by P. S. Power
“Ali is Gretchen? I didn't know, she looks so different! And you're getting married? When, is she even old enough? I… Aue twelve… Tomorrow? Today now? She's an adult under the law. Not free of him, but able to marry. But you need his permission… or… how?” She seemed worried suddenly, confused.
But oddly hopeful.
That was simple, he told her, his fingers gently stroking her back again, a sudden thrill of fear and desire in her. Gods. That bastard had conditioned her to both desperately want and fear sex? Why? What kind of sicko did that? The kind that had total power in his own little word, obviously. A lot of people didn't do very well with power did they?
“I got permission from the King himself, acting as her father. If Count Derring shows up before it's consummated, he can take her, but after that she becomes my responsibility. If he tries to touch her then I can take her away, or even fight for her. Every man has that right, even against a Count and his army. Only, you know, most people can't fight an army. I cheat.”
Magic.
The Count may be able to beat him in a real fight, man to man, or bring an army to bear, but with magic Tor could best him. Maybe at least. It was a risk, but Tor would do it if forced.
After a few moments he asked her what she wanted to do, meaning a plan or something, how he should act around Dara that kind of thing. She smiled happily and pushed him back, her mouth finding him hungrily, eagerly. Tor was just about to finish when the girls came back just walking in, not making a noise. Trying to catch him and Dara? Well, oops. Karen didn't stop, or even look up until he was totally done, then she started licking him clean, her attention riveted on Tor alone, oblivious to the two new comers standing and staring at her.
At Karen.
“I… see.” Trice said after a moment, nodding and making sure the door was locked.
Sara just blinked at them, looking a tiny bit jealous for some reason. Maybe she wanted Karen for herself? Well, or him, but she kind of already had that, so it didn't really make sense.
Tor explained quickly and swore both girls to secrecy, for now at least. The King and Queen would know, Burks would know, these two and him. Davie knew she lived, but not that she was Dara. OK. That was fine as long as they didn't drag things out for years. Everyone could keep a secret that long though, couldn't they? The weakest link here was probably him. Tor the bumpkin. All this intrigue stuff and lying was new to him after all.
They all talked most of the night, meaning he had to leave early to start on Ali's cake. Apple spice, with a butter cream frosting and a light dusting of crushed almonds. It was what they had the ingredients for, though he was using dried apples chopped almost into powder. At dinner everyone clapped and called Ali out, let her have some cake, and then proceeded to do lewd things to her that would have been illegal the day before in Noram. Like half of them hadn't done the same things already.
They stopped short of getting really naughty, and apparently no noble girl was really expected to make it to fourteen as a virgin, but it was the tradition to pretend anyway. What could they do? Tradition was tradition after all. Finally she settled on his lap and asked for her present. Tor was thankful that he'd packaged something up for her, things that got applause even though out of everything only the house was really hard to get yet. At least for this crowd.
Smiling she leaned in and kissed him.
“That's not what I meant.” Her hand reached between his legs to the laugher of the room, making him blush. That and squirm a little.
Oh.
Oh.
She was legal, so it wasn't a problem there and so completely not a virgin that it wouldn't hurt anything, but he felt like they should wait for their wedding night. Then again he'd done that twice and it hadn't worked for him at all, had it? Could they split the difference somehow?
Petra had an answer for him.
“Sure. We won't dock until tomorrow afternoon, not really docking at all. Wait two hours for midnight, have the wedding here and the King’s orders will be fulfilled. Consummate and everything will be jolly.” She kept her words low.
Honestly, Tor hadn't been aware that she knew that much about why they were getting married, but apparently either as ship’s Captain, member of the secret army or just his girlfriend, she'd picked up that this wasn't just a casual thing.
At sea, the Captain could marry people legally. Everyone knew this, except him, which made Tor duck his head, slightly ashamed. Right, it was in the stories of nobles and merchants, but not bumpkins.
They had two hours in which to decorate and pick clothing. And of course, now that a marriage was going to happen, Tor wasn't allowed to see her, it was bad luck. Petra his go-to clothing person, was helping the bride, so he got Karina and Rolph instead. They'd worn clothes almost their whole lives, they assured him, so it wouldn't be a problem. He ended up in black velvet with tight white stockings under loose pants and a fine jacket that hugged the waist, for color he had a brilliant red sash that ran from left shoulder to right hip.
Rolph looked at him and shook his head.
“It will have to do, can't change the face at this late date.”
Karina punched her brother on the arm hard enough to activate his shield.
“Don't you dare tease him now, besides, you know full well that if we sent him out on the streets of the Capital looking like this we'd never see him again. Some Countess, or Princess, would kidnap him and he'd be whisked off the country. I'm not at all sure it would be me getting there first either. It would be a race.” She sighed.
“My lovely Tor.” She petted his arm lightly and looked at him wistfully, but didn't kiss him or even move in to hug.
The ceremony was short, but attended by a group of splendidly clad combat giants and ten Royal Guards dressed in full livery, stiff black and purple, standing on either side of the top deck spectators behind with the Prince and Princess as the first maid and best man. Petra had jotted down the words quickly, but they resonated with him. Powerfully.
“To protect, to honor, to love.” She said calmly, but loudly, the rest of the people behind them repeating the words when she said them. It was an impressive effect, something to remember if he was ever designing such a ceremony, that group chanting thing. Tor glanced at Alissa, trying to keep the nervousness off his face as she was asked if she took him as her husband.
She said yes. A simple word, but when he was asked Tor thought his voice might catch or crack and betray him. Somehow it came out strong and clear.
“Yes.” Maybe too loud? No one laughed at him.
“Then so be it, you are for now, and always, man and wife.”
No one had to tell them to kiss.
That was in all the stories, even in Two Bends, and everyone did it. Somehow, magically, bafflingly, he'd done it. He was married. It hit him all at once, but he wasn't going to let it show now, it was done. Except for the consummation.
Normally no one would question the word of a man or woman that said they'd had sex and that the marriage was real, but this wasn't a normal situation at all was it? They kind of needed to be able to prove the deed had been done, and well enough that a child could result. It wouldn't, but that wasn't the law, they just had to do it.
Karina held Ali's hand tightly, Showing support. He'd married her as Gretchen Derring, so that it would really Count, and there could be no possible loophole. Tor led her to a bed that was set up for the purpose of making sure there were unimpeachable witnesses to the whole thing.
Whee.
No pressure or anything.
Well at least his mother wasn't there to watch. That would have made it about impossible, as it was he had to spend a lot of time on foreplay so that it wouldn't hurt her, no one had thought to bring lubricant and while she could have handled it anyway if he was quick about the whole thing, she assured him, his wife didn't have to risk pain for him.
Ever.
It lacked the sweetness he'd have liked for her, too many eyes for that, but he did everything he cou
ld, and used every trick he knew to help her relax. She didn't really, but her soft cries and finally after nearly an hour, his own, satisfied everyone watching. Then there was normally dancing, games and all that, but unless Ali wanted a post-nuptial sword fight, they didn't have a lot of games at hand and music had been totally forgotten in their hurry to get out of Noram.
She held his hand and whispered softly in his ear after the clothing was arranged and the bed put away.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Forever and for always.”
It was a lie, of course.
She was too young and too new to him for real love, but if he had to lie for her to feel safe, he'd make her think he loved her, no matter what. He'd make himself love her. For all the horrors she'd gone through, she remained sweet and innocent, or at least she could still act that way, which was probably good enough. How much could you ask of a person anyway?
He swept her into his arms and danced with her in front of everyone, someone started humming a song he thought he remembered from school, but couldn't place. Then almost everyone joined in. After a bit he recognized it, the Lairdgren school anthem “Oh, be my heart so green”. It had never made any sense to him, but now he thought he kind of got it, knowing a bit more about Burks. It wasn't about loving the school's colors beyond all reason, but the world.
It was a pledge to protect it. No matter what.
Oh. That made sense then, didn't it?
They laughed and played, holding hands while walking around so he could introduce everyone present to Mrs. Baker, a fact which they already knew was a reality first hand, a thought that made him blush, but no one teased him or Ali about it. Dara had broken down crying, and moved off to the side after giving his wife a hug. She smiled through the tears a kerchief in hand.
“May you be safe forever.” She said softly, as they walked away.
At nearly two he had to go to bed, having been up for a day already, longer than that. He also had to be up in a few hours again. Still, it was worth it, he told himself. They'd done it. Ali really was safe now. At least from her father. The rest was up to him.
They slept in the same bed and he kissed her cheek when he forced himself up to go and cook for the day. She roused and looked at him blearily.
“Hmmm. Do you want to have sex? Or I could use my mouth? Let's do that. I'm pretty good at it.” Her voice was exhausted so he chuckled and put her back to sleep, reminding her that they had forever now.
“I love you husband.” She murmured, so innocent and sweet he nearly lost it and cried.
“I love you little wife.”
That got Tor thinking. She'd be little until she got her full growth going, then she'd probably be as tall as Karen, six-six, or more. Well, that would still work in bed and if it looked funny walking together he'd work out some way to make it look better, that was all.
Maybe blinding anyone that laughed about seeing it? That would work. Tor nodded, since he knew he could make a device for it.
The morning was normal until about seven when a still tired looking Alissa walked into the kitchen and started trying to help. She explained it with a yawn. His work was hers now, right? Plus, it wasn't like she could help out with the building work, so cooking it was.
Tor smiled and set her to whisking the eggs he'd cracked already, keeping an eye on her while she tried to make scrambled for seventy-three. The big focus stone bowl nearly slipped twice, but she kept her hold on it and then tried to fix the eggs in the bowl by sitting it on the griddle top, Tor nearly panicked but then smiled and added some oil to the mix. As long as she stirred from the bottom regularly it would work. The pans were all made of the same stuff after all. He showed her how to fold them over pulling the already cooked egg from near the heat. It actually seemed to work pretty well. She needed help putting them into the big covered serving tray, and getting that to the other room, not used to carrying heavy, hot things, or possibly just wanting Tor to help her, because they were married. Either way he smiled at her.
She didn't want to leave him she said, but hadn't showered yet, and since they had plans later…
He almost drew a blank on that. Oh, plans, he got it then. Before lunch he decided. He kept having a feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong when they got to Printer. But if it did, whatever they faced, whoever it was, they'd be in for a fight if it came to it. Count or not, that bastard Derring was not going to get his bride. Not even if Tor had to rip his own field apart to stop it from happening.
Everyone else thought so too, it seemed to Tor, Kolb flying from the ship to scout things out himself first, three of his people checking in all directions. They touched down lightly on the deck over the course of ten minutes and said it was all clear.
It really was. There wasn't anyone to meet them at all. Not from the palace at least. The towns people met them in good force, and cheered when Tor introduced his new wife. For some reason they all seemed happy enough to see them all, but especially Tor. After a while he understood what the deal was, they remembered him from the big storm and apparently that meant a good bit more to them right now than more trivial things like two members of the royal family standing there beside him. All the attention for his friend just got a huge grin from Rolph though.
He was cool that way.
“See, and here you thought people didn't like you.”
Holly Printer walked out of her big house with a smile and a hug for him and one for his bride, offering them the comfort of her home for as long as they wanted. The words weren't just formal either, Tor could tell she really meant it, which was touching. He almost said yes, but Ali spoke first, a small smile on her face.
“Thank you Countess Printer, you're offer is most generous. We have our own home with us, would it be impolite to use that? Privacy… you know.” Ali sounded so correct suddenly that Tor nearly clapped his hands. A very proper wife indeed. Now if only he could manage half as well.
The Countess smiled and gave the girl another hug.
“Anything you want. Either of you, seriously. If we have it, or can get it for you, it's yours for the asking.” Turning to the short builder she grimaced a little and let out a gust of air.
“Tor… Alissa, would you please excuse me for a moment? I fear my position requires me to impart some bad news to one of your ship’s crew. I hate this part of the job, I really do.” Her eyes took on a dark tone, somber and regal at the same time.
She didn't hesitate though, hating the duty or not, walking straight to David Derring and speaking softly for a few seconds, her right hand on his upper arm gently. After a bit he said something to her, and then broke out into a grin. Then he half tackled the Countess in a hug, swinging her around happily.
“Whooooo! That fucking bastard is dead! I'm finally free! Gretchen! We're safe, we're free! It's true, the official call to mourning has gone out already! Dad's dead!” He didn't dance around, but he pumped his fist with glee and Ali clapped rapidly.
From across the winding path Dara ran over and started celebrating with them, picking Ali up in a hug and swinging her around, then grabbing Davie and pounding him on the back hard. After a few minutes David gave her a slightly funny look. It had a smile at first, still happy, but faded to something more somber after a moment.
“I'm glad that you're happy too, and trust me, if you're ever going to be pleased over any death, this is the one to celebrate, but… did you know him? He… didn't harm you or yours, did he?” His jaw clenched and the words tightened when he asked. It was all too possible that his father had done horrible things to her. It showed on his face.
She dropped the disguise and the giant boy whooped again.
“Karen! You were with us all this time? Thank god, I was so worried he'd gotten you! Oh, gods… I have both of you back.”
If there were tears then, no one bothered to notice them overly.
That led to a retelling of the whole tale, for everyone that wanted to listen, their friends, Countess
Printer and even the towns people. None of them hide anything of note or left things out. Tor cried and celebrated the man’s death himself then, even with the reek of death filling his nose and hearing a whisper of the dead man’s voice in his ears. Accusing him angrily.
It was worth it.
Completely and totally.
Tor hugged his new family in their “grief” and helped them plan what to do next.
Chapter thirteen
The capital was much as he left it, Tor noted, no new attacks or Major remodeling when he was gone. They'd even left the purple glowing river along the top of the city wall for some reason. People could, Tor supposed, use it for water, if they could reach it, but really it was too high to be anything but a decoration for most people. He could rig water pumps to carry the fresh water to cisterns for people if he got a chance. Fresh water never really hurt as long as nothing flooded.
If they were clever about it they could shunt the water off and use it for massive growing projects…
His house was smaller, now that it didn't have to hold four hundred and sixty odd extra people, the Wards having returned home nearly a month before, the day after the rest of them went off to Printer. The events had all been taken down, even the waterfall mountain, which was a shame, since it really broke up the otherwise empty skyline. Tor thought so at least. What did he know though? The wide open sky was pretty too, but a little plain, dressed only in its blue or gray.
Petra didn't go with everyone else from Kolb's group when they left for Wilderness Station, getting permission to stay with him, to help work on his fighting skills. Since he still wasn't working on anything building wise yet she'd decided to take advantage of it and push him to a new level.
By killing him over and over again apparently. She followed the old pattern, him running a lot farther than he wanted too, followed by lifting heavy stones until he couldn't lift even the little ten pound ones. Then, she, Karen and Davie would take turns beating him, or at times, they'd go after him all at once. Even with all that, paying more attention now and actually trying to improve, rather than letting the others beat him into it like at school, Tor slowly got better. That or the others were being nice to him for some reason. It was possible he knew.