Duty

by P. S. Power

“Later. Give my love to all those women I don’t know, before they realize how strange that is!” He laughed at the end, getting one in return. Then the device went blank.

  A moment later the names menu came up again, so he looked up Johan. He was on the incoming call list, so it wasn’t that hard to do.

  This man just looked at him blankly for a bit, then made a humphing noise.

  “You’re alive? I tried to call last night but you didn't answer. I couldn’t even leave a message. After your warning I was worried you couldn’t make it at all.”

  Albert could have felt put out by the words, but he had warned the man that he was a drunk and not reliable. He wasn’t much of a liar, but that was close to being the only good thing about him.

  “I know, right? I got in, set up a base camp and then bothered a bunch of other people, which got things done fairly well. It was mainly them. Dare Canton… Um, Dareg, in case you want to call him. Trice from the Harmony Magic Shop and Farlocinian Ross. She’s the Ancient of Afrak, but came right away when I asked for help. Comp suggested it, so you might want to thank her, too, if you get the chance. My friend Jeffery brought in drugs to keep everyone awake and working, too. It was a team effort. Most of that effort being from the men and women on the ground here, who actually fought the fire.” It felt like he hadn’t done much at all, really, once he listed things out like that.

  The man in white, his blond hair short and tidy, like a fighter, rubbed at his lean face. He had a strong jaw, which was touched in the move.

  “That sounds good, then! I know how to reach most of them. Jeffery though… I think I missed his last name?”

  “Jeff Prior, in the Terry network. I think that’s everyone, though I’ll get with you if anyone else comes up? I should be able to have the magics back to Martha at the Depot by tomorrow morning, barring any other emergencies. Oh! I forgot… Baron Ruel Havar came and brought me the things from the Magic Shop. That was nice of him. He was just walking down the hallway when the shop lady called for help and he came to do that.”

  Johan simply nodded.

  “A friend of mine. Good, that one won’t required half the bowing as the others. Thanks, Albert. This duty should have been ours. The High Servants. A certain white clad lay about is going to be dressed down for not being where he was supposed to, I assure you. If I can find him. It’s a problem with The High Servants… A lot of them are excellent at hiding, for some reason. It’s almost like they hold classes on the subject when I’m not looking.” The tone was oddly serious, as if he really meant the words.

  Albert just lifted his chin. Feeling something strange that he really hadn’t for a while. A long time. He wasn’t certain, but he kind of thought it might be pride. Just a tiny bit of it, of course. Everyone else had done their share and more in the last days. That he had as well was different for him, that was all.

  “Not a problem. I just passed out some drinks and things. Oh, hey… I asked Dareg if he and his people wanted to get together at the club one night. Probably in a week or two. Would you like in on that? If nothing else you can see where the other High Servants like to hide, part of the time.” Not that he’d ever noticed any of that sort in there, himself. Then, he wouldn’t. If they changed clothing, they probably tended to look like anyone else. At least anyone from Noram.

  That got a nod.

  “If I ever get the time, that sounds like fun. Thanks for the invitation. Now, I need to see about finding… Oh, most of the High Servants. Really, if they didn't swear oaths of duty, I’d just disband the whole thing and start over with the half dozen that actually bother to try. Thanks, Al. I’ll be calling to beg your aid again in about ten hours, so you should get some sleep, if you can.”

  He smiled and shook his head.

  “I get at least two days, after this. Three, since I need to stay up and watch things, in case people need me here. That two days definitely counts from when I talk to High Servant Martha, right?”

  Instead of agreeing, there was a mirthful laugh from the other man.

  “Ah… You see, in an ideal world that would be the simple truth. That doesn’t mean I won’t need you first. Rest as you can, just in case.” He kept being merry as he tabbed off.

  That allowed him to put the device away and look at the others there.

  “Um, all of you are invited to the thing at the club as well. It’s just music and dancing, so don’t feel obligated. We’re open every night. It might be too close to this, so that’s a good excuse not to attend, if you need one.” The words were a bit thick in his throat, so he shook his head, looking at Gary, who was easier to talk to than the others. “I’m much smoother when I’m drunk. I swear.”

  That was just the truth. A lot of people thought they got better with other people when they were drunk, and most of them were fools. For his part, he was so awkward most days that being half in his cups really did the trick that way. It made him into a person who was almost normal.

  The giant, who was across the table from him, took a deep breath.

  “Given you seem to have the head of the High Servants and the secret king of Mars going already, I know that I’m in. I’ll need to learn the different Moon dances first, so I don’t make a fool of myself. Fashions as well. I can get with you on those topics?”

  Albert nodded again, since he was working on not being a horrible person for the time being.

  “Well, the dance part. I have none of that other stuff. Fashion? Never heard of it.” That was pretty close to true, since he didn't bother trying most days. Jeffery was pretty good that way though, being Austran and working in the club as he did.

  Serro was better than either of them, that way. He realized he needed to call her soon, too. That one wouldn’t be done in front of the others there, though, if he got a choice. He wasn’t late for work, but assuring her that he was sober, or at least not drunk, might take some doing. For some reason the woman had decided to worry about him. Part of him wanted to pretend that it was about love.

  That wasn’t true, which he understood on a deep level. It was probably closer to pity, or not wanting your pet to die of old age or illness. It wasn’t even fear of losing a worker. She could get a thousand people to take turns pushing the broom at the club, if she wanted. Literally. Most of them would probably do a better job of it than he did, even. Oh, sure, he knew were the equipment was stored, but once that door was shown to the new people, most of them would understand what to do as well as he did.

  It could just get embarrassing, the lady showing concern for him in front of these people, even if he’d openly spoken of his troubles. The ones that he made for himself. That was how he lived, so didn’t really consider changing. Except that he did. Almost constantly, at least now that he was sober and thinking halfway clearly.

  The Count smiled, gave a seated bow and took a deep breath of his own.

  “I’ll leave that to the younger people, so as to not spoil things for everyone? We can have you in here, for our next party though, Mr. Benoist? That should be in a little over a month. Nothing too spectacular, but my wife, Farlo and Gary’s mother, does love to entertain.”

  There was a snort from the Ancient then.

  “That’s just true, isn’t it? You can invite me as your date and then I can come as well.” She glared at her father again, though this time got a response, which was different than the man had seemed before.

  Less tired and more playful.

  “That works. Not that you can’t simply attend. I didn't disown you or anything. I just asked if you planned to marry soon. I know that you don’t feel the press of time, but your mother and I would love to see some grandchildren before we pass. You aren’t being kept out, you’ve chosen to stay away. It’s different.”

  Albert stood up, distracting everyone, tempted to open a bottle of the wine, even if these tense people getting drunk might not help them. It would be good for him, so was tempting. Instead he stretched a little, standing back and twisting as if he were going to go running
or do something athletic. That wasn’t happening, he was just getting a bit stiff. From all his taxing can and drug passing duties.

  Everyone looked at him for a bit, so he finally tried for a charming grin. It was probably creepy, though he didn’t dwell on the idea.

  “I’m having a bit of the same problem with my own parents right now, only without the part where I’m immortal or the Ancient of an entire land. Or attractive. Really, I think my case is a bit worse that way than yours, Farlo. I mean you’re young and pretty and will get to stay that way. I look like this and will eventually get old as well.” That was all true enough that he froze for a moment, scrambling to find some way to deflect from what he’d gone into. There was a glare from the woman already, with a satisfied smile from the Count, as if he were taking sides.

  Gary looked away, seeming bored, or distracted, even if there was nothing in the direction he was gazing that was a good excuse to stop paying attention to the situation. Not one that Albert could share in.

  So, he went on, foolishly.

  “That being the case we should probably find some other Ancient for you to marry. That way they can match the young and cute thing you have going on for a while. Who’s available that way? I don’t know a lot of people that fit the bill, or I’d introduce you.”

  The Ancient gave him a sour look, holding his eyes. He didn't look away, even if he did blush a bright red. They needed to change the subject, but she was the one that had to do it, given where the conversation was. That or one of the others. His foot was already too firmly in his mouth for it to easily be dislodged.

  She simply waved in his direction.

  “Sam Builder is single. That’s about it for the men. Alice Orange is as well. She’s one of the old Ancients. You could try there, actually. She isn’t fond of pretty men. I mean that as well. It’s built into her on a level that we can’t break her free of. Not that I don’t need to get on all fours now and beg for forgiveness, implying that you’re less than perfect as it might seem I just did.” Her voice was tired.

  Al waved that away.

  “I know what I look like. I’d have gotten that fixed, but the new magic for that sounds a bit frightening. People have died doing it.” That’s what he’d heard at any rate.

  Both men nodded, absently, as if they’d heard the same thing. Farlo snorted, a bit rudely.

  “Not just having their looks improved or minor things done. The level of changes that were needed for the ones that didn't make it were incredible. Not that there’s anything wrong with you that way. I apologize for the idea…” She floundered then and actually tried to bow.

  Mainly because the truth was Albert honesty didn't look good. He could have done more that way, using a disguise amulet, if he really wanted to. He knew that to be the case, since he’d done it before in the past. When he’d first moved to Second City and had bothered to care about life at all. It worked. In fact, he was so thin he could look like anything he wanted, more or less. It just wasn’t a thing he cared about that much. Even if he secretly did, at the same time. He was complex, so was allowed to be more than one thing.

  Rather than go on about the topic, still standing, he tried to think of something to do that wouldn’t be an insult to everyone there. Making more food wouldn’t be needed until everyone woke up. Leaving wasn’t an option either, needed to guard the magics.

  Count Ross, taking a very deep, rather exhausted breath, let it out in a gusty sigh. Then he pulled a handheld from a pocket on his leg and held the tiny looking thing in his meaty giant hands. It was the same size unit as Albert had. It just was nearly swallowed by the things at the end of the other man’s arms.

  Pasting a smile on his face, the older fellow bowed as soon as a face appeared on the screen.

  “King Richard! I’m calling to let you know that we have the fire here under control. It’s out, which is better than I’d been projecting. There were losses. Ten lives, early on, and we lost a small town. There are reports of missing people, as well. The tide turned for us when the High Servants sent a man in.”

  The deep voice, higher than the Count’s, while still booming and rumbling, if that was possible, made a considering sound.

  “Ah? I’d heard that no High Servants were available for the mission. Something about Soam and I believe, hiding from the work? One of them actually did their duty? That’s pleasant to hear.”

  The Count chuckled. It was not nice or pleasant seeming.

  “No, King Richard. High Servant Commander Johan Targ had to beg a man of the Moon he met in passing for aid. One Albert Benoist. That man was the one who pulled our fat out of the fire. He arranged for magics to be brought in from three planets, then walked into the fire itself to make certain people could carry on the fight. He brought drinks and some clever medications to keep us all awake and moving. He healed people too, which saved some lives. He took damage at the same time, since he couldn’t have his shield on here, by our rules. Even now he’s staying awake instead of falling over, to make sure everyone that needs it is fed and has access to healing magic. We had a lot of help. Prince Dareg, your son-in-law, came from Mars to bring one of his transport huts. Baron Havar brought things from Harmony in his own person as well. We also had important aid from my daughter, Farlocinian.”

  There was a flash of red hair and something like a hand gesture, though it was hard to see from where Albert was standing.

  “Make a note of those names, please, Steward. I’m very pleased to hear that the worst of the disaster was averted, Count Ross. You must be close to exhausted yourself, after such an ordeal. Do you need any aid that I can provide?”

  There was a giant head shake then.

  “For once I think we’re fine here. We saved most of the wheat crops and while some will need help rebuilding, we can do that. I’ll need temporary housing for about a hundred people. Those dispossessed by the blaze.”

  Albert didn’t interject, but he had some magical dwellings for that. From the High Servants. It would be harder to make certain they didn't walk away if people were living in them for a long time though. The King simply waved again.

  “I can muster out the focus stone building corps for that. We’ll need to find transportation for them, but once we have that handled, we can have them there in a few hours.”

  That, it seemed was a bit of a problem, since the base that the focus stone crews worked from didn’t have a transport hut. The little town that had been destroyed, which was only a few miles from where they were sitting, didn’t either. That meant finding one of the Noram air ships or some kind of ground transport to get them into place. It would take days at the very least, if not longer.

  He was supposed to use the magical houses for that, just leaving them there until the new dwellings were built. Trusting the people there as if he knew them or something. Instead, he spoke, interrupting the King of Noram. Which had to be brilliant on his part.

  “I have the emergency transport that Dareg sent. He told me to use it if there was another emergency. We also have the one here?” He looked at Gary, since it was clear the man was up on that situation.

  “Right! I forgot about that. We just need to get the hut, one of them, to the camp there, then. Set the other one up in Smiton and the men won’t even have to miss their beds at night, while they work. Who do we have that can fly that over? I mean, someone that’s had sleep in the last two days. I could do it, but…”

  That part seemed harder, since Albert wasn’t volunteering to fly. No one asked him to, either, since his post was there. Helping the people that had fought the fires. The answer came from the other side of the device, not theirs. A deep, manly sounding voice spoke up, from the background.

  “I can handle that? I just find the hut there, then set it up at Wildlands Station? Countier Ross, can you have things set up there? I don’t know who the man with the other hut is… My mistake, not recognizing you, I’m certain, my Lord.”

  It took Albert a long second to understand the voice m
eant him.

  “Albert, please. Don’t feel bad, I don’t recognize your voice either. I guess that the emergency hut should be safe enough there. Really, I should call Dareg in to get them a permanent one, probably. I’ll ask after that. That way I can pry the one he left with me away from them, in case someone else needs it later.”

  Rather than some grand pronunciation, the other man just called out. It sounded like he was already in motion, since the voice got louder, meaning he was closing with the King’s handheld. Al just ignored what that probably meant. Just like how he’d ignored that Dare Canton was both a Prince and a man called the secret king of Mars without irony being involved.

  “Alphonse. I’ll be there in… Less than an hour, unless I get lost. You’re where, exactly?”

  The instructions came from the Count, being he knew his own area rather well, for some reason. Probably having to do with the fact that it was his main job in life, seeing to his people and collecting taxes. Both of those meant he needed a good understanding of maps, as well as the lay of the land there.

  Richard Cordes, the King of all Noram, spoke to Count Ross for a while, mainly hitting boring things that didn't take Albert interjecting into at all. When he finally tabbed off, the man looked at Albert. Instead of yelling for the earlier interruption, he simply bowed.

  “Thank you, Mr. Benoist. That’s an elegant answer to our issue of the moment. One that won’t even cost anyone any gold, which is welcome. These things always end up being hard that way. Getting strong focus stone houses for people, built by professionals, is a very nice start toward fixing things. We’ll need food for the workers. That… Would it be possible for you to see to that? It… isn’t an emergency, truly. Just the mid-day meal.” He looked away, seeming very nearly ashamed.

  Albert didn’t growl at him or anything, just thinking about it for a minute. Then he nodded.

  “As soon as things are packed up here, I can go and do that. We should let people sleep for a while, then they need to eat and I’ll have to sleep myself, at some point.” Which, if he took everything down and used one of the emergency huts that Trice, the kind woman from the magic shop, had sent, he could manage, he thought. That didn’t give the people a place to stay for the night though. Not while they waited for their homes to be put up.