Counselor tya-5

by P. S. Power

  “Are you coming back? If you think it's not likely, then we should all go. If you're just going for a day or two, well then take the smallest group possible to get the job done.”

  It was sound thinking. Tor thought out load, talking it through.

  “Well… we're all here hiding so that Burks and the Ancients couldn't find us, and we can see how well that worked. I think we should all go and…” Tor looked at the guards who all looked angry for a second.

  “The people without the prisoners should go somewhere else. Maybe where they can hide without using a magical building? My bet is that the Ancients used something to see the new building showing up instantly somehow. When we escaped from Austra, we couldn’t have too large a craft, because it might be noticed. This place is pretty big. I don’t know how they do it, but that would be my guess.”

  Burks wasn't talking, and Black clearly didn't know exactly, the only thing he knew was that the information had come out of Austra. That tidbit of information set Tor on edge. He didn't mention it out loud, having picked it up by sensing the man’s field. Burks was fighting to hide his thoughts, and doing a good job of it too. He did react to the idea of them tracking the new building, that was clear.

  Tor shrugged.

  “Fine, so after we split up, pick one of the guards at random to pick three destinations and then pick someone else to choose one of those. Then contact the palace from a remote location. I can't say more in case one of these two gets away again. They probably will eventually if we don't kill them. Or, you know, if they aren't just let go.” It was just the truth, but everyone in the room stiffened when Tor mentioned it.

  The Ancients made sense, what with the implied death threat there. OK, Tor knew that it wasn't real, his friends probably got it and really, that Burks wasn't rolling his eyes was just a sign of politeness most likely. The man knew Tor well enough to get that. Black looked to be preparing to fight again and all the Royal Guards… That was something that he didn't get at all. Why would they react to it?

  One of the younger men humphed.

  “Like they'd escape from us.” He muttered softly. Wensa shook her head at the younger man and after a second so did George. It was the older man that spoke then.

  “They're thousands of years old. You don't get that old by being inept. Don't underestimate them at all. These are probably two of the most dangerous people on the planet right now. If they even look like they're escaping, kill them. Don't wait for them to succeed.”

  Tor walked over and placed a hand on Black’s shoulder gently.

  “Still, for all that, don't really worry. Just be nice and polite and you'll probably be sleeping in a warm bed tonight after a good meal with freedom of the kingdom. Burks may be in trouble, but the King likes him, you personally should be fine though, so don't bother turning this into some major thing, you know?”

  The man nodded a bit stiffly, “I guess I should mention that I have an inborn trait that forces me to fight if I perceive a threat? No real control over it. It’s why I came at you last night like I did.”

  Burks took a deep breath and slowly let it out, as if relaxing on purpose, readying himself for something, it took a second but all the Royal Guards started bristling then, starting to pull their weapons. Ah, OK. Tor got it, if a little slowly. As far as they were concerned Black had just challenged them, claiming that if attacked he'd fight, set something off with them in their training or natures. Burks knew it would happen, because he was the one that had come up with the training protocols. Something had to be done before the whole thing went sideways and upside down on them then.

  Tor laughed.

  “Ah, well, that's no worry then!” He said calmly, once everyone was paying attention to him.

  “No one here will attack you unless attacked and the Royal Guard are many things, but they don't mistreat prisoners or guests.” Not unless told to at least. They were all versed in torture too, just in case it came up. At least Tor assumed so from some of the things he'd been threatened with himself over the last few years. They hadn't tried it yet though, so at least there was that.

  It took a minute and a few more comments to get everyone to back down a bit, but they were able to set things up in one of the upstairs bedrooms, just clearing the space out and rearranging things, moving the walls and setting up a fast carriage inside, then Varley stood by to make the outside wall vanish as soon as everything was set, Tor moved out carefully, amazed at how easily the whole thing shifted sideways, since it couldn't move in any other direction.

  The transport was a cloud gray today, to match the sky, matte colored so it wouldn't reflect easily in case the Austrans were watching from above somehow. The inside had rows of seats, six of them, but only ten people were there in all. Tor drove, and had set it up so that Ali could sit next to him. In the very back, away from the Ancients were Rolph and Karina, both armed and shielded. Warren and Burks tied up still, sat in the middle of a circle of guards, all facing inward. It was tight because of the strange seating arrangement, but no one complained. After all, if something happened at all on the trip, at the speeds they were going, odds were everyone would just die.

  The whole thing had to go towards the south west, Tor guessed, to reach the Capital. Wensa just nodded when he asked and pointed which way to go with an exacting gaze and a sharp nod. Everyone managed to behave themselves the whole way and the only ones that talked were Karina and Ali.

  Ali sighed and looked back at everyone.

  “So, vacations over then? Well, I guess it had to end sometime. What are we doing next? Back to school? Or…” She looked back and finally turned around to stare at Lairdgren. “Or not. I guess holding the owner of the school hostage and demanding he help us capture and kill what amounts to the Princess of Austra won't help our grades, will it?”

  The tone was sweet, gentle and soft, but Tor could feel the intent coming off of his wife, young as she was, she meant the words, it wasn't playful banter at all. Karina snorted.

  “I don't think you have to worry about grades now. We have more important things to do. First we need to make plan though. Everyone will excuse us if we don't discuss the particulars in public? I don't want anyone to feel obligated to stop us.”

  Now Burks did roll his eyes, but didn't speak, Tor could feel it, because the man was trying to pass him a message using his field. The meaning was clear enough, it just asked for him to remain calm and help them, that there was a plan. Tor shrugged openly and sent back a single thought that was stronger than what Burks had put out by far.

  Why should I trust you?

  If there was a bit of anger mixed in, well, Tor still felt more than a little betrayed, didn't he? Sure, eventually he'd let it go, but who lied to a person that was essentially themselves? Not that Tor didn't understand… But, well, he didn't, did he? His nature pushed for him to forgive and forget, but the Count had betrayed the crown and worse, annoyed his grandson.

  They took their time getting into the palace complex, moving so slowly over the city that even the Royal Guard was happy with it. When they got on the ground they didn't all boil out like angry hornets, choosing to move slowly and carefully first, letting George and Wensa get out and summon support, then build a wall of death outside the hatch, letting the royal kids and Ali off first, then half the guards, with Tor coming out last, weapon at the ready.

  Sure, it wasn't needed, but it made for a good show, didn't it? Neither of the Ancients was going to take him as a real threat, they probably couldn't. Tor nodded softly at the realization; after all, he wasn't one. Not to the likes of either of them. So he'd have to cheat, and bring weapons they couldn't beat yet and try to stay ready. It wouldn't be enough if the men moved on them for real, Tor guessed, but all they could do was try.

  So far, out of all the palace visits, this one was, surprisingly, both the most tense and the easiest for Tor. For once no one seemed to blame him for anything and the reports mainly came from George. He summed the whole thing up pretty qu
ickly and then fell silent, the King not having any questions yet. Instead Richard raised his eyebrows and stared at Burks a little.

  “Well?” The monarch asked pointedly. Nothing else, just that one word.

  Burks sighed and shook his head gently.

  “It's just a misunderstanding. Yes, I took Denno, but that was needed. Once Tor decided to act and inform you both, I had to act myself and didn't have a lot of time to think up a plan. The sleep device was all I had. If Tor had his current shield weapon I'd probably be locked up in prison right now. As it was, I managed to set up Denno with Cynthia Blue down in the Antarctic, so that he'll have enough resources to retake Austra before Serge can bring the new Larval army to bear.”

  Tor got a few bits and pieces, but in the main his mind was left no more informed as to the original question than before. The King seemed to accept it though.

  “Wait.” Tor shook his head again and replayed the words in his mind. Lots of information, some sounded useful, but it didn't answer one question, which was kind of the important one.

  “If Brown is planning to take over the world, why release him to do it? We don't need him to take out the Larvals. I can do it, or better, one of the Royal Guard or elite military could do it, since they're less likely to flinch at the end than I would be. Point being, we could do it in about twenty hours. Or if you don't want anyone else harmed, less than a week. Why did you really release him?” That Tor sounded baffled and young didn't matter as much as the question did. Burks sighed and stared at him, as if blaming him for having asked at all.

  “Tor… Some things are kind of private. Maybe if we discussed this later, without so many ears around?” The Ancient tried to send him another thought, basically just telling him “not now” or something so close that it came across that way.

  Tor shook his head.

  “Sorry, but I don't think we can afford the time. Out with it and don't lie. What's going on and who's in on it. First, we need to know where Denno is. I don't know that I can read you perfectly all the time, but I definitely got that he isn't with anyone named Cynthia Blue. Where did you really hide him?”

  Now of course, Tor was truly bluffing. Burks had locked himself down so well during that part of his speech that nothing had leaked out at all. Tor stared as if it had and glanced at his own face above the green military uniform. A reminder that he was a sitting Count for the royals? It didn't have a lot of effect on him personally. Not right now. Maybe later it would, if his grandfather ever got free to yell at him for a while.

  Burks sent out a tendril of annoyance.

  “Alright Tor, I hid him in the last place anyone would think to look for him. Obviously. I need to buy time in order to clear him and find out who's been using him for their own plan. Is that enough for you?” The voice was more than a little peeved now and the eyes glared and searched his as if in warning. Tor got that he wasn't supposed to ask more, but then, he didn't need to, did he?

  Richard and Connie both looked baffled.

  “You think that one of the Ancients was manipulated into trying to take over the world? That's… Isn't that a little advanced? Who could do that? Another Ancient of course, but which one?” The King tilted his big head to one side and frowned, then he continued, clearly thinking out loud.

  “More to the point, why? Do any of the Ancients truly covet power so much? They all have their own continent to play with, isn't that enough? We live in balance for the most part and wars are rare, the main aggressor in the world being Austra. I guess I could see them being used as the weapon of conquest, but again, who and why?”

  That, it turned out was the big question. The Ancients didn't seem to know at all. After a bit the Count shrugged.

  “Honestly? It could be any of us. There are a few who truly excel at manipulation, but Denno is one of them, which makes him a harder target, but we're all still people. One thing I know for certain, Denno Brown has an even harder time killing than I do. He could build a larval army, but deploying it would be hard for him. Someone else has to be pulling the strings. That or he's gone insane.”

  Black chuckled, “Right, but the Green baby here certainly isn't following the rules is he? He's you, but for some reason he's able to work around that. Do you doubt that Brown couldn't figure it out too?”

  Tor took a step forward and hit Black in the back of the head as hard as he could. The man dodged easily and grinned, pointing with his index finger directly at Tor, but not attacking. He apparently didn’t see Tor as a real threat at the moment, for some reason.

  “See? You'd have never done that. Not in three thousand years, not just over words. He may be you Green, but young Tor here is also his own being. My point stands though. Denno could find a way around what he is if he needed to. Maybe use a computer to set the orders or something. I think we need to not only look for who, but to see if there might be a reason behind it as well.”

  Stepping back Tor glared at Black and waited to see if an attack would come. It had been a clear goad aim directly at him, but that didn't mean the fellow wasn't waiting to get a bit of payback for the knocked out teeth and being tied up naked thing. No one would blame him, but Tor didn't want to take the brunt of that either. Instead he just hoped that everyone could manage being friends, rocky start or not.

  Everyone agreed and the rustling from the walls didn't get any louder, so whatever was waiting there hadn't decided to act at least. Not yet. If a real fight broke out Tor expected that both the Ancients would die, even now.

  The King sighed and called Burks forward. What was said Tor didn't hear and no one explained, but both Black and Lairdgren were untied and invited into the back room to talk with the King and Queen. Tor wasn't invited, nor was Prince Alphonse. That got a raised eyebrow from his large friend, but he didn't question it out loud. Tor looked at him and sighed hugely. It got a nod, because they both knew what this would mean.

  The count would say something in secret, some bit of a plan or part of an old song or whatever he thought would work, Rich would then roll over and show his belly, if in a dignified and royal fashion, and let Lairdgren tickle it for a bit. Connie would Oooohh and ahh like it was a fireworks display and in a bit they'd all come out and order something that, even if it was actually brilliant, would seem stupid and probably nonsensical to the rest of them. Karina walked over smoothly and pulled Ali with her, waving her brother over in a fairly commanding gesture, but the Prince didn't balk.

  “Plan anyone? I think we all get what this means…” The heir said calmly, if a little dryly.

  Karina shook with rage, badly enough that Tor wondered for a second if she was going to be lost to combat rage, but of course Trice wasn't around, was she?

  He'd meant it as a joke, but then did a quick review mentally. Every time he'd gone into that state, his girlfriend had been around. The same for almost all the other people he'd ever witnessed. Tor went still and his mouth made an “o” shape that in a different situation probably would have earned him a sex joke made at his expense.

  Karina stopped clenching her fist.

  “Tor?”

  “Oh! Sorry, um, just figured something out is all. Not on topic. As to the rest, it doesn't much matter what the King and Queen want us to do, unless we're just ordered not to capture Denno Brown. We don't need Burks to do that anyway. Not now.” It was already clear to Tor where the man was. Casting his mind out briefly he could even feel him there. It was brilliant of course.

  No one got to ask about what he meant, because the Ancients and the monarchs walked out of the nice door hidden in the paneling of the back wall and strode forward. The King and Queen took their thrones again, which probably meant they had what they figured was bad, or at least hard, news.

  Richard took a deep breath.

  “Children… Tor, Alissa. I know this might be difficult, but we've decided the best course of action right now is to let these gentlemen go to follow their plan. I know this may not be what you want to hear, having your own concerns, bu
t we believe that it's for the best and that it will all be made clear to you in time-” The King stopped and stared his face looking slightly annoyed at first, but panic grew behind his stony mask after a bit.

  When Tor looked around he saw why. It was, he decided, shocking enough.

  Karina and Ali both stood, nearly back to back, shields already turned on, advanced weapons held in either hand. Both pointing one at the Ancients, the other scanning the room. No one spoke for a second, but finally Burks did, his voice gentle.

  “I see. Well, looks like the best laid plans and all that, doesn't it Warren?” He commented softly to Black, a code of some kind perhaps, at least Tor couldn't make sense of it. What Tor could tell was that the men were about to move on his girls. Tor simply ran forward as fast as he could. That didn't work by half though. Black moved so fast that he was on Ali, hitting her shield a half dozen times, before Tor had covered a third of the distance, Burks was nearly to Karina already and Tor didn't have a weapon out at all. He didn't need to bother though, because faster than anyone could track the shields the girls wore triggered and both Ancients soon found themselves lying flat on the floor, beaten down by nearly invisible forces for the second time in two days.

  Tor stopped.

  The room flooded with Royal Guard then, but they didn't know what to do, what they did, almost bafflingly, was aim their weapons at him and Ali. Tor chuckled.

  When in doubt blame Tor?

  It seemed to be a rule now.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tor yawned. It wasn't that he was tired really, all the drawn weapons kind of got him to perk right up. No, it was just that he wanted to show the room that he wasn't all worked up, even if everyone else was a bit. As long as people weren't attacking his friends, they weren't going to have a problem with him. If they did, well, then no matter what he'd see things through. For now though, nothing truly unforgivable had happened, which Tor promptly pointed out.