by P. S. Power
Ursala smiled and let her face go a bit dreamy.
“Ohhh yes. It's incredible in there. Easily as nice as here. Nicer in some ways, hot showers and baths for instance, in all the rooms. Every room is cool all the time, unless you want it warmer. Magic lights all over and decorated to a level I wish my own house was. They shouldn't feel slighted by it at all once they see it…”
That caught the Queen’s attention especially.
“How many do you have room for?” She gave him a look that made him suspicious. It wasn't one of her normal ones, and she wasn't being playful either. It was, he guessed, her strategic look.
“Well, a hundred rooms at the moment. Less with the Ward people. We can add more, I think another two or three levels worth without stressing the limits of the thing, possibly more. We may want to trigger the Falcons for boat races and water show, Sorry, off topic… I need some staff. How do you hire people like that? I have gold for it, I just don't know who to ask.” His voice started to sound plaintive and young, but he relaxed it in time to leave it sounding nearly like it always did. Just a little out of his depth.
Yep, normal.
The Queen waved.
“Not a problem, we can move some people around and hire the relatives. Palace servants seem to have a never ending supply of friends and relatives looking for a good position. We can tell them about it tonight. I'll set Quavel to it. Just have them arrive and start working?”
Tor suggested it go through Petra or Collette, since he didn't want to mess anything up. Collette by preference, but she was running the ice manufactory, so may not have the time.
An older man a few places down the table on the far side focused on him intently, with a large grin.
“Oh! I've been using that myself. Dead handy having ice that available, and so cheaply. You might want to put up another one if it can be done for the festivals. Demand will go up then, especially if the price can be lowered just a bit. Not trying for cheaper ice, but it's true.” Tor could see the basic idea, it was good advice.
“I can do that. Today probably. I have another six of them ready to go. I'll get with Collette on it. Please let me know if you have any more ideas sir, I'm far from the best when it comes to finances. I mean what's best for people and all that. I can pay my rent and bills, but past that…” It was true. It wasn't that he was stupid, he hoped not at least, but trading a device that he made, and could sell for fifty gold, for a loaf of bread still seemed like a fair bargain. Almost, anyway. It took about the same work time, so it was even, wasn't it? No one else seemed to think so though.
“Certainly. Indeed, I'd love to talk to you about the subject if you ever have time…” The man gave him a serious look, but the King chuckled at him.
“Tor, Johanson is our finance Counselor. The best I've ever seen at making a coin. Not bad at spending them either.” The tone wasn't even dry or teasing. Real admiration flowed into the words instead.
The man spread his hands on the table, the move told Tor that he didn't want the King to say more on the topic, and that he was originally from the same part of the world Tor had come from. The King stopped, but if he got it or not wasn't clear.
Johanson spoke with authority then, but still seemed genuinely happy. Possibly at the idea of cheaper ice.
“Festivals are important to the economy of the Capital. People spend money, which allows the poorest a chance to make some as well. If you give money away, or even bread, people eventually suffer. Mentally and economically. If you give them valuable work, they can buy not just a loaf of bread, but enough to keep themselves and a family fed.”
It sounded off topic to everyone else probably but Tor nodded.
“Exactly. I know it's better to do things that way, but how do I use my golds to help make jobs? I mean a few small ones, making and selling ice or selling some stuff I made, but what else? I keep drawing a blank on it myself.”
Johanson let his brow furrow and rested his elbow on the table getting a smirk from Rolph, but it didn't bother Tor. If the man needed to break a few social rules to think, who was he to tell him to stop, and possibly ruin whatever he came up with?
“Well… There's a military manufactory using something called “focus stone” that has wide potential civilian applications. I caught a bit of a demonstration at the ice festival. We're holding that annually aren't we? Brilliant concept and we should add a few more celebrations and large parties, some shows and such too, keep morale up once the heavy fighting starts. Everyone’s forgetting we're at war, because no one’s dying yet. Add a patriotic flare and people will respond right now, then it won’t be as big a shock when the damage starts.” The man looked down.
“Train of thought, sorry, where was I? Focus stone. Amazing stuff. Low overhead. Hard to get hold of the devices to generate it though, but grab up a few hundred and start businesses all over the kingdom making… well almost everything. Ship it by air and sea. You and your friends have the local market in making ice, but what about delivery? People will pay to have it at their home or shop and that's more jobs. Plus, one city, even the Capital, is only one city. There are probably several hundred in the kingdom that could support such things. A few thousand jobs if you're creative about it, more if you aren't too worried about your own share of the profits. Food too. We have enough, but it's in the wrong places. New shipping outfit from Duke Morgan and his folk, but they could expand and keep even rural areas fed all winter.”
The man gave him a sly look.
“If the right devices could be come up with I mean. You understand. Hard to get things like that. Especially with a war on.”
Everyone stared at him as if he might be too dense to take the man’s meaning. Tor looked around and stuck his tongue out while furrowing his brow. He wasn't stupid, not once the obvious was pointed out. Mainly.
“I can have that ready in a few days. Slower if I’m supposed to go back to military manufacturing at the same time though. But…”
The King and Queen both shook their heads, when Tor looked around, so was everyone else. Even Johanson.
Richard spoke his voice suddenly not amused at all.
“No. You're taking a break for at least two weeks. I'll give you a few days to get everything in order, then no work. Also… We'd prefer it if you didn't leave the Capital during that time. Things are tense right now, with this latest attack and the Council of Counts is asking for this as well as myself and almost everyone else. Even the staff here has chimed in on it, and the Royal Guard… That you take a break for a while. A real one. Work yourself to death and we lose you. People are worried. So, no work. Just play. Have fun. Avoid stogy parties, except mine of course. You have to make an appearance there to reassure people after the Larval attack on Ward, look festive and cheery, and stay out of fights. That kind of thing.” There was a bit of airy hand waving to go with the last bit.
Well, he could meet the time limit, if he tried hard and didn't get too ambitious, he had all the work he'd done in Ward already, but well, there was so much to do. Couldn't they see that? If Tor stopped he was failing everyone. Letting them suffer because he was lazy. It wasn't that the King was wrong, of course, but he'd had breaks and vacations. Defensively he pointed this out, he remembered taking them.
Rolph snorted at him.
“When Tor? Name one time and I'll go plead your case to the Council of Counts myself tomorrow. Just one.” His friend looked curious more than anything else. Probably wondering when Tor had been goofing off. Well, he had one right there didn't he? Rolph was even there for it.
“You Trice, Sara and I went to the beach, remember? Less than a year ago even.” It was the nicest real vacation he'd ever had. The only thing he'd ever done before that was camping with his brothers and their friends for a few days each summer as kids.
“Oh? Right, I remember that. You built test models for the River Tor and sat in front of a fire for a few hours while the rest of us got drunk. Do better.”
How high was the bar here
anyway? Tor scrambled mentally.
“Um, the river is “The Falcons” not the “Pretension River” so, please try to use that name for it? As to the rest… Well I had a long break at school last year… I just lounged around in bed for days. You have to remember that.” Was he the only one that saw these things? The others were there though, they had to know…
“What? Oh, that? Sure… You stayed in bed for nearly three days indeed… I do remember that. Just lounging as you said. Of course. After you nearly died of poison. Then you got up and went back to classes, barley able to speak and hobbling around like a two hundred year old man. Are you seeing a trend here yet?” The Prince leaned forward and steepled his fingers.
“When was the last time you even did something just for fun? Not planning a work project or doing something for someone else, just doing something because you enjoyed it?”
That was a good question, and he had a good answer, but he couldn't say, because it wouldn't be discrete. Ursala gave him a sly look but didn't say anything either. What else did he have? He… didn't do anything fun. What was fun anyway? Well, he was going to throw a big party and he'd been part of the ice festival, so that had kind of been fun and he hadn't worked really, had he? Given stuff away and all that, but did getting other people to do stuff count as work?
Varley had been nearly silent the whole time, but she looked over at him and smiled, if a little morosely, so it probably wasn't about him.
Karina looked… horrible, like she hadn't slept in a week or eaten in nearly that long. Really bad. God, she hadn't gotten pregnant by Ward too had she? Tor checked her field, but she just seemed exhausted and really sad. Miserable. Had something happened? Her younger sister, pregnant by a married man, reached over and squeezed her hand gently and she didn't flinch away. So it was pretty bad, whatever it was.
Rolph seemed unaware. Totally.
“Hey, that palace of yours is basically a shield right? So no one should care if I come stay with you for vacation? Unless that's work for you?”
Actually, Tor considered it for a minute and decided it really would be nice to have him over, if it was OK with the King and Queen and all the Royal Guards. He didn't want to strip them from the palace while they were needed.
Tor had an idea though, which could help with that a little.
“I know, why not have Kolb and his fighting instructors down for the celebrations? I don't think even the Royal Guard would be too uneasy about it then. His folk could get practice guarding people and blending into a crowd. If you’re going to teach fighters, knowing what a guard does can't hurt. Lots of fighters do that between wars, don't they?”
It was a better force than those out of the loop probably knew, unless their spies were really good. The royal families own squad of go anywhere, do anything combat giants. Besides, some of them were his friends. He should probably invite the women of industry down too, but then again King’s week was probably a big gold making time for them even at Wildlands Station. People partied and got drunk, which meant they spent more. And really, up there they didn't have any competition, not even from wives and girlfriends. He hoped that Godfrey was keeping his people in line with them. If he had to Tor would go back and make that happen. They were his girls in a weird, backhand sort of way.
“Besides, that will give you a chance to apologize and grovel to Maria Ward so we can finally put that whole thing to rest before she goes all “Countess Wylde” on us again. Really at this point I almost don't care what went on, but you told her that you loved her and then let the poor little bumpkin take the fall out of your putting her off. Go ahead and hang your head in shame now.” Tor waved at him, telling him to actually do it. Rolph didn't, but his face did seem embarrassed at least and he went beet red. It was a start.
“We'll wait while you do a proper job of it. We're not letting you off the hook, and heir or not, the King and Queen will simply not let this go. Neither will the bumpkin.” He crossed his arms in front of him sternly. It probably made him look like his mother, but Tor didn't back away from it. Someone had to call Rolph on this and if his own best friend wouldn't, who in the world would?
The Queen looked shocked. No… horrified.
So there were things you didn't do just to save someone’s feelings? Or maybe it was about Tor confronting the heir like that in front of others? That didn't seem right, she watched her own son, not him. Everyone else stared at the Prince too. They already knew about it, some of them at least, but this must have been the first time they'd actually given it any thought since it was uncovered. Well, everyone had been busy, Tor could see forgetting it even. Maria Ward wasn't exactly everyone's favorite right now, what with that little war thing and all.
Tor added, just so Rolph wouldn't try to wiggle out, what Maria had said while wearing the truth device, so that the rest of the table would know too.
“So, we know it's true. Your whole family heard it. I can have the device she said it on brought in, or you can question Smythe, he was there too. It wasn't a hedge, or a mistake, or even a delusion. Those would trigger the truth field. It was said, and you said it. Personally, not in a note, not in any way that would release you from responsibility for the words.” Tor glared.
After all half of the bad things that had ever happened to him, maybe more than half, could be tracked to that one event. Tor could let it go for his own sake, Rolph had already apologized after all, to him, and what were a few beatings and attempts on a life between friends?
But to tell a girl you loved her, to say that to anyone, if you didn't mean it… That was low. Most especially if you weren't going to back it up with actions later. He knew Rolph to be a good guy, a great friend and loyal to the extreme, but Tor could sure see why Maria Ward might have thought differently.
The Prince held up a hand, then two, palms out, more of a warding off of potential violence than just a signal to let him talk.
“Look, I said it, but well, we were in bed and she said “I love you.” so I said I loved her too. It was stupid, but I wasn't trying to get her to have sex with me or anything, we already were… Things said while having sex don't count.” He looked down and hunched his shoulders.
It made Tor jump, when Karina's hand slapped the table hard.
“It obviously counted to her didn't it?” She stood and stormed all the way around the table and started slapping the Prince on the face angrily. He covered his head but didn't fight back or even make a sound.
“You lied to her and she loved you, then you hurt her you… jerk! Why are you even sitting here when you should be on your knees begging forgiveness right this instant, not laughing with your friend about taking a vacation. Tor… make him apologize!” She hit him in the side of the head with a really well placed open hand blow that took him off his seat. Given their size difference that meant she was really striking him, it wasn't something playful or pretend for effect.
The King and Queen both looked at the scene serenely and everyone else either looked away or down at their plates rather than the scene of violence. Right. Violence at the table was rude. Even in Two Bends it had been unheard of, but who could say anything to a Princess about it?
She was right in this case too.
Karina moved in for another round of blows when Tor stood. Walking around the table he slowly put a hand out and touched her shoulder. Rather than slap at it or hit him, which he kind of thought she might do, as worked up as she was, Karina turned and buried her head in his shoulder. He hugged her and patted her back. Tor didn't get the why of it, but this close he couldn't help but feel the pain and sadness pouring off of her.
“It's alright. Um, may we be excused for a few moments? I think we need to talk. Prince Alphonse, Princess Veronica, if you'll come with us?” God, he sounded like one of them suddenly. Well, it was what he should be doing here, but how different was that? It just came out like it was natural or something. Spooky. He'd even gotten the accent right, all royal and courtly.
Before they left, hesi
tating for a second, not knowing if he'd be back or not, Tor put the new amulet set he'd made on the way over flat on the table and dug out six silvers which got set beside it. Everyone looked at him funny for a moment, so he explained his odd behavior with a small bow. Best to be polite when you were asking favors, right?
“Bribe for Kenner Thorgood. It was to be three silvers and a military grade Not-flyer, but he had to go toe to toe with several Royal Guards to alert everyone about the Larval attack, so I added a bit. Hazard pay. The Not-flyer has his name on it, so there should be no mistake as to ownership at any point. It also has an impact shield for safety. Military speed though, so tell him to be careful please? If someone could see he gets it?”
Connie took them and set both aside with a small smile and bow of her own.
“I'll see to it personally Master Tor.” Her voice didn't sound happy, but not as upset as he'd have thought given the scene with her children.
Tor nodded to her in thanks then turned to leave, but had to turn back, remembering something.
“Ah, right. I, uh, also promised him that if there was to be any punishment for his having carried my message, extra work, or a beating, that I'd take it in his stead. If someone could pass that along to whomever is in charge of him? They can send a note if I need to report for it.”
That got a soft chuckle from the table, except for the King who simply nodded and raised his right hand. Tor knew that it would really be done then. It was a freaky palace thing they all did sometimes, just indicating they wanted something done, knowing it would happen without question.
They moved, not into the hall as he kind of figured they would, but through a door in the corner of the room, that just led to a space with a few chairs and a tiny sofa just big enough for two people. It wasn’t a huge place, about ten by ten or so and just a little dark, only a single, rather old, magical light illuminating the whole thing. He sank down slowly so Karina could follow him and sat rocking her for a few moments while she made his velvet coat wet with her salty tears. The other two looked away, but for once in his life Tor didn't let himself withdraw from the awkward scene.