Ancient Kings (The Young Ancients) (49 page)

"With that, and the new class from the cooking school at Wildlands Station, we might have enough to keep things going. We need field kitchens for them. Mobile would be better. I don't suppose that you could see to that High Master Builder Baker? I know you have some other projects, but the last I heard no one else can create the large magical houses that you've made. I wouldn't ask normally, but..."

Richard looked ready to put his foot down, but Ali patted Tor's arm.

"That's true. We can't spend too much time on that however. It might work best if Tor made a template for it himself and then set the Lairdgren Group to the actual work. We should all be able to do it then. How long will it take you to do that honey?"

He thought for a few seconds and then shrugged.

"Honestly? Don't let this out, but after I sleep... about six hours now. I already know the field, so it's just a matter of making it strong enough and allowing the transfer and copy information to come into existence. It's technically a novel build, but not a hard one. I need about two hours a day to work on that other project, I think. I'd already started it, but that's a bust now." He let his hands spread. "I missed a day, so the initial field has probably degraded pretty badly. Still, I have a few new ideas and some information to add in anyway, so best to start over. We should have a few hundred new, vastly improved, Fast Carriages in a month or so. I'm going to have to start carrying the fields around with me all the time at this rate, so new events don't do that again. I hate losing work." Everyone else seemed to be happy about that at least.

Him not overworking.

Like that was a thing?

Then they spoke about how Two Bends delivery had stepped forward, and the kids from the Lairdgren school. The only other topic, which was left until near the very end, was the escape of Sandra Morris. When the topic was finally mentioned, by Lord Smythe, the King actually stood and moved near Tiera's chair and started to get down on his knees, clearly intending on begging her forgiveness. He didn't even get the first word out before he was waved to his feet.

"
Family
." Tiera said it almost fiercely, but the Finance Counselor across the table nodded at the monarch, telling him that it was actually a
thing
in some places.

Then his little sister pulled out a smooth blue metal thing with a screen on it. It wasn't huge, but looked a little like a communications device from Austra, only different.

"Besides, she isn't missing. I have this. Here, let me..." It took a few seconds, but after a bit she pointed a single finger at the little map that appeared in outline. It was of Noram and part of Soam, but there was a tiny light blue dot, just about where County Ross would be, right on the southern border, near County Elise. One of the ones that was, it seemed, revolting. "This will show us where she goes, all the time, down to the width of a finger, one way or another. Her father the Count..." There was pushing at the screen, but he showed a moment later, back in his own County, not hidden at all. "Is in his house. Probably the guest house there actually, since I didn't destroy it for him, yet. So not hard to find at all. I can't do just anyone, but I was able to get this set up when I was on the Moon. Cordes Blue helped me do it. I didn't know who was in on the rebellion, or I could have put in more names. At least if I knew where they were at the time. What I can do is...
This
."

Nothing happened for a long time, but then there was a clink of glass against wood and the sound of someone moving. No one said anything, so they all heard what came next.

"Count Morris, sir? We have a report from the battle... All forces lost."

"What? All of them? How is that possible?" He sounded concerned at least. It was better than Tor would have expected.

"The spies... It seems that, there is some confusion, sir, but... They were thwarted by some children? That's all we have sir."

The man was sent away and nothing else but some cursing was heard after that for a long while so Tiera turned the thing off.

"I can listen to Sandra too. It doesn't work all the time, but we might be able to get some information that way. Tor suggested it. This way we can find out who all is involved with this. Not that we don't already know, but... Maybe troop movements or something useful can come of it?"

There was a sense of excitement then, but no one dared to suggest taking the device from Tiera, which Tor had half been afraid of. That would start a fight for certain. It was her only line on Sandra after all.

Cordes smiled and took over again, looking first at the King and then Tiera.

"Why don't we call Count Morris and let him know what's going on? If he's at home, he should have his communications device. We have the control element here in the Palace, so we should be able to listen in on any communications they make using it, if they're that foolish. I'm sure that pointing out that his forces were as easily defeated as they were, even with the rocket launchers that were provided to him, might just rattle the man a bit. If we work it right, he might even seek to contact someone after we're done, and with the handheld that Tiera has, we can listen in to what he says. It's worth a try, if nothing else. Also, given the current information, I believe that we should send a team to execute Sandra Morris in the morning. We can use that fact to get action from the man. He's already shown himself willing to try and kill us all, so I doubt anger and grief will do more than cause him to make mistakes."

Everyone was staring again, including Ali, but Timon got it instantly and explained to the room.

"King Cordes. It's a good plan, but a bit cold blooded, don't you think?"

There was suddenly a strange expression on his face. Tor had no clue what it would look like, but it felt funny. It seemed to be expressing... both amusement and slight disdain at the same time.

"Oh? It's good of you to notice that, but tell me Timon, do you
personally
feel that way, or are you just saying that so that these others won't know that you're truly heartless inside?"

It sounded all snarky and mean, but his brother didn't show any emotion at all.

"The second one, of course. I can tell that others do have hearts however, and it won't help to be seen as the bad guys in this. It might be better if she has an
accident
, not that anyone will believe that. We could at least have her named a criminal first, and then execute her? No one will think she's innocent after this."

Finally, after a few more exchanges, Ali pushed his shoulder.

"Pardon me, Cordes, but aren't you supposed to be trying
not
to take over my husband? This seems different than that." She sounded cold and ready to fight about it, which got Tiera to furrow her brows and nod.

"I have to agree. Not that I don't like the support I'm getting from you, but that was the plan, wasn't it? Has something...changed?"

There was a hesitation and then a rueful smile.

"No... You're both quite right. I apologize to you all, and you Torrance. I'll strive to not do this again without permission. It's simply that I thought my experience with war might be of some use this day. I did leave the actual fighting to Tor however. I don't want anyone to skip his well earned accolades. Back to my little cubby then."

There was no warning, but Tor was able to speak at least.

"Thanks, both of you. He's been doing this off and on all day. It's annoying. Before anyone asks that grandstanding speech earlier was
all
him."

Then, as if it were a shameful thing or something, everyone ignored it all and moved to other things. Tor tried to read everyone's field though and oddly enough, it wasn't that they were embarrassed for him at all. They were all
scared
.

Well, not all of them. Tiera wasn't at all and Timon just watched him, checking to make certain Cordes had really give control back. Terry... it was decently clear that he just wanted to go to bed.

Tor could feel that one himself.

After that he made his excuses and promised to be in touch, not staying to help goad Count Morris or anything like that. Tiera and Timon both did, but he was able to get Terry, Ali and Sara free. It was near eleven, but Terry had a place with the men from Two Bends in the house that had the Lairdgren Group and the others in it. They just had to get him back there, but it meant opening the shield. The Royal Guard was willing to, but actually suggested that he use his fast carriage for it, so they could lift the thing for the briefest possible time.

It was fast enough and only ten minutes later they all walked Terry to his room, which was next to one that was being shared by Sam and Guide, so they could look out for him if the need arose.

"Make sure you all get back in the morning, before Smythe realizes that conscripting you all is a brilliant idea for passing messages." Tor patted the boy on the shoulder, but he collected a hug from Ali and then, a bit awkwardly, one from Sara too. He was still young enough that he thought of girls as a little icky, but was too well trained to make a face over it.

"First thing in the morning. We all have work to do. Well, I have school. I'll probably be made to stand in the corner for missing the last hour today." He grinned about it though, since that wasn't really true. You had to be pretty bad before Jenny the school teacher in the little village would do that to you. Helping to feed people at the site of a battle probably wouldn't count as naughty. Not even if he'd walked out of class without asking permission.

They were headed back after that, and Tor was able to force himself to be awake enough that he didn't start falling asleep while he flew or anything. He was tired, but there had been a lot of times he'd done with less sleep. Sara gasped suddenly, and Ali turned in the passenger's seat to look at her.

"I didn't return that boys clothing amulet! What should I do, we're nearly at Lairdgren, aren't we?"

Tor shrugged.

"We'll be back tomorrow, and I don't think Sam will mind overly. He could make his own, he probably just didn't want to waste the time on it, since he has novel builds to create."

No one spoke for a few seconds but finally the voice came from behind him, sounding soft and a bit amazed.

"He mentioned trading magical flowers for it, but... I didn't get it. He made them, didn't he? He's a full builder already? He looks so young. I heard something, of course, but..."

Tor nodded, but didn't look back, using the now familiar lights of the school at night to navigate, slowing from a good ways away, so he wouldn't miss it. He'd gotten close on his first try, which wasn't horrible considering he couldn't see most of the landmarks. He could feel them though, he realized. It was a soft thing, but there.

"A lot of people here are now. That go to the school. Sam, Guide, Farlo, Mark, and Ali... I think that's most of them, at least the young ones. There are more. Oh!" He wanted to hit himself in the head with a brick, but had to focus on flying, so didn't bother. "Duh, you need to see about making a deal with Ali and possibly some of those others for sales on their items. Some of the things they've been making are incredible. Guide has a deal with Sorvee House, for his magical fires, but I don't know what else. Of course they're all at war right now, so that might not work too well, but making connections with them won't hurt at all. Red and her people too. Lyn Cooper? I think you met? She married Dorgal Sorvee, but we can stuff him in a closet while you two hammer out a deal." Tor nearly laughed at the idea, but Sara didn't make any noise at all. She seemed considering though, inside.

They landed in silence, so that he wouldn't hit the ground and leave a hole in the street in front of his and Ali's house. That would mean taking time to repair it himself, since he'd given all his coin away, which would take time he could use working on other projects. Who knew what might come up, after all? Stupid people, causing unneeded problems, most likely.

Why were they doing that anyway? To get more power? Who the heck wanted that?

Moronic people that didn't realize how good they had it already, that's who.

It took all the energy he could muster to get them all up the stairs and into the bedroom. Sara was willing enough, but Ali seemed reluctant for some reason, which didn't make a lot of sense at first.

"It's... I was wondering if I should leave you two alone? You might have things to talk about, or, that you want to do?" There was a weirdness to it, but when Tor felt her thoughts on the matter it was clear that she was saying what she meant, she simply didn't want to push Tor around.

He kissed her on the cheek.

"I'm pretty sure we're all just sleeping tonight. We
will
want to catch up and all that, but it will have to be tomorrow. If the evening went on any longer, I wouldn't have been able to fly home. War takes it out of you it seems." He shrugged and tried to smile. "Who knew? Of course I haven't even started to really process all the people I killed earlier. I... maybe I should be alone? I'm sure the crying and shaking won't make me look very good." For once it came out sounding almost charming, which was better than sickly or morose.

Sara hugged him, but included Ali after a moment and then, without words, they all headed to the bedroom and slept together, holding each other for warmth. Or comfort. He decided to go with that one at about three in the morning, as he lay there like a brick, wide awake. The ceiling was too dark to see, but he tried really hard anyway.