by Mari Collier
Levin looked at Linan, and then answered softly. “His laddie tis counselor to the Keeper of the Laird's Home in Donnick. They are there every day as her mither tis the Director of the Home, but too far into her decline to do anything. Her counselor attends her.”
Lorenz was amused. He was accustomed to his father calling a house an abode or home. House stood for the ruling families, but he had to ask. “Why is there a Laird's home, if there wasn't a Laird of Don? And who's paying them to be there?”
“The Lady's and Laird's Homes have always been here, but the Justines and the Sisters made sure that every penny was drained for their favorites.” Linan's voice registered his disgust.
Llewellyn grimaced and said, “Contact any known technicians, manufacturers, and the Director of Education. Tell them they are to report to me tomorrow. I also need men and women now for transporting goods from the Golden One to your Centers this afternoon.
“Now there is someone ye need to meet.”
His index finger touched a small rectangle. The door behind them opened, and a slender, tall, white haired man entered the room. The three Thalians stared at him. His clothing was outlandish and there was a wide knotted ribbon at his throat tucked inside a vest. The shoes looked awkward and heavy; nay supple, and they contained lacing. His light blue eyes were almost as distracting as the Laird's grey eyes.
“This tis Andrew J. MacDonald, one of my youngest from the planet where I resided.”
Andrew inclined his head and studied them. The Thalians were impressed. To them, the length of a name bestowed status, the white hair meant he was destined to be an administrator, and his eyes were cold and intelligent as he met their gaze.
“Andrew will be in charge of starting the different manufacturing units we need and will confer with all of ye about the Centers, their profits, their needs, accounting methods, and staffing. He will ensure all are run as businesses should be run. He reports directly to me and will occupy an office on this floor. Are there any questions?”
Linan, Levin, and Lecco swallowed and shook their heads no.
“I need to meet with each Center Director to set up the accounting procedures. I'll be at the First tomorrow, the Second the next day, and the Third the following day. I also recommend you make Levin the Director of the Second and hire a Keeper to work between each. By all of us coordinating our efforts the Centers should begin to show a profit within six months. All have been poorly run and audited, although it's not their fault.” Andrew inclined his head at the assembled Thalians.
“Thank ye, Andrew. Ye've wasted nay time. Your recommendations are noted.”
Andrew nodded at all and withdrew as Llewellyn looked at the rest and continued.
“If Andrew has the same recommendations after meeting with ye, I will implement them. All view screens in individual homes will be activated within the hour. My laddie and I will send out a message to all of Don, and we will keep sending it at intervals.”
“Y'all didn't mention we need butchers—meat cutters for beeves, kine now. Just the one isn't sufficient.” Like his father, Lorenz stood.
“Ye have the kine back from Rurhan without the carvers?” asked Levin.
“Don has kine without the ones held by Rurhan. There are more than enough on the southern prairies to feed Don. We also need people to clean out the facilities, and to make sure they are in working condition.”
That tis Ab work and Signing Day is two days away.” Linan looked concerned.
“What's wrong with Tri's? It seems to me anyone who wants extra rations or credits would be willing to work.”
“Aye, if nay wish to work when ye offer a job to them, reduce their rations. Transportation or a fliv must be offered along with the opportunity to learn to pilot a fliv. Does anyone have any questions?” Llewellyn looked at the three.
Linan smiled as he rose. “I'm sure there will be requests for transportation and learning to pilot the flivs. I and my counselor would like to lay our heads on your shoulders and be welcomed into House.”
Lecco stood, his pasty face almost glowing. “Aye, we must lay our heads on your shoulders, Maca of Don.”
Chapter 14: Restoration Begins
Lewellyn and Lorenz rode down the lifts and walked into a madhouse.
“Ye will be silent!” Leta was shouting from the hallway, her stunner in her hand, but not really pointed at anyone.
Margareatha was surrounded by Tris of all ages from all Sectors of Donnick begging for an audience with the Maca, for food, and for jobs. Silence descended when they noticed the Maca and surged towards him.
He stepped forward, raised his arms, palms out, and spread his feet. “People of Donnick, I am Maca!” His voice thundered in the room.
“Who dares to challenge me?”
Quiet settled over the room and Llewellyn smiled. “In that case, your Maca welcomes ye. Here are the new Directors of the Centers. Linan directs the First and Second, Levin the Keeper for Linan, and Lecco tis Director of the Third. They have lists of people needed for the work of rebuilding Don. They will take your applications now.”
Lorenz lounged back against the wall, a small smile on his lips as he watched his father control these people. Here the man might not dwarf everyone as he had on Earth, but his size meant he could be a dangerous Thalian.
One wide faced man with spaces between his teeth and dark hair (to Lorenz it looked like an old-fashioned bowl cut) pushed forward. His light-blue Don Tri clothing was clean, but showed the signs of wear. The man was clenching and unclenching his fists.
“Lists do us nay. Truly, we are desperate and soon what jobs there are go to the Abs.”
Mummers of agreement came from the people behind him, and they started forward again.
“Lelan, the Maca has already told me to hire ye as the Keeper at the Center. Tis for half days until business improves.” Lecco's face betrayed his uneasiness, but once again the crowd stopped.
Lelan looked at the Maca in disbelief, but Llewellyn was speaking again.
“Leta, would ye show everyone to a spare room with tables and screens. Let them ken where the facilities are. This may take time. Lecco, tis up to ye whether this man tis hired or nay.”
Lorenz stepped forward. “Is anyone here a butcher?”
“That tis carver, Lorenz.”
“All right, if anyone is a carver by trade, or knows, kens anything about carving up kine, we need them now.”
All looked at Lorenz as though he were deranged. “There are nay kine in Don,” several muttered.
“There will be by tomorrow.” He turned to Llewellyn, gave a quick smile, and stepped back.
“The positions for cleaning the facilities are on the lists.” Llewellyn nodded to Leta and stepped out of the way.
Chapter 15: Trade and Other Issues
Betta kenned she looked magnificent with her white hair swept upward and back. She was dressed in the flowing, white robes of the Guardian of the Realm. She remained seated at her desk when the Keeper announced, “Captain O'Neal to see ye.”
O'Neal entered, removed his kineman's hat, and bowed. He was still dressed in his mottled colored clothing, but at least he had removed the weapons.
“It was good of you to meet with me on such short notice. There are three topics of trade we need to go over as we will leave as soon as the Guardians guarantee there are no more Krepyons on their continents. The Krepyons should have all the personal articles we are allowing them to take by tomorrow afternoon.”
Betta raised her eyebrows, but made no comment other than to indicate the chair on the other side of the desk.
O'Neal sat down and extracted a small case from inside his shirt pocket, and placed the crystal in front of her. “You'll find the items listed that we've brought to Donnick and the credits subtracted from Thalia's account. We're ready to unload the merchandise. Mac assures me that he has the laborers. You'll find that everything is properly sealed if you wish to examine them.”
“Did Beatrice give ye th
e right to bring this information to me or did LouElla?”
O'Neal's eyes lit with amusement, but his face remained bland. “We took delivery at the Justine Refuge as we would not allow the Krepyons to deliver the freight. Since I'm going to be responsible for any trading or hauling with the Golden One, we thought it expedient that I handle this with the other matters.”
Betta fought the impulse to ask “We?” Instead she gave a slight smile and asked, “How is that expedient, and who tis Mac?”
O'Neal seemed to relax and leaned back into the rounded chair. “Mac is Llewellyn, Maca of Don, and I'm the one designated by our corporation to recoup our expenses and then develop a profit. I'm sure you can understand the benefits of one person being in charge, and I still need to know if you want the merchandise.”
Betta was bewildered. Whoever heard of a trader being in charge unless said trader was Guardian of House and responsible to the Guardian Council? What, she wondered, was a corporation? Information, she desperately needed information. Finesse was needed for she did not intend for Don to benefit from any trade.
“The House of Medicine will take delivery and store the material. The Guardian of Medicine will supply the laborers and transport.”
O'Neal's face remained bland as he made a bridge with his finger tips. “You forget, Guardian, we landed in Donnick. Under your own laws, the Maca of Don has the right to say where any trade goods are delivered within Don and who moves it.”
Betta quickly clenched and unclenched her jaw. No, this Justine was not in her mind. LouElla must have instructed him.
“I dinna believe the Maca told ye true. Donnick's Centers are nay prepared.”
A smile appeared on O'Neal's face. “He's already met with the Directors and Keepers of Donnick's three Centers. The Directors will have transport available and be allowed to fly.
“I'm surprised you haven't been apprised of the results,” he continued smoothly. “There will be an announcement via Don's transmissions to the inhabitants of Don within the next fifteen to thirty minutes.”
Betta tasted bile in her mouth. The session with Magda and Ravin had been worth the time, but it prevented close contact with her Director of Affairs and Beauty was useless until pried away from Belinda.
“Ye mentioned ye had three matters of trade,” she said too swiftly.
“Yes, the Krepyons have developed a strong affection for the brew of Rurhran and wish to purchase a substantial amount to take with them. They wish to take the brew back to Krepyon for resale.” He held up his hand as Betta started to protest.
“Remember, according to the treaty, the party in charge of the Golden One has destroyed any ability the Krepyons had to make wars or travel between the stars except for one freighter. It could be a year or more before they arrive. You'll both be depending on me to transfer any trade goods until then, if I have time or if it's profitable.”
Betta mentally chopped the arrogant male into pieces and nodded. Thalia would nay have been able to destroy the Kreppies. Why should it matter to this being? Who was the power or planet that controlled him? She forced a smile.
“If I refuse to arrange the brew shipment, ye would go directly to Rurhran to arrange a purchase, tis that true?”
O'Neal's smile became affable. “Yes, Guardian, I would; however, I prefer to work through the proper government channels when possible.”
“Does it matter who tis in control?”
O'Neal's smile became raffish. “As long as said government permits me to conduct my business, I see no reason to interfere.” His face became serious.
“Are you interested in selling the brew to Krepyons, or shall I leave?”
Betta was convinced the man must be House. He did nay speak like a Tri; nay a Justine for that matter. “Aye, we will sell to the Kreppies at double the price that we have charged.”
“They won't accept that. They'll buy from Brendon when we stop there. The same will go for their agricultural products. If you change your mind, you may contact me through Llewellyn before ten o'clock this evening. The next issue is the trade between the three planets of the Justine League and my home world. If you've read the codicil to the treaty, the MacDonald Corporation is the only party allowed to go there or do any trading. Since, returning there won't be immediate, that issue may wait.” He stood, gave a mock bow, and headed for the door.
Betta took a deep breath. “How much did the Kreppies offer for the brew?”
O'Neal turned to face her. “One half of what they had been paying.”
Betta rose, her face a mask to hide the anger. “They will pay what the Justines have said was fair.”
“My thoughts exactly. Since I normally divide the charge on freight between both parties, I'll gladly sign a receipt when I accept the shipment and charge the Krepyons the full freighting costs. Their offer is an insult.
“Leave the details to me, Guardian. The credits will be applied to Thalia's account at the Justine Refuge.”
“In the future such trade requests are to go to our Trade Director or the Thalian Envoys at the Justine Refuge. Any trade betwixt other planets would be discussed with them.”
“Of course, as you wish, Guardian, but at present there are no Thalian Envoys at the Justine Refuge. Would you be willing to pay the cost of transport for one or two?”
Betta's mouth tightened. This had nay gone the way she planned. The man had told her little and the cost was rising.
“What are ye charging for the transport?”
“A mere five hundred credits for one, double for two. They would need to be ready when I return from my journey to Brendon and Krepyon. May I remind you that if they do not travel with me, any order or communication will wait until my return. In the future, the cost of passengers may double.
“When I return, all merchandise will be delivered here at Donnick and the Maca of Don will take his cut.”
Betta nodded and then her brain started to work again. “Would ye object if I arrange delivery elsewhere?”
“Mac would need to agree.”
“Why nay take control now and then ye would have the credits?”
Red stared at her. “Madam,” he said using his own terminology, “Mac is quite capable of pounding me to a pulp.”
“Ye are Justine.”
“Part Justine and so is he.”
Betta sat back in her chair and stared at her visitor. “But the Justines said he could nay mindspeak.”
“They also said I could not exist, nor Llewellyn. There's also a matter of his descendents, Lorenz and his descendents, and Margaretha and her children. You may wish to review their other premises and see what else they have wrong.”
Betta took a deep breath. “Are ye saying ye canna win in any type of fight with Llewellyn?”
Red grinned. “No, Guardian, I'm not saying that, but even if I somehow beat Mac, then I'd have to fight Lorenz. He wouldn't rest until I was dead.” Red did not add, “And my sister is not here to stop him.”
“Lorenz tis his laddie?”
“Aye, while Mac isn't the biological father, Lorenz's loyalty to Mac is beyond comprehension.”
Betta was about to say he tis nay Justine, but realized she might be wrong. She had a myriad of reasons to stop Llewellyn and his so called blind-eyed Laird. O'Neal's trip would take several months. By then control of Thalia should be settled and they would have two from Rurhran's House ready to return to the Justin Refuge as envoys.
“There is one more trade item, Guardian. The Krepyons we already have confined in the brig revealed that they had been negotiating with the Justines for more Thalian timber. Are you interested?”
“Perhaps, but I will need to speak with the Maca of Betron. I will have an answer when ye return.”
“I'm sure we'll both find it profitable.” This time the bow was smoothly done and he contained a satisfied smile as he left the room.
O'Neal held his pace to a saunter as he walked through the building. Once outside, he went directly to the Scout and hea
ded to LouElla's residence. She greeted him heartily as a proper Thalian, added a hug, and began stroking his back and buttocks. He returned all courtesies.
“Come, come, ye must see how my home tis returning to normal.”
“Of course, but can we talk privately here?”
“As privately as anywhere in Thalia. Why?”
“I don't feel comfortable going to Brendon without you. We may have missed something when we destroyed the Krepyons' capabilities. I'd rather have someone with me that has fought more than once in space. From what I've read, the Krepyons reproduce at a rapid rate, and their population exceeds that of any other known planet. They may have other facilities we missed. They're a clever people and they've had years of practice avoiding mind contact with a Justine. I want someone like you with me when we take all those Krepyons back. Frankly, I need you. Everyone has already surmised we've been bedding. Let them think that's the reason you're going.”
“Ye think of everything, don't ye?”
Red smiled at her. “You'd relish destroying the rest of the Krepyons' abilities, whatever they are.”
“My Maca and Thalia need me now.”
“And what good will you do them if the Krepyons destroy our ship?”
“Ye have the Golden One and ye have Melissa.”
“Who is as good at killing as her father, but she has but one experience using the Golden One as a fighter and neither Rita nor Melissa pilot as I as I do.”
He pulled her against him and buried his face in her neck. “You know you'd relish demolishing the Krepyons.”
LouElla stiffened while she considered. Putting an end to all Kreppie abilities would be sweet; almost as sweet as a bedding, and this man was a knowledgeable lover. Gar kenned he had enough experience. She snuggled against him.
“We'll discuss this after the bedding.”
But LouElla had already decided. Llewellyn and Thalia needed her here.
Chapter 16: Missed Opportunities
