by Power, P. S.
He agreed, but wondered if it was a bad idea.
Then he headed off, to find his new machine friends.
Chapter nine
Dareg felt like he was running as he moved inside the large and clearly magical palace for dinner. He hadn't known how to dress, so went with a stately gray outfit, that looked business like and proper, without making it seem like he was planning to impress everyone with a grand and gaudy display. The rules for that kind of thing were a bit foreign to him, to be honest. He'd gone to a few fine meals, and even a nice party, but each had been considered a different type of event.
Just as the door was opening, he focused, leaving his eyes open, causing a faint copper sheen to move to the surface of the magical cloth that covered him. It was a small effect, and he hoped it would be considered tasteful, even if it turned out that the people with him were in casual clothing. They were Counts and former kings, so it probably wouldn't be that major of a problem. If it was a bigger, nicer, or at least grander affair, then he could turn up the visibility of his jacket, making it seem more special.
The people inside were all in a side room, off to the left. Sitting, holding beverages that smelled of alcohol and berries, and talking. Very seriously.
The tall Count Ward stood up when he came in, and bowed. Lower than was probably needed just for him.
"Well met, Prince Dareg."
He smiled, and returned the move, then did the same with the others, though no one else stood up just for him. Not even Countess Ward. No, she simply gave him a look that seemed to promise... Something. The thing there was that he could feel that she wasn't that interested in having sex at the moment. Her mind was instead furiously trying to reconcile facts, figures, and secrets that she alone in the room held. That he was able to pick all that up from her face was amazing, until he realized that he'd read her. That was, picked up bits about what she was thinking, using magical skill.
A thing that he'd always done, now that he knew what it was to look out for.
Still, he bowed to the others, moving his body to first the left then the right.
"Everybody! Nice to see you all." They were in good, high quality, outfits, but not really so dressy that he felt out of place. No one had shown up in workman's brown however, so he'd gotten that much right.
The group was small at the moment, being made up of Collette, her husband King Dorgal, and the Wards. The giant Count settled into place again, as Dorgal smiled and swiped at his mustache, as if trying to hide that he was doing it. The goal there, Dareg understood, was to show he was happy, but not mocking Dare directly. Or Marvin, who had miss-stepped a bit, bowing so low to a mere boy.
"Prince Dareg, would you sit? I can call for refreshments? Some wine perhaps? Tea, or coffee?"
That took a moment's thought, and he bowed as he settled on a large cream colored sofa, his limbs heavy from all the work and goings on of the day.
"Would it be too plain to ask for water? I need more of that. Aunt Petra has put me in real training as far as fighting goes. There... It's needed, so I can't complain. Still, I got busy, and running out of water inside won't help me get stronger." It was a bit hard to speak about, so he didn't bother.
Dorgal hopped up, and actually jogged to the door of the room, which was closed, and opened it quickly, calling out.
"A tumbler of water please Lindsey? Perhaps several, so if a pitcher could be arranged?" There was a low mumble in the distance and a sound that had to be skirts rustling as someone hurried to get what he needed.
"Thank you." It was a bit more service than he would have expected, to be truthful. Especially from a former king, and one that thought of him as a mere boy at that.
Then, it was clear that his age wasn't truly being held against him there. The man had expectations of what a fourteen year old would be like. That was all. That Dare hadn't really seemed that way in the main had occurred to him, however.
That sense slid over him, as the man looked on.
"Oh, think nothing of it. Hydration is key to such physical endeavors. Happy to do our part."
Dare had ended up next to Collette, who was in a nice dress that was pink and soft white, having a lot of lace involved. Not that it was really there. Like him, and everyone in the room, she was clothed in fine magic.
Count Ward sat back a bit, and looked at him, very frankly.
"So, Prince Dareg. I've been hearing your name wrapped in secrets of late." It was friendly, but a bit blunt, and everyone else in the room winced. Maria actually clenched her jaw, fearing that Dareg would go into a combat rage, since Collette had told her he was prone to it.
Dorgal looked away, interested in how things would play out.
For his part, Dareg just shrugged.
"If so then it's only because people are too used to that kind of thing. As far as I know I'm not involved in anything I can't speak about openly. Unless someone is plotting against me? That could be secret. In that case, please feel free to drop hints to see if I know about it. I'll pretend I don't, if that helps?" He grinned, and there was a noise at the door, which proved to be a small woman he didn't know coming in, her face holding lines at the eyes. She looked like she was of common stock, and about thirty to forty. It was hard to tell, to be honest. She wasn't pretty, in particular, but seemed healthy enough, and had a large glass for him, with a clear pitcher of water, on a tray.
That was settled on the low table in front of him, which was made to look like gold covered wood, and enamel paint. Dare thought that was what it was supposed to be, at any rate. His exposure to that kind of thing hadn't been all that grand. No one spoke while the servant, Lindsey, he was willing to bet, settled things, intuiting that the new person would be the one that needed the water. Before anyone spoke, he picked up the glass, and drank the whole thing down in one go, actually needing it. Then he refilled the thing, and settled back, to sip.
Seeing that he wasn't going to be upset by mere questions, Maria decided that testing him was in order. That seemed to be the case, since she narrowed her eyes and stared at him very directly.
"Well... We've been hearing that a certain Prince has been off in space, and bringing in alien monsters?" She leaned in a little, her fine crystal, long stemmed, glass of red wine in her fingers.
He looked into her blue eyes and shook his head.
"Monsters? Not at all. In fact, you should all meet with some of them. The Ysidril look both pretty, and fierce, but no more than a wild beast would. On top of that, they're kind. From what I hear they don't do anything violent, ever. They also take their duty to others very seriously. I heard from some of the others, the machine people and the Forten... Both of those groups look human, like we do, more or less. Anyway, I was told that in the last big food shortage they had, the Ysidril let themselves starve, to make certain the others had enough to eat each day. Over ten thousand of them died of it. So, yes, they look funny, and scary... But monsters? Compared to us? I don't think so."
Maria looked at him, her face troubled for a moment. Her blue eyes and blond hair were similar to Collette's, but her nose was a bit larger, and while her skin was even, she just missed being as lovely as her sister in some way. Not that she wasn't pretty. Really, both women were distracting as far as that went. They'd started near the top, and used tricks of magic and makeup to increase their powers. Not that the woman was even pretending to flirt with him at the moment.
No, it was clear that she was wondering if she should pretend to be insulted, since she'd been mildly taken to task for using the wrong term. Instead she nodded subtly and took a sip from her glass.
"So, not monsters? I'd heard only the physical description. Amazing. I mean, beings from the void... Do we know anything about them?" The Countess figured that she was being sly, it was clear.
The bits of information she'd been given had been about a meeting with King Richard, and that strangers had come. That was all. There had been deaths, but no one really knew much about that. Not even amongst the highest ru
lers of the land. They had bits of it. That there was an enemy, and about the deaths, but to her mind the lack of data just meant that she was being kept out of things on purpose.
"There are three different space fleets, headed this way. They found out, hundreds of years ago now, that an enemy was trying to take over, or more properly going to, working from here, and then moving off to all known areas. Probably the unknown ones, as well. We don't know why, but that part does seem real. You know about the battle that took place..." That wasn't a question. They all did, just not enough to make them happy.
Count Ward nodded however, trying to make it seem like he was informed.
"Yes."
Dareg didn't play games with him, nodding.
"The thing there is that you all have to think that things are being hidden from you about it, but they really aren't. No one that was there can remember much about it. The enemy, I call them the Adversaries, they did something to time while they fought. Tor figured that trick out, and pulled me into it with him, so we could survive, but even with that I barely remember any of it. I think he, Timon and possibly Taman, might know more than I do, but it's a confused and brutal blur to me. I keep having flashes of it. Reliving it. So I might recall more of that later." Not that he wanted too, which must have shown on his face, since Count Ward went hard faced and looked away.
"Battle scars." He nearly whispered the phrase, but it was about right.
Dare knew it. Being there had damaged him in a lot of ways. Most weren't visible any longer, that was all.
"Yes. The point is, no one is trying to keep this from you. As for the fleets, there are three of them and they are... Really, together they have twelve times the population of Earth. Maybe more than that with all the losses of the last decade here. They don't have magic though. They use various technologies, like Austra uses? Only more of it, and they can cause it to do different things, which are kind of magical. Their planet ships are impressive. Queen Tiera gifted them a few, three, unarmed jump ships. All of those went to the Ysidril, since I'm working with them. Their protector, as far as our people go. Earth and the Moon, not just Noram. Self styled, but you know, I have to try and get good things for them if I can."
Only one person in the room did anything then, and that was Count Ward, who smiled at him.
"They won't know what that means, I would hazard. You standing for them like that. Few would understand it. Now, you say they need food? County Ward doesn't have much to share at present, but we can take up a collection. We won't let our new friends starve."
Dorgal stood, and bowed to the man, so Dareg did too, Collette managing it a little more slowly, given the big dress she was wearing. It was the kind of thing that looked pretty, but had to be managed. Really, she curtsied, which was different than a bow, but meant the same thing.
Taking a second to think as he stood, Dare scrambled to work out what might be needed, so the man's offer, and his peoples honor, wouldn't be damaged or ignored. It was a very kind offer, after all.
"Tor and Timon are making food units for them, and they have food at the moment, but would you be available to go and help teach them how to use things? They don't have magic, and we might need to go and make certain they can use things. Soon, too. We got them a few thousand devices yesterday, but no one even thought to make certain they could use them. The Ysidril I worked with picked up how to do it, and they aren't blind to magic, but they might not realize all that can be done, since our ways and foods, are different."
Marvin stood up.
"We can do that now?" There was a certainty to it, as if he truly meant it.
Dareg nodded, and pulled out his handheld.
"We can see about arranging that? I'll try for after the meal however, if that's all right?" He was starving, but trying to pretend he didn't want to be rude to Collette. She smiled at him.
"That would be good. The staff has worked very hard on it."
He tabbed Hess, and held the device away from him a bit, so that everyone could see the green and purple being, who opened his mouth, in what Dare was starting to realize was his way of smiling. Not the Ysidril getting ready to eat anyone's face.
"Dareg?"
"Sorry to bother you, Hess. I have volunteers arranged, to come and teach people how to run the food units you have? We sort of forgot to do that part. That's my fault, but I was reminded of it by Count Ward. Could we set that up in... Call it four hours? That will be late for us, but you and the mechanical people don't need to sleep, and some Forten will be awake, won't they?"
The being sounded happy when he spoke.
"That is kindness! It will be mid-day here in four of your hours. This will allow me to use one of the jump craft. May I land at your port?"
Dareg had figured he'd be the one to do that part, but nodded.
"You may. Always. Make the craft not too large, and come in from the east, about ten miles, then slowly at a few hundred miles per hour, move over the port. Land in the green section? There are lights, and it will be dark here. Go slowly, and make the craft glow brightly enough you can see the ground?"
It occurred to him that the being wouldn't use miles, just like they didn't use hours.
Thankfully, Hess was brilliant.
"I do what you did, on the last landing?"
"Exactly. We'll have..." He looked at the others, and King Dorgal tilted his head up, looked at the others, and nodded.
"Ten?"
"Ten people will be waiting for you. I'll be there, but then have to get to bed, so won't be going along, myself. Unless you need me? These are all good people."
That was for Hess, who just accepted that, probably without it being spoken of out loud.
"I understand. Sleep must be most inconvenient."
Dare laughed at that one, and bowed toward his own hand.
"It really is at times. Thank you for your aid in this, Hess. This man here is Count Marvin Ward. Um, I don't know how hard it is for you to tell humans apart... We all probably look the same. He's about nine feet tall... Which is a bit over half my size added to how tall I am, if that makes sense? Very large. I'll get him to wear something to mark him."
That got a bow, which was done just a bit stiffly.
"Thank you! I pride myself on learning the shape of my friends, but it would be an aid in identification. Perhaps a large blue circle could be arranged?"
The Count closed his eyes, and caused one to form on his middle, taking up most of it.
"Would this serve?"
Hess opened his mouth, showing hundreds of sharp looking teeth.
"That is perfect! I will be there in four hours. Thank you all."
They made several rounds of goodbyes, and he was able to put his handheld away just in time for a servant, this time a medium sized man in black, to come and stand at the door.
"Sir? The meal is ready." He was very proper and nearly stiff seeming, but Dorgal stood, and waved at the door with a closed hand.
"Ah! Thank you, Stephen. Shall we? I hear that we're having lamb tonight."
Dareg went last, being the youngest one there, even though he ended up with Marvin right in front of him. The blue dot vanished, since it wasn't needed for the meal. His black clothing remained the same otherwise. It was a fine cut, and distinctive, having a mixed pattern to it that was very refined and only noticeable at a few feet away.
The man didn't speak, until they were at the table, and he was sitting near Collette, who was at the head of the table. At the top, leaving a place for him, at Dorgal's right hand.
Collette cleared her throat, and spoke with good humor.
"This should signal that the only person in danger is Maria?"
The woman across the table and down one rolled her eyes.
"That's always the case with you around. Don't think I don't check every bite. Twice."
It seems an odd thing to say, since killing people with poison was a real fear for a lot of nobles. Even when sitting with the King everyone checked their plates.
He tried to do it, but the truth was he didn't know what to look for. He did figure out how to use the poison detectors at the palace meals, but when it came time to poke through what he was eating, Dareg just made gestures, and figured that it was probably fine, since no one would care about murdering him, yet.
So he changed the topic, scrambling a bit for something that wouldn't be about work, which had to include the fleet coming in for him. That was a thing, he thought. No one else did it anyway. One of the green clad servants came and poured a golden wine into the metal chalice in front of him. It was copper and silver in color, and probably real. It had small lines scratched into it, at any rate.
"I wonder what the next holiday is." It was silly of him not to know, but he really had lost track.
Dorgal smiled at him, and nodded.
"I think the next one would be my birthday. We do celebrate that as a holiday now, don't we?" It was meant to be funny, and got a polite, if soft, chuckle.
Dareg shook his head.
"Not officially that I've heard. We should do something for that however. When is that?"
It turned out that it was a month away, and would take place during the Jupiter trip. That was a thing they all seemed to know about. They'd watched parts of the last trip on their handhelds. All you had to do was go to the channel that you wanted to monitor, and tab in. Then you could see Austran feeds in real time. It was a thing that he'd encountered a few times, he realized, but hadn't done a lot of that so far. It might be a way to learn however, if it showed interesting things, like trips to other planets, that he couldn't be at.
That could be useful, and it seemed to have been for the people at the table. They knew things that no one had told them about directly, for instance.
Maria looked over at him, and smiled.
"I know, you can hold the party in... Orbit? Of Jupiter I mean? No one has ever done that before, so it would be special." She grinned then, like it was putting him on the spot.
The truth was that it would be little harder to do than than to have it on Harmony, or even the next town or city over from the Capital, where they lived. To that end he started to nod, even as Collette looked at her sister, annoyed.
