A Simple Darkness (The Young Ancients: Tiera) Page 22

  Sandra was, and in the moment she did not seem happy to hear about her things.

  "My devices? All of them?"

  Tiera didn't answer, knowing it wouldn't help. Still, if they were going to fight, it was better to do it there, without as much time for the other girl to plan for it. She'd have to kill her though, that was clear. A builder was too powerful an enemy to let live, at least any of the Lairdgren group. That was something else too. She was their leader, so Tiera would have to move from that fight to killing the rest of them instantly, wouldn't she? Otherwise they'd be after her too. They seemed close at least. Always eating together. Laughing at her...

  As her own anger built and she ready for things to start again, the tall dark skinned woman sighed.

  "Alright. I can let that be, I suppose. Gone is gone. Being upset about it won't help now. I... He's my father. I know that isn't a good reason to interfere with a duel, but... Well, he says things sometimes. He doesn't act on them, not really, but his words tend to be bitter. His plans aren't always the best either. What he was thinking starting something with you, I don't know. I apologize for my part in it and ask that you please consider that he can be a bit... odd at times, before continuing with this. For all his faults he still has his pride."

  Tiera nearly added that he didn't seem to have much honor, but she managed to nod instead.

  "I'll try. That's... I just wish I had some way out of this. He controlled the whole thing. Well, you know, you helped him do it." The anger was building again, so she shook her head and smiled, not meaning it. "We should see if Ali will let you stay at her house. You don't have any gold left either."

  That got a shocked look and a hard wince, with the other girl clearly biting her tongue.

  "Dumped?"

  "Um, yes, but on the street, so that the poor could have a shot at it."

  They walked then, in silence, the cases all floating behind them, like little square ghosts. That was all she had to say, but for some reason Sandra climbed into her craft after it was set up and loaded. Her hands were folded in her lap and she was wearing a nice gown that had been totally correct for the palace and didn't look that out of place in the nice magical craft. Instead of taking off though, Tiera stayed in low use mode and floated slowly to the front gate. As she did she focused, changing the shape of the vehicle, making it smaller and a cheery pink color, since that fit the mood she wanted to project, if not what was actually inside.

  The other girl stayed relaxed and calm even as things changed around her, though the Royal Guard on the gate stared a bit.

  Sandra smiled at him, but there was no big check used on the way out.

  "So, Tiera, what now?" Her voice seemed to be a little tense, giving the lie to her face, but the words seemed fair enough.

  "We need to find Timon. I was thinking that we could offer you to him in marriage, if you aren't going to go for Count Overland. Tim is shorter, but you two have a lot in common." She grinned, and continued, hoping it wasn't too soon to play with the woman. "You're both builders for instance. Also both giant pains in the rear, so there's that too. Clearly meant for each other."

  Instead of laughing, or trying to hit her, the Conserina suddenly seemed very serious.

  "He's a bit young, but those are good points. So you think we should fix this through an alliance wedding? We'd have to get special dispensation from the King, due to his age, that or wait. Two years isn't it?" The fact that the woman knew that about her little brother was only a bit surprising. Karen had mentioned that there was a lot of competition for noble men in a certain range.

  "That's right. Well, I'm sure that the King will sign off on it, just to keep the peace. I'll trade him to you for those amulets. Your clothes and bedding too. I burned them."

  That got a face made at her, but no rebuke.

  It was a slow drive through the city, even though she knew the way pretty well. People just walked in front of them, some stopping to stare and gawk, as if they were there to amuse them. The only thing to do about it was keep going, almost hitting them if they didn't get out of the way. That meant going slow, since they probably didn't deserve to die for being curious, even if it wasn't exactly the best time for her personally.

  She headed straight to Tim's not knowing if he'd be in at all, but hoping that he could be located at least. It was still early, and while he was there, her brother was clearly getting ready to leave for the day. That meant he was outside at least, and he did stop and wait for her to get over to him, rather than hopping in and taking off at full speed to avoid her.

  "Tiera!" He looked at Sandra as she got out and then the size of the craft, his mind working in that way of his. "Taking prisoners now? A good pick I suppose, if you have to do it. Leave her alive though, since she's worth more than the things you've destroyed so far."

  Then, without asking he went to the back and opened the double doors, unloading the cases without bothering to ask what the plan was.

  "I won't go to Afrak. Gray and I don't get along, if she's still alive. Can you see to that one? Blue too? I have a map, Denno gave it to me. Nothing against Blue though, I liked her well enough when we met. I just won't have time for a while."

  The words sounded pretty certain, so Tiera rolled her eyes and humphed. "You take all the fun out of having news, you know that? Tor finally contacts someone and you act like it was only expected."

  Sandra went wide eyed and turned to her as if she couldn't believe it, clearly happy to hear the news, but Timon looked nearly bored.

  "It was the fireworks display at Lyn's wedding. It had to have been an announcement that he was ready to bring the pain to the Larval. Otherwise he was offering all of us up as hostages. If that wasn't the case it would mean he's a moron, which we know he isn't." He finished making the transfer easily, using the little amulets and a bit of pushing, to control what stayed and what didn't. Then he looked at the plain one and nodded. "For Ali? Or Trice?"

  "Trice? Why would he send special things to her? It's for his wife." Her tone had gotten sharp, since she was already a bit displeased and Patricia Morgan wasn't on the top of her list of favorite people at all.

  Timon didn't comment on it.

  "So hostages? Are we secreting Sandra out of the kingdom then, or hiding her in Two Bends? Other than that I can't think of a good place to keep her. Not if you don't want her found."

  There was a pause and Tiera smiled, looking at the other girl, "Oh, I was thinking of marrying her off to you, to get things to calm down. Her father isn't all that happy with me right now."

  Instead of laughing or questioning her, Timon looked at the other girl frankly and nodded. "Alright. We can at least look into the idea. I certainly couldn't see what Todd was thinking, not picking you himself. Princess Karina already put word in with mother for me, and so did Judith Kerry. This is probably more important though and you really are a catch. Certainly as valid as either of the others."

  Tiera wasn't certain he was playing at all, but Sandra curtseyed and held out her hand, smiling. "That's most kind of you to say. It's hard to beat a Princess for things like that. Especially since I'm pretty well impoverished for the time being. Someone chastised me most firmly by destroying everything I own." There was a bit of bitterness to the words, but Timon just walked away, coming back with a little basket of things about two minutes later, from inside his little stone cottage. "Here, it's just to make sure you don't struggle for the whole days it takes you to get back on your feet. A cottage, some cleaning supplies and what not."

  He handed it over, getting a very sweet hug from the larger woman.

  "That is very thoughtful of you. Did you do the work on the cottage yourself? It feels like you, not Tor. Original work?"

  They talked about that for a few minutes while Tiera wandered off, so that she wouldn't be eavesdropping. After all, her little joke seemed to be backfiring. For a bit she considered actually getting the two married. It would make Sandra family then, which should keep the Count at bay for a w
hile at least. It was a bit self serving, but it would make her life much easier.

  After a bit Timon waved to her and called out, "we have more work in a few weeks. Try not to dodge out on me will you? You'll have to work for a few nights, taking people to Soam, some food and trade goods need to come back too. I'll send a schedule. No wars this time." He didn't even smile when he said it.

  He also didn't take the Fast Craft away, so she nodded. "I can do that. Sorry about before. I should have made sure that I finished my work before running off like that."

  Then, as if he'd nearly forgotten, he showed her the map of the world on his little hand held Austran device. It displayed the pictures as if they were almost there, and showed where all the Ancients that Brown knew about lived. Timon didn't take a long time doing it, just letting her look at it for a minute and then making the picture larger over the dwellings so she'd be able to find them later.

  "Got it?"

  She nodded. It wasn't hard after all. The pictures still floated right there behind her eyes and would for hours. After that she'd be able to bring it back at need. She had to try to do that, but it was a useful talent. For some reason Sandra got back in the craft with her and didn't ask where they were going, which was clearly north.

  "I have to stop in Two Bends, then we'll go to the school. My family will want the news about Torrance. Also, I have to be scolded for nearly destroying a County. It isn't fair, but I can't explain it very well at all." It was the rage that was the hard part. It wasn't a mindless thing, but she was so mad, almost all the time. She wanted to be good and help people, even meek and not create problems, but she just couldn't. How did she make that clear and not just seem insane though?

  There wasn't any way that she could think of. Instead she'd just have to try to hold her tongue as her mother and father went after her for starting a war. That wasn't truly the case though was it? She hadn't created the conflict, just ended it.

  "It will take about twenty-five minutes to get there." Less than that, but she knew that most people didn't actually count each second of the trip like she did. It would take her twenty-three minutes and fifteen seconds at the speed she was currently traveling. The Fast Craft had gotten faster as she used it, which said something about how it was made, she thought. What exactly, she didn't know. It felt almost like it was growing. Gaining power slowly over time.

  They didn't chat at all until they were on the ground. Sandra had been to the little village before and had met everyone, so when Mayor Tom saw her he just smiled and bowed, but didn't rush the girl to shake her hand and try to make certain she felt welcome. Tiera waved at him, and Sandra gave a small bow and a wave herself, which seemed to make the man happy. The street wasn't muddy, but she put the craft alongside the bakery, since she didn't want to take the trunks out yet.

  Then, not knowing what to expect she walked into the bakery, to find Todd behind the counter, coming from the back when he heard the little bell. He froze when he saw Sandra at least and blushed.

  "Conserina Morris. How wonderful to see you." It didn't sound like a giant treat, but he bowed and looked only half panicked. "I don't know if you heard, about Countess Thorgood and I?"

  The girl didn't have to, but she let him off the hook instantly and with a smile.

  "I did. Well, my loss, her gain. Don't worry, I didn't come to bother you about that. I'm a hostage." She made a face as if that were a real thing, which got Tiera to realize that it explained things pretty well. Why the girl had just been following along with her like she was.

  The others came then and by the way they casually greeted her like they were, it was pretty clear the news of her adventures hadn't reached them yet. So while it meant she didn't get an instant scolding, it also seemed that she was going to have to tell on herself. She waited for Taman, who was still too little for school, to run to the delivery warehouse to get her mother before explaining, since it wouldn't do to force her poor mother to come in halfway through the screaming.

  That saved her five minutes of harsh looks and hard words at least.

  Then there were more hugs all the way around.

  "So... it's been a busy week. I... Count Morris started a bit of a thing with me. It's over now, I think." That was all true, and she wanted very desperately to keep it at that, but her father raised an eyebrow and pulled out his pipe, which he always did when he felt stressed and didn't want people to know it.

  "What kind of a thing? He didn't get you pregnant did he? If so I'll have to take the boys and go have a talk with him." There was enough sternness in his voice that her mother laughed.

  "It won't be that dear. Even if she were with child she wouldn't know yet, there hasn't been enough time." Then she re-centered on Tiera, her face looking amused. "Insults then? Plotting?"

  Tiera nodded.

  "Yes. That and a tiny war. I didn't kill anyone, but I did some minor property damage." That was playing it down and she knew it, but Sandra didn't let that part go, clearly wanting her to be in trouble.

  "A few million gold worth. She crippled the Morris armed forces, destroyed all of our homes and about half of our major businesses. It was father's fault though. He should have apologized like a reasonable person after Tiera did. He was trying to avoid a duty and get Tiera to leave him so he wouldn't be at the Council of Counts for most of it, I think. Then his ego got in the way."

  Then, as expected there was some shouting for a while. She told the whole story, and was just gearing up to do her own yelling when it suddenly ended, her mother hugging her suddenly.

  "Well, that wasn't the way I raised you was it? From now on I expect you to leave such things to others, if you can't deal with it more politely yourself. I know that you might have some issues there. That means you have to fight harder for control however, not that you get a pass when you do the wrong thing, and while many nobles would have done the same, that isn't an excuse for harming all those innocent people."

  She knew that. "I know, Tor told me the same thing. Oh, if that's going to help me out at all, he met up with me and gave me some packages for a few people. None for you, but he sends his love. He seems fine. Healthy and all. I..." She didn't go into the rest. He'd seemed different, but how exactly was too hard to put in words. Harder and less like himself, more like...

  Her really. Filled with a barely contained anger that showed, even as it was being hidden? At least he had a real reason for it.

  That got her problem forgotten for a time, until she mentioned that she needed to get back to the school, if they weren't actually marrying Sandra to Timon that week. That would change her plans after all.

  Laurali smiled at that and shook her head.

  "No. You will not drag your brother into that mess." She gave a single nod to the taller woman however. "Not that it would be a poor match, he's just a bit young as of yet. It also isn't his problem to deal with, Tiera." There was a matter of factness to the whole thing that seemed to say her word was final.

  She winked at her mother, since it was a safe enough thing to do and left then, only to find Taman sitting in her Fast Craft, holding a basket that had been stuffed with cookies and covered with a napkin.

  "For Mr. Guide." She'd changed her clothing too, into a very cute, if slightly plain dress that hung like a sack on her, along with shiny black shoes. For about half a minute Tiera was tempted to make her go back in, but instead she got out and poked her head into the bakery, since everyone was still talking about Tor and the problem of having her around.

  "Ma? I'm going to take Taman to school with me. She has a present for Guide. I'll bring her back before dinner, if it's alright?" It was a hassle, but what the heck? It wasn't like it was dangerous. No more so than being at home at least.

  There was a moment of silence, but then both of her parents nodded.

  "Bring her straight back, please. We don't want her getting lost."

  Tiera didn't wait, just getting in and flying off, her sister seeming very pleased by the turn of events, watc
hing out the window happily. She talked to Sandra the whole time, going over how she was going to school soon and wanted to learn how to write and do numbers too. It was cute, but had to be at least a little annoying to the woman. She didn't let on however and started talking about building as a profession.

  "It's difficult, but rewarding. Have you ever thought about being a builder?"

  "Certainly. I got Tim to show me how. I can only make copies from templates, but he said that was good, for six." She seemed pretty proud of it too.

  From the driver's seat Tiera snorted.

  "Good for six? You're still five you know. That's all I can do and I'm fourteen. Most people don't even bother trying to do that at your age."

  Sandra shrugged and smiled, looking out the window.

  "It takes a lot of focus to do many copies at once. You need to learn to do it without a template too, before you go off to school. I can send some things for you to practice with."

  That got a nod from the girl as if it only made sense, because children did that, Tiera knew. Her baby sister had lived nearly half her life knowing that she was a noble. True, she still kind of thought that all of that kind of person lived in houses that were close to identical to what their neighbors had in Two Bends, but it wasn't a shock to her. She was even learning the polite social rules. That should help. Maybe in eight years she'd be able to go and fit in at school, not practically being kicked out in the first month?

  They found Guide in his room, which he shared with a second year boy named Lars, who saw them all standing there, with Taman in the front, and managed a credible bow, which marked him as being of decently high birth. He was tall, but recognized Sandra if not the other two and addressed her by name. As Conserina Morris.

  She nodded to him, "we're here for Guide? Conserina Lairdgren, Taman, brought a gift for him." She pushed the girl forward gently as Guide poked his head around his roommate, who gallantly stepped to the side. Grinning and staring at the younger girl. From the side he bowed to her as well, which got Taman to curtsey back. Correctly too.