Duty Read online

  “That sounds fun. Really, both options do. Let’s save the High Servants for the second date? As for the play, call that… Next week? I need to get my schedule around first.” She patted him on the shoulder on the way into the back rooms. What was back there, he didn't really know at all. In a normal shop it would be the living quarters of the owners.

  Everyone went that way, except for Serro and Jeff. They both stayed, with the woman making a face at him. It was cute. Manipulative, naturally, which was her actual point. He could read it on her, very clearly.

  “We weren’t setting out to trick you or anything. We’d put the club together and Willum mentioned that his new roommate could use a job. Also, that you were battling depression and a bit about your history. I’d heard the story before, from both Tor and King Richard, so hired you on. That’s really all it was. We weren’t there to spy on you or anything like that.”

  The words were almost defensive, which they probably didn’t have to be. If he could forgive someone for breaking his back and leaving him crippled, then he could probably let go of any upset he might have over being given a couple of fake names. That part had been explained, after all.

  Which wasn’t the point of the moment.

  “Sure, sure… but what do I do for friends now? Here I am, all alone. No friends. No job… No Moon pony.”

  Serro winked at him, which was strange, coming from her. She also reached out and took his hand.

  “Well, you call me Trice, or Patricia, and Willum goes by Will. That will be a change. Plus, eventually, he won’t need a roommate here. He has a house in the Capital of Noram. A palace, really. At the Space Port. By the school there. Tim and I have a place across the city from there, outside the wall, so if you want to stay with either of us, that can probably be done. Not that you’ll have time for a while.”

  Willum let his head bob a bit, in agreement.

  “No doubt. You managed to go from being a floor man at a dance club, to the person responsible for the wellbeing of everyone in several worlds. That’s pretty high level, as far as duty goes. As it is, you need to get to The Eternal in about… four hours. You have that party in the morning, with everyone still invited to it, so that has to be taken care of. No backing out now, after all. We can’t possibly cancel in time. Then it’s back to Thomson and after that… Well, we’re dealing with three planets and seven space stations. Sooner or later, someone is going to call on you for help. You’ll need to be ready for that.”

  “I guess I will, at that. So, did you put Timon up to taking my depression away? I have to say, this being normal thing is really working for me. I’m not used to it yet at all. The immortality part is good too, I suppose. Weird though. I mean, they don’t just make everyone immortal, right? Who am I to even make the list for that?”

  Trice actually let both her eyebrows come up.

  “I didn’t know you were one of us now, actually.” She looked at Willum, who winked back at her.

  “It was only a matter of time. Albert was going around being too helpful to be left on the table. This way he has to do his part, too. It’s an official rule. Speaking of which, I need to check in with some High Servants. See you at home?”

  It was his turn to roll his eyes at the man.

  “Of course. Barring emergencies.”

  For some reason, that got the other two, his friends, to both laugh.

  After a moment, he joined in.

  It was funny, because it was true.

  Afterword

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