The Dark Half of the Sun (The Young Ancients: Timon) Page 10

  "No. It's a big part of my own plan, also..." It wasn't the full truth, but he didn't know the man in front of him, his brother's friend or not. "I intend to ask the same of Denno Brown. Also Julie White of Soam."

  After half an hour of chatting they decided that Dorgal would present himself at the door in the morning, at about seven. They didn't know how long they'd be in Ward after all, so it made sense to start early. Plus, Timon knew, odds were if they said seven it would be closer to nine before the women were all ready to go. Not a big issue, as long as he scheduled the time in. He made sure Dorgal knew it too, which got him to laugh.

  "Still, a good merchant doesn't show up late, even if it means waiting. That loses coin and causes hard feelings." He tipped his hat as he left, smiling happily.

  Just as he was heading up for that nap finally, another person came to the door. This time at least it was a person that he recognized. His sister, Terlee. Countess Tamerlane Thomson. She was dressed in emerald green and black, a full dress of heavy looking and proper material, that didn't hide her figure totally, but was very tasteful for this place. A lot of women here wore as little as they could and if you walked the city on a hot day you could see more than one going without a top at all in a back alley or standing in a window. It was hard not to gawk when that happened.

  Otherwise she looked like his sister, as he remembered her from home. Except that her face had make-up on it and her hair was slightly shorter, hitting halfway down her back now. Straight and black, like his own.

  "Terlee!" He moved in to give her quick hug, receiving one in return, even before she walked into the house.

  "Timon! I came to help see you a proper birthday. I didn't know that you'd be about, until I heard from Kari. She passed along that we're expected at a dinner this night at the Palace. It's being given in honor of your day. Quite a special thing." She looked a little baffled and her phrasing was still a bit awkward, though proper enough. That came from having grown up speaking home tongue, instead of Noram standard. Tor had learned to speak it well enough over the years and Timon had it down, he thought, but his oldest sister was still a little stilted. Not enough for anyone to make fun of however. She had the accent almost perfect after all, it was only her phrasing that suffered and a lot of people wouldn't even notice that.

  She didn't stop at that news, telling him that meals there were at nine, which was the Capital norm and that she'd be around with Count Thomson to make certain he got in on time.

  "Do you know why they'd have a meal in your honor though? That doesn't sound right, does it? Perhaps for Tor, but..." At least from her face he could tell that she got how sick he was getting of being compared to his brother already, though she winced without adding an apology. It was just what he was going to have to live with after all. Maybe for the rest of his days, since Tor was just that incredible.

  He shook his head.

  "Not really. I've only met them a few times. I do have some business with the Prince and Princess, setting up tours..." He really didn't want to pass the news along to her, since he wasn't ready for his mother to know, but he didn't want to lie to her either. "I... Won't be going to school this year. I should have taken the Count's gold for it, but after refusing our parents... anyway, I won't have the funds ready in time. I will next year. I'm planning to have my own house however, but... could you not mention that to anyone until I get it around?" Until he had someplace that could be called home.

  For some reason the news didn't seem to shock her at all.

  "Tiera told me there were some hard feelings after the trip to Vagus. Why as well. I can't believe mother would try such a cruel prank. I also can't believe that Tor would beat Denno Brown so harshly over it. That doesn't sound like him at all."

  It didn't. It also wasn't his story to tell, except that he really wasn't happy with ma. He let Terlee know that with a grin that held bitterness and a headshake that tried to let it all go and failed. They changed the topic then, and she declined taking a seat, needing to get back to her own place in the city to get ready for the evening.

  Still without a nap he was interrupted again, by a liveried messenger. That required calling for the Countess Ward and Collette, since they had invitations as well. They were nicely hand written and requested they come to the meal in honor of Timon's twelfth natal day. It was... Suspicious to say the least. Even if the King or Queen were happy with him, they shouldn't be pretending they were fast friends or so close that they'd hold impromptu parties in his honor.

  Worse, on his invitation it suggested he bring a date. As if he knew anyone in the Capital that would do that? He made a face when he saw that part and gave a low growl.

  "See, this is what I get for teasing with Karina about getting married. She probably set this up. Well, I'll just have to disappoint then, won't I? That or go and find someone near my own age that I can drag along to this kind of thing. Anyone know any twelve year old girls that might want to go with me?" They were all standing in the front room, which meant that Ali was near the back, her face a little red and angry looking.

  "Hmph. Snubbed already? I know that I'm not that important in my own right, but you'd think that Connie would have at least sent a note letting me know I'm not welcome." She sounded a little bitter, which got Maria to go wide eyed and run to her side, as if being left off the list to a party was a big deal. It probably happened all the time after all.

  "No, no... I'm sure it's just an oversight, or perhaps..." She looked at Timon who shrugged and was about to simply ask her to go with him, when the door was knocked on again.

  This time it was Prince Alphonse, along with four Royal Guards. He didn't even bother to say hello before looking at Alyssa and smiling.

  "Came to make sure you knew that you had a date. Sam Builder. Tim, we've got one for you too, so don't ask anyone yet. Farlo Ross? You've met I think? Mother wanted to suggest that to you. Otherwise the table will be filled with old duddies near the top. Father put this together so you can make some contacts."

  She was part of the Lairdgren group. A builder. They'd met a few times, but weren't close or anything. Still, other than being pretty tall, the girl was nice enough. He nodded.

  "Wonderful. I guess I should go and ask her properly? Take some flowers or something?"

  The Prince actually nodded, smiling hugely. "That would be a very good idea. She's in Rosslyn, which means that you're about the only person that could get her around in time. We've already put word in with her and she's agreed, so no pressure on your part. She's already said yes."

  It seemed rushed and hurried to him, but Collette gave him directions to a good florist and Maria, strangely enough, gave him a small hug on the way out the door.

  "Meet me, after?" It was a low whisper, but it had the sound of a secret meeting, and not the fun kind.

  He nodded however and pretended to think she meant something else, which got her to give him a more flirtatious look. The others pretended not to notice. That meant it was something she thought was important enough to risk looking like she was hitting a child up for something inappropriate, even though that wouldn't be happening.

  Alphonse smirked a little, and slapped him on the shoulder when the door shut behind them, as he moved to set up his craft, gearing it for low use, which would essentially make it a regular magical carriage. It could still go a few hundred miles per hour, but it wouldn't be. He'd hold the speed down, because hurting someone would make him look bad and tarnish his reputation.

  The Prince chuckle, bending over so only he could hear.

  "At least make sure she kisses you, if she wants to use that kind of heavy handed ruse. Watch yourself though. She's a lot more deadly in intrigue than her pretty face and smiles will prepare you for. She's a master of the game." The advice wasn't what Timon had expected, but he smiled back anyway.

  "I gathered that. Well, she's certainly pretty enough to use that to good effect, isn't she? I'll be on my guard."

  Then he headed toward the city at a g
ood pace. He actually knew it fairly well, having been there multiple times to make deliveries. This time he was coming in through the south gate, instead of the west, but the red and white clad city guardsman watching it didn't blink overly when he started through, the mirrored cube made just big enough for himself and one passenger. From what Collette had told him he'd need to go up three streets and then over seven. After that Timon would need to find the sign with yellow flowers painted on it. It took some doing, but he had a nice arrangement purchased not half an hour later and headed toward the north gate. It was against the rules to fly in the city after all. The trip took him past the nicer dwellings, where most of the wealthiest had their city houses. They obviously worked very hard to make certain everyone knew they weren't poor, but very few of the walled places had anyone there at the moment. He knew that most of them belonged to Counts and Countess' but who belonged to which place meant nothing to him.

  Not yet. It was something he needed to learn, since a lot of them would, hopefully, be clients and want to be picked up and delivered to their individual dwellings.

  Outside the wall he was able to take to the air and travel to Rosslyn easily enough. It was in the middle of the Kingdom nearly and only a little over fifteen hundred miles away. The hardest part there was finding where Farlo would be. She was a noble of some kind, but no one had mentioned her rank at all. Still, she was a Ross, so someone should have a clue.

  He moved through the streets quickly, once inside the brown walls. They were a light tan, but in very good repair. The white of the Capital was as good, but most of the walled cities had cracks in them somewhere. If these did, he couldn't see it at a glance. He moved smoothly through the streets, a lot more people stopping to stare at him as he did than had happened in the Capital. For the most part they didn't just stand in the street to do it, which could happen, since a lot of people didn't recognize the new craft as a danger. Timon stopped a few times to let people move past or get out of the way, smiling the whole time. It was getting a little late, about four in the afternoon already, but there was only the one really large compound in the city and someone there would probably be able to help him.

  There was a gate, but a friendly looking older man came out when he walked up to it. He was dressed in plain brown, like a workman, but his nails were scrubbed clean and the man stood very erect, not having the stooped posture of a gardener.

  "Excuse me, sir?" Timon held the flowers in his hands, which from the look on the man's face meant the same thing here as it would have in Two Bends. "I'm looking for Farlo Ross? I'm not familiar with the city here, I'm afraid." He was apologetic but the man gave him a decently deep bow, which he returned, making certain to go lower than he did. Even if the man was a servant, he was old. You were polite to older people. They knew stuff you might need after all.

  Like where to find people.

  "You must be Countier Baker? You brought me flowers and everything I see. Very proper of you." The man chuckled a little as he nodded.

  "So I have the right place? The flowers are for her, of course. Are you a family member of hers?" It was a safe enough question, since the man seemed to know who he was. If nothing else he had very good information.

  "Grandfather. Count Ross. Want to give me a ride up to the house in your fancy conveyance? I've never ridden in one." He patted at his clothing, which sent up a cloud of dust. From his rueful expression it seemed like he expected that to keep the free trip to his door from happening, but once it was turned off the dirt would fall out anyway.

  "Hop aboard!" When the man did it Timon handed him the flowers to hold, there not being anyplace else for them. There was no one else in the front of the house, so he traveled over the grass, pointing out that it wouldn't leave marks, or disturb the plants at all. It was a wonderful garden space, not just a lawn too, so it was a real point. When they got to the door and climbed out he took the flowers back, a nice yellow and red bunch that had fifty different blooms in them. Most of them small. There was a backdrop of tiny white dried flowers too. The woman assured him it was very proper given the situation. Nice but not so overdone that it would seem a true bribe.

  He brushed his fingers through his hair, wishing suddenly that he'd brought a comb and cycled his clothing, so that they'd be clean and fresh looking.

  "How do I look? Other than short. I already know that one." He eyed the man, who actually took time to look at him, judging carefully.

  "Better than is safe for my granddaughter's well being. I trust that you'll treat her properly?" There was a mock glare that went with it, but Timon nodded and swallowed a bit.

  "Yes sir. If I didn't the King himself would have my hide. At least that's how I'm taking the lecture he gave me on the topic earlier." Of course it would more likely be his brother's friend, the Prince, that actually did the hide taking if it came to that. It was obvious that he was planning to look out for him, which meant doing what his brother wasn't there to manage.

  The Count laughed then and patted his shoulder, then got them inside rapidly enough. He gestured to a dapper man who was only about five-six, but was wearing a fine suit of clothing with gray gloves.

  "Butler, would you see if Miss Farlo is available? She has a visitor. One Timon Baker?"

  "Very good sir. It will happen at once." The man sounded very proper indeed and moved with good speed, even though he didn't run, up a set of blue carpeted stairs to the left. A few minutes later Farlo came down from the same direction, wearing a lovely red gown that was almost the color as some of the flowers. It wasn't a mistake, Red and yellow were her house colors.

  "Timon. So good to see you." She moved toward him gracefully, which for her took work. She was tall and thin, having the body for it to look right, but normally ran to an awkwardness in motion. When she got to him he held out the flowers, hoping it was the correct thing to do.

  "I've come to see if you'd do me the honor of dining with me tonight? I know it's very short notice, so will understand if you have plans already."

  She giggled a little but took the arrangement and smelled them deeply. A scent of vanilla coming off of them from the oil used.

  "Thank you. I'd love to. Are we to leave right now? Grandmother was given an invitation to attend as well, but needs time to prepare. That is, if transportation is available?" Her face looked a little concerned, but didn't need to be.

  "Of course it is. We're supposed to leave from my brother's place at seven. We're traveling with Count Thomson and his Countess. If there are six of us we might have to change conveyances... Unless you've given your grandparents a Magical carriage?" He didn't think so, or else the Count wouldn't have made such a big deal out of getting to ride in one.

  "Not yet. I've been spending most of my time on break meditating and working on making shield copies, as well as clothing amulets. You?"

  That let him explain the new business, which the count seemed interested in and Farlo made polite noises about. Then she ran to tell her grandmother that, as bizarre as it sounded, the plan was for them to dine at the King's Palace that evening.

  The Count sighed and shook his head a bit, but took him to a room with nice furniture and got him to sit in a chair to wait. It was an older piece, with a heavy fabric seat, but the room matched, everything gold or rust red.

  "Sorry about that. My Granddaughter is a wonderful girl, but more concerned with building than finding a good husband just yet. Running off like that... Well, women, what can we do?"

  "Keep our heads down and try to survive?" Timon blinked at the man. "At least that's the philosophy recommended by my father."

  "Ah, yes. A wise man your father. We've met. To that end, survival, I need to get myself around for the evening as well. I'm afraid we're a little light on entertainment for the moment. Will you be alright here? I don't know how long it will actually take..."

  The answer he gave was that he'd be fine, though he didn't know if he'd be able to stay awake all that long. Luckily as a group they were all ready in abo
ut half an hour, dressed in spectacular clothing that made his simple costume seem almost poor. The Countess, who was a true giant of a lady, towering over them all easily, had a slightly mannish face and a blocky body under her dress, but a wonderful smile and very good manners. They made easy small talk while Farlo came down, being the last one to be ready. That part of things was just normal however. Even in Two Bends a gentleman caller was kept waiting for a bit. That was probably a little over done, given that it wasn't a real date, but they might as well play at it. Farlo was attractive, and nearly as a good a potential marriage partner as Princess Karina would have been.

  Better if you counted the fact that she could already make fifty copies of an item at once. That was huge. All of the Lairdgren group could do it too, but most people were considered experts in the field if they could manage five to ten at one go, with a template. She was doing her work without one at all.

  Her dress was a wonderful thing to see however. It sparkled with silver and tiny lights that passed just over the surface of the material, moving in a pattern that gave the suggestion of little flowers. Her slippers were pure silver, the color of the metal. She completed the whole look by wearing a single silver chain with a dozen amulets on it. She smiled at him, looking down for a few seconds as he stared a bit. It was perfect. It even complimented the silver trim on his own outfit.

  That was, he realized, the point. Her hair was still just collar length and a sandy blonde color, but her face nearly shone, it was so perfectly made up. A disguise amulet most likely. She still looked like her, but better. Not enough for anyone to really notice, which was probably what people at court would expect of her.