out.
After that was done, she had to stop and actually focus on both Roget and herself, they showered, running out of time for proper baths, and he blushed when she walked in on him doing it.
He was fine enough, without his clothing. Not too fat or thin, and while a little short and pale, not too hairy. That was a bit of a turn off for her, personally. She wouldn't kick a man out of bed over it, but it wasn't the way she wanted her friends to look, if she got a choice. She took the time to size him up, as he stood there dripping, but didn't let her eyes linger too long on his manhood. That always seemed to make men uneasy for some reason. Plus, as she stood there, dressed already in a nice emerald colored satin gown, with a fine, if slightly unusual round hat on her head in a matching color and dark green slippers, he started to get hard.
Not that they had time for that kind of thing. Before he could protest, she got him a towel. For a moment she was tempted to offer to use her hands on him, since that would be faster than him even just waiting for it to go away, but they really were running out of time. Plus, it would embarrass him even more. Not that he really should be. He was average that way, but that wasn't bad. Just normal.
Instead she got him a towel, which was a magical one that she had an amulet for. Thinking about it she realized that Sam Builder had done the originals of those. Not the copying she didn't think. That was done by others. She'd gotten her version in the free market in Harmony. It might play hell with the economy, giving things away like that, but it surely made the decor nicer. She resisted the urge to help him out, even with that simple chore, and turned her back, to let him get to it.
"We need to move quickly. I'll do your clothing for you, if that works? I know that this, me walking in on you, is a big deal in Tellerand, but here... Honestly, we probably should have done it together. It was faster the other way, or it would be rude. So if it comes up again, remember that. My turning away like this is for your comfort. If you have to do this with anyone else, try to at least glance their way occasionally. Speaking is good too. If you have to look away, pretend to be doing something else."
She couldn't help but peek over, to see the lovely shade of pink his face had turned. He was just so pale. It really did remind her of Tor. That made her miss him again. Though, maybe, she could see him in a few hours, if all went well. He might not come to meet the nobles though. It was a tossup. Alphonse would be there, but... Well, he was all right. She just didn't love him. It made a difference.
The small man took a deep breath, but started to rub himself fairly
vigorously, ignoring the fact that he was almost at full mast. She glanced at him there, and he stopped, seeing where her eyes went.
"Forgive my... Impertinence. I mean no disrespect. I shall go and pray to the All High to deliver me from my lusty ways and thoughts. I-" He seemed to be ready to go on, so Sara shook her head.
"No. This is Noram. If we had time, I'd take care of that for you, and you'd let me, because that's almost required in a situation like this. We don't really however. So... Later?"
There was muttering, under his breath, which seemed to be an appeal for the strength to weather her unholy advances, but after that he cleared his throat and started to dry off again.
"I... Would like that. It is against morality however. Can I... I don't mean offense. You are a great beauty, and worth far more than my humble self. How do I hold to my faith and not give offense? The raw truth is that, were our situations not so very different, if I were not so far below you, I would seek you to be my wife. That cannot be, I do not imagine, but I do not wish to shame either of us. What should I do? It is my duty to adapt to these strange ways, but I fear I cannot live with myself if I err too far from the true path..." There was real misery in his words. A pain that flowed into the room, and hit her almost palpably. It was, she understood, a projection from his pattern. In other words, she was reading his mind.
That was incredible, of course. More, she understood now that she'd been doing it for years.
"Honestly? Saying that wasn't too bad. If you have to say no to anyone, telling them that they're too good for you isn't a bad way to start. Traditional, even. Then add in that it isn't what you want, not really, but what is required of you, due to your duty... They might not understand it, but flattering them first takes a lot of the sting out. Not that you'll really get out of doing things later. Really, I may just import some people for you, or take you by the whorehouse when I go to see my, um, sister, later. Maybe you can do her, if she isn't too broken from her last adventure? That should soften up some of your prudish ways."
That got him to scowl at her, but he did remember to dry off first.
"Nay. In Harmony I am considered a Day Leader. That would not serve, even if I must stray when in this land of the dark one."
She got that.
"You know, sex isn't actually bad. Never mind, we need to hurry. We're due at the Palace early, and you have to be special seeming. In black, since you're from Tellerand, but something fine. Or perhaps rare would be better?"
She wasn't Petra Ward when it came to doing fashion designs, maybe, but she could manage all right. Even for menswear. It didn't take her too long to have a nice suit that looked to be of heavy cotton, with worn places at the knees, because men from Tellerand all had that. Then she added a humble looking wooden cross on a hemp string. The shoes were fine however, and the whole thing was given a pure white glow, so that anyone looking could tell that he was choosing to dress humbly, but also had magic enough not to be mocked for it. They'd have to do that kind of thing for other reasons, if they wished to do it at all.
Almost as if to show that he simply wasn't from her land, he looked at it and nodded.
"Yes. This is the proper dress for one such as me. I am no merchant prince to wear finery from Afrak, nor to mock the pious with riches and plenty. Thank you, sister. I give my thanks."
She knew the answer to this one, from her time in that land.
"All thanks be to Him."
Smiling, Roget echoed her instantly.
"All thanks be to Him." Then she got a small, rather warm, smile.
They had to dump most of the mass in the hold, leaving only dust, before she could make the craft small enough to land next to Gemma's larger ship in the courtyard and on the lawn, of the Palace. She'd done the sizing on it, and had cleverly left herself just enough room on the far side, by the outer wall of the place. Anyone else landing would probably have to use the far side and walk around. That wasn't her problem however, and she got there just as it turned eight. Then, because they'd managed to actually sneak in, without the Royal Guard seeing them, she had them jog around the large obstacle to the front gate. Kevin was there, on duty.
"There you are! Quick. Clear us and make sure you get onto the ship before we go. Oh... Crud, I totally forgot to mention that to the King earlier. Can you get away?" She held her hand out, a little impatiently, but the man nodded to her.
"If it's allowed, the others will cover for me. I'm due to go with you all anyway, so that part won't be hard. Um, thank you by the way. I was joking earlier, when I said that..."
She had to grab the gate truth amulet from one of the other guards, who was watching Kevin as if he were insane.
As she glowed, white with a golden yellow stripe lengthwise down the middle, she just went over everything quickly.
"Let's see. I'm Sara Debri, Ancient of the Martian Circle, at least if I can get that going, I'm invited, mean no harm and will protect everyone I can today, if it's at all within my power. Is that good enough?" The device didn't waver, and she was given not one, but four brief and professional nods.
When Roget took it, he managed nicely enough as well. He didn't lie, though he seemed bit nervous, standing there, being forced to tell the truth.
After that they jogged back to the Palace door, using the front, which was a ways away. No one greeted them, since they were early, so Sara pounded a bit, using the heavy knocker in the front. That got the King's personal butler, who was looking rather sharp that evening, to come let them in.
He smiled, seeing her. After all, they'd met before, more than once.
"Good evening! Have you come for the special adventure? I have to say, it sounds most exciting. I wish I could go along myself, but my duties are here for the evening, in case any come too late. We aren't seating anyone yet, but..." He glanced at her and waved a page over, since they needed a guide to the ship on the side of the building. Obviously. Not that they really did.
"Burton. You look good today." He did, for a man in his seventies. "Don't worry about the trip. You can always come and visit with me. Tell Captain Gemma that I said so, and she'll make sure you get to go up for it, whenever you want. We're friends, after all." In a manner of speaking.
The old man bowed low, showing the top of his bald head. He was shorter than she was, now. That didn't seem right though. They should be the same size. Unless she'd grown? Sara hadn't really thought about it, but that was possibly part of the work Tim had done. Almost everyone else had gotten that too, she knew. The exception being his parents, who were happy being what they always were.
Taman too, probably, since she was born immortal. Not that they couldn't change that part of things, but the little girl was still very tiny, and the other kids were a lot bigger, and had been for a while.
No wonder she was starving all the time now. Of course missing most of a meal could also do that. She'd been so busy for a while and had already lost weight. Well, if that was really the case she'd need to make a real point of getting more food when she could.
Looking at Roget, she introduced him to the man, who got a low bow.
"This is the Ambassador from Tellerand. Roget Smithson. He and I have an appointment, to help make sure everything is ready on the ship."
Benton clapped. It wasn't in happiness, the dry hands coming together lightly, in order to summon a page.
"We will deliver you at once then, miss. Boy! Please take them to the dining hall of the evening. Quickly!" There was no harshness to the words, since that would be crass, but the kid that came along in his little light blue outfit scurried pretty quickly anyway. Failure to do so could lead to punishment. Plus, he'd look bad, which no one wanted to really do in front of dignitaries. Even if he had no clue who they were. The kids that got the Palace jobs where often the cast-off relatives of noble houses themselves. It was often the one chance they might have in life to make themselves into something more than a stable hand or common worker.
So of course the boy hurried to do wh
at he was told. Not to impress his master, the butler, though that too. No, it was really about making them feel like he might be a good person to hire, if he could.
"This way, sir. Ma'am." They walked, but the little blue legs pumped almost into a jog. She kept up without effort, but Roget was forced into a near jog himself. They didn't speak, until they got to the door of the craft, the boy looking at it longingly. He didn't ask to go in however.
"Thank you. I'm Sara Debri. May I ask your name?" After all, soon enough, she was going to be trying to fill positions, and while this boy was young for most of them, being about ten or so, sooner or later he'd be older, wouldn't he?
"Lister, ma'am." No last name was given. That could be because he really didn't have one though, so she didn't mention it.
"Lister. That's a good solid name. Are you interested in space travel?"
"Oh, y'sm. I mean, yes, ma'am! I haven't gone though. Not yet. My friend Gemma is the Captain of this ship though, and she said I could, maybe, go up with her, if I got a half day at the right time. Into orbit? That's when you go around the whole world." He spoke knowledgeably, and as if she might just not get it.
Given who was coming, that might be a real point.
"Excellent. I'm going to be looking for workers to set up the Mars orbital stations, in a few weeks. You're a little young, but if you have good recommendations, I might be able to use you for the work. It will be hard, especially at first, and there will be a lot of school needed, but if you want to try for it, I'll put in a word with the King and Queen, to see if they'll let you try? If nothing else it will give them a spy there. Just make sure to charge them for it, if it's suggested. Tell them I said you should. Not that you'll need coin up there, but it's the principle of the thing."
The boy gave her a baffled look, then nodded very earnestly.
"I'd like that ma'am. I don't know if they can do without me here, but if they can, it might be a good thing." He actually looked troubled by the idea, but didn't run off. His edginess grew though, since he had to be getting back for the next group in, no doubt. Not that anyone had knocked yet. She would have heard it. There were people coming, hidden by the building. The woomp-woomp sound of them walking sedately was almost like shouting would be to her. Annoying, really, so she tried to block it out.
