Pain Stones (Coalescence Book 2) Read online

  “I doubt that anyone will come for her again anytime soon. It won’t be lost on anyone that was there tonight that she apprehended the would-be killer on her own, after the first bit. Also that she did it most handily. No… The next set of things coming at her will be either bribes or blackmail attempts.” He turned to the small blonde women and then shrugged. “If they knew you at all they’d get that trying to embarrass you into action or inaction won’t work. Given that, significant bribery would be the way to go. Except that you live in a different world most of the time and need very little that can be provided by people here. Those that can afford the cost, say in extra Jump Ships or novel magical aid tend to be from Harmony. Where they just give things away…”

  Looking at her, with everyone else staring at him a bit, Willum shrugged.

  “Really, they need to send a fine-looking man at you, for marriage. You haven’t been doing that well in your own world, even if you are attractive. It’s that thing where you used to murder for sport, I think? Many here would honestly find that a noble enough trait, were they to find out about it. I dare say that there would be a few Countiers or Ducals sitting around that need a wife…”

  No one else spoke, so he went in for teasing the woman. She at least was fine with things like that, actually understanding what he was doing. She was, in the main, really good about almost everything that way. It was hard to really make a big mistake with her, as long as you were genuine and meant well.

  So he nodded.

  “I know… I have a whole extra brother who’s looking to get married… He’d need to learn English, but that can be done. Carl is smart enough. We just need to push him a little bit that way. You do need a new bakery on the IPB base, don’t you?” That wasn’t the case, though an extra cook or baker was probably a fine enough plan, to be honest.

  Cindy snorted at him, but touched his arm gently.

  “Riiight. Like you get out of things that easily.” Then, looking around, she stopped and nodded. “Really, that isn’t a horrible idea. Not that we need to abuse poor Carl, if he isn’t interested. Or you, specifically. But putting in a full-time base of operations there, doing it in a way that won’t scare our leaders too much. Something like that bakery, or some kind of trade work? Making things with focus stone? We don’t have that, and it’s pretty enough to attract attention, due to novelty.”

  He nodded, as the King lit up a bit, but didn't speak.

  So Willum did.

  “Okay, so we do that and put the word around here that you might be open to marriage proposals as bribes? Or… Well, we could just let you have sex with them all. That would work as well.” He suddenly grinned at her, his mind breaking from the meditative state that it had been in enough for her to understand how much he was actually joking with her. “Here that isn’t even an insult, like it would be back home for you. We could just do that and everyone would assume that it was real, if you want?”

  That got a tongue stuck out at him, which was done playfully. Also, right in front of the entire royal family, including Count Peterson, and Princess Abbey. The large bearded man covered his mouth with a hand.

  Then he chuckled, a bit loudly.

  “Ah! True. Though if you’re really looking for a good marriage, my younger brother Jose has been hinting that it’s time for him to settle down a bit. He’s a Commander with Space Fleet, but I’m sure that wouldn’t be an obstacle for you.”

  The big difference had been that Willum was playing with the woman, as far as recommending Carl to her. Even if it would be a good match. Jose Peterson was as good, or nearly so, being a Countier second or third. Carl was a Countier third as well… Except that he had actual experience with people from the IPB world.

  That was either a large consideration, or not one at all. After all, Cindy had learned to speak Standard fairly well already. She had a bit of an accent, but it was no worse than some of the nobles had been using at table that night. No one would think it anything other than charming, in the main. That meant any man of Noram who could get her attention might have a chance at winning her hand. She wasn’t a noble, after all. She could find a nice carter or miller and settle down just as well as a Countier or other decently well placed fellow.

  The trap of the moment, what that no one had a way of telling her politely, would be that Count Peterson was serious about what he was saying and actually putting the idea of his brother forward. Taking it as too much of a joke could, suddenly, be considered an insult. Both to the man himself, who wasn’t even there to make a play for her and for the Count, who was one of the best placed and important people in the kingdom.

  He was something like third in charge of their military, after all.

  The Ambassador looked slightly ill at ease for a moment, though the feeling coming from her wasn’t one that spoke of not knowing what to do. It was just so at odds with how things were done in her own world that she felt baffled for the moment.

  Willum clapped his hand, making a sharp enough noise that everyone looked at him. Including the people in the walls, who were ready to leap out and fight him, even as they worked out from what had taken place earlier that it could go very differently than it had the first two times if he ever chose to actually resist.

  “Well, we should recommend her to them. Carl and Jose? It would be up to them, or their mothers, to send a missive to that end, if they wish. We shouldn’t speak for them, except to point them out as very fine men. I’ve heard good things about Countier Peterson for instance, and Ambassador Mableton has met Carlton personally.” He was lying, since he’d never heard anything about Jose Peterson before that very moment.

  That was fine though, since they all actually understood that well enough. Cindy first hand, but even Count Peterson figured it as Willum simply being very polite at the moment. Correct as well, it seemed.

  The man smiled, making his vast brown beard shift just a bit.

  “That sounds most fair. At the same time we should put the word out for Ambassador Mableton? I can’t imagine that there will be any shortage of suitors once that happens. We can use that to find out who might wish to bribe her that way?”

  It wasn’t a horrible plan, really.

  Interestingly, she nodded.

  “That sounds fine. We also have people from my world coming here. Not all of them have had an easy time finding someone. Especially the men. If any women from here wish to meet them, I can only think of that as a good thing. They aren’t nobles, but I bet we can find a title for them that will sound impressive, if that becomes important?”

  For some reason, the King stood and bowed, getting everyone else to do the same then.

  “I imagine that would be most possible, Ambassador! I’ll see to passing the word on that? Now, if you don’t need me to crawl on the floor, crying and pulling my hair out? I wouldn’t blame you… Allowing such a thing in my palace is… It shames me.” He teared up a bit then.

  The strange thing was that it felt real. As if he were truly shamed by the failure.

  Rather than just go up and lift his shoulders, Cindy managed an awkward hug for him. The man had to stay bent over for it to work, but it seemed to be a good enough thing really. At least no one frowned or acted scandalized.

  “No problem, King Richard. Now, you wanted to get with Willum for a scolding? Don’t beat him too hard, since I have plans for him later.” Grinning, she let go of the man and left.

  Which had everyone else leaving with her, nearly. Alphonse stayed, as did the King. The Queen was allowed to leave, for some reason, along with her daughter and the other spouses.

  The feeling of things was tense suddenly. It wasn’t attacking however, which was good, since he didn’t know what he was supposed to be scolded for at the moment. Probably playing too much with the Ambassador.

  Both men bowed, going low.

  The King spoke for them.

  “What happened, with the attack upon your person. I can only ask… No beg, that if you must seek blood or life over thi
s that it be kept between you and I. I stand ready for any chastisement you must by honor deliver.” Then the man, king of an entire kingdom, turned off his shield, the only one he had, and passed it over to his son.

  Who looked legitimately sick.

  As if death was the natural consequence of the situation at hand.

  Chapter four

  Before Will could work out that the offer to let him beat or even kill the King was real, but a thing that polite people would turn down as part of their social rules, the wall opened, to the right. He could feel the air passing and a low scratching sound that was almost below even his rather impressive ability to hear. Instead of another half dozen people rushing out at him, there was only one man. In black and purple, with silver hair. The decent one from earlier, who had actually gotten the others to calm down.

  “Sire… This is my responsibility. I lead the Royal Guard and it was my people that failed today. In more ways than one. They subdued the wrong individual, as a start. There will be punishments for that. Especially since they should have understood things better than that and not left the Ambassador to do their, our, work for us.” There was a bow toward Will then. “I must insist, if a life be taken as assurance that this not happen again, that it be mine. The failure is, so it seems only fitting.”

  That got the Prince to stand up, and then look at the other two men, one at a time. He seemed mildly confused, which worked for Willum at the moment. There were far too many people, both claiming responsibility, as well as offering the final sacrifice to prevent war. He got that they were both serious about that part. Even how he might be a true danger to them, if he wanted to make a nuisance of himself.

  It was at least a bit annoying, given everything. These men knew that he had to be feeling raw, from the events of the last day, so were willing to stand and be punished, for things that neither of them had personally done.

  “I’m sure that we don’t need more death or even beatings. If you could both pass the word to the Royal Guard that I might not be a threat? Though…” He shrugged. “What if I am? Or another me shows up that is? We can’t have them standing there, wondering what the right thing is to do at the moment, when action might be the only thing that will make a difference.” It was something that he normally wouldn’t have been considering but it was, in the time and place they lived, a real threat.

  No one did more than look at him for a few moments, then the King bowed again, which meant standing first.

  “That is… Most correct. Still, we can’t keep attacking our only agent to all the other realms. Not here. I’m not certain…” The man stopped for a bit, then fell into a trance state. Then he was quiet for a while, his thoughts coming across fairly clearly to Will. It was clear that Alphonse was also picking things up as well, even if he wasn’t doing it consciously. He was focused enough, but not doing it on purpose. That probably meant he had some small natural talent for magic.

  That or a lot of training for it, and was being polite at the moment, not reading people openly. Finally, King Richard nodded, his bare and youthful face most somber.

  Instead of commenting on the obvious, the man changed the topic.

  “So, we’re letting my heavy-handed attempt to collect you as our personal agent pass without notice? Handy, that, since I haven’t been paying you at all, so far.”

  That took Will a moment to process, but he finally got to shake his head.

  “Well, it’s a combined thing. The Ancients are mainly handling things so far. My upkeep and all that? I don’t need much, really. Still, I have a tower already. I need to get some staff in, but other than that, I’m doing fine. Believe it or not, even just having the hobby of taking messages to other worlds makes an obscene amount of gold. Silver and gems as well.” Of course, he had to keep most of that in the worlds he got it in, since carrying it around would take too much effort.

  The Prince, obviously having a sense of humor, smiled at him then, as the others seemed concerned.

  “Hmmm…” The large, but young looking man winked at him. “I hear that we can bribe you with a lovely young bride? Ambassador Mableton is looking…” Then he paused and wrinkled his nose.

  The King took over then, actually picking the ball of conversation up rather nicely.

  “I think not. Not even as a joke. After all, Willum can easily set that up, if it’s within his plans. She made that portion of things clear enough earlier. That makes it a very poor payment, indeed. It seems we’re running into the modern problem once again. With those who walk between worlds it’s ridiculously hard to purchase their loyalty. They have their own resources and ways so different from our own that it becomes hard to see how to even call to their attention. Yet here Countier Lairdgren sits, ready to do what is needed for us all, anyway.”

  He smiled, but there was a bit of sadness to the whole thing.

  The older guard simply took a breath.

  “That… We’re in a fight for our very existence. Can any man, woman or child do anything except their very best to save us all? Even if we here, in this reality, must perish to protect the greater whole, then we need to attempt our duty without blinking or hesitation.”

  Will had to agree on that one.

  “Thankfully, I don’t think it will really come to that. I need to check a few more things out, but I don’t think this is actually going to be a battle for everything like that. As much as the enemy wishes that end. It’s… Really, I think that we might be fighting for our worlds, and people, but that’s all. If everything could have been destroyed as seems to be the plan, then we couldn’t be here. Not when everything that could be possible already exists. So don’t worry for that, too much.”

  Alphonse nodded, still standing. Everyone was, except for Willum. That got him to do it too. Not just so he wouldn’t be left out, but also to help speed up his escape from the room they were in. Other people would want to chat with them, no doubt.

  It took a bit of leading, but Will headed toward the door, which sold the idea subtly enough for the men there to at least pretend that him leaving was their idea. That or they were doing it so subtly that the actual plan was actually to get rid of him and he was being fooled into thinking that it was his idea.

  In that case, they were good. He wasn’t actually certain it wasn’t the case, either.

  At the door, Prince Alphonse patted him on the shoulder.

  “We’re good then? We don’t have to worry about a massive battle, or the river being misplaced in the morning?” That one seemed to be a more logical possibility. It would be possible, though Willum had ten of the things ready to go, just in case it was needed. Taman had the rest of them. There were a lot of the things available, if he took them all and ran off.

  “That isn’t the plan. I’ll be there on time and everything. I promise. If the river gets lost… Well, I have more of them.”

  It was really hard to tell if he was believed or not. The feelings coming from the men were conflicted on the topic, as far as he could tell. In fact, it seemed to him that the King would have probably withheld his aid the next day, if it were him having been attacked, doing it on purpose and at the right time to make them all look very bad. The Prince didn’t seem to think that way. It made for an interesting contrast, once noticed.

  The older guard simply smiled a bit.

  “Of course. It’s a duty now, so no getting out of it. I’ll speak with my people. We won’t have the same issue come up again.”

  That sounded really certain. The only thing there was that Will couldn’t tell if that was going to require him to die or not to make happen. It was a possible answer to the issue, of course. It simply wasn’t going to work very easily, if it became the plan.

  Smiling and nodding, he headed for the hallway, the others staying behind. There was a footman there, standing, dressed in black with gray gloves on his hands, to deliver him back to the meal hall. The trick then was finding out how to get out of the palace without being rude.

  Interestingl
y, Cindy did that for him. She was kind of amazing to have around that way, he realized. Everything tended to go a lot more smoothly having her around.

  Turning to the Queen and Princess Veronica, she bowed, going about halfway down. That got one in turn, and had half the room doing the same thing.

  “Willum and I need to go and see to the arrangements for things. The river hanging is a bit earlier in the day than we thought, so we need to address that. Until then, Queen Constance? Princess?” She held out a hand, which was taken by each lady in turn. It wasn’t for shaking though, since they just kind of held onto each other for a few moments.

  Then, strangely enough, Willum got hugs off of both the women, even if he didn’t know them that well at all. It wasn’t until they were in the Thomson’s nice magical coach, being taken back to his tower that Cindy bothered to explain that bit to him.

  The ride was smooth enough, considering they were in a vehicle being pulled along by horses. They smelled a bit, but that was mainly of grass and grain, since they were decently well cared for beasts.

  “Princess Varley wanted to make certain that you show up tomorrow. The Queen… Well, she actually has a plan that involves you. I guess that there’s a rather plain Baronetta whose mother and father are owed a rather large favor…” She grinned then and actually seemed pretty happy. “Before you ask, no, the plan isn’t to offer you in marriage. Though Clarissa is actually pretty sweet. Also, twelve, so a bit young for you yet. I think the goal is to see if you’ll act as a go between with Tim Baker? For some reason, they seem to think you have special influence there.”

  “Ahhh.” He could see that one, of course. He had once, to the Queen’s knowledge, called the man up and had him deliver immortality to her. Given that she figured that Timon would be holding a long-held grudge against her, that probably did seem pretty well connected and influential.

  It wasn’t. He barely knew the man at all. The fact was, Tim Baker just wasn’t all that petty. That he’d bothered to do anything as suggested by Willum was…