A Simple Darkness (The Young Ancients: Tiera) Page 13

  "Now go! If I hear of you being less than perfect again anytime soon, you're not only out of the school, I'll disown you! I've never been so ashamed of one of my grandchildren! Luckily I have plenty of spares. Now get out of here and fix yourself or I swear I'll do it!" He managed to sound harsh and like he'd been screaming at her for the whole time. For a moment she actually believed him, his face stern and angry seeming.

  Which was the point no doubt. The man outside the door glared at her too as the door shut behind them with a clang.

  He leaned in, whispering in a menacing tone. His words didn't match his looming posture though.

  "Cry or something, you look like you just came from tea with the Queen."

  She tried to look miserable, but it wasn't enough she knew. She just seemed angry. It was how she was. Finally after a minute of trying she took her shield off and handed it to him.

  "Hit me. Slaps to the face. It will make me-" a large open hand cracked her on the left cheek instantly, without any hesitation at all. The backhand hit her on the other side. It didn't feel great, but he was clearly holding back a lot. Karen had hit her harder in regular practice, so while it stung, she was sort of ready for it. That was why they practiced that way, so being struck wouldn't take her off guard too much. The big man did it half a dozen times, then handed her shield back.

  "Still not crying. Squint your eyes and keep you head down. We'll try to leave directly. Think of sad things." He pulled her by the arm up the stairs, not being gently about it, but not triggering her shield at all. In the upper hallway Karen met them, standing with the Queen, who looked at her wide eyed. It was the closest she'd ever been to the woman, who winced when she saw the damage done to her face.

  She whispered, her tone mortified at least.

  "Who did this to you?" She glanced hard at George then, clearly suspecting him as the culprit. She was right too, so trying to sound worked up, Tiera glared at him a little, then shied away as he held his hand up.

  "Him. He was ordered to do it. Count Lairdgren said that he'd disown me if I didn't fix myself, but I'm already trying. I can't do anything else." It would have been so much more believable with tears, but the Queen moved in and gave her a close hug, rocking her a little.

  "I see. Well, that will be all George." She raised one hand gently to about head level and called for a cold compress for her. "I'll speak to him. I'm certain he didn't mean it."

  Tiera made a hard face, since that was clear to anyone that knew the real situation, wasn't it?

  "Of course he didn't mean it. He'd have to have me killed, wouldn't he? I'm immortal and so is he. It's not like I get anything out of being related to him. It wasn't a threat to have me out of his County, he meant that I'd vanish into the winds. Go out some day and never come back."

  Or at least that would have been what would really have been the threat if the man hadn't been acting. The Queen's mouth trembled a little but she hugged Tiera again.

  "I'm sorry dear. Try to do better. I... This is my fault. I shouldn't have told him about what you'd said on the communications device. Can you forgive me? I don't deserve it." She bowed, but Tiera didn't let her, hugging her again. It seemed like they were keeping the lady out of things for some reason? Probably because she was being watched somehow. A spy that they knew about maybe?

  "No. It isn't your worry at all. Thank you so much for caring. This is my problem to deal with. I deserve to be punished. I just hope I can survive it all."

  It was overly dramatic, but she was decently proud of herself. She wasn't a player after all, and the one play she'd been in as a child hadn't been that advanced. She'd had a minor role, as a magical bean.

  The lady in front of her nodded darkly, as if it wasn't all about her having been scolded for being a bitch and was perhaps a lot deeper than that, but she didn't say anything, just holding out her hand for the cool rag that a manservant brought, walking quickly. It had ice in the middle of it.

  "Here then. I'll still see that you aren't mistreated by the Count as much as I'm able. This isn't like him at all. I can't scold him publically for it, but we're old friends, so he might listen to me. For the time being, try to avoid him when you can."

  Then she gave a single hug to Karen and walked away. It meant they were in the air a few seconds later, Karen taking the controls, her face stony looking. It was so Tiera could hold the ice bundle to her face. She didn't leave the woman in the dark however, since she was going with her for the deliveries.

  "We have a full night ahead. It will take us all over the place. The whole thing was about that." She had to speak fast, since they were already hovering over Tor's front yard. It was a nice expanse of real grass, a deep green that stood out in the tan landscape. It was still light enough to see it, making the landing easier. Karen started to settle the craft slowly, as if landing at the King's palace.

  "They didn't have you beaten, but... your face."

  "I ordered George the Guard to do it. If it ever comes up, the Royal Guard are apparently good at things like that. My head is still ringing. The Count did say he'd disown me, but only on the way out, as an act. In the future we'll pass messages through the Prince. I guess... we're going to be lovers? It's a little scary, but you said I should accept any offers for now, right?"

  The woman stopped for a second, the craft not moving either, and looked over at the tiny girl in the passenger's seat. After a second she nodded, her movements slow.

  "The Count didn't have you beaten? This is just about sending messages?" There was a sigh of relief then. "I wish I'd had your family growing up. It's almost like they're all good people or something."

  Tiera thought about it for a second, and then nodded.

  "Well, you have us now. It won't fix things for you, but I'll stand by you and so will the others. We should go and see my parents so you can meet them soon. The others as well. You have more people than you might think. Of course that means backing them as well, but helping to work in a bakery isn't that hard, so you can probably manage it, if it ever comes up."

  The large girl still looked a bit troubled by the whole thing, but settled the craft anyway, and turned it off when they both got out. They had to knock on the door, and were let in by a woman that looked a bit familiar, but wasn't someone that Tiera recognized instantly. After a few seconds she got it when the woman spoke.

  "Come in, what happened?" She looked concerned and gestured with a closed hand at the smaller girl's face.

  It was the woman that made the food baskets for the Fast Transport service. Before she could explain there was a low sigh behind her which got her to turn and look at the man who stood there. He was next to Timon and had a hard look on his face. The man was a true giant, easily as large as the King himself and had smooth dark skin and long black hair that was pretty enough, but made him look a little too soft for a person as large as he was. Not that he didn't seem fit, but there was something about the man that seemed a little off.

  "Who beat you? I'll go and sort them out." There was a closed look to his face that she didn't exactly understand.

  Timon shook his head.

  "This is Tiera. My sister. Tiera , this is Count Ward. I brought him and his Countess, Maria, in a few minutes ago." He glanced at Karen and smiled. "She came especially to see you."

  That got stiffening on her part and an angry look, until the Count spoke.

  "Yes. She's come to apologize to you. We were going to travel to your school tomorrow, but if you're here she might as well do it now, don't you think? Convenient really. Timon and I will go and see that whoever harmed his sister knows not to do such again while she sees to that?" He gestured to the sitting room off to the side, getting Karen to walk in, seeming more than a bit baffled. There were voices from the other side of the door when it closed, but then all sound cut off.

  The vast man looked down at her and gently touched her cheek with a single finger.

  "Now, who did this to you? I'll have them killed if you want."

&nb
sp; It was a very kind offer really, but she dropped the ice pack and smiled, shaking her head. Then, she moved in and gave the man a hug, working the bundle of missives out from her clothing, trying to find the blue and silver marked one while he cuddled her a bit, his face looking decidedly odd. She handed it to him by tucking it into his waistband, which had to look horribly improper, but was something he allowed without comment. When she stood back she bowed low.

  "Thank you, sir. That is very sweet, but it's a family matter, so I can't ask for help in it. Punishment for my own transgressions. But... May I call on you again? It's so nice to have friends that are willing to stand by you like that." It was clumsy and sounded like she was asking for something else, but the man put a gentle hand on her shoulder and bowed from the waist, if not all that deeply.

  "I'd love to see you at any time. Day, or night. My wife is most understanding of such arrangements. Indeed, she might even wish to join us from time to time, if you'd find that of interest?" He seemed totally at ease with the idea, even as Timon turned to face him, looking ready to fight the man, which was ridiculous. He was only a few inches taller than she was after all.

  The bigger man smiled at him and patted his shoulder, but didn't take it back.

  That got a sigh from Timon and a head shake.

  "Well, she is pretty. I suppose you could do worse than these two. I keep forgetting that I'm not in Two Bends anymore. Still, in the future, Marvin, if you could avoid seducing my family members in front of me, I'd appreciate it."

  The man smiled, a large and white thing that seemed genuinely happy.

  "I believe she was seducing me. I do take your meaning however. I'll attempt to be a bit more discreet." He winked at Tiera though, which her brother caught.

  There was a bustling sound of moving material and Karen came out of the room, along with two blonde women and Regina. There were no tears or anything, so whatever the apology was about it must not have been anything all that traumatic. There were more people too, a large and well dressed woman that was a bit ugly, but clearly a high noble and very tall, and much shorter man, who was a bit older looking in a distinguished way, having short gray hair and his right hand on Farlo's shoulder.

  The builder stepped forward and hugged Timon, which got Tiera to go a little wide eyed. She hadn't known their paths would have crossed much at all, but it was a good bit warmer than just a friendly hello. Her eyes narrowed, but Karen bumped her shoulder, looking at the scene, so that she didn't go after the girl for touching her minor sibling.

  Timon hugged her back, but seemed a little stiff about it for some reason. There was nothing wrong with Farlo, so it was probably due to whatever that evil Countess had done to him. It wasn't fair, but Tiera knew that she couldn't fix it for him at all. Maybe Farlo could, if given time? They actually held hands while introductions got made.

  "This is the Countess and Count Ross, my grandparents." She looked at the others, but then focused on Karen and gestured toward her lightly. "You know Conserina Derring of course, but this other person is Tiera Baker. Conserina..." Her eyes went wide as she floundered, having forgotten the number it seemed. Fair enough, there were a lot of them.

  Tiera just waved that away. "Fifth, but that's not important. Nice to meet you both. I also don't know this lady?" She looked at Countess Ward, having worked out who she must be, being a pretty blonde that looked a lot like Collette and the only person there she didn't know. For some reason the woman, who looked to be about twenty at most, moved in to hug her, then held her at arm's length.

  "Someone struck you?" She sounded concerned, but her Count explained it, looking at Countess Ross in particular.

  "A family matter. Some punishment for a transgression? I didn't ask the specifics, but she did inform me that she could not request aid for it." He looked a little sad, but whatever message he was sending got a nod from the woman.

  She bowed to Tiera, which she returned feeling baffled.

  "Such things happen. We can only persevere."

  It was a strange thing to say, but everyone else seemed to get it, including Timon. She tried to make it seem like she did too, but didn't know what to say that wouldn't seem out of place.

  She had an envelope for the Countess as well however, but didn't think that stuffing it into her clothing would work very well. She scrambled, trying to think of a way to get the woman alone, but nothing came. After a bit she did something that was very likely rude and simply asked.

  "Countess, would you be willing to help me cover the marks? I... Don't really know how." It was a true enough. She'd had make-up on before, but only for the few court functions she'd gone to and her mother had done it for her on those occasions.

  The woman seemed surprised, but allowed Collette to lead them to a separate little room, making a table appear as well as a mirror and produced some small pots of things after a few minutes, clearly having run to her own rooms for her personal supplies. It was really kind of her. Then she left.

  The Countess looked at her for half a second, and started working instantly, her touch deft and professional seeming. Less than five minutes later the worst of the marks were gone.

  "I learned how to do this as a child. My father the Count was... not an easy man. He drank to excess and when he did I was beaten. Sometimes even when he was sober, if I was in the way. You can never really hide all of the bruising. I'm sorry this happened to you. If you need to flee at any point, my Count and I will hide you, even from the King, if we must." There was a serious tone to her voice that sent a shiver down Tiera's spine.

  Now she teared up, but didn't let herself cry, since it would smear her make-up.

  "Thank you. That is most kind. Here..." She got out the yellow marked message and handed it over. "Secrets from the King. I'm your contact. You can reach me... Through Timon or Farlo. Or Prince Alphonse. Only the Prince knows though, so you'll have to make something up for the rest. I work as a Fast Craft Pilot for my brother, so tell him that I offered to take you on a tour or something if you have to go through him. I'll clear it first." She didn't have a lot of time and the woman looked shocked, but swallowed and finally patted her arm.

  "So Ross won't be going to war with Lairdgren anytime soon?"

  Tiera hugged the lady, since it was the polite thing to do in a case like this.

  "Not at all. That you considered it at all however... Thank you. I won't forget it. If you ever need anything that I can help with, please let me know?"

  They both got up then, the Countess seeming a good bit happier, her hand on the girl's back as they left, her words deep and ringing as they walked out.

  "That is most kind dear." She turned to her Count, smiling. "Tiera here offered to take us on a tour if we wish. It seems that she's a Fast Craft pilot as well. I can't think of anywhere to go as of yet, but it's most generous of her, don't you think?"

  Oddly enough Timon started nodding.

  "Yes, we spoke of the idea earlier. Her time is limited, but with proper scheduling she can do that kind of thing for our friends."

  That got Maria to stomp her foot and place her hands on her hips, then she "humphed" and stared at the boy.

  "But I still have to pay? That hardly seems fair." There was a playful air to it though and Timon smiled back at her, his face a bit less than perfectly happy.

  "Well, you know, make friends with Tiera and you might find that changing. I'm running a business, but she's a school girl. Just don't go making her late to classes with your demands, or I'll have to pull her craft back. My parents will kill me if I let her start failing over something like that."

  Then as if the whole thing were a farce, they all laughed. It wasn't even strained, but it was kind of handy. It gave people a reason to try and get in touch with her and be her friend. She had limited time, so most of them would have to pay Timon for real services, but that was fine. It wasn't her gold after all.

  Joking or not Maria made a point of moving to stand by her before she left, her hand on her arm in a
way that seemed an awful lot like how Karen had told her to flirt with her brother. She smiled at the woman, looking up at her, which got Regina to walk over and touch her other arm, getting a smile from the Countess.

  "Regina, is it? Perhaps you'd like to come visit us sometime too? That would be fun, don't you think?" She made significant eye contact that made the girl blush, but she didn't take her hand off of Tiera's arm. Instead she curtsied a little.

  "That would be interesting, Countess Ward. We should look into the idea." Then, almost as if claiming ownership she pulled her friend away with a slightly hard and glazed look to her eyes. It didn't seem to please Maria at all either.

  At the door, the world outside just starting to turn black, they were met by Timon who took her arm himself and walked her to the corner of the large porch. He spoke in hushed tones and didn't bother with a preamble or explanation. He often didn't unless they had a lot of time, which lately hadn't been available.

  "Watch Maria. She'll try to use you as a spy, I think. Marvin just wants to have sex with you, though he gets that you're doing courier duty. I have my own things to share soon, some bits of information you should know about, but I don't want to do it here. At school in the next few days? I need to get a schedule up to Judy anyway. Are you two getting along?"

  She just looked at him for a second, taking in all the words and committing them to memory.

  "Not really. She's still very angry at me. Most everyone is. I don't know what I can do toward fixing it that I haven't. Maybe I can't? I'll live." She didn't sound happy about it, but forced a smile and touched her cheek on the right side, which was still sore.

  "I had to get a Royal Guard to do it. George?"

  Oddly he raised his chin then.

  "I figured it was him. Good man to get to know. He's pretty much in charge of the Royal Guard, not that they need a lot of oversight. Anyway... Don't tell anyone what you're doing. Derring and your Instructor Kolbrin, the Headmaster of your school, but no one else unless one of them orders it. Even at that, check them with a Truth amulet first." He didn't wait, just handing her one, the glowing pink thing on white focus stone marking it as one of Tor's. "Just in case it comes up. When in doubt use it. It's easier to bump your head against the floor in apology than to undo a betrayal."