Knight Esquire ya-2

by P. S. Power

  Like threatening Debri house or the Morgans? Tor winced to himself. Oops. No wonder Smythe tried to kill him. He really had been just venting though. Mainly. Note to self, he thought, don’t vent here. Got it.

  In the midst of all the brown clad people he had Karina help him move one of the griddles towards a shed past the pond garden, they both huffed and puffed, by the time they were halfway there, and had half a dozen other people helping them do the work. They could have used the follow along float, but he needed to whisper to her a little. If the fear was watchers, he needed to be careful too, right?

  “Karina, this is, well, delicate. I need to have a private audience with the King, then, if I’m still alive, with your mother, Rolph, Varley and you. Um, tell the King it… Tell him it involves Varley, but this needs to be a real secret meeting first please, not one with a half dozen listeners in the walls? I, I couldn’t handle that right now…” Tor gasped this out and felt his muscles tremble, which probably served to make him look more than a little scared.

  Acting skills? Zero. Looking like a scared child? One hundred percent. Or at least sounding like one. The beard was growing in pretty nicely now and aged him up a good bit. Now he looked like a small adult instead of a kid at least. Or at least a boy with a fake beard, so people could guess he was trying to look older.

  The Princess grinned knowingly and ran off without saying anything more. She actually ran, which, honestly, was a wise thing that he needed to point out later. Either that or give Not-flyers to all the staff. More work for him, but that might actually be the more popular option. He finished helping to move the griddle, because it had to be moved anyway, and just walking off would be something a real servant wouldn’t have done. Not that he had to worry personally since he had a shield on and all, but if it was a rule, he’d follow it as best he could while he was there.

  Karina didn’t come back over at least, just standing and gesturing at the door, which was a little lazy if she was a servant gesturing to some high lord, but was about perfect for a servant girl trying to get another servant to come to her. Tor wondered if it was just that Karina was that slothful by nature or if she was smart enough to work all this out on her own? Rolph and Varley were both smart, so why not their sister too? He’d never seen it exactly, but shallow and a little too concerned with what other people thought of you was different than dumb.

  Not living her life, he couldn’t even say that she was actually shallow and vain even. Maybe in her world what he saw as being self-centered was actually something else from her perspective? Something needed, even if he didn’t know why? That there were thing he didn’t know about royal girls was so clear that he might as well wear a sign saying it all the time. Or, could he have it embroidered on the back of a shirt? That would work too and probably be more comfortable. Embroidery was expensive to hire done though and he didn’t have time to learn the skill himself, so the world would probably just have to guess at his lack of knowledge on this topic. That was fine. Most people would probably just look at him and be able to tell.

  It took nearly a minute for him to get to her; Tor tried to hurry, but the half jog he could manage after the moving of the heavy equipment was just that pitiful. At least she didn’t make him talk when he got to her, she just put out her arm for him to take, so she could steady him if need be.

  “Dad said to tell you to be at the place from before in ten minutes. I asked him when before, but he said you’d know?” Bright coppery red hair in a braid today, she flung her head around sharply to toss it over her right shoulder, so that it draped cutely, and gave him a proper village girl style “come hither” look.

  “So, if I can ask without it being off-putting, why Varley and not me? I’m older and, well, I know she’s prettier than me, but I’m a lot closer to the throne and all that, if that kind of things important to you at all. Unless, well, she does look a lot like mom, and I know you like her a lot.”

  “Um, yeah, about that, could we talk about that if your dad doesn’t have me killed outright? Besides, you already have a marriage lined up, don’t you?” He asked, not wanting to give everything away in public. That walking down a gray and empty hallway trimmed in a wood was somehow “public” baffled him even as he knew it was probably true. At least he knew that no one could hide in the walls of his little focus stone hut.

  She agreed to wait, very grudgingly, and a little grumpily she set off down a side hallway as he worked his way towards what would be nearly the innermost part of the palace. He got lost twice, before he found the drab door with the stairs behind it. At least the light plates were already on. Grinning slightly Tor finally activated his Not-flyer and got to try going down the stairs. The ride wasn’t perfectly smooth, but it only felt like riding down a giant wash board, not jarring at all. The lights and walls zipped by, but when he started to pull his right hand back he slowed to a stop just before he reached the bottom.

  He tapped on the metal door, still gray and cold. No noise came. His shield, right. Torrance could move things with it, pick them up if he was careful, but the energy from rapping or hitting something would go into the ground unless he was in the air. Instead of knocking again, he opened the door carefully, to find the room totally empty except for the King.

  Richard sat in the big chair on the far end, legs apart, hands resting on the arms a heavy and untreated looking wood. The posture made him seem huge, which he was, but bigger even than normal. At least he smiled pleasantly.

  “Tor! Please come in and close the door. So you want to talk to me about Varley?” He said this loudly, happily, as if he didn’t care who heard, but wanting to make Tor feel comfortable about the situation too.

  “Normally, in our circles, you approach the girl’s mother first, but I understand the country system can be a little different at times? Connie and I have talked about this at length and Veronica has asked if it would be possible, asked her mother at least. As a Countier fourth, we feel that your claim is good enough to get a hearing. That you’re Tor and have done things for the kingdom that few ever even hope to approach and in only a few short months… well how could we refuse? Veronica still has to agree of course, but if she does, you have our full support.”

  Tor nodded for a moment, then stopped.

  “Um, sorry. What?”

  “We give our blessing. Torrence Baker, we offer you the hand of the Royal Princess Veronica Hope Cordes in marriage.”

  “Oh.” Tor muttered weakly.

  Chapter fifteen

  Tor grabbed the bridge of his nose, as if his head hurt, which amazing enough it didn’t. Well. He didn’t want to draw this out, because if the King had to kill him over this he didn’t want Varley to wonder if she was responsible. Quickly he explained the whole thing with Kolb and the organization he kind of started out of the back of the Wildlands Station. Instead of yelling, or even getting all serious looking the King leaned forwards and… smiled.

  “And you plan on supporting them? With your devices and such? How are we supposed to pay for this? I mean, I could order it done, but openly paying for something kind of defeats the purpose of a secret organization, doesn’t it?” He stroked his naked chin but didn’t say anything.

  “Well… do I get anything for making all those devices for the military?” Tor asked, not really expecting anything in particular. Why should they pay when he’d been willing to do it for free? The King surprised him then.

  “Gods yes. Full market rate, you just haven’t asked, so we haven’t said anything about it yet. War on and all you know, so there’s a pinch, but we have the golds, if you want them. They’re yours, holding them just lets us use them as collateral at need. It’s quite a bit by now I think. Actually I know. I’ve seen the accounts.”

  Tor wondered at the amount, which wasn’t given in specifics, just stated as being a lot.

  “OK, then we just have the treasury send over a slow monthly draw on that, and I’ll use it to pay them. If the money just disappears, well, everyone knows I’m
bad coin, just giving things away all the time. Really I didn’t even think I was going to be paid for the items I made for the military. I probably shouldn’t tell you that, you’ll want them free now.” He smiled but the King didn’t.

  “Oh, definitely not. That would destroy the economy. Bad enough all that gold is going to one person. Be sure to spend that will you?”

  “Alright. At any rate, I can give some away too, spread it around a bit. That way no one guess the actual point.”

  Richard smiled and shook his head.

  “An expensive way to get things done, but yes, I agree, that would hide it all nicely.”

  “The reason that I wanted to go over this with you, well first of course, was so you’d know that it wasn’t something sinister, not me building my own army or anything, since I can’t have one. Second though, is the chain of command. Your whole family needs to know, since they’re it. They tell these people that they want someone dead as a joke, or offhand statement, and those people will die. Ask for the moon and they’ll start trying to get it for real and won’t stop until they have it or are told to give up, that kind of thing. They’re already some of the best fighters in the land and armed and armored like we can get them, I don’t know that a lot of people will be able to stop them. Especially once they get past the whole idea of being honorable warriors and all that.”

  “So, it’s me, Connie, you, Alphonse, Karina then Varley? Or, are you before the Queen?” His voice sounded slightly strange suddenly, suspicious or un-trusting?

  Tor grinned and shook his head.

  “I’m not in the chain of command at all. Not a member of your family and I think that “by marriage” shouldn’t count for this. Lowest man in line outranks me there. I’ll back their plays, and I guess pay for it all, but other than that, I don’t even really need to know what’s going on. Safer that way. At least until I’m older and more stable emotionally. Smythe may be a prick, but he wasn’t wrong there. I get that now. Um and really, all the kids basically have the same “rank” as far as this goes. I guess you could set that up differently, but I didn’t think about it at the time. So you know if Varley and Rolph countermand each other you or Connie will have to settle it.”

  Seeing that he wasn’t going to be killed Tor sat down and swallowed.

  “So, um, I didn’t come to ask to marry Varley. I figured that would just be a good thing to hint at in order to get someplace safe to talk. I… What do I say? I mean, of course I’d like that, but should she do it? Is that really what’s best for her? Or, I mean, is this one of those polite refusal things you guys are supposed to do? You say sure, so that I feel all right about it, but she has to decide, then she confesses she really loves Count so and so and I have to step aside honorably? If so, it’s all right to just say so, I won’t be mad or anything. I wasn’t even asking really. It would be great, she’s incredible, but, well, I’m just me.”

  As vexing as it was, Richard smiled and shrugged. Then he leaned towards Tor and whispered.

  “Ask and find out? I told you the truth as far as I know it, but she is a woman and they do change their minds. Today she likes Tor, master of the mighty, tomorrow she might like Varro the gardener… Of course, she can actually marry you, so I say risk it. Let her sleep with Varro if she wants and who’s to mind? Certainly not Varro, he’s eighty if he’s a day and really, quit the coup for him, no? The worst that happens is that she, very politely, puts you off. None of my children is a Doretta in any way. That simply can’t be afforded at this level of the game.”

  Putting his hands flat on the table he pushed himself up, taking more effort than he’d thought it would. He leaned on his hands for a moment, hoping it looked confidential not weak. It was a little weak, but that was probably just shock.

  “Alright then, I put forward my bid, knowing that she’ll probably find someone better in a few weeks or throw me over for the gardener. If she does. I’ll step out of the way. Is that proper? I don’t want to trap her, if she, you know, needs to be doing something better for her? I guess… well, I’m a little leery still, after Trice. Make sure everyone knows that they don’t have to rip me apart publicly or anything to get rid of me, all right? Seriously, I’m good with a note, come to that.”

  The King stood chuckling slightly and went to the door behind Tor and called gently up the stairs that they were ready for everyone now. Varley got to the bottom of the stairs faster than anyone else, floating down using her Not flyer, wearing a lovely white gown and a wrap of gossamer material, that reminded him of the stories he’d heard about faeries as a child, and what he imagined their wings to look like. The girl landed on her feet lightly, the hard soles of her white shiny leather shoes touching down with only a little tap. Smiling she ran to him, hitting her shield to turn it off. Laughing he did the same, as per their prior agreement. She half tackled him and pinned him lightly against the wall with a sudden twist. Then her lips touched his.

  “Yes.” Varley said, her voice low. “Yes. I will marry you.”

  “Marry?” Tor said with a grin. “Who said anything about marriage? I was just asking your father if I could borrow you to be the new apprentice baker at my house. We’re really in a bind right now that way. He suggested that you also clean the stables, but we don’t have any of those, so it looks like you’re going to luck out there.”

  She laughed and kissed him again, which made him giggle a little.

  “Well, all right, I guess we can do that marriage thing if you really want to.” Tor said when she back off a little, laughing.

  Richard, standing back behind the table still, laughed himself, a deep bass thing. Tor couldn’t help but think that he wasn’t really being helpful. This one at least, if he wasn’t going insane and imagining it all, was a real marriage. Not something just to keep someone else from getting the girl. He didn’t think so at least. It might be hard to tell with royals, but he was taking it as real anyway. Even if he was really just acting as an acceptable place holder for this Varro guy. He’d get with Rolph later to make sure, one way or the other.

  Nearly a minute later the other three members of the royal family came down. Since all of them had Not-flyers on, Tor assumed that their walking down the stairs was meant to give Varley time with him for some reason. Nice of them.

  When they all got into the room Tor pushed the door shut and latched it from the inside securely. It was Rolph that broke first, grinning.

  “So am I going to be calling you brother Tor or not?” He asked genially. Varley smiled and nodded.

  “I told him yes! This is so great. I’m going back with him to his house and if I come back pregnant you can all just deal with it.”

  Connie hugged the girl and then Tor with a single movement.

  “Oh no you don’t young lady. No getting pregnant until at least a full year after the day of the wedding. You know how to prevent such things. No shadow of scandal please. Also… children, your father and I have something to tell you… it involves Tor, and his family.” She glanced at the King who waved his hand with a smile.

  “You were all taught the old legends, how long ago ancients that survived the end of one world, took the best of it, and built anew, forming on each continent a nation of power, based on a single premise. Magic for us, genetics for Afrak, spirituality for the Tellerand and technology for the Austran. But behind all this was an underlying principle, that the failures of the old world not be brought back. That the world not be unbalanced again, that the population not be allowed to grown to unmanageable levels. That we don’t use up the world we live in, just live.”

  Karina snorted, an unladylike thing to be sure, “Right, but I always liked the one about the faerie Princess that lived in a giant gourd, it always sounded much more fun. “Bodabink- you’re a rabbit!” I always wanted to be a rabbit as a child you know. That or a bird. Of course, now I can fly, so half way there. Tor, if you could get to work on the rabbit part of things when you get a chance?” She grinned at him and gave a wink.

>   Tor blinked. Well, he couldn’t turn her into a rabbit, could he? But… well, if he could make a light, could he make her look like a rabbit? Shaking himself he tried to hold his focus on the situation at hand.

  With a serious look, Rolph hovered his large hand over the shield on his sister’s shoulder.

  “Don’t worry, there’s a tie in here. Wait for it…”

  Connie nodded regally at her children.

  “Indeed there is. So you know the stories, how the ancients, six of them back then, lived, and didn’t age or die, so that they could stay around and keep setting the world right from the damage done by the old ones. Well, some of them have had children. The process, a genetic one, that gave them their long lives, doesn’t always breed true. In fact it rarely does. In Noram, there are only five that we know of that show the trait. One of them is the ancient of magic. Count Lairdgren, Burks Green.”

  No one said anything for a few moments. Then the King spoke, his voice gentle.

  “The others are Tor’s Uncle Dan, his mother Laurie, Tor, and possibly his younger sister Tiera. That last is still uncertain, but Tor’s been checked out already, special blood examinations taken by a highly trained doctor after he was poisoned. The thing is, well, the Green men with that trait, they aren’t exactly highly fertile. So it might be hard to rapidly have a child with Tor, Varley. It shouldn’t be impossible, but if you marry him, well, chances are good that you won’t have his child. Normally not a big issue, but he’s not exactly overly tall… So some care would be needed in the selection of lovers if you decide to have children.”

  Tor hadn’t known that. He hadn’t known a whole lot of it to tell the truth. He’d have trouble having kids? It… kind of made sense for someone that might live for a long time. He hadn’t really thought about it much, because so far it seemed unlikely that he’d live long enough to grow old normally, but if he could, he might not age? Right. He’d believe that when he saw it. His mother certainly hadn’t had problems producing offspring for her part, but then, Connie had said the Green men. What really got his attention was that Lairdgren was named Burks.