by P. S. Power
In all it was a half gold worth of ice and not that much of it in all. Hopefully it would be enough. Then he explained about their detour to go and pick up Mark Morgan, who he was feeling slightly better about, now that his headache was gone. No one questioned his right to punish the man for the theft, or as he put it, unlawful borrowing. The Royal Guards, did want him talk to the man about loyalty however. That would be awkward, they all agreed, but Timon let his eyes go hard and didn't say anything. He had a few questions to ask the fellow himself.
The two craft made a lovely sight, racing across the sky, a mirror and a brilliant golden dash mark. At least that's what he imagined they would be from the ground. When they finally settled in Morgan, at the facility, he was met by the Duke and Duchess, both of whom stood rather protectively in front of their child, even if he was a fully grown man.
Wiping curls out of her very stunning blue eyes the tired looking Duchess spoke first.
"We've... We decided that Mark can't go with you. We... it just isn't safe. He's special and we-" The woman's hands were clasped nervously in front of her. Mark looked pretty worried too, but the Duke looked ready to fight Tim over it.
It was, no doubt, a ridiculous situation to anyone watching. Since those people were walking up on them it only made the whole thing worse, since they were all much larger than Tim was. It looked like he'd brought in reinforcements. He gestured to Alphonse who stepped forward slowly, his eyes made to look brown over his lighter looking skin.
"May I borrow your amulet again?" He turned to the Morgan family to explain. "Things are a little different today than yesterday. I need to ask you all some offensive questions. Please don't be mad." He handed the Truth device to the man, who looked puzzled, but activated it without being asked.
The glow around him was even and smooth, brilliant under the clouds above that seemed to promise not just rain, but a storm soon.
"Thank you. I know this won't be pleasant, but no matter what, I need honesty. Are you now, or have you any intention too, in the future, plot against the King or Royal family?"
"What? I mean, no, but that's not exactly what I expected to be asked." He was both shocked and a little angry about the question, that was clear. He didn't strike at Tim when he nodded and handed the amulet off to his Duchess, who turned out to be the Queens sister. Then he did the same with Mark. All of them were loyal.
"Say Mark, did you mean to steal my craft yesterday?" He expected a lie or to get a totally different story, since both parents looked horrified by the question being asked. It sort of meant they knew the real answer.
The man looked nearly as tired as they did, his face strong and skin clear, with a slightly square jaw that should have made him very popular at court. Especially with his nice blue eyes. Even the short curly hair worked for him. The mustache not so much, but if he was isolated all the time, that was probably just an amusement, rather than anything else.
"Oh, um, yes. I realized I was having trouble steering, so I panicked and turned back. I didn't realize it was a special kind of carriage. I thought it was a regular one. If it had been I would have been most of the way to Afrak right now." He didn't look all that repentant and also didn't lie about it, even as Alphonse and Karina gasped at the admission. Theft at that level would mean the death penalty after all. Even his parents cringed, knowing that it almost had to happen.
Except it didn't. While he'd slept Timon had kind of gotten the idea. The man was in a prison here. A nice one, but a real thing. The problem there was that he hadn't committed a crime. Well, now he had, but that wasn't why he was locked away. His easy admission wasn't meant to absolve him of guilt either. The man was trying to die. His bid to escape had failed and now he was planning to end it all. Probably not caring if Timon did it or the hangman. No doubt his own hand would do as well.
Timon shook his head and sighed.
"Well, here's the deal. You set off combat rage in people, so we can't put you around nobles here in Noram until you learn to handle it. We need a fast messenger and transport man between the other lands. It will mean doing some work here too, but mainly in common markets, so try to avoid the cute girls that are too tall. I'll give you a house and you can settle here somewhere, or someplace else if you want. A magic one. I still own both that and the craft, you just have use of them. Then you get a gold per week, after the first six months. You're working that for free. That part is your punishment for trying to steal from me. You'll have to learn several different languages and be traveling most of the time. Pack a bag, you have ten minutes and then we're leaving. You're doing the flying, so hurry." He looked at the man evenly, not caring what he had to say about it really. He was still a thief, even if he had a good reason. If he did it again he'd just vanish one day. It was a thing that Timon could easily manage with a bit of planning.
"Go! We don't have all day!" He made his voice stern sounding, but the man, easily twice his age, ran for the house, not even looking back. Really it wasn't hard to get him to move at all, even as his parents froze, looking freaked.
Alphonse moved forward and spoke as soon as the boy found the front door. Everyone else had apparently been ordered away from the site. Most likely so that if it came to bloodshed it wouldn't grow into a total war.
"It's us. Alphonse and Karina. One of the Royal Guards tried to kill Count Lairdgren last night, possibly father too. He killed himself before we could question him. That's why your loyalty was questioned. It's everyone, not you two in particular. Timon even questioned me earlier, and Karina. We're going to Austra to hide for now. Mother and father will need you, since we know that your loyal. The code at the castle is 'fern'. Say that when you go in to identify yourself as cleared. You'll need a new one each time, but if you go within the next week that should still work." He eyed the door closely and looked a little angry at them for a few seconds. "I haven't seen Cousin Mark for a long while. The Morgan family curse?" He glared at them, but relented and waved toward Tim. "He has a chance now at least. No combat rage anywhere else in the world. Plus he can come back and visit. Much better than prison for what he did. Or the grave. Not everyone would be as kind."
They both bowed toward Tim, but he didn't make them hold it, bowing back instantly.
"We won't talk about that part of things again. It didn't happen. I should have that gold for you soon, I hope. I can't exactly expect prompt payment from a man at war, you understand how that works, right?" He didn't really know that, but it made sense and the Duke actually smiled.
"Get half up front. Always. Nobles always manage to have a coin shortage when the bills come due. The tradition is that you shouldn't buy something if you can't provide proof that you're willing to actually keep your word. You I trust, since it's clear that your plan was designed to aid others, not just enrich yourself."
Mark came running out, a small tan pack over his shoulder, a thing he obviously had ready to go. Well, it was a chance for escape, and even if Timon was going to kill him in an "accident" it was a better fate than Noram had offered so far.
Who wouldn't be happy about that?
Chapter eleven
The rest of the morning was done at a full run, with the players in the other vehicle being loaded down with produce and spices while he and Mark rode with a large amount of cream and butter stored in metal containers that Timon had to buy separately, wincing at the expense. Then they finished the whole thing by loading up with as much fresh meat as they could, and buying more ice from a vaguely familiar woman in Warden.
Or he started to buy it from her, only, when he tried to hand her the nearly full gold for the extra ice they needed the woman laughed at him and waved it away.
"For the little brother of my partner? I think not. Go. Tell Austra that we here aren't nearly as bad as they might think." She kept chuckling and let her right hand linger on his arm for a while, her eyes and dark skin dry and cool looking, which probably meant there was magic seeing to her comfort. It was pretty warm in Warden after all.
"Tell them Martya said we should all be friends."
"I'll do that." It was a strange thing for her to mention, but everyone could use a new friend, including him. Her touch didn't let up until he smiled and stepped away, bowing a little to the woman, would did it back with only a bit of perceptible irony. The next leg of the trip was going to be the biggest worry for him, personally, so when he got back into the craft he had to lock his mind into as calm a state as possible.
"Now, Mark... You're going to fly us to Austra. I know the way, so we won't get lost. Remember to use a soft hand on the controls. Also, just in case this was lost on you earlier, if you ever steal from me again, or any of my family or friends, I will hunt you down. I know, that probably doesn't sound like much of a threat, since I'm young and small. Trust me though, I won't play fair and whatever you think you know about my brother doesn't apply to me overly. You're getting this chance for one reason only. Don't mess it up." He didn't add what it was, thinking it was so clear that no one in the world would need to ask, but the man stared at him, a lot more frightened than seemed reasonable, given that Tim actually was a child. He wasn't even the one behind the controls at the moment.
"Why?" The man was good looking, but kind of creepy for all that. Deep brown curly hair, brilliant blue eyes and a pretty face that was annoying. The worst part there was that Timon knew that he was actually a bit better looking than the man, in a fashion that would have to be even worse to a lot of people. Sure, women seemed to like it alright, but that wasn't going to always help him. There was a point when being too good looking was a drawback. People would think you were only your looks and not overly bright.
He certainly felt that way about Mark at the moment and that wasn't fair at all.
"Why? Because if I was the one locked in a prison like that, on an estate, for something I couldn't control, I would have tried to escape too." He shook his head and relented a little, smiling. "But if anyone in Noram ever asks; I'm an evil slave driver that doesn't let you rest and drives you to a level few could bear. Since that's pretty darn close to what I intend for you it shouldn't be hard to make it sound real. Now, very slowly, with complete control, pull the control hand piece straight up. It isn't hard to control a craft like this, just remember that you always have time."
The rest of the trip was nerve-wracking, the hours of flight a little unsteady at times since the man let his attention waiver more than once, going wide eyed as they dropped toward the water below them at speeds that gave very little time to react. He didn't have to shout at the man to get him to fix it and he learned to do better decently quick, the specter of death being a better instructor than Timon could ever have been.
When they finally settled to the water, about ten miles from the port he explain the part about how the Austrans would try to kill them automatically, using their type of magic, called technology, if they flew over land too fast or high.
"They don't seem to have a choice about it, so don't trigger that response. Forget that and you'll probably just die. This is a good vehicle, but they have powerful weapons too. You won't get two warnings, I don't think. Death is always waiting for a fool. You did well getting here, but each place has its own rules. Go carefully and make sure you adapt to them fluidly." He was about to start lecturing, but then shook his head.
This was a man, older than he was by a decade and more. Who was he to tell him how to be? There was no hint of insult in the new pilots eyes at least, the man taking a single shuttering breath instead.
"Yes sir. Thank you." There was a quiet shyness to it that Timon hadn't expected to see, since his sister was so brash and loud. "I won't let you down."
For a few moments he didn't understand the thanks, except that he really did. It was about Mark having a chance to escape his captivity. It had been a loving thing, meant to protect him from armies that would have probably tried to destroy him if they knew about his talent. The curse of his family. Combat rage was powerful, but feared, because most couldn't control it at all. How he'd survived that long setting it off in others Timon didn't know, but now he had a chance to live. If he could manage it correctly.
They moved slowly over the water, so no one would think they were a threat at all and landed on the docks again. This time only one woman in a tan jumpsuit came over at all, carrying a board with a yellow sheet of paper on it, smiling at them, her face tattoo being of an emerald creature the Timon didn't recognize. Mark however stared at it until the woman, who was easily in her late thirties, blushed a little.
"I was told you expect you. Names and reason for coming?" The woman kept trying to make eye contact with the new pilot, who smiled back shamelessly after a few seconds. To Timon's surprise he started answering the questions for them, his voice going smooth and professional.
"Mark Morgan and Tim Baker. Here to deliver some supplies for a local business. Produce and dairy products from Warden, in Noram. We also have a group of players with us, in the other craft back there. They got stuck with part of our cargo. They're also part of the delivery. Going to be performing at the 'Royal Table' I've never eaten there, but I here it's quite good. Maybe you'd like to go with me sometime? If you have the time I mean." He was being very flirtatious, but the woman didn't seem put off by it overly. She did shake her head though.
"My husband probably wouldn't like that." She didn't stop staring though, except to write a few things down, her face lightly flushed. "That should be enough. Planning any other stops while you're here?"
Timon nodded, getting her attention finally.
"Going to see Brown. Introduce him to these others and see if he needs anything. Family member." He tried to keep it low key, but the woman went wide eyed.
"The Revered One?" She seemed slightly edgy suddenly, impressed by the claim.
Mark however was just baffled. He didn't ask about it until Timon moved into the pilot's seat, hovering the craft in low mode, showing how to navigate the vehicle in traffic. It wasn't hard, but there were clearly rules. You had to stay on the correct side of the road and not go faster than the wheeled craft around you. There were also signals for turning, which had to be approximated each time by making a flashing light on the front and back of the craft.
Just as they got to the restaurant, simply driving up to the delivery door, Mark asked him a single question.
"What's a revered one?"
Timon stopped slowly, Karina coasting her craft in behind him, leaving just enough room for the back hatch to open.
"Oh... An Ancient? Like the stories you learned as a child. They're real. The one for Austra is Brown. Denno Brown. Three thousand years old. Nice man, you'll like him." He smiled and looked at the man who seemed to think it was a joke for some reason. "Don't bother being incredulous. A big part of your job will involve running messages for them and working for Count Lairdgren. He's the Green man. You know, the one that discovered magic? Each land has one and there are a few others that don't have a land at all. Technically that's the Wizard Tor, Orange, my Uncle Dan Green, my mother, sister and I, as well as some of the Blue family from the Antarctic. There might be others too. Don't worry about it, most of them are just people and aren't too strange or anything."
The man looked away for a few seconds and then just got out, looking around. Everyone else did too, and Timon went to pound on the back door, since no one had come out. They moved silently, so that was hardly a big shock. When the woman in light blue saw them her face lit up and she called out with decent happiness.
"They came! Mr. Baker and... people!"
That got Carlos and Quavel to come out themselves, as well as ten other people, including Ken, who stared at the large and colorful group of players for a bit before speaking.
"Hey Tim," he said in his strange flat accent. "Brought the entertainment too?"
"Yes. They're not very good, but when you insist people work for room and board, what can you expect? Say, would it be alright to talk to you alone? Carlos, Ken and..." He stopped, not knowing w
hat Quavel was actually called at home. It probably wasn't that, but the man smiled a bit sourly and nodded, helping him out.
"Robert." He glanced at the extra tall people and seemed to understand something, even if he didn't get exactly what was going on. That the man was smart wasn't in question though, was it?
He got them alone, with the players, and Mark, since he decided to trust the man and after a few shocked looks and a thorough questioning with a Truth amulet, the former spies were shown to not be hostile toward the royal family of Noram at all. Loyal to Austra, but that was a good thing as far as Tim could tell. Who'd trust traitors anyway? On a whim he tested Mark too, who passed easily, but looked a little shocked by the whole thing.
Wisely though, thankfully, he kept his mouth shut and acted as if it were totally normal.
"Good." Tim gestured to the tall people and mimicked tapping his own chest, signaling people to turn their disguises off. Alphonse did it first, standing in the office space they were using, the door closed for privacy. Karina followed a few seconds later and the three Royal Guard after that, their faces less animated than the Prince's was.
"Hello. Quavel, Kenner, how are you doing?"
It was out of place, but that started a round of bowing, the restaurant men going properly low for their old jobs in Noram.
No one spoke for a few moments, so Timon waved at them and then simply explained it all.
"Plot to take over the throne, so these two need a place to hide out of the way. It should be safe enough in a few days, but if we could put them up here for a bit? I'll pay you for it, of course." That was the Austran way after all. It also got the older man, Robert, to frown a little.
"We can't. They're part of the royal family of Noram, our friends now, but having them here secretly..." The others nodded and Timon did too after a few seconds.