Ambassador tya-4 Page 13

  If the Duke and his wife were expecting a cool or grudging reception they didn't get it.

  Instead Tor just made sure they planned to stay, and started trying to move their luggage himself, which had six strong men following him without asking, doing most of the real work. Collette jumped up and played hostess, leading the band of people to a room on the second floor. It was marked with a bright yellow compass rose, each door had a design, but Collette closed her eyes and touched the door, a few seconds later in very good hand writing and large black letters it said “Brettermere” on it.

  The door opened and both the royals froze.

  “Oh my! What a lovely room! I,” The Duchess looked down and then straightened, making a bit of a wry face. “Howard and I have had a standing invitation to stay at the palace, and have since before Richard took the crown. More than once he's led us to our room himself, as a Prince. This year we arrived only to be sent away. We thought… well, we are rather of a different generation than the Queen and thought perhaps we'd been put to pasture when she sent us off here. We didn't realize it was an honor. I think I might have been a little cold to the dear, I'll need to send her a note first thing. This is splendid!”

  The Brettermeres were both even more impressed after being show around and how to use everything and the Countess pulled out paper and pen to start her letter to the Queen right then. On that note the rest of them left, planning to get back to work.

  Before everyone had no more than sat down another knock came at the door. This time a sitting Baroness and her husband, with their kids tagging along behind them. Three of them. In the back stood a good looking and familiar face. Beaming.

  “Ridley?” Tor started, looking at the young man that Tor thought he recognized from school, but Trice practically tackled the guy and started kissing in a way that looked more than a little friendly. Everyone looked on for a second without comment. People had friends after all, so no one thought anything of it.

  Trice kept an arm around him, which started to make Tor jealous, but he let it go. The guy had actually defended him to Trice when she was going off on him in that restaurant. Yes, under the King’s orders, but Ridley probably hadn't known that at the time and may not now. If they were lovers or something, then it had to be harder, rather than easier, to go against what she'd been saying, but he'd actively defended Tor anyway. It was hard to dislike someone that did things like that, wasn't it?

  “Mom, Dad… this is him. Tor.” If he'd defended him before, his voice was positively deferential now. No reverent.

  So, really awkward.

  Before he could move three people were hugging him. The move was a bit familial for strangers, but whatever. A lot of people in the Capital were like that. It seemed nice enough at least. They didn't let go for a long time, but moved out of the way to let two more people hug him. One was a little girl who might have been seven or eight, and next to her was a good looking boy of about fifteen or so that hugged him too, if in a manful fashion with a lot of back pounding which Tor returned in kind. There was luggage so he suggested they get a room and then they could all visit at leisure. The Baron straightened, blinked for a few seconds and smiled hugely.

  “Why… thank you! We figured on hitting the relatives then all the inns if we had to, but this is much easier. Nicer too.”

  They got rooms, plural, three of them, next to the Brettermeres. Ridley and his brother flipped a copper to see who got to share with their little sister, since it meant more babysitting duty. The younger boy won, but did so with good grace and a promise not to make Ridley do all the work. The little girl crossed her arms then and shook her head.

  “Right, like it's not me having to look after you two…”

  Tor nodded to her seriously, “they do look like a handful.”

  “Tell me about it. Well, what can I do? It’s my lot in life, I guess.” She spread her hands and shrugged.

  No one laughed at the interplay, but everyone's face held a smile. Even the girl's.

  Then, finally, they managed a whole half hour without knocking. The next group that came was Kolb and almost all of his people, who at least didn't expect hugs and cuddles. Mostly. Petra had to hand out a few and Tor got pounded on the back by a couple of the men. They got their own section of rooms, though they had to share, royals or not. Collette expected things to fill up fast after that, since people would have seen them all flying in and “Tor's Palace” was lit up on the outside, meaning easy to see as it got darker.

  That made him try to convince everyone to call it a “Not-Palace” but that just made everyone laugh and Collette suggest they get ready, instead of playing with words.

  “Brace yourselves, this is going to get busy, very soon, I think.”

  She was right of course. Everything moved quickly, almost non-stop. It became almost a game, trying to sit before the next group came. They had to set watches to handle getting everyone a room that night. For some reason Tor wasn't on it, but that was all right. He just kept greeting people until his eyes got heavy, then went to bed. With his field so damaged and depleted, it was normal for him to feel more tired than usual, wasn't it? Kind of what it meant really, as far as physical signs.

  If it ever got really bad though, he wouldn't just die. That would be too normal. No falling apart would be the way it would happen, bits and chunks of him raining down as they fought to stay together but couldn't. Something Tor decided to avoid if possible.

  It would make the floor a mess if nothing else.

  Eyes closed as he hit the pillow, naked but under the covers, the soft feel of satin against his flesh. When he'd first seen it Tor had thought of silk, not knowing any other shiny materials really existed. Collette explained it to him, so that the pattern could be repeated at need. It felt better on the skin she assured him.

  It was certainly pleasant enough. Sleep took him anyway, and dreams, most of them about building, what he wanted to do, and how he needed to pace himself. They showed this by letting him try to build something simple, a light, or a flyer, things he'd done a thousand times, ten thousand or more really, and then start falling apart in bloody gobs. A few let him finish and then just fade, kind of like a ghost in an old story. He got the message he assured the deeper parts of himself as he fought to the surface, and he wouldn't be a complete moron if he could help it.

  Something tickled his mind as he woke. Rousing him.

  There was… pleasant activity at his groin and the sheets moved in a familiar pattern, gently up and down. When he looked to his left Nita was watching him, her eyes mischievous.

  “We thought we'd surprise you. I hope you don't mind? She didn't think that you'd let her do it if you knew first…” She looked almost scared for some reason.

  God, it wasn't Maria was it? That sent a chill down his spine, which perversely made the warmth below feel even nicer. Or… no, she'd definitely said she, so not some guy. Well. It did feel nice whoever was doing it, but just in case she was right, and Tor wouldn't normally allow it, he needed to check and stop it if need be, hard as that would be to do. Carefully, almost afraid of who it could be, his mind coming up with a dozen women that would be off putting, Duchess Brettermere for instance, or Ridley's little sister. Agh! No Bonita wouldn't have allowed that, it couldn't be anyone too bad. One of the women from Ward?

  It took him a second to get it when he saw the face, still a little puffy with sleep, her mouth and face distorted a little as she worked up and down on him.

  Karina.

  Oh.

  Her eyes went wide, but he laid back and let her keep working. Karina was all right, he decided. Once she finished, swallowing without hesitation, she moved up his body and kissed him.

  “Sorry, it was driving me crazy all night, trying to sleep next to you like that and not doing anything. I know that I'm-” Whatever she was going to say it got drowned out in kisses, then knowing he needed to brush his teeth before doing too much of that, he worked down her body and returned the favor. She squirme
d nicely and giggled just before the moaning came.

  “Oh… Ah!” It was a pretty sound.

  Looking over, after Karina was done, he realized they'd left out Nita. Tor decided to blame sleep deprivation and started working on her in a similar fashion, a little shocked to find Karina pushing him out of the way after half a minute or so. Playfully he took her place and then, awkwardly and with a little laugher they both moved their mouths into place. Taking turns.

  Was that group sex? It was interesting. Not any better than the regular kind, but fun in its own way. Kind of like saying; look, all these people find me attractive enough. Good enough. Of course if one of the girls brought a man to bed that would be harder for him. Could he get away without touching the guy? Was that considered rude? For some reasons he doubted that was in “Manners”.

  They all took turns cleaning up, but when his turn came, after he shaved and brushed his teeth, Karina boldly led a charge on the bath chamber, Bonita giggling behind her. They just bathed though, so he got a good look at Karina nude for the first time. She was thin and hard looking, with slightly defined abs, and high, tight breasts, red hair or not, her nipples were a lovely shade of tan, a lot darker than her skin. Bonita had slightly larger breasts, and a softer body, but was closer to what Tor thought of as “just right” that way. Still, both were more than worth looking at. Or doing things with. That they were both willing to with him was humbling.

  “That was fun! You're both way better than Lilli ever was. I do wonder what's going on with her. I mean, I shouldn't care, but I'm curious. I don't know why. Probably because I want to make her hurt, for hurting me, but I don't know, maybe it was a good thing? I realize now that I can actually have real friends and I don't have to buy their love. Kolb's people are here, maybe I should have some of them look into it?” She grinned, a little evilly.

  That, Tor knew, could be bad.

  Lilli was a bitch that hurt his friend, and he didn't wish her well, but she didn't deserve to die over it. Getting the “secret group” in on it would probably end up poorly for Lilli, unless Karina was very specific. No, they'd be best to poke around themselves he told her quickly, trying to make sure the Princess’s bad relationship didn't turn into assassination. That worked anyway, because Tor was headed to the bakery later anyway to try and buy up all the product he could at bulk rates. It was close enough to the areas that Lilli haunted to be useful to them.

  Karina nodded when she heard the idea, looking a little scared. What if Lilli was happy and everything was brilliant and shiny for her? That would be worse than not knowing right now. The pain was a little too sharp still and the idea poured off her face, even if he couldn't read her field at the moment. He figured that Karina would just have him go check or might even give up the idea all together because of that fear.

  Instead she grabbed her Not-flyer, all her other gear and several weapons that Tor hadn't known she had at all, including an explosive weapon that even the military didn't use yet. Not the big one, it's much smaller slightly older brother, but Kolb had described that as the most dangerous weapon he'd ever even heard of before Tor had foolishly made the bigger one. He pointed at it and she nodded somberly.

  “Dad insisted, we all have one, even mom. The new shields too. She's bad about wearing them, because she likes to touch people, but she has to. Your new field makes it easier. I think she forgets it's anything but a pretty pendant from you. Dad had it put on a really fine gold chain for her, so she’d remember him too.” The thin redhead smoothed the front of her outfit and made direct eye contact with the other woman.

  “Nita, you don't seem the jealous type, but my mom is totally into Tor. You should know that, because she'll go all evil Queen on you if you hurt him. Just a warning. She wouldn't hurt you for it, I don't think, not physically, but I wouldn't count on ever going to another social function again, or anyone showing up at yours, if she has to come after you. She's pretty much the kingdom’s expert at social combat.”

  Wide eyed and soberly, Bonita nodded, “I won't. I promise.”

  Tor would have liked it if they could all go, but Nita informed him that she actually had work to do and couldn't go off just then.

  “Do you think you could go and visit my father though? You could take him some hand pies. Only the one bakery carries them, but it's a King's week tradition and near the house. I know it might seem odd…” She suddenly looked at him with that shy look she got sometimes, as if it would be some huge imposition.

  It made sense with that visiting thing, didn't it, to take a gift?

  “He likes the iced raisin and apple doesn't he?” Tor mentioned casually, trying to make sure he remembered correctly.

  “That's right, how did you know that? Are you… using magic? I though you weren't supposed to yet…” Her voice was worried so he kissed her as a distraction. It seemed to reassure her a lot most of the time. People in general liked contact, but Nita was a special case, wanting it more than most. Was it because she was a little insecure for some reason?

  “Silly. I don't want to die. Not that reading a field is that big of a deal, I mean, you're doing it right now, and so is Karina. Most people do it all the time on some level, they just aren't aware of it. I just worked part of the festival at Debbie's last year and Collette requested them for him, that's all. I don't think he and I have ever even met. Should I go without you though? I don't want him to think…” What? Tor didn't have any more to say, but Nita nodded and filled in what she thought he'd been saying.

  “That I'm just a laborer for you here, instead of your girlfriend. But if both of you go and tell him that I managed to actually get some attention without having to pay for it, he'll stop worrying about me some small bit. Maybe. Even if I don't get married, I can show him I'm not alone any more. At least for now.” The words were firm, sharper than anything that Tor had heard before from the woman, so he gave her a solid nod.

  “Then we'll follow your suggestion and take him some hand pies if we have to make them ourselves.” Well, he knew how, and come to that Karina had helped him make some before. An actual palace baking emergency when a kitchen had caught on fire.

  Gerald and Gemma had set it on fire come to think of it…

  Well, they'd done well with the super-weapon so far, so it probably wasn't a problem. It wasn't like they'd done it on purpose, just accidentally dropped a large pot of oil that caught fire, that was all.

  They didn't talk on the way over, Karina seeming subdued, but lovely. Before they walked in Tor kissed her hard, enough to get her attention, so she took a deep breath. One that caught a little in her chest as if really worried or even scared suddenly.

  “Alright Tor. Let's do it. If we have to fight, start with force lances, we can work up from there.” The order was at once military and absurd, but Tor showed her the white and multicolored glowing thing he kept in a small pouch on his hip. The top of the bag got left open slightly for easy retrieval. As weapons went it was powerful enough. Lilli wouldn’t survive it most likely.

  “Ready.”

  Inside the bakery was busy, but not slammed yet, being the day before the actual celebration began. The little device shop next door was active too, busier really, with a half dozen tall people walking around and a few well dressed kids doing the same thing. One, a teenage boy, about way too old not to know better, grabbed something from a display and tried to run out. Karina reacted instantly, her left leg flashing out across the tender shin, tripping him painfully, because her shield had engaged and took him about like an iron bar would have, since she was the one in motion. The new fields did that.

  All the kid was bringing to the experience was soft and fragile flesh and a bunch of pain. She didn't move at all either, when the legs hit, all the force on her dispersing harmlessly into the floor with a pop. Force lance suddenly in hand and pointed at the chest of the boy on the floor, she spoke softly.

  “If you have a ball of lint in your hand I suggest you show me now. I'd hate to use an explosive we
apon in here over nothing. Let's see it… now.” Her voice was sing song and light, not even mean overly. When the boy, larger than she was by half a foot opened his hand a small glowing white piece with a simple sigil in red on it.

  Tor nodded.

  “It's a restroom.”

  The boy must really have to go bad, Tor realized, since the penalty for stealing something that expensive would be a lot worse than the humiliation of wet pants. Plus, the shop had a restroom, and Debbie would have let him use it if asked. She was nice like that.

  Tor slipped a truth device on the boy, he'd taken to wearing several over the last days. For some reason when one person needed one, several often seemed to at the same time. Then they questioned the kid, who tried to lie first thing, of course, which made sense, having been caught with the stolen device in his hand. He wasn't stupid though, after the third wrong answer and black aura streaking out of nowhere he cringed and just started telling the truth. Karina nodded encouragingly, still holding a weapon on him. It wasn't as dangerous as she'd claimed, but could still kill him, not having a shield or armor on.

  “So… I got into town three days ago and went walking, because I was bored… and met this girl, Lilli? She has One brown eye and one green, it's exotic. She said so several times. Anyway she's good looking enough and I don't exactly have a lot of friends here, right? She told me that she'd get her friends to, you know, spend time with me, if I got her something from here. She didn't say what it had to be, just something. I didn't know what it was, it was just closest the door. God, don't tell my parents! Just… dump my body somewhere or… send me off to a mine! I'm strong, I can work hard, and I promise I won't run away or anything. I give my word.”

  Odd thing was, he was telling the truth. His offer to go to a mine for forced labor willingly was an honest one. How bad were his parents if dying or a life of hard labor and an early death were honestly preferable?

  “How about this, if you’re willing to die anyway, I'll give you this device… no, wait…” Tor looked at the display and picked out a bed and a decorative light display. Girls liked pretty things, especially shallow ones that weren't too bright, like Lilli. He traded the restroom out and explained what he was doing.