by P. S. Power
It took a bit to get everyone up and around, since, whatever had happened in their room, Gerent and Carol were still sleepy and Collette looked like she hadn't slept at all, acting as a guard for her own mother. Trice had actually slept through the whole thing, but had gotten up early to make sure the staff knew to have a meal ready for them. They were taking it with them, and eating on the craft. It was... Incredible.
Not the meal, which was just fruit and some bread, though nicely presented on a large metal tray with a cover, that was loaded onto Tim's new style craft. It was that the thing was both large and had rooms. Like a house almost. Nicer than the boat that Captain Petra had even.
"It can change and be arranged like the big houses can. It's only about half as fast as the Fast Craft." He seemed slightly ashamed of the fact, but Trice put her arm around his shoulders and gushed at them.
"And can be way bigger than this. Over two hundred feet wide and a third longer than that. The outside can look however you want it too. They come with water pumps and nice restrooms, full kitchens and almost anything that you could think of. Even furnishings. It can be both a house and a cargo hauler, a troop ship or a command center, changing to meet your needs with a few thoughts. If I wasn't already married to Timon, I'd be angling him into bed, just to try and get one. As it is, I've already had to fend off several attempts by both men and women to do the same thing and they've only been out a few weeks." She seemed more than a little proud of the fact, and it wasn't aimed at Tiera, but Carol Coltress, who also seemed more than a little impressed, once they took off and she got the full idea.
"Well, since trying to get you into bed would probably end in my death, I don't suppose you'd simply consider selling me one, would you? What do they run, price wise?"
That got answered by Collette, who was standing behind Timon, who was at the controls.
"At the moment? You can't. He's not selling at all. You have to work for him to be allowed to fly one at all even and Timon owns them all. If someone stole one... the black market price would be about four million. Really, your odds are better getting Gerent to like you enough that in a few years, when Tim is ready to sell, he can get you a deal."
Trice walked to the back a bit, about twenty feet away, loading a plate at the central table where things were laid out. The floor had a nice red carpet on it, and the furniture looked to be made of focus stone, which looked nice, being the black kind. Trice didn't pull out a chair though, standing while she nibbled at the food. Tiera did the same, wondering if it was a ship thing. Some new custom that she didn't understand?
Carol grabbed a seat however and so did Collette. Gerent moved closer to Tiera, and looked a bit worried for some reason. That seemed to be about when he was allowed to get food, since he didn't know the rules for that. Technically... She had to think about it herself, to tell the truth and finally just asked.
Trice looked around and answered bluntly.
"Really, he should go third or fourth. I need to make a plate for Tim, since he's the captain, but then it goes by rank. I'm the first mate, and Tiera and Gerent both work for us, for the Fast Transport Service as pilots, then you two. I'm just making this up now, but I like it, don't you?" There was a smirk and chuckle that went with it all, but Collette paused for a second and then nodded.
"It actually makes some sense, being that this will soon be an international effort. The Space Fleet and all that. We need to get the rules in line early, or there will end up being a hodgepodge of different things going on, with no one really being pleased with them at all. We should write those up."
Of course it would probably all be up to Aunt Alice, Tiera knew, but the woman might not care, especially since she was going to have to be at the top.
Thinking about it Tiera ate a ripe strawberry. It was grown indoors, she thought, but didn't know how that would be done. No one in Two Bends had fresh fruit in the middle of winter at all. It almost all came from jars or the dried bins, this time of year.
"So, High Admiral, Admiral, Captain, First Mate, Pilots and then everyone else? The crews might be larger than that though. I guess section leaders and down from there?" She was making up the titles, but no one thought it was all that bad. Collette even wrote it all out and handed it off to Trice, who shrugged and passed it to Tiera, since she was the one delivering the fleet to the High Admiral.
She hadn't thought of it that way at all. There was a black focus stone box, but it was kind of a big thing. They needed to test them all, Tim had said, but if they worked, even if they were too slow, they were an honest space fleet. It might need a bit more than just handing the box over and slapping the woman on the rear.
She thought about it while cleaning her plate and resisting the urge to take more. It looked good, but Tim hadn't had any yet and Gerent needed it at least as much as she did, she was willing to bet. He didn't get anything else either, and the others waited too, so she was happy enough about her decision.
When they got to Warden, they actually landed right in front of the palace there, the lawn lush and green looking, with delicate seeming trees all around that had a different configuration than the pine and fir she was used to. It was very early still, so they caught one of the first deliveries of the day being made, a woman that, for the life of her, looked very familiar. Only slightly bigger.
"Is Terlee here?" She pointed at the woman who was wearing a nice gown, but also carrying a tray of something. She had long black hair and was pretty. Not as good looking as her sister, maybe, but close.
Timon grunted gently.
"Nope. That's Debbie Smalls. She runs a bakery here, along with a magic shop. One of the good things that Tor managed to do." He spun in the pilot's seat, the whole thing pivoting to allow it. For some reason he turned to look at them, but his eyes, Tiera noticed, focused on Carol Coltress alone.
She sneered, as if the baker walking toward them was the King or something.
Then she stood stiffly, and walked to the door of the craft, looking less than perfectly pleased about it all. Once out in the lawn, she faced the woman and for a moment, seemed ready to start screaming at her.
Right until she sank to her knees and bowed her head. Tiera had to walk closer to hear her then, but at least the words sounded correct, even if they might not be perfectly well meant.
"I wronged you, demanding that you kill your brother. I won't forgive his crimes or actions, but that doesn't make my own right. I apologize and mean it. I can't bring myself to love you, though you are, no doubt, worthy of such. That is my failing. I'm so sorry that I put you through all of that." She went on, getting a bit repetitious, but no one called her on it. Then she stood and closed her eyes, only to shake for a bit and look at Tiera.
"I stand ready." She sound scared about it, which was good. No one should willingly rush into pain after all. It meant her mind was normal, at least in that fashion.
Tiera didn't hesitate, or wait to see if it was what this other woman wanted. When it was time to fight you simply did it. Baroness Coltress didn't try to fight back, just going down under a hail of blows, struggling to get her hands up to protect her head. It didn't really work, as Tiera sat on her chest, pummeling her into unconsciousness, but it was better than the day before, where she hadn't really even tried to do anything at all. It meant she was learning.
She paused and looked over at the very shocked seeming baker, who was shaking more than a little as evidenced by the rocking motion of the food carry tray.
"Do you find yourself satisfied with that, or would you like to take a turn yourself?" It seemed reasonable to offer, but she just went pale and shook her head.
"I... no. That's fine." It was weak sounding, but Timon moved to take the tray for her, so she wouldn't drop it.
"Good. Well, that's one down. Now for the rest? We might want to revive her for that part."
Not that Carol was going to love it, but they did manage to get her on both feet, in clean clothing and wiped down so she wasn't covered with blood
when they went in. The man at the door was a guard, not a butler, but was nicer by far to them than the one of those that she'd met, in County Morris.
This one simply smiled and asked for them to wait, taking the tray of baked goods from Timon. A few minutes later a real servant came, and greeted them as if they were some kind of strange combination of long lost friends and high dignitaries.
"Welcome! Please come in, you're all expected. Baronetta Coltress, how lovely to see you again. You look in fine health. And Countier Baker and Lady Baker! Marvelous." The man wasn't old, perhaps in his mid-thirties, but when he got to the rest of them, instead of the vaguely disapproving looks she expected, his eyes lit, like they were a fireworks display. "And new friends too! Please everyone, come this way. All are waiting for you in the cool room."
That, it turned out, was just a place set up with a cooling plate on the wall. It was nice enough, having strange woven chairs with cushions, and several large people in it. Timon quickly did the introductions, since that traditionally fell to whoever knew everyone involved, if such a person were handy.
"The big fellow there with the reddish hair is Kedrin Cordes. Potential Usurper of the throne, but a nice person regardless. Count Ward... you actually know everyone, don't you?"
The very fine looking man smiled, mainly at Tiera, and nodded.
"I do indeed. I must say, this is most unexpected. I'm honored that you all came to visit with us. Please make my home your own." It was polite, but not a real offer, Tiera didn't think. Then again, Maria made a face, but didn't tell them to store their midgets someplace else. In fact, she actually got up and started passing out hugs to everyone.
That meant all of them, including Gerent. She actually froze when it came to her own mother, but then managed to make the movement happen, though clearly there were hard feelings there. As the woman got to her knees, she didn't stop her, but let her get up after just a few minutes, both of the women in tears.
"I accept your apology mother, and hope that you'll come and live here, until things are settled?"
Carol actually smiled then and shook her head.
"I can't. My new lover already has a claim on me. I'll be in the Capital with him, until he tires of me, which, if I can't do a bit better than before, won't be long, I fear."
Countess Ward looked puzzled, but didn't ask who precisely that would be. She glanced at Timon, looking oddly hurt about it all, but he shook his head.
"Not me. Blame Gerent for this one."
That... had smiles on the Wards faces and Maria moved in and hugged the small man instead of seeming upset at all. She didn't seem to be mocking him either, by whatever miracle caused that to happen.
"Wonderful! Both of you are invited to come and stay, schedule permitting. Of course, the King might not love that, but perhaps you could sneak away from his watchers? I do notice that you're all here." It was said firmly, but Carol hugged her daughter again, seeming to mean it and then waved toward Tiera.
"That's Conserina Baker's doing. I can't say she's my favorite person right now, but she did save me from the streets, and told King Richard that she wasn't abandoning her friends just to soothe his ego. I don't know the why of it, but the man swallowed it too." She looked at Kedrin and then bowed, going low.
"I don't know your plans, but I suggest you seek an alliance there. After my beating, I mean, of course. I don't suppose that we get to skip that, since Maria forgave me already?" She seemed hopeful and honestly, Tiera thought it felt right.
Still, it was good exercise so she shook her head.
"No. With each apology, to show that you mean it. Even if you can't believe the words yet. It proves to everyone that you won't do it again."
"I really won't..."
That didn't save her though however Tiera did lead her outside for it and after only a few minutes did let Maria proclaim herself satisfied over the whole thing. Collette snorted but didn't glare at her sister.
"You're easily mollified today, aren't you?"
The pretty Countess who was only in her early twenties, which meant that she looked about sixteen or so, dimpled at them all.
"I do aim to be the most pleasant person I can be. Doesn't everyone know that?" She sounded innocent, and as odd as it seemed, no one did more than nod about it. Sagely.
Chapter three
The events of the day looked like they might just drag out, being that Maria really seemed to want to sit around chatting with everyone for a long time. After about twenty minutes of this Tiera understood that she was lonely, as strange as the idea really was. Not a lot of people spent much time with her anymore, it seemed, being a traitor and all that.
Sure, that was a trick, but even the other rebels, the real ones, were all busy enough that they didn't spend a lot of time talking about flower arrangements or new clothing styles, at least with Maria. Over the last years almost all of her friends had probably vanished, one by one. She didn't whine about that directly, but it kind of explained why she wanted Gerent, and her own mother, to come and stay with them.
Tiera stood up and tried to smile. It was harder than it used to be, and there was no way that it looked real. Countess Ward could see that too and frowned a bit, understanding that something was wrong. She didn't bother to glare, just sighing sadly.
"Do you need to leave already?" It sounded sad. The kind of thing that reminded her of her little brother Tenant when he thought someone was being mean to him, but couldn't prove it directly.
"Yes. I have a day trip into Austra. Tim would be going, but has a meeting here today. If you aren't needed for that, why don't you come along?" She waited for a reaction from her little brother, and an explanation as to why that was a stupid idea, but he just stood himself.
"Good plan. We should look like we're making contacts there anyway. Maria, why don't you go and meet with Brown and Alice Orange? Make friends or whatever? So far the only people going over there have been supporters of King Richard, at least on paper, so it would make sense to be able to show that our side has the ability to do the same thing." It was a little weak, but no one called him on the idea or said that as a Countess, Maria was too valuable to risk on adventures like that.
Instead he handed over one of his new Fast Craft to Tiera, which was on silver and had a stylized horse on it in profile. It didn't glow or anything, but that wasn't the point. This was, after all, something that Tim had made, not Tor. Even if he could have made it seem the same, he wouldn't have.
Maria... Squealed.
"Oh! We can all go! Well, not you boys, but Trice, Collette and Gerent. Not that you're a girl, but rather that you're not really involved in our other mess yet and probably shouldn't be. Just tell everyone that I'm seducing you over to our side and it will work well enough." Her face fell though and she shook her head so fast that it had to hurt. "Damn. I can't do it though, can I? I'm going to be needed here to entertain."
Marvin looked sad about it too, but Kedrin stood, his vast form taking twice as long to do that as a regular person would.
"Nonsense. No one will begrudge you a trip to a foreign land. I think you should all go, as suggested. Perhaps speak my name a few times to interested parties?"
That actually seemed to decide it, even though Tiera couldn't really tell why. The man was a rebel, but he couldn't really expect to gain anything from dealing with their old enemies, could he? Except that... As nice as Brown was in the main, he'd allowed Austra to go to war with Noram several times in the last century. It was just possible that he might really throw in with them, if they had a good enough sales pitch. Or at least, some of his people might.
She shrugged and started to the door, which was a bit rude, but waved for those that were planning to come to do so.
"All right then. Everyone that's going, come along. We need to pick up some things from the market I hear? Do you have a list and some coin for that Tim? Otherwise they're going to get very little, if I have to use mine." She had about two silvers left on her. It wasn't everyt
hing she had, but carrying more than that was a bad habit. It left you mentally lazy and unable to find real world solutions to problems. That was her current idea on the matter at least. Real people didn't have a gold in their pocket most of the time and doing so meant you could buy yourself out of most problems, but it also meant you wouldn't be thinking about how to fix things when they came up.
Plus, she was kind of poor for a noble.
Her brother handed over a fat velvet purse that had been on his side, giving her the whole thing without counting. She didn't check the contents, since it was either enough or she wouldn't be getting some things. That really wasn't her problem, was it?
"The list is in the top. You can get it all from the market here, so it won't take that long. Oh..." He handed her a small black box and smiled. "Austran communications device. Don't lose it, please. You can call Denno on it and he'll set most of what's needed up for you. Alice is with him and all that."
Then, as if that was even possibly enough of an explanation, he winked and waved them away. It either was, or she'd fake her way through, she decided.
They moved out then, with Maria suggesting that they stop and walk the full length of the market, so that they didn't miss any good deals. Tiera tried not to let herself feel annoyed, but Collette was the one that corrected her, if gently. Trice actually hadn't come along, though no one mentioned why. The idea that she might really believe in the rebel cause... Wasn't one that made any sense. She was, if anything, the most loyal follower that the King had, wasn't she? If he couldn't keep his own niece in line, maybe the bad guys had something for real?
Then, perhaps that was the reason she was staying, to make it look like that.
There were too many pretty blonde women in their group, and they got stares over it. She and Gerent were nearly invisible next to them, and even though Maria tried to suggest fun things for them to get lost in and sidetracked with, Collette sided with Tiera each time she put her foot down. Finally Maria made a sour face, but it was overdone, so probably a joke.
