Kingdom of Stars (The Young Ancients: Timon Book Three)

by Power, P. S.

  Tiera, naturally, had neglected to mention it however. They just rushed toward the ground at speed then, with him hoping that they were near the right area at least vaguely. It wasn't perfect really, but they had enough moonlight to see the King's river, and next to it the River Tor. That one floated in the air, and was nearly clear, just glinting enough for him to make it out, so he slowed and readjusted his decent, aiming to land just a little ways outside the city. About seven miles or so.

  What Tiera was planning to do, he had no clue, but when he got to the ground, she was there, waiting for him, only about fifty feet away. Still damnably calm too. For his part he was covered with sweat, and had to cycle his clothing amulet with his shield down, to dry off. At least he managed that before she walked over to him, no doubt ready to be smug and showing how superior girls were to boys.

  Except that she didn't do that at all.

  "We should go in low to the ground. I don't have a Not-flyer with me. We can run in."

  Smiling Timon rose about four inches from the ground. "We can use the new shields for it. Hasn't everyone been doing it already?"

  "I wouldn't know. They're for the military, and we don't even have any to play with at Lairdgren yet. May I make copies of mine?"

  That she was volunteering for that was a new thing. Then, given all her meditation and mind control practice, she had to be a lot better at that sort of thing now, didn't she? They went hand in hand.

  "Yes, but get permission before outfitting the Baker forces that way. These aren't a joke." That was probably him just talking out of turn, acting like his devices were more important than they actually would be, but she nodded.

  "Naturally. I was thinking that Kolb and Karen would like them. They're better than the latest Tor has. He hasn't been..." She went silent and then sighed, her voice calm, but not happy or even peaceful now. How he could tell the difference Tim didn't know. "I think he's going insane. I meant that in a literal fashion. He goes to work, and builds and it all seems fine, but he's...off. He keeps slipping up and telling me what our brother Terek is up to. Apparently he's been hopping up from Two Bends to visit about once a week lately."

  They didn't have a brother named Terek, which, no doubt, was her point.

  "How long has that been happening?"

  There was a silence then, as they floated along in a straight line, moving faster than anyone with a not-flyer should at night. It was enough that Tim gestured for her to slow, and was surprised when she did. He used one of the new High Servant hand gestures for it.

  She stopped all the way, about ten minutes later, since they were at his house, and spoke quietly. Now there was real fear in her words, in a trance or not.

  "Years. It's been years. We haven't told him that Terek isn't real, and everyone is worried about it. This almost has to be how Cordes is influencing him. There isn't a lot we can do though. The best any of the Ancients have come up with is imprisonment. Some..." Whatever it was that she wanted to say stuck in her throat, which was fine, since the two armed men in front of them in the dark would have shouted over her anyway.

  "Halt! This is the residence of Countier Baker, being held by the forces of County Baker. Announce yourselves!" The man sounded pretty hard and like he was planning to do violence to them if they didn't comply immediately. He looked... like a shadow really. There were no lights in use around them at all. Not even a simple camp fire for warmth. It hopefully wasn't all that cold out now. Trying to work things out, he realized that it was into the first months of summer already.

  Time flew, when you were working yourself to death, it seemed.

  "I'm Countier Timon Baker, and this is Countess Baker."

  He didn't expect to be believed of course, since no one could see him at all, but the people bowed. He felt that one was a woman, but couldn't tell at all otherwise. They also had force lances, explosive weapons and class eight shields on. No magical clothing however.

  Tiera for her part murmured a single word.

  "Leaf."

  That got them to relax, for some reason, obviously being a code of some kind.

  The woman went next, saying another single word.

  "Box."

  This went back and forth, but in the end, after four more words were given, it was decided that they were at least responsible for the torture and murder of the Countess, and thereby should be allowed inside the gate. No one said that, and they actually seemed to be very polite, but with all the clones around, even just looking right didn't mean that much anymore, did it?

  They were walked to the main house, but no one was pointing anything dangerous at them. Tim just walked in, which meant that he was a bit surprised, since there was a deep blackness inside, and he nearly slammed into the other door of the airlock. Or in this case, obviously, a light-lock. Tiera didn't, clearly having been there recently enough that she knew what to expect.

  She did warn him then however.

  "Light. It will be bright inside, get ready for it."

  Even being warned it hurt, and he had to squint, nearly closing his eyes totally then, though he was able to see a few moments later. No one was in the front hallway, but he heard voices off to the right, where they kept the sitting room. He moved toward it without thinking, not knowing who would be visiting at all. It was his house, so up to him to be welcoming, even if he was left a bit uncomfortable by who he found there.

  It wasn't Tor, and that would have been the worst of it, he thought.

  No, it was just the rest of his family. Or at least his mother, sister Terlee and Count Thomson, sitting with Gerent Lairdgren and Trice, his wife.

  "Honey, I'm home." It was supposed to be playful, but came out sounding dark and serious. Trice squealed anyway, after a shocked few seconds.

  "Tim!" He was hugged and kissed then, before the rest of the people could get to him. Patricia didn't let go for a long time, but when she did Terlee gave him a solid hug and then his mother did. Knowing it was past time for it, Timon held her at arm's length and smiled. Then drove his mind into hers as hard as he could, searching to the depth of her being for any hidden sense of Gray, Cordes or anyone else at all that didn't belong. To her it had to seem like he was just staring at her for some reason.

  Tiera got it. So did Trice, who whispered at him, suddenly seeming wary.

  "Anything?"

  Tim winked at her and then Tiera.

  "Everyone should be happy to know that mother is not, in any way, Gray. It's been a concern for a while now ma. No one wanted to check, because, well, what could we do with you if you were? You'd still be our mother..." A sense of relief ran through him then, but instead of the fight he half expected, she just smiled wanly and looked down.

  "Is that what's been at issue? I've been wondering why all my children were suddenly avoiding me. I'd thought that my harpy like manners had finally driven you all off."

  "Well, that too. But mainly the thing about possibly being Lara Gray."

  She punched him on the arm, but softly. Looking up at him.

  "So, have you dealt with your problem too? I'd heard you planned to move out into space and never let us know where you were. You could have gotten in touch. I tried, but you never answered."

  He hadn't known that at all, but he just moved back to Trice and waved once at Tovey.

  "I was working. Almost constantly for the last half year. It seems that Brown got word that Remy Seventeen was seen at the spaceport in Vagus. I'll be headed there tomorrow."

  That got everyone to make faces at him, except Tiera, who was back to being serene.

  It was Terlee that spoke, her voice reflecting a very stylish noble accent now.

  "Excuse me, but if the assassin has been seen there, why would you go to it? Shouldn't you hide?" She even got the neutral gender of the Remy right.

  "Because I need to end this. I'm as prepared as is going to happen in the next few decades, and hiding won't work forever. I might have to wait for it to come back, if it's already managed to get in
to space, but it's time."

  His mother, Laurie, looked at him with tears forming in her eyes.

  "So you go to your death in the morning?"

  That at least got Timon to smile and move away from his wife, to hug his mother again. Then he pulled a Truth amulet. He hadn't bothered to at the trial of Reid Smythe at all, since everyone knew he was guilty. Here he had something to actually prove. The cream and goldenrod colored light spread around him impressively. The room had lights, but even here they were down to a few, as if trying to hide their presence a little more from the enemy by doing so. Or maybe they were just trying to be fair to those that didn't have the same resources they did? If so, they were being silly.

  It wouldn't matter at all.

  Those that had plenty had it, and those that didn't would make do, if given a chance.

  "I'm not going to my death. Or at least not to my knowledge. I have several things worked out, but I want to question the Remy first, which means controlling the situation and not having to respond to an ambush. Yes, I could die doing this. We could all die tomorrow from whatever the Other Ancients do to us, as well. I'm decently confident that it will at least be a real fight, and not me simply throwing my life away."

  He didn't have anything else to say on the matter, so he turned the amulet off, making the cheery glow vanish. Everyone else still looked a bit skeptical, except Tiera, but Trice crossed her arms and scowled at him.

  "Who said it was your part in this to try and question a killer that very few have ever even escaped from before? Count Lairdgren told me that it would likely simply kill you, no matter what the rest of them did. Are you saying that you're smarter than a three thousand year old man now?"

  Timon pulled a card from Tor and Count Lairdgren's play manual and tilted his head cutely. If it worked for them, it should for him. It was manipulative, but Trice was a sucker for his brother, so it might work. She visibly relaxed then, meaning that her subconscious mind had picked up on the reassuring move.

  "Smarter? Probably. I don't have more information obviously, and even imagining that would be foolish of me. I have new tools however, that he's never seen before. I can kill the Remy right now. From here even. Oh, it might take a few years to work, but if I open my pocket and go back to the ship for a while, I'll be out of danger. Then, if there are any other Remy's left, they'll die too. I don't know whose side they might be on though, so I'm trying to avoid that. If Seventeen will talk to me, then it will be helpful. If nothing else, it would be best for me to handle this face to face, so that I don't have to kill their entire race for the actions of one being."

  Did that sound too full of himself? Of course it did. Also tired and bored. That was the trance talking. He... didn't know if he'd ever really come back from that. It might have changed him now, so that this was just who he was.

  Hopefully that would be enough, for the time being.

  Trice called for a snack to be made, since they'd already eaten, being on Capital time. The food came out on a nice cart of polished wood, pushed by Sherri Bonner. She squealed when she saw him too and hugged him nearly as much as Trice had.

  "You're still alive!" Then a kiss came which didn't require her to bend down all that much anymore. "Tor has been worried white about you for months. Are you back for good now? Are you going to come visit us at the school? I know that everyone would love to see you there." She kept speaking, even as he nearly tuned her out. She was chatty. It was nice to hear now though, instead of a bother.

  In a way, he realized, he'd missed her. He'd really missed all of them.

  "No. Not yet. I need to take care of something tomorrow, or at least get that started, and then I have some other things to see to first. It might be a few months. Right now I... I hate to be rude, but I need to retire to a conference with my advisors." That was the polite way of saying that he had to speak to some people in private and the rest of them weren't invited. So neener-neener.

  At least that's the way he'd always taken it when the King had done that at the Palace.

  Here at least no one seemed all that bothered by the idea. Gerent actually stood up, and Trice sat, as if she weren't planning on leaving at all. Timon smiled at that and rolled his eyes at her.

  "Good thinking, you stay here with the others. Gerent, mother, if you'd join me in the other room?"

  That shocked almost everyone it seemed, especially Laurie. They'd had some tension between them after all. Fighting over her treatment of Tor, to be exact. The others seemed nicely baffled, but he didn't think it would take long. He hoped not, since the food cart was in the other room now, and the tiny, comparatively at least, space they were in was totally bereft of one of those. It was a huge oversight in room planning, he thought.

  They all sat, though Gerent looked like Timon had made a mistake. He really hadn't though. These were the right people for the job. Maybe the only ones that could really do it at all.

  Timon pulled two things out of his pocket. Small devices, both of which looked solid, but were made of carbon nano-dust that was being held together. The first one went to his mother.

  "If the Remy kills me, tap that sigil. Not until then, since this will kill them all, like I said. Eventually. If I can't win against it armed like I am right now, then no one else can either. Unless we hear they aren't working with the others, do it. If this is just a fight between me and a single one of their kind, then... Well, everyone eventually dies. No need to take it out on innocent beings."

  She looked at it, clearly ready to try and save him by tapping it right then. It was why she had it. If he died, she'd do it. No questions asked.

  The other piece, which was very similar, but had a glowing purple sigil on it, went to Gerent, who frowned.

  "I... don't know if I could kill an entire race of people like that, Tim. I don't want to let you down, but that's kind of evil."

  Timon winked at his mother, who positively glared at the midget. The former midget, Timon noted. He was a good five-four now. Also Tor's work. A lot of the strangeness had left him too, and he was a good bit thinner and more normal looking already. It was a good thing. Too much of his life had been left crippled by his infirmity.

  That being how others saw him, of course, not his build.

  "I know. That's why you're the one getting this one. It's not for the Remy. If we start to lose too badly, if nothing else will work, then this will allow you to kill all the Ancients on the planet. Well, except the Remy and any that are too different, but most of us. Don't do it lightly, because that means the ones that are your family too. Me and ma, Tor, Tiera and Taman. Count Lairdgren and Denno."

  Narrowing her eyes, Laurie stared at Gerent hard, but didn't scold him at all.

  "Your Alice too, Gerent. Think carefully about using that thing."

  That was news to Tim, but he nodded. Gerent was a good man, and still a bit homely and funny looking. Perfect for Aunt Orange. She wasn't that keen on great looking men.

  Then he stood and helped the others to do the same, though only as a joke with Gerent, who slipped the amulet around his neck. He seemed... proud. As if this trust was an honor, not a huge burden being dumped on him. Laurie just seemed to be considering the death of all Remy. Hopefully she'd hold her hand until he had a chance to do what he was going to try.

  "Let's head back?"

  That they actually all got up and rejoined the others without a word almost jolted Timon. He really expected his mother to make a scene, or possibly hit her amulet right then, or threaten to at least, claiming it was to save her child. That didn't happen and her posture wasn't even all that tense as they moved back, her small hand going to his back. When they were in the room with the others she did something that he really hadn't figured on and hugged him with one arm.

  Then she whispered into his ear.

  "I'm very proud of you Timon. I know that things haven't been fair to you, but you've shown more strength than anyone would have expected."

  He had? Tim didn't ask for an explana
tion, since everyone else was watching now as Terlee handed him a plate of food. Tiera was already eating hers. It seemed to be the remains of what they'd had for dinner, but it was good. A nice meat dish with smashed tubers on the side. There was bread and fresh butter too. The ship's food hadn't been awful, but a lot of it had come from cans, and some was Austran, which meant sort of bad, since they were masters at ruining food, as a people. This was actually very good, even if a bit cool.

  It was rude to eat while others weren't but he was willing to suffer the indignity, in order to get at the food. Tiera was doing it too, so at least they could claim that as a common bond, if called on it. He was even allowed to get halfway through his meal before Tovey started in on him about the cost of the new shields.

  "King Richard is most concerned. I don't think he actually expected you to take him so literally when he requested millions of them. That they contain flight fields as well and resist so much... We can't pay you for them all. It's really as simple as that. He's willing to try, but..." There was a pained expression on his face. "But that's him suffering from too much honor. The truth really is that if Noram even tries to do that, the Kingdom will fail. When we called the Minister of Finance in to ask about it in the special session, he suggested that we all become your sex slaves, for the duration, as a way to help off-set the cost. When we started to laugh he yelled at us. The complete Council of Counts. Then he told us he wasn't joking, and we'd best bring our own lubricants, because asking you to do it might incur more debt."

  Everyone looked away, since it was clearly a story that they'd heard before, and knew to be true.

  Tim took another big bite of bread.

  "I'm not really interested. Besides, I thought Tiera had already handled that for us?" It was a bigger problem than he'd ever thought it might be, now that it was his. Timon had always kind of thought that Tor was just being a bit whiny when he complained about having too many riches before. Now that it was his problem too, he suddenly had a different perspective.