by P. S. Power
"Timon! Do you have news?" It was, it seemed, going to be the question of the day. He shook his head, not drawing it out.
"Not about Tor. There's a problem with equipment theft at Wildlands Station. I came to get a Truth amulet if I can borrow one? They don't have access to that kind of thing. A lot of kids are either being framed, or have been stealing from the military. The Commander there, Major Godfrey, is about ready to be packed off to prison. Drunk right now, but there's a new theft, so we might be able to track it down. I think he could use some help. More than I can give him. I said I'd ask at the palace, but I doubt I'm on the visitors list there." It was hard to lock eyes with her, having not bothered to pay attention to her like he should for a while, but she might need him to be there for her now. She didn't seem too distraught at least. Instead Ali seemed... motivated.
"My orphans are being accused of crimes? Of course you can have a Truth amulet. I... here. I always carry two now." She pulled one off from around her neck, which was on a silver chain. It was pretty nice, but chain was expensive, so he resolved to give it back to her, even though she'd said he could have it. She did let her fingers tickle his palm when she dropped it in.
"I don't know what to do about the rest of it. I can't just... I shouldn't have left them alone for so long. Sam and I are working on the project, but I've been busy. It isn't a very good excuse. This shouldn't be the first I'm hearing about this." There was definitely a lot more firmness in her now than before. A hardness and fire, it seemed.
It looked good on her. Much better than the crying and weakness he'd expected.
There was a soft clearing of a throat behind him, which got him to turn, remembering his manners. He didn't know who one of the women sitting there even was. That Sara was in the chair next to her did show that the new woman was technically prettier than she was. Part of that was the clothing and hair style however.
Sara nodded to him, her eyes softening a bit when she looked at him, but it wasn't anything but a polite gaze, he didn't think. She was probably a bit uncomfortable, since the last time he'd met with her he had asked her if she was planning to marry soon. It was a bit pushy of him considering he couldn't do it himself at the moment. It was probably making her uneasy, worried that she'd have to explain it all again to him. He got it though and wouldn't press the issue.
Sara spoke in a nearly military fashion then. Clipped and a little hard.
"Which is why I came, Alyssa. There have been problems there for a while, but the new influx of children isn't helping anything at all. We have some suspects, but right now someone needs to be standing up for your kids. That's going to take more than I can do at my current rank." The eye contact had switched back to Alyssa almost instantly. Even Collette had paid more attention to him than that. The other woman still was, he noticed.
She studied him closely.
The lady wasn't old, perhaps twenty or so? It was hard to tell, because she looked younger than that, but was decently tall, which meant royal. They always aged slower than everyone else. Well, not slower than he would, but most girls in Two Bends that looked like her would be about sixteen, or maybe just a bit older. It made it hard to tell.
She broke eye contact with him and looked back a few seconds later, then batted her eyelashes, just a little, in case he didn't get the idea she was flirting with him.
"Well, hello!" Her words were pleasant, almost sparkling her white dress tightening across the front as she pushed her chest out slightly in his direction. It wasn't a large movement, but it was pretty clear that she didn't find him too hideous to talk to.
He smiled and gave a decently low bow. It was kind of a fallback move. When in doubt bend low enough that no one would be insulted.
"Hello. Sorry I haven't introduced myself. Timon Baker." He left off the titles because it always sounded pretentious when he tried to use them. Worse, you either found yourself facing a person of lower rank, who would think you were rubbing it in half the time, or of higher rank, who thought you wanted to climb above your position. That's what it always felt like to him anyway.
"Maria Ward. Nice to meet you Timon. Would you like a seat? There's room over here, by me." She patted the cushion next to her gently. There was barely room on that side of her, which meant it was an invitation to touch her, if she didn't intend to scoot to the other side, which was well and truly open.
He spread his hands.
"I'd love to, of course. Unfortunately, I promised to get back as soon as possible. Perhaps we could meet up and talk later? If you aren't busy of course. I intend to see if I can stay here for a few nights while setting up some business." He didn't explain what or why, but the woman smiled at him, which moved from a pretty grin to a large wolfish thing in just a few seconds.
"Oh, I'd love to! I'm staying here as well, Collette is my sister. Alyssa is a very good friend of mine too. I'm sure we could find something to entertain ourselves, if we give it some thought."
That got an odd reaction from at least one person in the room. Sara cleared her throat and looked at Maria, clearly scandalized.
"Excuse me, Countess Ward, but he's twelve. Or... not even that yet." She glanced at him finally as if looking for confirmation.
"At midnight tonight." He added, trying to be helpful. Instead of crestfallen, Maria, who it seemed was a Countess just shrugged.
"Fine then, no sex. We can hire a musician in or perhaps some players as a distraction? Or we could talk about the new vacations that Princess Karina was telling me about a few days ago. Could you imagine seeing other lands? I hear Soam is incredibly exotic, and warm all the time, though the insects can eat you alive. Afrak is like a garden and the men are both rare and timid like rabbits and Austra has their strange technology and thinking machines. I can't wait to talk to one. Do you think one of those could be arranged? I wonder what will be available first?" She actually seemed like she didn't know that he was involved in all of it, but that could just be good acting.
He tilted his head at her and smiled a little, still standing.
"Which would you like first? For a mere two hundred gold I'll set you up with a vacation the likes of which no one has ever seen. Less than that if you can find at least six others to travel with you and if you want to put together a larger group the cost will go down for each. We have invitations for most of those places already, plus Vagus. In most places you'd probably have to stay in one of the little magic cottages, since I can't make these myself yet." He patted the wall to show what he meant, which got her eyes to go big, if only for an instant. Then she looked... Shrewd.
Everyone else was just staring at them, not speaking at all.
"You can get that arranged? Let's say I can get a group of ten together, would a trip to Soam in a month be possible do you think?" She leaned in, honestly interested.
He nodded and took a few steps toward her, forcing his face to be nearly blank as the excitement ran through him. It wouldn't be good if he blew it now, and acting like a little kid, clapping and yelling really wouldn't inspire confidence.
"I think we can. We'll have to leave on one of my off days from school, but I should know what they are that far in advance. The same with pick up. I'll also need to go down first and set everything up... It would be better if I went with you, since you'll need a guide." He didn't know the language yet, but if he had that long he could learn it. There was a lot that needed to be done first, but he could do it.
Maria sat up then and looked pleased with herself.
"Ah? Good then I won't tease you unmercifully later for not recognizing me, even though we met before. On Postern? That morning in fact."
She stared again, waiting for him to blush or stammer. She was out of luck there though. He hadn't remembered her, but it had been a really busy day. Timon wasn't going to waste time feeling bad about it.
Then she stood and gestured at the communication device on its little table across from her. "As to the problem at hand, I think that you should inform the King. This is
an important enough issue to at least let him know about it, and I think that he'll take the call if he can. If not we can start asking for anyone else that might aid us in it." She moved to the unit without waiting for anyone else to agree or object and hit the glowing word that would connect them with the Palace. Then they waited, since it could take some time for anyone to notice that a light was glowing around the unit on the other side.
About six minutes later a man's voice came across. It was mildly familiar, but no one Tim could place instantly.
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" He sounded kind enough at least.
"Good afternoon, this is Maria Ward, here with Alyssa Baker, Timon Baker, Collette Coltress and Sara Debri." She paused for a second, probably not certain what to say next, which let the man interrupt her.
"I don't have any news about Tor. I promise to let you know as soon as I do."
She nodded happily at the device, as if the man could see here. It was a natural enough thing to do, since it really did sound like he was in the room with them.
"Thank you Sire, that's very welcome and kind. However we're calling to dump a completely different problem in your lap. We seem to have a problem at Wildlands Station? Something about theft... or corruption of minors. I wasn't really paying attention, but we have others here that can tell you more. It's a military thing and I thought it would be a wonderful idea to see if we could get William Smythe in on it. He's the best investigator ever and the head of the military, so I just know he'll want to help." Her voice had gone just a little too far into 'little girl' for the man on the device and he chuckled, asking to speak to Sara first.
Because the man recognized her name off the top of his head. True, his son had been her friend for a while, as in been having sex with. Timon had paid enough attention over the years to pick that up after all. For a man so busy and focused on affairs of the kingdom to not only know her name, but to want to talk to her first meant that there was a greater connection there. It didn't take long to understand that Sara was used to chatting with the King too. She sounded more relaxed with him than she had with Timon at least.
"Sire. The report you were given is fairly accurate. There have been constant thefts for the last year, increasing as soon as the children came to the Station. It wasn't much at first and Tor had left orders to turn a blind eye to such things, unless it was really obvious who was doing it, but now I think that someone is truly abusing good will. This is into enough golds that sooner or later one of the framed children is going to be put in prison for it. The way it's being handled is... strange. None of the kids are facing charges, they're all just asked to leave. Why they don't insist on a trial I don't know, if they're innocent, which is part of why I didn't mention it until now. I thought it would be better for them to get away than go to prison."
It was a frank admission, but one that got a soft snort from Alyssa.
"Why wouldn't they call for a trial? They're orphans Miss Debri. To their way of thinking they are guilty, even if they haven't stolen anything. They don't expect a real hearing or even anyone treating them kindly. Calling for a trial is the same as pulling a noose over their own heads to most of these kids. Of course they'd just leave instead. That gives them a chance to survive, no matter how slim." She'd moved closer to the speaking device, her voice firm enough that Collette reached out to touch her arm, holding her back a little. She turned red then, but it was a pleasant, embarrassed red, not rage.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, I didn't mean-"
"Don't worry Alyssa. Passion when defending children is never misplaced. Builder Timon Baker, do you agree with Sara Debri?" That the man had figured out that he'd be the other person with an account meant that he knew something about who was coming and going over his city and from what direction.
That or Timon was being tracked. That probably wasn't the case, since he was moving from place to place too quickly and there weren't that many communication devices in the Kingdom. No, the simple explanation was that he knew where everyone else had been, meaning there was only one person in the room that could have a firsthand report. That wouldn't explain second hand ones, which could have been what had happened here. Someone else could have gotten a report too.
The King definitely had spies here then. Sara was even probably one of them.
"I don't have as much information, but that seems to fit what I found earlier. I know that Major Godfrey, the man in charge there, is very frightened that he's going to be blamed for the lapse. I got a Truth amulet from Ali, but we could use someone that really knows how to investigate, I think. There are an awful lot of people to just go around questioning everyone at random." It could work, eventually, but it would take forever that way and he didn't have that much time personally.
There was less than a week until he had to have some real gold in hand if he wanted to go to school at all. This distraction was a good thing to do, if they could save some kids and Major Godfrey, but as far as he could tell it wasn't going to pay anything. Even if it did, it wouldn't be enough, so hurrying things along might be a good plan.
The King sounded slightly odd when he spoke. Not worried overly, but a little stressed, as if he didn't want to bother with the problem either. Timon could agree with that, but it didn't matter. It was already too late now.
"Fine, I'll send Smythe and Builder Sam to look into this. Builder Baker, would you be free to accompany them? I've heard you have use of several of your brother's Fast Carriages? That could expedite things greatly."
Timon moved to the device and bent over it, knowing full well that the man knew he had the craft. He was trying to politely suggest that Timon use one.
"Not a difficulty Sire. I'll even do this one for free, since you've agreed to send some of your Ambassadors using my new service. Three hundred and fifty gold per round trip, as long as it takes fewer than five craft." Not that he had enough pilots for them all. He really needed to get to work on that fast actually, so that there would be other people ready to work while he was in classes.
The King cleared his throat.
"I believe it was for three hundred gold?" There was a touch of humor to it at least, which was good to hear.
"Oh, sure, but I'm upping the cost until Princess Karina agrees to marry me." He was joking, but everyone else looked at him like he'd just offered to wed a cow. Obviously he'd made a misstep there. It probably wasn't a good thing to tease about with the King then. "Or at least go to tea. I won't really charge you more, but don't tell her that. I want to see if it will work." Instead of ordering him into irons or even giving him a stern lecture the man... laughed.
"Considered the message passed then. I wish you luck. You still only get three hundred per delegation. When do you think you can begin?"
"In about five minutes. Or after Counselor Smythe and Sam are done, if I'm supposed to stay with them. I can be over directly. Flying in a silver cube."
The King was silent for a few moments, with only a subtle hint of rustling to show that someone in the room was moving.
"I'll have them waiting on the north side, by the door. Thank you Timon."
He wanted to shrug, but didn't bother, since it wouldn't make a difference to the man.
"Be there directly Sire. I'm certain they'll have this in hand quickly. Tor always spoke very highly of Counselor Smythe." It was true, but that got a rough chuckle as well from the device.
"You do know that the man tried to kill your brother, don't you?"
Timon actually did, since it was pretty common knowledge around the Kingdom. Tor had never mentioned that part himself. All he'd said was that the man was a good investigator and an honest person. Tor had never even claimed that he'd liked him.
"And then they came and proved I didn't try to kill a bunch of people... together." Maria didn't say the words loud enough to be heard over the device, but Timon got it. She'd been saved by something his brother had done, and it made her like him. Probably Smythe too.
He spoke louder then, lo
sing a few beats, which had to sound strange.
"Yes Sire, but he didn't succeed, and they made up and became friends. There are no debts between friends." It was a Two Bends thing, well, the surrounding area had it too, but it was a good tradition. You didn't count anything against a friend. Family either. Not for long at least. He was probably being less than observant of the idea, not making up with his mother, but that would have to wait. For one thing he wasn't really ready to try yet. For another...
They had a thief to catch.
That had to take point.
Chapter two
The trip from his brother's giant place to the Palace should have taken him about ten seconds. It wasn't far at all, only about two miles if he traveled in a straight line, but he had to account for the very slow landing that the Royal Guards wanted for anyone coming in. They had a shield that they'd slap up if anyone tried to land too fast. It didn't seem like it helped anything real, going that slow, so it was probably just there to help them stay alert and on their toes. That made sense to him. That part was a known thing though. It was the rest of the people that really slowed him down.
"We should come too." Maria Ward said, her eyes on her sister, as if Collette would be the one making the call as far as that went. He didn't want to have a problem with them, but it hadn't been what he'd expected really. Why would they want to be a part of an investigation they couldn't influence at all?
Ali stood back and closed her eyes for a moment, her clothing changing and shifting on her body, turning into a plain black uniform that wasn't exactly military, but was close enough to fool a person at a distance. The material was even mimicked correctly. She had the collar wrong, hers going a little too deep and the sides of the tunic hugged her just a little too closely for a real uniform. It looked good on her however.