Ancient Kings (The Young Ancients)

by P. S. Power

  Largely because she couldn't understand how Tor could stand her. Any of them.

  "Tor?" The word was soft and melancholy. That came off of her so clearly he could trace her outline behind his own eyes using nothing more than that. It made a blue outline of her in the darkness of his head. "Are you working?"

  "I was. Just finished." It was just stuff, almost picked at random, magical houses, both big and small, Not-flyers, and more follow along trunks, since those went faster than he expected. Also flying rigs and water pumps that could be used to water plants with a fine spray. He'd meant to get Taman to do that work for him, but hadn't been around to see her yet and needed to do something. These were a bit more technically advanced than he'd originally planned, but if they worked they would give just about the right amount of moisture to the soil each day, without needing a person to turn them on or off.

  He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

  "We didn't really get to have much of a vacation here, though I understand that you need to get back to your life. Let's have breakfast first and I'll take you back to the Capital. It will be faster for you, and I need to go down anyway."

  "Um. Right." She set her pack down, a nice leather thing that was soft and had a military mark on the side, along with her name. "I guess. Don't you hate me now? I'm not a noble, but I've done things to you, and made things worse for you. So many times... Even my tears are a kind of violence against you, aren't they? Nothing is fair here. I love you, I don't want you to be hurt by that."

  Tor stood and stretched, then gestured toward the kitchen.

  "I know. I love you too. I don't know if that's me though, or that I secretly feel like I have to, because you want it and I know it so strongly. Really, I don't think it matters. At least it's a good thing and not you trying to do something wrong. I feel it. But I do for Trice too and... I think she kind of accidentally ordered me to. When she didn't want to marry Count Overland she said I should ask her to marry and tell her parents that I loved her, because that would make things better for her. At the time I thought I was just trying to get out of having to get engaged to a Sorvee, but... before that I was attracted to Trice, but it wasn't until after that that I kind of loved her. You didn't do that, but I can feel what you do inside, if I try." He smiled, since being a curmudgeon right now wouldn't help anyone.

  That wasn't a good reason for him not to love the woman though. She'd actually and legitimately loved him longer than anyone he knew. Even Connie, though he was refusing to allow that one now. It didn't count, even if there was no logical way to set it aside like that.

  "So, breakfast, and I love you. It's as real as anything, I think. Pancakes?"

  They ate about twenty-five minutes later, in silence except for the cutlery on the plate, There was a soft sense of misery in the air, but Tor didn't let it overtake him. Life was hard, but he was blessed in too many ways to complain about. He had enough gold to pay for what was needed and not just a place to live, but places, plural. He could go where he wanted and set his own schedule, after a fashion. His biggest real issue was having too many people that loved him.

  Hardly something to cry over.

  Sara was about halfway done with her food when she spoke, tentatively and without making eye contact.

  "Can I... come and visit again? I understand if you don't want me too, given everything, but-"

  "Of course. Probably in about a month or so? Unless I get down to the Capital for a time soon. I probably should, but I'm getting a bit annoyed with life right now and might not be perfectly ready for that. Oh! Right investment funds for your business. I have a bit. It isn't much right now, but I should have more later. You know, we need to make certain you can do it first, all that." It was pure teasing now, but she looked away, hiding the smile on her face.

  "You joke. I don't know if I can do this at all. Especially the overseas stuff. It's all pure speculation and sounds hard. What I should do is get you to give me some devices to sell. I know I can to that, just in case I fail...Oh!" She stood up and dropped her silver fork. "Crud! That, I didn't mean it! I..." She looked about ready to cry over it, but Tor shrugged.

  "I think we can assume that anyone that wants to sell my stuff can have a shot if they want. Fifty percent of the sales price goes to me though. Due monthly. I even have a few things you might want to look into, if you're planning to travel anyway. Here... Or, no, after we finish. The stuff won't be going anywhere."

  She settled down a bit though and looked at him with a guilty expression.

  "Can you tell me no at all, Tor? I mean, if I asked you to take me to the moon, would you start building a magic ship to carry me there?"

  He went still, considering it. Would he? What if it were something bad and he knew it? He thought he could fight against that kind of thing really, but it wasn't a sure thing at all. Swallowing hard, the pancake with honey suddenly seeming dry in his throat, he nodded.

  "Yes. I think I really would. Worse than that, I'm already working on that project. It's a secret though, so don't tell. I just didn't want you to think it's all about what you said in passing in a month when we actually go to visit there."

  The woman laughed.

  "Ah, good thing you warned me then. I'm pretty sure that when a woman asks for the moon it's supposed to be a metaphor however. Did Ali ask for it, or Trice?" She was clearly convinced that he was joking with her, but Tor shook his head anyway.

  "There's a real reason. I'm not kidding with you about that. Blue in the Antarctic took Tiera to the Ancient base there a few weeks ago. We need a better kind of craft though, because of something possibly coming. People that used to live here and maybe some others. Count Lairdgren already built a magical carriage to do it, but he wants a faster one, without bothering with the annoying work part of it, I think. That or he wants to let me do some things for myself. Probably that one. The original idea was mine after all. Did you know he's a better Builder than I am?" Saying it out loud again seemed like a joke, but Sara furrowed her brow.

  "Really? I never would have guessed."

  "He hides it. Otherwise bad things would end up happening. Well, we should go I guess. The day won't be easier because I put it off." That was the saying at least. Hiding in his room might work though, if he did it right. Not answering the door and pretending not to be there.

  He worked out how to do it and become a proper recluse without leaving town as they flew to the Capital, Sara chattering along more easily now.

  "So, some kind of... void people? Or ones from other worlds?" She actually sounded curious about the idea.

  "Really? I'm convinced that it's a trick half the time. I won't be shocked at all if it turns out to be some Ancient plotting to move the rest of us into position for something or other. Taking over the world or... really I don't know. It could be any of them too. My first guess would be Brown though. Great guy, but he has an awful lot of fingers in too many pies lately. He made all those Larval, the ones that tried to kill me? I don't think he gave them Cordes' mind however. That was probably Lara Gray. My grandmother." And as gross as it would end up being, possibly his mother as well. "Or one of the others I don't even know. I met most of them, but one meeting doesn't mean I can say anything about them for certain. Even a life of contact doesn't mean that. Do we ever really know anyone at all?"

  "No. I don't think so. I... you know that I'm a spy, right? That the King... had me watch you?" She went still as if it could be news at all.

  "Of course. He told me that himself. Plus, I'd already figured it out. To think, once upon a time the worst thing in my life was that pretty girls might be spying on me." He held the control for the purple craft all the way forward. It floated in his hand, so wasn't heavy, but his arm still got tired if he did it for too long. The circulation weakened and let his hand fall asleep. He wasn't at that point yet though, the Capital not being that far away in a Carriage like his.

  "Right. I knew that... But... Tor... we, Trice and I, both of us were told to try and get
you to fall in love with us. If he knew about, you know, how you are, having to do what people that seem in charge want... then didn't he kind of set you up? I admit, the worst part of it all is on me. He didn't tell me or Trice to make you feel bad like we did. Like I did. You shouldn't blame her. She was vulnerable then, thinking that her parents would be blamed for poisoning you, and I took advantage of that. But... What does it mean? Why would he do that? I can only think of one thing. He meant to trap you in our love, and use us to control you. Only... it didn't work. Something got in the way."

  Or someone. Burks Green no doubt.

  "I... Alright. Annoying, but I need to have a chat with the King. Today I guess, if they'll let me in to see him. It probably doesn't really matter though. Not in the end. I just can't let people do things like that and not call them on their misdoings, can I? Even if he is the ruler of an entire land, and I'm..." The Capital was in view, with people flying over it dressed in red and white. He moved slowly, and got over his own home, but a surly looking fellow tried to point something at him and order him to the ground.

  "Seriously? I'm doing this again? No one has these kind of craft hardly at all. They have to know that whoever is flying it is at least important enough to get one. Hang on Sara." He dropped to the ground, hovering right above it and put his own flying rig on. Then he scampered out with a force lance in his hand, the two guards that were accosting him landing after a few moments, their gear all being turned off, even if they didn't know it. He had to focus the whole time so they couldn't use it, but that wasn't too hard for him to manage anymore.

  Tor even let them speak first. Being polite and all.

  "Halt! You flew over the Capital in violation of orders. Come with us now!" The one in the front seemed shocked when Tor shook his head.

  "No. I'm going to save you both a beating and possible death instead, but you need to listen carefully. You have no shields right now, can't fly away, and your weapons don't work. Mine do. I'm Torrance Baker, the Kingdom's Magics Counselor. Now, I get that, even landing in front of Tor's Palace, in a Fast Carriage, carrying lots of devices, it might not get through to you that I'm who I say. I suggest you try your gear out before you act however. I don't know if that new rule even applies to me, but if it does, I'm still not going with you. Go ahead and try those things now, and then we can see to what you plan to do about it." It was tense and he felt sweat start to pool in his armpits, but at least he was dressed nicely today, lending weight to his claims of being himself.

  The men both frowned, and tried to use their things, only to find that Tor was indeed correct. He expected them to just rush him then, thinking that he couldn't defend himself, but the one in the lead just nodded.

  "Well, that seems likely then... Sir, in the future please try to avoid direct flights over the Capital? The rules come from King Richard and our Commander, so we have no choice but to try and enforce it each time. Sorry for the inconvenience, Counselor." The man turned to start walking away and his fellow, who was younger, and looked to be a few years older than Tor, or at least his real age, just stood and kept hitting the back of his left hand, trying to activate his flying rig. The other man pulled at his shoulder to get him to move, which looked kind of funny, but Tor didn't laugh at all.

  "They don't work. We'll just have to eat the cost, somehow." That got a squeak from the junior man and a tight clenched jaw from the other. Neither really seemed to actually want to pay for their own gear. Since it was probably more than they made in ten years, even if they were well provided for, that made sense.

  "I'll let you fly away, and have your shields back for safety, but the weapons stay off until you're not in sight any longer."

  If it wasn't so nerve wracking being confronted by hostile armed men, it would have been an enjoyable scene, watching them both look so shocked when they could turn everything back on. He kept his word though and held the weapons, just force lances, locked in the off position so they couldn't even try to attack him. Well, not that way. If they were smart they'd probably understand that he could simply let them fall out of the air as well, and no one would be able to blame him.

  Which he wouldn't do, since they were close to the nicest City Guards in the Capital that he'd met without a handy Prince standing next to him to smooth things over. Really he should have gotten their names, just for that reason. Start a letter writing campaign to get the older fellow a promotion or something. Well, next time, perhaps.

  Sara was in the driver's seat of the Fast Carriage, her hand on the control float the whole time it seemed, or at least was when he turned and looked through the window. She nodded at him and released it, but it was pretty clear she wasn't planning to let the men take them either. Rules or not.

  Tor got to the chest in the back of his craft and snagged the amulet on its hemp cord, putting it around his neck, then waited for Sara, before he put the vehicle away, watching it vanish with a single thought. It was actually easier to do at that moment than normal, since he was holding his attention on the flying men anyway and focusing on anything made it all easier. When they hit the city wall he let the weapons go. That was half a mile away, but it didn't feel hard anymore. Once upon a time he would have struggled for a hundred feet, but now this kind of thing was practically easy.

  "There we go, just a minor misunderstanding. I was afraid we'd have to take them prisoner or something."

  The walk to the house wasn't a long one, but almost instantly Tor decided not to stay too long. Someone, who he decided not to name out loud, had filled his house with white and gold robed people that were, clearly, trying to dodge out on real work by suggesting to Karen that they hire people for it. For her part, there was a long suffering silence and a right hand that moved to her waist. Only a few of the people harassing her seemed to get what that meant, but they were all shielded, so it wasn't much of a threat. Not to them.

  "Tor! Sara! I was just about to send these people back home in shame with a black mark on their faces. Can you hold them and take the shields down Tor? Let's get this guy first, he's been the worst." She pointed at a man in his mid-thirties, that Tor recognized from the first day of the High Servants. He was really tempted to do what she suggested, since it made so much sense to him, but he shook his head first.

  "What? They... aren't making it as... High Servants?" He was over acting, just a tiny bit, but Sara went wide eyed and did a far more credible job of seeming embarrassed for the people. He went on, and let his face go red, which it wanted to do from the play acting anyway.

  "I... recommended them for the position. All of them. I can't live with that kind of shame. I'll have to contact the King at once and resign as Magics Counselor. I can't believe this. I'm so sorry Karen. I..."

  Then he did something that no one expected and knelt with his head bowed.

  "Please forgive me. This error was mine and belongs to me alone, I cannot ask forgiveness for it, since I sought only expediency and failed in this sacred and honorable task. I..." Tears came to his eyes, since, he realized, he actually had failed, hadn't he? Which left Karen with a bunch of jerks that thought a lofty title should mean they didn't lift an actual finger, even in an emergency situation.

  They all felt surprised, except Karen who simply nodded, clearly taking his apology to heart.

  "I forgive you Tor. I just don't know what we're going to tell the King. Of those brought in on the first day, half of them aren't making it. The shame it will bring on their families... Maybe we can allow them to kill themselves instead? Claim it was an accident, and cover it up, so they won't have to live with this humiliation?"

  She shook her head, but the man that was in the front of the group, the thin and right now fairly sour looking man snorted at them.

  "Oh, leave off. We get your game. You tell us this and we're supposed to fall in line and be good little common servants, groveling to the people of the streets and washing their laundry with our own hands." There was no hesitancy to his words at all, like he knew it as a fact.
>
  Tor stood then and nodded.

  "No, you're supposed to be the best servants, not common ones at all. Being a High Servant is nearly the same as being a Knight of the Realm, and you people have been an embarrassment. A real one. It isn't impossible to do, but you have to try. Why is that so hard for most people? Really do your best? Here, you think that this is a joke?" He moved to the decently large floating trunk, which was still the same pure black he'd had with him for days, and dug around to find the communications device. There was also one in the little room to the left, but having a mobile one actually made more of an impression. He hit the Capital sigil and waited, the whole thing glowing lightly. The man looked doubtful still.

  "This is the Palace, Prince Alphonse here. May I help you today?" It had a smooth delivery to it and made no presumptions at all. Then, as far as nobles went his friend was good that way, and always had been. To him at least. He had to wonder what he thought of all the other common looking people in the world though.

  "Hello Alphonse, Tor here. It appears that I chose poorly with some of the new High Servants. They seem to think that this is some kind of game for nobles to play at, instead of working at their sacred duty. I'm going to have to offer my resignation as Magics Counselor. In disgrace. The Knighthood too. Do you think I'm going to have prison time for this? If so I want the new prison. You know, if I get a choice in the matter. I wouldn't give me one, if I were the King, but I can but beg."

  For a second there was dead silence, since, Tor figured, it sounded pretty good really.

  "What? No... I can't believe that. No one has ever failed at being High Servant, not in the entire history of the organization. The ignominy of being cast out... Wait here. Father! Father come quickly!" There was a sound of running then. Loud enough to make out and from more than one person in the communications room.

  "Situation report!" That was the King, but there were others there to. Several from the low chatter.

  "Tor is on the communications device, he said that some of the High Servants are failing in their sworn duty. Refusing to work I think. He's resigning from everything and getting ready to report to prison!" There was genuine alarm there, Tor thought. Not exactly real though.