by P. S. Power
Tiera went wide eyed, once she figured out what it did.
"These are shields? Ones made by my little sister..."
That got a happy nod and a smile.
"Yes, I got them from Tor. He's been acting as her mentor, I think. They're enough to stop a fist or even a club, and on wood, but she's willing to sell for silvers a copy, which means that almost everyone that sees them buys one. Even if they only last a few months, it's a good investment for the lower nobles, the ones that can't afford the higher end things."
"Funny, but she neglected to mention that the other day. Well, as I come begging, I can't ask for more, so, what will you offer me as far as Truth amulets?" The answer was the same as before, but the woman had fifty of them, and Tiera thought she could get by on twenty, if people worked in shifts. They were too useful not to have, but this wasn't for her, and the County wasn't in the straights she'd thought before. She'd hurt them, but she'd figured they were crippled. Instead she'd been more of an annoyance than anything to the Count.
That had been the problem all along. If he could have even made believe that she was a favored pet of someone else, and even pretend to apologize in the first place, then this wouldn't have happened at all.
Five minutes later she had a nice basket with all twenty of the pink sigiled pieces in it, and on impulse gave the woman a hug. It wasn't a proper thing, not knowing her well, but she whispered to her anyway.
"You should come visit? After we settle this bit of a mess, I mean."
That got a sad smile from her, and a bow, but no words. Why that was she didn't know. It probably had to do with...
Nothing came to mind. Maybe she just thought that it was too out of her current station, or couldn't afford the time off? Those were normal enough things after all.
Marvin led the way back, walking freely in his city without a guard, or even an idea that there would be a need for one. That or a spine made of steel that forced him to insist on that kind of thing, even if it wasn't the world's greatest idea during a war. After all, the Count next door and his whole family had been murdered, hadn't they? Most of them in their own capital city.
They moved back to the party, and no one asked her to dance, which was good, since this wasn't her region at all. Some of them just looked like bouncing to her, but she'd be willing to bet there was a pattern to it all. It was tempting to count the number of steps on each foot and try to find the rhythm, but she was distracted, by a large hand on her shoulder. There was a rustling from the guards, but it was just Kedrin, and even if he was trying to take over the Kingdom, she didn't think he'd try to hurt her, personally.
"Countess Baker, I was wondering if I could have a brief word with you? Alone?" The implication was that he wanted to have sex. It had been in the lessons Karen had been giving her on the topic. It really wasn't that hard, once someone actually mentioned what you were supposed to do, but until that point it was a riddle, for someone like her. She was actually supposed to be a slut? It hurt her head to think of, but sex was fun and she was protected from accidental birth, so as long as it wasn't bad of her to do it, she'd cope.
"I'd love to. Maria, Marvin, would you excuse us for a brief time? My men can stay here, to keep the party safe." They might not like that, but they didn't complain either, not there.
"Oh? Certainly, please. Kedrin, perhaps the second bedroom?" That could have been code, or it might have been the room itself, but it was actually something different all together, not having a bed or chairs and being so tiny that the large man could have touched either wall easily. He tapped one of them, which made no more than a dull thud.
"Layers of silk, a foot deep, with leather on either side. No one can hear us in here. I-" She wasn't getting on her knees, not unless she wanted to lick his, but she started working on the front of his pants, hoping that he hadn't been about to ask her to a party of his own. It was hard to tell, because he stopped talking about then. She was right about him however, which would probably be the same with Marvin then. They were too big down there for her. She didn't think she was just being a squeamish school girl about it either. He was vast, and not even fully up to the task yet. She worked her hands and kept doing it until he made a mess on the wall of the closed space, which was starting to get a little stuffy, then, since it had been her doing it all, she refastened his clothing.
"Ah! Excellent. I'd been told not to expect anything like this, from Maria. I was wondering if I could borrow some coin? Not now, but in half a year? I know this is strange, but I've been taking a collection for the rebellion, and frankly it's a bit paltry looking right now. If we still have it then, I could use an extra few thousand gold?" He sounded pleasant and not like he was talking about treason openly. Not that this room would be that, would it?
She made a face, and his locked down, not moving.
"I'll have to earn it first. I think it's possible, but so far my new businesses haven't produced much. It's been two whole days and everything..." She smiled and wondered if the man could kneel enough to do anything with her that wouldn't require a healing amulet later. She gave it up, knowing that it wasn't going to work this time.
The fact was, she didn't care if he was going to take over. Not really. It didn't seem likely, but if she had it to give then, why not?
"Do I get it back at some point? Or is it the kind of loan that I'd best assume is a gift?"
He actually sighed and shook his head.
"The last one, most likely, but it's really for show. I wouldn't be shocked if they don't run off and spend it all however. Nobles are like that. Now, what can I do for you?"
They worked something out and while it was a bit acrobatic on her part, she found that she was more capable in certain ways than she'd thought. It did hurt, after a bit, but she managed to get her portion before they had to leave, which was just on time to see a shining craft on the horizon. She patted the giant, aiming for his back and ending up lower than that, but to good enough affect that everyone would just assume that they were doing... about what had happened.
Of course, Tiera was waiting for the scorn, and to be called a wanton, or a slut, but that wouldn't be happening. Not to her. Or if it did, she could handle it.
That being the case she waited with everyone else by the Estate, hoping that Mark Morgan was a good enough pilot for the space he had. He landed very accurately, and his blue and silver craft glowed enough to show what was below him clearly. Then he slowly got out, and opened the large door on the side, which swung up on his design, and exposed four men, two women and a boy.
Ken.
"Welcome to Noram everyone. I'm Tiera Baker, Countess Baker, and will be taking you personally on the rest of our journey. Ken, would you help everyone get settled, while I thank these fine people for their hospitality?" The boy did it after bowing low, first to the Wards, then her, and then, almost as an afterthought, to Kedrin. The rest of the people looked baffled as to what would be correct, but copied the boy anyway, his eyes a little wide.
They had gear that needed to be transferred, so she started to help, going very carefully as one of the women, who had purple and brown hair and a star on her left cheek went wide eyed. Tiera went slowly and used both hands, cuddling the thing gently to her middle like a child. That got a comment.
"Oh, good, you understand. These things are delicate. Thank you, that's exactly correct." She looked like she expected a beating for her praise, which was a bit patronizing, but everyone else followed along with what Tiera did and had the work finished in a few minutes, even moving at a glacial pace.
Then she had to run and pass out hugs to everyone she was leaving behind. Or at least say goodbye. Kedrin was being a little aloof with her, which according to Karen meant that he was probably only looking for a onetime thing, meaning that she shouldn't press him again, unless he asked.
"Don't worry, we don't understand what you have in those bags at all, and being an explosives unit, have to imagine you have some of those with you. No one wants to mak
e a mistake right now. Not after today. We'll be there shortly.
Ken started talking almost immediately.
"This is a Tor made craft, capable of transonic travel, like the last one we were in. It's perfectly safe, and possibly the most efficient mode of travel on the planet at this time. It functionally has no energy cost, which yes, means that it's violating the laws of physics, but don't let it get to you. They do that here, from time to time." He looked young, about ten or so, though his face was a bit bonier, he was no taller than before, when he'd been shipped back to his land for being a spy. "Now, technically, back there, you should have all bowed with me. If it happens again, honestly, if you see anyone at all bow, do it too. No one will fault you for bowing too deep or often. There's a whole etiquette to that, but you'll have to read my forthcoming book if you want all my secrets." He winked suddenly and they chuckled a bit, more nervous than not.
It was fascinating to listen to what the boy thought they needed to know in order to survive in Noram however. He'd been there for years, and done well, so it might just be true, but it sounded so very different when he spoke about it.
"There are three things you really need to understand about this place to get along. People are going to look away from all of you, for about half a dozen reasons. Mainly it's the hair and piercings. Don't think that means they aren't watching you, everything will be seen here, by someone. They also don't have technology, but will think that everything you do is magic instead. That's real here. Just accept it and your day will be easier. On the good side, if you see a new magic, it's all right to look. Do not touch though. No adult here touches a thing they don't understand. That means that your gear is nearly perfectly safe as well, by the way.
"A point that will make this four things, I guess.
"The second one is that people barter and haggle for everything here. There are no listed prices for anything, but you'd have to pay in coin, which you don't have. Don't worry about it. Countess Baker will make certain we have food. That's common here. They invited us, so they'll take care of us to the best of their ability. With the poor they might even not eat, for days, so that a guest can. If someone offers you something that you think of as pricy, a piece of fruit, or some handmade bread, or fresh flowers, take them. Bow and thank them, no matter who they are.
"Last, if a noble asks you to have sex, given everything right now, do it. I don't know if they understand marriage vows in the same way we do, and we can't afford a war. Tiera, would you make sure that doesn't happen? We shouldn't be here more than a day. Two or three tops. You understand, with the last bit being us living in your palace and eating all your fresh food?"
That got a laugh from the back, but she nodded.
"I'll spread the word about the first thing. As to the last bit, you're all welcome any time, for as long as you want. Well, stay too long, a year or so, and I'll put you to work, but otherwise..." That one got a laugh too.
Even from Ken, who kept chuckling, if a bit darkly.
"That. Right there. To us that seems insane, going to a stranger's home and simply staying with them. We'd call in the police if someone came to our door and asked for such a favor, possibly even if they were a cousin or aunt. Here they will often do it. It tends to stay in class, so merchant to merchant, noble to noble. No one here would be mistaken for a commoner. They're all very short, and often have dark eyes and hair."
"Ken, a few things?" She called him up, and said it so softly that he nearly lost it again, stifling a laugh, even if the whole thing was deadly serious on the ground.
"Corrections then. Notice that she didn't do it in front of you? That was to protect my dignity. Copy that when you can here. First, this is a craft Built by Timon Baker, not Tor. That might be important later, so memorize it for the test. Second... She wasn't offering to let you come later, though that too, but saying you can all stay now, if you wish. For that year she mentioned. Last, both she and I might pass as commoners."
They didn't ask about that, but she felt attention go to her, hitting the back of her head.
One of them called out, which was a bit out of place, but she simply wrote it off as curiosity. Austrans seemed to be that above all else, most of the time. Every time she'd been there, they'd looked at her, examining the new person closely and without shame. Ken had covered that though.
"Say, if you can just go and knock on some door and expect to be fed and all that, why does anyone work?" There was a sound from behind her, but she just answered, even if it had to be clear to them, didn't it?
"Well, the shame of the thing isn't in accepting the request for aid, that's duty and custom. The hard part is humbling yourself, begging for scraps, and for someone else to care for you like you were a child. In my home village we had something like that happen a few winters ago. Six, I think. A man let himself and his family starve rather than ask anyone for help. He'd gotten ill, and his wife isn't a strong woman, so couldn't do all his and her own work each day, though she tried. As soon as it was figured out, people did what they could, but those kids had gotten pretty skinny before that." For some reason no one spoke for a long time.
When Ken did, it was a little jarring.
"So when in doubt, bow a lot, and do what you can to be helpful. This is a Kingdom, and there are evil people here as well as good. Some are... So bad that the Revered One would send the Larval after them, if they couldn't be stopped by the law. I saw The Tor kill a full baron, beating him to death with his bare hands, because he was molesting his own son. He only did it in his Barony however, so his word would be law there, unless his Count or the King wants an actual war about something. That kind of thing is rare, and I think mainly found in the noble and merchant classes. The commoners are better that way, valuing family more. I don't know why."
Tiera had that one then.
"About two thousand years ago King Cordes the First, and the Green man tried to make Noram better by changing people genetically. It took a long time I think, hundreds of years, but they messed up, I guess. They ended up making a group of submissive slaves, the commoners, and powerful and entitled overlords that view them as less than chattel. Not all the Nobles are that bad about it, but if you're too small they'll instantly assume they're better than you are, and can't honestly help it. It's been a problem for so long it's normal now. You should all be fine, being merchant class. That basically means unaltered, more or less." The strange marking might help too, since that would make them stand out. Maybe not, it would be interesting to see. "There it is. Bakersville. That still smoking crater is our destination. I don't know what you need to do, but I'll stand by to aid you. Ken, would you lead on the ground? It's your position here."
"Oh, I forgot that, here in Noram, if someone is put in charge, you follow their orders. No matter what. You can be put to death for disobeying, and in this case it won't be me making the decision." He was being serious, though it wasn't really true. He just didn't want them running off, she realized.
"No, here, that's my job. So, in the name of peace between our lands, please listen to the small looking boy who's more than he seems."
For all they didn't understand the customs, these men and women knew their job and moved so fast once on the ground that the watchers, who were all exhausted already, standing guard over a smoking hole for hours, seemed impressed by them. Tiera was too a bit, but waited for the first problem, which wasn't one really. They asked for some clean water and a woman ran from her nearby house with a bucket and a dipper for them. Oddly, one of the machines was filled with it for some reason, even though they drank too.
Kolb and Karen came over, to watch, but didn't ask questions, which had to make them feel like they were being stared at, but for all the world the new people didn't even notice it. Ken raised a hand, walked over and bowed from five feet away, which, since some of the others saw it, they tried to as well. They were spread out, so not knowing what was going on the ring of commoners and merchants did the same, trying to make sure they didn't give
offense. It was very funny, but she didn't let herself even smile about it. The strangers were trying their best and that was worth a lot with her.
She just did her own bowing, remember not to go very low at all.
"They're taking samples right now, of the soil and air. Then they'll run them through sensors which will give them the findings. I think it's safe to assume if nothing is the answer then it was magical. It wasn't, you can smell the chemicals in the air. I can't identify them, but that won't be too important, the machines should. My best guess is that this wasn't a person attacking anyone, but who killed themselves when they made a mistake. Unless someone really important lived here? We should find that out too, if you don't... Sorry. Shutting the trap now." He made a motion over his lips, but Tiera didn't know that one.
Kolb pointed to the basket.
"Truth amulets?"
"Yes, I forgot, of all the stupid... Kolb, would you set that up. I need them back, so get receipts, these are County property. Most will go to the guard to clear people of crimes." Or find them guilty, but that sounded less optimistic than not. She needed to act strong, even when she didn't feel it, in public. It was harder than it sounded.
The work started in the dark, since it was winter, and kept going after her guards got the High Councilor to send some magical lights. They worked well enough, though a few of the men complained that it washed out their readings, which probably slowed things down, but not as much as working blind would have. They knew their tasks well, but for some reason one of them, the older man that would have lead the group normally, kept assuring her they were going as fast as they could. She didn't understand what he meant by that, since they'd flat out told her it would be two days, and a vacation stay.