Crystal Core Read online

  The problem was that he recognized some of the things, even if the kids didn’t. The odd ones at the edges. For instance, the pies, while large were made to be held in the hand. They looked, more or less, like packaged things from certain realities. The cakes had that going on as well. Totally covered, instead of being presented in slices. They weren’t things he’d seen before, but the idea was still there.

  The children tried to bolt their food, which Willum stopped, gently.

  “Enjoy it. You can have more if you want. Though this is a way from the city. Are you all mainly over by the space port?” He meant for living, day to day, but while three of them nodded, Lith and Tad both shook their heads.

  “Tavy, Bart and Recca are working out that way. For the port girl? They have the day off, on account of Postern. I’m apprenticed with my father.” His accent was suddenly a lot more city than he’d been using before. Not refined sounding, but much clearer. From how slowly he was speaking, that was due to him actually trying to be plain about it all.

  Letting Willum know that, even if it might not save their lives, these were people that would be missed.

  He wasn’t planning anything, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a danger in the world of these small people. Kids didn’t vanish often in the city, but they could go missing, so being slightly careful made sense, day to day.

  “The Port Girl? I don’t know anyone by that name, I don’t think.” Which was just true. He’d been by the place, but had never really lingered.

  Tavy spoke then, her missing front right tooth causing her to sound a bit off.

  “The blue magical boxes run all the ports in the whole world. There’s a girl in the box that does it. She’s very pretty. All the dirt children work for her, directly. She gives us new clothing and we get a half silver a week. That comes from…” She stopped, her face twisting a little. “I don’t rightly know, to be true on it. Every few weeks a woman comes from the side palace, where the Ancient Sam lives. I guess it comes from him, direct like? I just know I get paid regular, as long as I do my part. We get food, too. You gotta live someplace else though, so I’m in with these two. We get by.”

  That got nods all the way around. It also didn’t sound totally wholesome. Then, there were three of them, and getting daily food and clothing, along with a silver and half would be survivable for them. It didn’t teach them to read or write, but it was better than being alone in the world and on the streets without having those things.

  Still, it wasn’t enough to replace having parents to watch out for them.

  Not really thinking, he pulled out his communications device again. The name he tapped in was probably not going to be taking his calls that day, given everything. Really, calling up anyone was going to be a risk, even if he needed to try a few, just so he could claim he’d made the effort, later.

  Interestingly, the man in question answered almost immediately. He was very tall, in person, with red hair and decently dark tanned skin. It was an interesting look. Very like the king, who was the man’s father.

  On the handheld he looked to be normal sized, instead of over nine feet tall.

  “Happy Postern. How may I help you today, Countier Lairdgren?” The use of the title got several of the children to go wide eyed, for some reason.

  As if someone who owned a tower that was made of magic might not also have a title. The idea got him to smile. That was a small thing though. He tried to let it reach his eyes so the Prince would know it was real.

  “Happy Postern, Prince Alphonse. Two things. The first, is that I do wish you all a happy Postern. The second is that I was hoping to get you to help me on a totally unrelated project.”

  That got a soft chuckle. The man didn’t scream no, or go on about being abused on an off day. Then for him, it certainly wasn’t one. There would be events, after all. That meant the Heir was going to be seen in public, at least for a while.

  “What would that be, if it’s all right to ask in public, without giving offense?”

  Willum smiled then, letting his face actually seem pleased.

  “I was thinking about setting up some houses, out by the space port. Along with a school. For the children that work out there? I’ll cover the cost of the school master and any taxes, but it’s a personal project and I don’t really have a lot of time to actually do it. The hiring and overseeing portions of things. Could you help me find someone for that, do you think?” They could put the Prince’s name all over the place, so it might be enough to get the man interested.

  Or not.

  The interesting thing then, was that the Prince of the Realm, the Heir to the Throne of Noram… Started walking.

  “That sounds like a wonderful thing to do! It will have to be on the outer rim… Allow me to… Sam! We have a project going on that might concern you.” That got a shorter man to move into the side of the tall Prince, after a few moments.

  The kids looked a bit freaked, though they did all go back to eating their pies and cakes.

  Even Elly did, though she was tearing up a bit, and smiling at the same time.

  Ancient Sam Builder called back, having moved over quickly.

  “Oh? What’s that?”

  Prince Alphonse spoke then.

  “Countier Lairdgren, Willum Baker, is proposing that we set up housing and a school for the children of the port. He’s offering to pay for the taxes on the land and for the instructors. Well, he only said one, but if we’re going to do it, we should do it right, don’t you think?” There was a teasing smirk, as if the fifty-odd gold the whole thing would cost him was an issue. It truly wasn’t.

  “That does seem a better plan. I can make some buildings for them to use. I already have some, to be truthful, so they can go up today. I take it that Ancient Sam is going to be their overseer? That’s a good use of his time, I don’t doubt.” He was playing, but there was a soft sigh from the man himself.

  “I should have thought of that. Yes. Let’s put them right behind my palace out there? That way everyone will know that they’re under my protection. Thank you, Countier Lairdgren. This is a very good idea. We should get in touch with Tam-Unit on this. I think that she’s in the communications system. I can…” What he could do, from the announcement coming from behind himself and the Prince, was go off to luncheon. The words got him to make a slightly sour face.

  “We can beg off, can’t we? There’s work to do here.”

  It was whispered, to the Prince, who shook his head.

  “Not a single chance in the world. Mother would kill us both if we miss it. That and dinner later. There are festivities as well, out by the river.” From the look on his face, saying that kind of thing wasn’t expected to go over well, with Willum.

  As if taking a few days to get that all done was a big matter. It would take longer than that to get the children a teacher, primers and materials for schooling. Then they had to convince them that going was worthwhile. Possibly even having to trick them into thinking that living near the Ancient of their land was a good thing. As if it were his job to watch and care for them. It probably was, somehow, given the man’s reaction to the idea.

  Willum smiled, making it a big thing.

  “We don’t have to do it all today. I’ll get a place set up for the port children first thing, anyway. Tonight, so they all have a place to sleep. The school next to it? They’ll probably all be out celebrating today, so we shouldn’t get in the way of that. We’ll need some other things for them as well.” Food and people to watch out for them. “I can try to call this… Tam-Unit? I don’t know her. The name sounds like she might know Taman Baker?” It was a bit of a long shot, but apparently correct.

  Alphonse nodded at least.

  “That’s right. Your cousin, Tam-Unit. She’s magical, but so far everyone is assuming that it still counts. A delightful woman, Tam-Unit. You can just call and wish her a happy holiday, then slide in the other bit. It’s a tradition, after all. Using events like this to get work done. Speaking of whic
h, we need to go and pretend not to be passing work related information at the meal here. Are you available for the evening meal?” The words were oddly blank at the end, with a small head shake, letting him know that he wasn’t actually welcome for it.

  Though, clearly, the Prince felt that he needed to make the offer. So, it was probably more about there not being room at short notice for someone as low down the noble pole as he was that night. Which was actually fine.

  “I’m so sorry, but I can’t make it tonight. I have people in. I also have to get with some relatives of mine. It’s Postern, so it’s expected. I… Can possibly change plans, if it’s needed, but really shouldn’t, if it won’t harm anyone’s feelings there? I do get a month off work, starting today, so should be around for other things, later? Please don’t take offense…” Then he made himself look concerned about the whole thing. As if he honestly cared. Hopefully not over doing it, even if to him it really felt like it.

  Interestingly, the Heir bowed toward the screen in his hand then.

  “Family should come first, today. We should get together soon, though, and do something fun. I know that Benjamin and my mother were both discussing having you over soon. Though only one of them mentioned anything other than work. You did hear that you were starting an embassy out there, didn’t you? Because we all have. Many, many times.” The man seemed amused by the idea at least, that his little son, who was seven or eight now, had been setting that up for a long while. Actually, dealing with line walkers and foreign powers from other realities.

  It might have sounded like a game to some, but the kid was actually doing the largest share of the work on the project.

  “I have heard that. In fact, we should be seeing the first missions coming in soon. We can speak on that later, if it’s all right? Please send my love to everyone.”

  “Ours to your friends, as well. It was nice hearing from you, Countier Baker.”

  Then the screen went blank, the time, date and the same information for other areas around the world showed up then. You could display a lot of different information, including news updates but he needed people in different places so often that it made sense to have that data all the time, right to hand. He even had the time for Mars’ First City and the same for Harmony, on the Moon.

  It was very late on Mars, being abut eleven at night, and very early on the Moon. About seven in the morning.

  He stood up then, and waved at the others.

  “This might take a bit. We should have a place for you to live today though. Really, we should go and set that up now. We can go to the port first, and do that, then head over to the events by the river? I have some craft with me, so it shouldn’t be too hard to manage.” It was true, but the others all looked up at him, Lith just tilting his head a little.

  “I… Are you the Wizard Tor? Or that other one, the Great Wizard Tim?” It was a bit rude of him to ask that way, since for that to be the case, he would have had to have been lying to them all about his name. It would have been offensive at least, if he wasn’t trained for that kind of thing for his job. That he might be lying was about the right thing to believe about him, at any given time.

  “Nope. I’m just Will. Like I said.” It was true, but Tavy snorted at him.

  “The Wizard Willum? Who made the new magical river for the city wall? No one else could just call up the Prince and snap his fingers to make him do something like this.” There was a bit of sass to the words, and she snapped her fingers in demonstration but she looked down and blushed afterwards. Mainly since most of the other children were glaring at her.

  Probably because they didn’t want him to turn them into dogs. Not that he knew how to do that yet. Really, it was a thing that he needed to learn. If only to help out his friends when they needed it.

  He winked at them then. After all, his cover was as a sort of floating drifter that did magic and took messages as something to keep himself busy.

  “Sure. The half-baked Wizard Willum, if you want to call me that. I just do magic as a hobby really. Shall we go? It will mean I have to clean up later, but…”

  Elly started to get the remaining plates, which had Lith helping after a moment. The others just stood there, but Will did his part, meaning they dumped the remaining food, plates and all into the hopper on the side of the pearl colored food unit in the large kitchen space. The sink was along the far wall, but they had a wash station in the other room.

  He used that one, going first, since he needed to be a good model for the children that were there. It worked, and they all washed up. Even if Bart, the light-haired boy who was the smallest of them, had to be prompted personally. Twice.

  It occurred to him that he was kind of ignoring the fact that Elsa had come for a visit. Not that he’d been ignoring her really. For her part, she wasn’t acting like he needed to run off for an awkward talk with her or anything at the moment. Really, she seemed to be more or less interested in what they were doing. About at the same level as the kids with them. As if they were doing something of actual importance, instead of just setting up a barracks for some kids that might not even want to use them.

  Will waved at them all, to get their attention.

  “Right. First, we need to get out to the Space Port. Or… Really, first I need to get some things. One bit here.” That meant running again, but he didn’t come back empty handed. In fact, he had a small case floating behind him. It was about three feet on each side, so wasn’t that tiny, and had different magical items inside. Mainly just odds and ends. Things he wasn’t taking to the IPB in a few days. Magics that had been generated in his practices, that he didn’t really have any use for now.

  “Sorry for the wait. Okay, I have magical clothing for you all. It’s mainly for the port children, but you two are at the right place, so you get some as well.” He dug in the box, and handed the small tan tiles out, with a bow. “Try not to lose these if you can help it.” Each of them got one of the things, including Elly, who was wearing real clothing that day, even if she had magical clothing on her in the form of a talisman already.

  She’d presented herself a certain way though, and breaking that for the kids seemed mean. They hadn’t done anything wrong, after all. Well, other than breaking into his home for snacks. That could be forgiven though, as long as they didn’t do it with someone else. In that case, then tiny bodies probably would be swinging from gallows.

  For the time being he was working on the idea that Elsa had invited them. She’d been given a place to live there, once and he’d never told her directly that she couldn’t come back. There had simply been an admission of being on the bad side of the war. For some reason it had never occurred to Willum that she’d be back around to take him up on the offer of a place to stay.

  It made a certain amount of sense now, since she could use it to try and subvert him to her side, if she had frequent contact with him. The other way around was true as well, in potential. He even had some new arguments to use with her, toward that end. It would at least let him try the ideas out, if nothing else.

  Rather shamelessly, the kids all stripped off in his front room, since they were city kids and didn’t care about a bit of public nudity. Then, moments later, their new clothing amulets around their necks, they each were dressed in matching student’s uniforms. All in brown canvas. Including the boots and he knew, the socks on their feet.

  It got him to nod. They looked cleaner and sharp enough, without making themselves targets for theft instantly. They were commoners, so couldn’t have shields legally, for the most part. High powered weapons, either. That left camouflage as their best defense. That and running away quickly.

  They all bundled up their old clothing, keeping it with them, even if it meant carrying it around all day. That was a thing he understood on a deep level. That clothing had been, if not expensive, theirs. Plus, they probably didn’t realize that he’d just gifted the magical things to them directly. Letting go of what you had just wouldn’t make sense to people used
to being poor. Even the wealthy had issues that way, for the most part.

  That probably meant it was just part of human nature. Not letting go of what you already had and thought of as your own.

  They left then, walking at a medium pace. He tended toward fast, himself, since it was easy for him, but the kids had shorter legs and no special powers to move them along. Not until they got in the transport hut to the right of the front door, which with a few taps had the thing opening up on a scene of chaos.

  It was just the port, and no explosions had taken place, but it was wonderfully busy that day. Before he could orient himself properly, Tavy, looking sharp in her new outfit, tugged at his arm.

  “This way. We should see the Port Girl, first. Those men said so.”

  Meaning that the blue box they were walking toward was his cousin. There was a line, so they waited, with people filling in behind them, for their own turn. Most of them had bits of trash, or even rocks in their hands, to offer up to the device, in exchange for some basic food or beverages. The face on the large screen was that of his Aunt, Taman, who looked good, but also odd. It really was as if she’d been stuffed into a box. One that wasn’t that large, really. Two feet square on the bottom, if not two and a half feet, with a strange top. There was a flap on one side that said trash in here on it. That was nicely done in glowing gold script, which showed well against the slightly shining blue of the rest of it.

  Her voice was incredibly familiar.

  As soon as he moved into place, the woman smiled.

  “Hello! Would you like some food or drink? I notice that you have some of the port workers with you. There isn’t a problem, is there?” The voice didn’t change at all, or the face, but the feeling coming off of the box was of a person getting ready for battle. To protect her kids, if she had to. How that was going to happen, he didn’t know at all, since she honestly seemed to be fixed in place but Willum knew that it would be taking place, if he answered incorrectly.