Lord of the Sky (The Young Ancients: Timon) (19 page)

No one related to him directly actually showed up. Not even to say hello. True, Veronica was there, but she was part of that very strange biological manipulation plot that had been discovered a few months prior. It wasn't like she was a
real
relative. They hadn't grown up with each other or anything. Timon didn't even call her by her family nickname. He needed to start, most likely, or they'd never be as close as they probably should be.

"Let's see... The colors are blue and golden orange for the ceremony, but Trice will be in white, as a sign of purity, since this is her first marriage." The Princess stood back and looked at him closely for a while, then placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, speaking while she tried out various alterations.

"We could use a white suit for this. Silk is too fine. We don't want you to seem soft, or overly young..." It took a while for it to all come together, but in the end he had an all white outfit with silver buttons on the front and after a few moments of focus, a copy of the little crest that he'd used at the party a few days before over his heart.

It was a bit of a dig at his Aunt, but not a huge one, since most wouldn't see it. Veronica got it and made a face. It wasn't a pretty thing to see either.

"Right. Well, it is something that people have seen on you and I suppose that wearing it now will soften the blow against mother a bit. She was
not
at all pleased with the magical device you produced the other day. This will make it look a bit more like something planned at least, that you actually had ready ahead of time. The way it looked in the room was like you'd made it while walking into place. That was a bit of a slap, since it both showed you as powerful and mother as being a bit bitchy. No one likes to be called on things like that, even if it was true at the moment." She grinned and touched her hand to the device on his chest. "You did it then, didn't you? I saw you drop into the trance."

Timon bowed, but didn't comment, since it was hard to take words back and there really were spies all over the place here. Just bowing was something that could be reported and mean anything from him agreeing to his not wanting to admit to something that didn't happen at all.

Then, surprisingly, Veronica produced a disguise amulet.

"The trick here is going to be in making you look about the right age, if short. We can sell that you're about eighteen I think, if a bit common in blood. That way no one will think Cousin Trice is a cradle robbing monster, even if that
is
the situation here." There was a hard look into his eyes, but the Princess smiled after a bit. "If there was another way, we wouldn't be doing this at all. I... There's more, but I can't tell you yet."

The half dart toward the Ambassador gave it all away. She didn't want to talk in front of the unknown person. Not about anything important.

Instead she changed the topic.

"I hear that you and Raul are going to be working on the new space program together? That's exciting. I've never been to space, myself. I've heard of it, in the old stories, but it seems like a tale, doesn't it?"

The Ambassador cleared his throat, but chuckled a bit then, his face holding a friendly look that seemed slightly fatherly.

"I too, find it interesting. We used to have a full program to that end, but it was deemed too costly a few hundred years ago, so now all we do is put up satellites. I'd like to go myself, sometime, if possible. I used to dream of it as a child."

Count Peterson stared down at the man, his face looking puzzled for a moment, but his words seeming clear and very coherent. It probably meant he was smarter than he looked.

"If I understand this correctly, we should have the first units for testing in a few days. Sooner actually, but this day's events are holding things back a bit. Then we need to make certain it can be done without dying. I don't know who we're going to get for that however. It will need to be someone capable of flying such a thing of course, but also not so highly placed that they'll be missed if they die. Not that they will, since the Wizard Tor is making the things himself. It's a formality, I'm certain."

There really were things to test, like the air cleaning unit, and the fake gravity. Growing things under the lights inside for instance, because food would be needed for long trips. Also the speed, but that could be done in space itself, where they had room.

"I'll be doing that. By taking it under the water of the ocean for a while first. Then, once everything checks out there, we'll let Alice Orange decide who gets to go into space first, since she's going to be in charge of the whole thing. We're just in charge of the Noram part. You know, we need someone for Austra too. Just remind them that it basically means doing what Orange says, or she'll kick their behinds. Possibly for real. She's one of the best fighters in the world after all." It was the truth, but no one commented on it overly.

It took all of them about two hours to make him look believably old enough to be getting married that day. The mirror showed that he looked good. Manly enough, but with a slightly fine featured face that was free of blemishes and a faint scar on his left cheek, near his mouth, just for decoration. That was an addition that Ambassador Hallis suggested.

"Your people don't do tattoos or piercings commonly, but since this will be shown on the com in my land, people will expect to see
something
. Everyone is most excited you know. Your popularity is nearly as great as your brother's and people find you far more accessible. Of course many will be saddened to see you not marrying Kincaid Rue. Those rumors have been going around for a while now, that you two were an item. That's the life of a celebrity." He had to explain most of this to the others, but Timon actually knew what he meant. He hadn't realized there was going to be a camera crew.

It turned out that Denno was busily seeing to that part of things himself. It was why he wasn't there, no doubt.

That killed some time, which was the real point, and finally, at about ten minutes before seven, he was led by a cohort of nicely dressed Royal Guards to the Palace chapel. The instructions were actually fairly simple, since they hadn't had any chance to practice or even go over it all before he was taken to the outer door.

George nudged him gently, and bowed to Count Peterson.

"This won't be difficult. You'll both walk in through the side door. There's a white marker on the floor for you to stand on Timon. The black one is for you Count Peterson. After three minutes, Patricia Morgan and her ladies maids will walk down the aisle. You'll turn to look at her, and then take her hand briefly. Let go, and then do what the cleric tells you to. When he asks you if you agree to be her husband, say yes, clearly and firmly. If anyone makes a claim that you shouldn't be married this day, then Count Peterson will meet them in battle. Try to keep it bloodless, if that comes, sir. We just cleaned the floors." The words were serious, but after a moment the older guard smiled.

"Then, after you're released, you'll take her hand and walk back down the way she came in. Any questions?"

Shaking his head, Timon felt like his stomach was trying to get out. It didn't show in his voice, thankfully. It was bad enough that he felt anything at all, but nervousness wasn't going to help him, was it? It would be one thing to sound young and shaky, a totally different one to throw up all over his bride.

"Let's do this, shall we?" He managed to sound calm and even happy, like it was a good thing and not some kind of trick they were playing on the whole world.

"Very well." They still had to wait a few minutes, since there was a time schedule for the whole thing. Forcing his mind to go very nearly blank, Timon walked through the nice wooden door, noting the fine inlaid jade pieces that covered the outside, contrasting with the plain wood on the other. The flooring in the chapel was polished wood, and very clean, with a lovely red carpet running down the many rows of people. There were hundreds of them. Easily as many as there had been for Lyn and Dorgal's Wedding.

Timon tried to ignore them, even as he saw some familiar faces. His family was there, for the most part, in the first rows on the right hand side. Tor and Ali were in the second row, sitting next to Veronica and for some reason, the Queen. King Richard sat next to Alphonse on the other side, next to Duke Morgan and his wife. There was a man next to them that had to be Patricia's other brother. He looked a lot like Mark at least.

There were more faces that he knew, on both sides, his business having caused him to meet a lot of them over the last months. Finding the small spot of white chalk on the floor wasn't hard, and he managed to stand on it without falling off, or anything. That was just his nerves talking. He hadn't really thought that he'd feel it that closely, since, after all, this wasn't about him at all. Except that it was. Something deep inside of him warned that it was a very bad idea, getting married, especially to Patricia Morgan, but it was too late to back out now. She needed the help and even if he didn't care about her, which was actually the case, looking bad would cost him more than being saddled with her for the rest of his life.

They both stood for a long time and then there was music. It was a full orchestra, not just Marco Sorvee, who was sitting on his side of the space, near the halfway mark, since they were friends, but he wasn't a nobleman exactly.

When Trice came in she looked very nice, which wasn't a shock. That Sara walked in behind her was. Timon had known she was involved, but hadn't really thought about it. After all, she was the only person that he'd ever even imagined himself to be in love with. That had been years before, but it was as real as anything, wasn't it? The blood rushed from his face, but he didn't let himself pass out. Instead he tightened his stomach and pushed blood into his head.

Then he locked his eyes, and mind, on Trice.

Her hair was pulled back, but left a waterfall of dark curls visible on the right. Her eyes were a light blue, but bright, and she smiled at him with only a hint of nervousness to be seen. If she were acting it was done so well that she should go into being a player in Austra, where that kind of skill was well rewarded. Her dress was perfect, clearly being made of magic, but didn't go into gaudy at all. It was white and reflected the light in the room, but that was all.

The Cleric walked up just as she got to the front, and Timon reached out for her hand, as he'd been told to. It was the right one that he took. The one that his brother had made for her. He didn't let himself think about the implications of that, just locking eyes with her. Then he smiled, making sure it seemed real. After all, this was the only first wedding either of them would ever have. He might as well do his part.

The actual ceremony wasn't that long and most of the heavy lifting was done by the Cleric, who was a man of about forty, dressed in green and bright gold, with a funny hat that made him look nearly nine feet tall. He had an even tenor and a friendly tone at least.

When it came, Timon nearly missed his line. It was only the slight tightening of Trice's eyes, a panicked wince that got him to realize what was needed, as distracted as he was.

"Yes." He managed to make it a little deeper than normal, the single word a proud and commanding statement, rather than a hesitant question.

The Cleric turned his body slightly, to look at Trice. For half a second Timon wondered if she were going to say no and run off, laughing at him for letting himself be tricked.

"Patricia Alison Morgan, do you accept this man, Timon Grenworth Baker, as your husband, for the rest of your days?"

There was a pause, but it wasn't that long. She even sounded sincere when the word came out.

"Yes."

"Then, now and forever, I pronounce you man and wife."

No one had told him what he was supposed to do then, so he moved in and kissed her. Thankfully she went along with the idea and did it back. After all, it was what you were
supposed
to do.

With that, they were married, and everyone stood and bowed towards them.

Taking her hand, he led her, his new wife, out to meet the world.

Timon was almost instantly lost in the crowd of tall people that had come to greet him and Trice as they walked out of the chapel. It was always like that, even in Two Bends, where everyone would have known both of them their entire lives. Or at least
him
. It was pretty normal to hold the ceremony in the girl's home town however, and even if the Capital wasn't that for Trice, she still knew most of the people around her.

He'd met a lot of them, but, as always, they were giants in the main, so he couldn't see much at all, just a press of bodies with one of them occasionally patting him on the head. Like a dog. Because nothing made a day special like being treated like a pet, did it? He forced a smile and made himself go blank inside, just watching what was happening. There probably wouldn't be any real danger, but saying the wrong thing or even seeming snippy could set off a chain of insults and hidden attacks with this crowd. Really, wasn't that what was going on with the Queen? He'd said some things that made sense to him at the time, but that she took offense at, and instead of just calling him on it, or taking him over her knee for a spanking, she used intrigue. Or at least social pressure and tricks, to take him down.

No one had told him what the plan was for the rest of the day. Normally, if this were the kind of wedding he'd seen before, there would be a meal, dinner given the hour, and cake. Then he and Patricia would be off, for their wedding vacation. That was normally two weeks, but some took longer. No one back home took less time than that really, but what the rules were here he didn't know at all.

There was a plan to sell, so Timon took Trice's hand, half expecting her to throw him off, now that she had what she needed from him, which was a shield against having to marry someone else. She could be rude and drive him away even, and it wouldn't make a difference. If that was her plan, she was saving it for later, since she actually gave his hand a squeeze in return and moved
closer
to him, her left arm against his.

"This part shouldn't go on too long. A few minutes, as long as Tor doesn't provide a fireworks display. I told him not too, since we aren't Lyn and Dorgal, but it's hard to tell what he's going to get up to at any given point." Then, for some reason, she kissed him on the cheek, which had the few people close enough to see it back off for a moment. Whispering into his ear she chuckled. "Then we can get out of here. Any plans for the honeymoon?"

Timon had heard the noble term for wedding vacation before, but hadn't realized it would be his job to come up with something. The whole point would be so that they could be alone, to do the things that married people did. Trying to start a family. Since that wasn't happening, he'd need something a little more adventure driven. Then again, she was clearly needling him for her own amusement, because she had to know that he wouldn't have a clue toward that end at all.

"Yes. I was thinking that we'd try out one of my new Fast Craft and go to all of the other lands for a visit. Spend a few days in each place. Maybe even Afrak?" Now that Gray was gone, it made sense to him. He could even get a bit of business done at the same time, and there really were places he'd wanted to explore, but hadn't, because he was busy working all the time.

The dark haired girl, his wife, looked at him as if truly shocked.

"Really? That... actually sounds fantastic. I wasn't thinking that we'd be doing much at all, since, you know..." It was too obvious a thing for her to say in the crowded space, but there was no need to answer, since her mother and father were suddenly there, along with his.

A large hand pounded him on the back. Duke Morgan seemed to be happy enough and didn't look at him like he was stealing his little girl away or anything. That part was nice. Her mother moved in and hugged them both at the same time, which got his to do the same thing.

It was Eric Morgan that did the talking for the group, which was handy enough, since it meant he didn't have to speak much at all. No one really expected him to feel too comfortable it seemed. Especially his ma. She actually had that wicked expression on her face that she used when she thought her stupid male offspring had walked into something that would require her aid to get out of.

Timon just smiled back at her, his eyes looking down into hers now, if only slightly.

Duke Morgan shook his head.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day, but here she is, my baby girl, all grown up and married. So, what plans do you two have?" It was such a common question that the words seemed to just slip out, though the man had the good grace, and intelligence, to wince a little after they were spoken. It wasn't a smart plan to put someone on the spot like that, after a rushed emergency action like they'd just taken. The large turnout had probably made the man forget it wasn't some long term plan. His wife seemed about ready to step in at least, but Trice moved closer to him, and in return he put his right arm around her back. It wasn't easy to do, not without tensing up, but Timon managed it well enough. Any tension would probably just seem like nerves, which most would forgive him for that day.

"Timon and I are going on a world tour. Then we'll be settling here in the Capital for a while, since this is the headquarters for his business. After that we haven't decided. Possibly purchase some land somewhere? I have some of course, but it's all the way up in the Duchy, so we'll probably just put up a little cottage there, for visiting purposes. It's never good to be too close to the parents after all." She grinned charmingly, and said the words as if they had an actual plan set up or something.

It really was, he realized, what they'd discussed. She wasn't setting up anything that hadn't been talked about at all, and most of it was even what he'd said they should consider. For half a second he felt almost grown up.

His father had his pipe clenched between his teeth, even he was dressed as a proper gentleman, so he didn't have to say anything, but there was a sage nod before he spoke.

"We should talk, before you leave. Just a few matters..."

From behind, and well above, came a deep voice, which caused him to turn to see that he had a wall of giants behind him that had totally snuck up on him. For half a second he panicked, even after realizing that he knew them all. Counts Peterson, Thomson and Prince Alphonse all stood there, smiling happily.

Thomson had his sister Terlee right next to him, her hands folded peacefully into her wide sleeves. Her gown looked heavy and a little prim, but that was so she wouldn't accidentally be better looking than the bride on her special day. For his sister it was an actual danger, so it was nice of her to have taken steps. She wasn't even wearing makeup, probably for the same reason.

"I had Tovey speak to him earlier about all that, father. I wasn't certain if there would be time later. Besides, I'm almost certain he already knew. He's older than he looks." She managed not to seem all that shy, and actually gave both Trice and he a hug as well, before backing off.

The Prince waited for a bit, even as the others said a few words each and moved off, which meant that Tor came over and stood with him, since they were best friends. It took a while to work through everyone, even though he'd been promised it wouldn't be that extensive. It was mainly his fault, since he actually knew the people from overseas, and Kincaid had come along with Denno and the Austran Ambassador to watch what was going on. They had three people working hand held cameras, as well as one that simply floated above the crowd, making half the people more than a little uneasy. There were two Royal Guard who did nothing but stand and watch the black device that floated above them, making its low hum the whole time. Each had a weapon out, ready to destroy the thing at need.

Kincaid moved in and gave him a kiss on the cheek, her eyes light and cheerful.

"Is the traditional orgy next? We need to know, in case this is going to become adult themed. The way things are done here are so different, and this is going out to almost everyone back home." She didn't whisper at all, which got interested looks from everyone that was close enough to hear her.

Trice had to cover her mouth, because she was in real danger of laughing in a very unladylike fashion, and the Ambassador looked ready to actually burst into an angry tirade, since it could have been considered rude of her to say out loud like that. In Austra at least.

"Nah, that's not the tradition here at all. Just a meal, some sweets and us leaving for a few weeks so we don't have to put up with the in-laws. What do you do over there?" Timon was actually interested, because, while they had marriage, he didn't know the customs there at all. Maybe they were the ones that had orgies like that?

Disappointingly, Brown chimed in then, dashing that idea.

"Pretty much the same as here, if I have it right. We didn't know that we'd be allowed so much access to you, so didn't plan on anything in particular for this part. We have some questions coming in from people in Austra, if you have a few moments? We completely understand if you don't wish to however, on this most precious occasion." Like always, he sounded smooth and pleasant. His smile was both relaxed and grabbed attention too, the cameras all moving to point at him, except the automated one that flew above them all, which pointed at him and Trice, since it was run by a machine that didn't care what they looked like, but only what the actual subject of the moment was. In this case, at a wedding, that was clearly the people that had gotten married.

It was tempting to beg off, since the people of Austra could be pains in the ass with their questions and prying, but he needed the business contacts and trying to avoid them wasn't going to work very well at all.

"A few, I guess." He turned and saw that Tor was standing right behind him, which was just as well, since odds were half of the questions would be addressed to him.

That turned out to be wrong. None of the ones that Denno asked, looking at his compact, which had to be a special one that used a satellite relay to reach them, had anything to do with his brother at all. It was probably just that Brown wasn't asking those, but maybe the people there weren't as silly as he sometimes thought they were? Different didn't always mean bad after all.

"Here we go. Jonathon Lyde asks: Do you think that the importation of fresh foods from Noram will increase, now that an exchange rate has been established?"

Before he could answer at all Trice jumped in, her eyes looking very happy.

"Yes. We have a new kind of cargo hauler that will help a lot with that, bringing things in the same day, fresh from the field. Timon made them." She smiled at him as if it was the greatest thing since bread had been invented.

It was very cute, he had to admit. Accurate too, as far as that went.

"The increases amounts should help bring the price down as well, meaning that more people will be able to get things. We'll be looking for people there in Austra to act as sales agents for the goods. After the Honeymoon, of course."

The questions actually went on in that vein for a while, but they were rescued by the Prince, who looked at his watch covertly and stepped in, after about fifteen minutes.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we should all move inside, I think. It's nearly nine, which is when dinner will be served..."

The meal was, as always, very good, but Timon felt like it was passing in a blur. He was a bit surprised to find Trice actually staying by his side the whole time, instead of sneaking off to talk with her friends, or even have sex or something outrageous like that. It made sense not to, since the plan was to make it all seem very real, but she was clearly taking it all to heart at the same time. At least outwardly.

She was trained well, in the arts of spycraft. If he'd had any doubts about that before, they were gone now.

He didn't shove cake into her face, even it was sort of expected. The actual thing itself was huge and lovely, having five tiers built into it and taking a magical float pallet to bring into the room. It was cream colored and had a nice frosting on it. The cake was a simple white, but was delicate and vanilla flavored, which was an expensive spice to use in the amounts that would be needed for this sort of thing. The event dragged on, with dancing after, and then people watching them open presents, of all things. Some were useful things actually, for the home. Very few actually provided things for the bedroom, except Ali, who did it with a chuckle, coming up separately from her husband to deliver a set of magical devices that produced vibrations in the air.

 That was telling, since Tor actually refused to look at her when she did it. Trice actually seemed miserable for a few seconds, but his sister in-law shook her head and leaned in.

"Don't worry, he's being a bit of a stick in the mud, because Timon is so young, but he isn't mad at you." She actually leaned in and kissed Tim on the cheek then. "
Either
of you. He understands now, I think. It's a good thing. After all, I don't want anyone to be hurt."

She did admit to having built the amulets she'd given them herself, but that just made them more special, rather than less.

Tor, for all he wasn't talking to his own wife for the evening, did manage to make his way over, half towed by the Prince, who seemed fine with the whole thing, and surprisingly, the King, who held back a tiny bit.