Slave Line (The Young Ancients)

by Power, P. S.

  Everyone else got up to leave finally, so he passed out hugs and made sure those going with him stayed the night, so that they wouldn't be forgotten in the morning. They were going to be leaving in about three or four hours anyway. Tor was exhausted, but it wouldn't help to wait too long, since the more time they had around people, the greater the chance of something bad happening. Sighing he moved to the communications room and tapped the Warden sigil on the plate that was mounted on a low table.

  It was a nice wooden looking thing that fit the room.

  Tor expected to have to wait to talk to anyone and then just leave a message with a slightly annoyed servant. It was about four in the morning there after all, so he didn't expect anyone to be up for hours. If no one answered he'd just give up and try again before they left.

  "This is Count Ward, to whom am I speaking please?" The voice was deep and rumbled, but didn't boom. Probably because it was so early and he didn't want to wake everyone else in his place up.

  "Hi Marvin, it's Tor here. Sorry about doing this so late, but we're planning on invading you in the morning with a bunch of Austran spies, so I figured I should check in and make sure the ship was ready. Oh, and I wanted to get some prostitutes for the trip, maybe dancing girls, and some musicians, if anyone wants to go on short notice? I'll pay... Um, tell them that I'll pay everyone that goes a gold per day, with a minimum of ten golds, no matter how short the trip is. Any entertainers are welcome, though we'll have to check them first to make sure they aren't agents for anyone else. Could that be put around do you think? Should I pay more? I know it's short notice."

  There was a low rumble that wasn't exactly a laugh from the other end of the device.

  "Tor... At those rates I think you might find that your ship couldn't hold them all. What do you need? Ten people in all? Constant entertainment or..."

  He didn't know.

  "Um, Yes, ten to fifteen, depending on what they do. If they have more than one skill that would be good. Is this too much of an imposition? We'll be there in a few hours, probably about six or so." He probably shouldn't have mentioned it at all. The man was a Count, not someone to send on personal errands.

  "Nonsense Tor. This is the Kingdom's business, which makes it mine. I'll have something for you. Of course I'll need you to vouch for me with Maria that my early morning trip to the whore house wasn't all for fun. I don't want her to think I'm losing my standards after all."

  Tor didn't know if he was supposed to laugh or not, though the voice sounded playful. He decided to take it seriously for now. It would be funny and besides, it was true, so he would back the man at need.

  "I'll do that of course. Thank you. Is everything alright there?" He meant with Debbie, since the Wards were watching out for her, but that didn't mean the man would have done more than get her set up with a place to stay and possibly a store front. She used to run a bakery and magical items shop in the Capital, both of them successfully, but had left all that. She still had her inventory though. No one had raided the shop or burnt her home down before they cleared it all out.

  "It's... Well, as expected probably. Debbie is sad to near death about what had happened with her brother, she's in with Maria now, which is why I'm awake at this hour. Hopefully we can get her to sleep soon. Not... I don't want you to think I'm complaining. She needs us and I don't begrudge that. Even at the loss of my own sleep. It's just that she has to be exhausted by now. I don't think she's slept in three days. I... fear for her Tor." There was genuine worry in the words, which surprised Tor a little.

  Marvin Ward was known for his good looks and habit of getting women pregnant, along with a reputation for not being overly bright all the time, but his concern for Debbie was just bizarre. Or it would have been, if Tor forgot to incorporate the fact that the man was still a human being. Tor had asked the Wards to care for his friend, to keep her safe from harm over what her brother had done, but he hadn't expected them to take it as seriously as they appeared to be doing.

  He'd underestimated them. Again.

  "I'll be there as soon as possible. Thank you for all your help. Tell Maria that too, if you see her to speak with."

  They got off the line and Tor decided to see if two and a half hours of sleep was better than none at all. As it was he hoped that someone that knew how to fly was going to be around in the morning to take them all. He had a few spare Fast Carriages, they'd need them, since each one would only comfortably hold about twelve people at full size and they had nearly forty, now that the Royal guard was coming along, his family too. Part of it.

  He found his bed, with Ali already in it fast asleep. Tor laid next to her, listening to her breathe for a few minutes before he settled into sleep himself. It was comforting. He really didn't want to lose her. Not due to neglect or being a bad husband. That was the last thing he thought before the yelling started.

  Ali was sitting up in bed next to him, eyes huge at the sound as Tor stood on the bed and jumped over the foot, his shield taking the brunt of the fall, even if it was only three feet. He started to stumble, still mainly asleep as he lifted himself into the air, hoping no one was being killed. He used the Not-flyer to get down the stairs, which was faster than running, and changed his clothing as he moved, into black leather combat gear. He'd slept with his multi-weapon in his pocket, so it came out before he got to the bottom of the stairs to find two women pulling each other's hair.

  Inexpertly too.

  Glaren was hitting the woman occasionally, taking one or two blows herself. It wasn't done very well, but left Tor not knowing what to do. It wasn't a battle to the death, clearly. He put his own weapon away and floated over, not recognizing the other woman at all. She wasn't great looking, about forty, with a slightly mannish face and muddy brown hair. The eyes were a drab brown and from what Tor could see she was missing a tooth. Since that was on the floor next to her it probably explained the blood, didn't it?

  "I'll... Kill you bitch. I know this is... you're doing."

  What that was about Tor didn't know at all, but no one got to assault his staff unchallenged. It was a rule. One he just made up, but something so common sense he didn't really have to think about it. He grabbed the new woman and pulled her off, his shield being kicked as he did, making the whole thing a little harder. Things got a bit slippery when you tried to handle them with a shield on. He managed though, finally moving the woman away, throwing her to the floor with a thump that caused her to cry out.

  "OK, what the heck is this? People are... were, trying to sleep." He looked at the clock standing against the wall and shrugged. It was nearly time to leave anyway, but still not the way he wanted to be woken up.

  "Glaren... should be in the kitchen. What's this about? Are you..." Tor came up blank. He just didn't recognize the woman at all. Her clothing was drab and had a "town peasant" look to it, meaning it was clearly bought at a store, but inexpensive and meant to be worked in. It wasn't filthy, but it had enough wear to show it wasn't new either. Something this woman had around for a while no doubt.

  Just about perfect for fighting though, it looked nice and sturdy, for a dress at least.

  The woman turned on him, her voice raw, as if she'd been screaming.

  "I don't know how she did it, but this witch turned me into this... Hideous thing!"

  Oh.

  Tor got it. It was amazingly fast work on Burks' part. Tor kind of wondered if the man had the thing ready to go when he'd mentioned it then. He almost had to, didn't he? If so, it was great foresight. Tor wondered if he should get some things ready like that too? Maybe that's what the Count did instead of making new things for the public all the time? Tried to get ready for any possible event?

  Still, there was a plan in place, so Tor shook his head, not having to try too hard to seem confused.

  "I'm... sorry. Are you saying that Glaren made you wear that dress? How? We can get you something else to wear, if it's an issue. It seems like a fine thing to wear for kitchen work though. Or even out in th
e barn. We don't have one of those though. Are you looking for work?" Tor watched the woman carefully, knowing that it had to seem like he was watching a madwoman for weapons. Mainly because he really was. Glaren didn't have a shield on for some reason. She needed one though, that was clear. People going around attacking her and all that.

  "No! I'm Carol Coltress! She turned me into this... hag!" That started about five minutes of screaming and yelling, most of it not very coherent. Finally there was a lull.

  Looking back he noticed that about thirty people were standing around holding their luggage, ready to go. Efficient of them. No one tried to intervene though, probably not sure what to do about a crazy woman in the central room. How would Tor have handled it if she really were insane?

  "Ma'am..." He spoke to her gently, trying to sound like he was speaking to a rabid dog or a scared child.

  "I can tell you're upset, but what you're describing isn't possible. No one in Noram could physically change you into another person. I'm probably the person best able to do such things and I couldn't even start to do that. I don't think there's anyone that could make a biological change like that in the world... I met Carol Coltress the other day and you aren't her at all. I, well, let me check this here... I'll need to touch you, it that alright? I promise it won't hurt." He turned his shield off, and stepped toward her, his hand going to her face slowly.

  The implanted device used a shield to reflect light, but also added the correct texture. The woman still sounded like herself, but all her yelling was disguising that too, making her seem rough and old.

  She let him stroke her face, which really did feel right to him. They had to get a mirror so that she could see he was really doing it though, since she couldn't feel it.

  "I... I'm me. I really am. This... am I having a nightmare? Why can't I wake up?" She sounded manic and scared at the same time, her hands brushing her dingy skirt over and again, as if trying to wipe it away. Then she started crying.

  Tor almost felt bad for her, but he didn't let that influence him. She was being punished after all.

  "Can you tell us who your people are? We can send word to them perhaps?" He sounded diffident, since he was speaking to an insane person.

  She gave him the Coltress family address in the city. That would have worked, except that Bonita and Collette came down about then, Burks right beside Nita. They were dressed, but everyone was, since they needed to leave in a few moments.

  Collette was the first one to speak, her hands going out toward the woman slowly.

  "Nan? What are you doing here?" She looked truly baffled at first.

  Tor shook his head shrugging.

  "Is she someone you know then? She... seems confused. She was attacking Glaren and then claimed to be your stepmother? I don't know why she thinks that, but it isn't possible. Do you know what we should do?" Tor wanted to be in charge and sound strong, but he knew that if this was really happening he would have just been left confounded himself. He looked at the women for a long time, wondering if they'd get the general idea.

  "Girls! I don't know what's happened, but I woke up this way. Someone did this to me. I don't know, maybe they exchanged my body for Nan's? I need help. I can't be trapped like this!" She started crying, the girls both going to her as if unafraid of attack.

  "Don't worry Nan, we'll fix this. Everything is alright. We know that Ginger dying like that had to be hard on you. You were closer to her than mother was by far. It seems to have affected your mind. That can happen with extreme grief. Don't worry, we'll get you the best care. Won't we Burks?"

  The Count nodded and patted Nita's hand.

  "Of course we will. I know a wonderful spa that will have her back on her feet in no time. A bit pricey, but if she's a servant of your family she deserves only the best."

  Tor looked on, making his eyes wide, knowing that he couldn't pull of real acting. Instead he waved to everyone else, gesturing toward the door.

  "I don't want to be mean, but we need to be going as soon as possible. We have a bit of a tight schedule I'm afraid and need to go to the palace before we get underway, so that we can pick up the Ambassador and her people." It was only half true. He could have gone to get the woman, Samantha Callings, on his own, but he really wanted to get away from the scene in front of him before he gave it all away.

  Poor crazy Nan. It was cowardly of him to run off like this, leaving it to the Coltress girls, wasn't it? Plus he had to make sure he didn't give it all away by laughing.

  He sighed, trying to make it seem real.

  "Collette, do you need for me to do anything here? I can... Actually I'm totally outside of my depth, but like Burks said, if she's one of your people, that makes her one of mine too. Anything you need, just ask. I'm sure I speak for all of us." Tor looked around and realized that over half the people in the room that he was talking for were actually Austrans.

  They all nodded though, just like everyone else.

  It was touching. It also got Carol Coltress to freak out, start screaming and trying to run away. That meant everyone got to spend ten minutes trying to subdue her. Luckily Carver really had made sure that everyone had shields, so there were no injuries even as the woman panicked and struggled.

  Tor reconfigured a regular Carriage, since he had more of them than the fast kind, making a locked compartment in the back, and handed it off to Collette. Carver and one of the Austran spies "helped" Carol into it. They were gentle with her, but the woman didn't go easily.

  As soon as Collette and Bonita took off with the poor woman Tor thanked them all.

  "Not a wonderful way to start the expedition, but I think we handled it pretty well. Hopefully Nan will be back to normal in a day or so and can return to her day to day activities." Remembering something Tor jogged over to where Glaren was standing and handed off his healing amulet.

  "Are you OK? I'm so sorry about that. You work for me and I should have seen to your protection better." Tor bowed to the women. Standing and a bit stiff, but deeply enough to look humble. It wasn't like he'd attacked her after all, so it was about right.

  "Please forgive my lapse and know that I'll take steps to make certain it does not happen again. I apologize, and hope that if there is to be blame for it you place it only on myself and not those I serve." He didn't stand up, not on his own, but Glaren took his shoulder, righting him instantly.

  "Thank you Lord Baker, but this is my problem. Nan is a wonderful soul that saw to the raising of all my girls from an early age, and Carol's as well. Losing Ginger was hard on us all, and had to be doubly so for her. I didn't recognize her at first, being attacked like I was, she's changed some since I last saw her. I hope she'll be alright, like you said."

  If the woman was gloating, she didn't show it externally at all. That either meant she didn't get what had happened yet, or more likely, that she did and was just that good of an actress. Tor thought about it for a second and decided that probably meant she was a professional spy too. No one else was given training like that, were they?

  They had three Fast Carriages ready to go, which was enough for the group they had with them. Tor was a little surprised when Weasel pulled his out, but not too much. The only problem there was that no one wanted to ride with him being so young. It was silly of course. It wasn't like driving a flying carriage was hard, and he told them he'd already made several cross Kingdom trips on his own.

  He started looking embarrassed though, which got Ali to take her floating luggage and climb into his bright silver transport without a word. Tor didn't protest. After all, it really was safe.

  Oddly Erin, the little girl, followed then, which got her parents and about half the Royal guard to climb in as well.

  It took longer than it should have to load everyone up, and then another fifteen minutes to land at the palace proper, going extra slow, since they had a crew of invading Austrans with them. Literally. Tor wasn't planning to go in or anything like that, but was a bit surprised to find that Richard and Connie were
standing outside waiting for them, along with the Prince and Princess Karina. Plus Ambassador Callings and her staff. All fifteen of them.

  Tor didn't roll his eyes, but felt like it. They had the room on the ship, but not in the Fast Carriages they had with them. Not until the others came out. Lyn, Denno, Sandra and the rest of the Lairdgren group, along with Trice.

  Tor blinked.

  It was a whole lot of people.

  "We're going to need a bigger boat." He muttered.

  Ali grinned and shook her head.

  "No, just more beds. The rooms are huge on that thing. Easily big enough for six to ten people each. I brought extra beds for it, in my case. One for everyone, just on the chance." She seemed proud of herself over having thought of it.

  Tor felt that way too. She was brilliant.

  "Thank you love! Now we just need to make sure we have enough food and we'll be set. You know what?" He waved his hand toward Ali, smiling gently, "from now on, for this trip, she's in charge of all the non-ship stuff. Clearly doing a better job than I am." He wasn't kidding even though she blushed and a few others chuckled. They were mainly the diplomatic staff, so it was a polite thing, meant to reassure him that his joke had been well received, not a mocking of Ali.

  Burks walked over and patted her on the back softly, getting her to stiffen and her face to go blank. It wasn't about him at all, Tor knew, it was about the fact that he was a Count. Ali was more than a little afraid of people with that kind of power, thanks to her monster of a father.

  They all pretended not to notice it.

  "I suggest you get with Quavel dear. He's a master of arrangement. Knows all the most correct rules for both cultures represented here as well."

  Tor looked around.

  "Good point. We definitely could use all the help we can get to make certain nothing goes wrong. "

  Then he had to wait while everyone said their goodbyes again. He got a hug from Karina and Alphonse, who also hugged Ali, a kiss from Connie and a handshake from Sam and then the King.

  "Contact us daily Tor. I'd like to be kept in the loop here?"