“Instructor Kolb, anyone know where to find him?” It took a few minutes, but a runner was sent and when Tor looked back, Sam was out of his student Browns and into a nice set of velvet and silk black clothes, ones that looked like with Tor had worn the other day, but with a single purple stripe down the leg. Guide and Sandra both ran up, dressed in identical outfits. A uniform then? Well, that worked for him. Lyn and Weasel came out a few minutes later too, looked around and both changed to match. It suddenly looked very official, didn’t it? The clothing devices were just dead handy that way.
Tor just sat for a second, a little blankly, then he smiled at them and gestured Sandra closer, since they'd all just been standing themselves. Looking guilty. Probably for promoting themselves to his assistants without asking.
Ah well. Worked for him.
“Builder Morris, please set up a protection detail for Miss Smalls here. There is a real chance of problems, Instructor Kolb and some of his students will be coming soon, but until then, we do it.”
“Yes sir!” She didn't salute, just turning and waving people into place. They had force lances in their hands within seconds.
Heh, except Guide, who was holding an explosive weapon. A strong one. It was close to what Tor had built, but wasn't a copy. Not exactly. It was a novel build. Well then. He had a right to carry it, by law if that was the case, didn’t he?
“If we come under attack, try to take them alive. If overwhelming force is presented, Guide will cover the retreat along with me.” It was ridiculous of course, but good enough practice. He had explosive weapons on him too and got his multi-weapon out. Anyone looking for a spot of revenge would have a fight on their hands.
One they probably wouldn’t survive.
As it was they looked intimidating enough that Kolb, Baron Haver and Petra Ward all walked over slowly, Rolph behind them, since they didn't recognize any of the short uniformed people with weapons out. The all held their hands away from their bodies.
Tor waved them in, it probably looked high handed, but he was still sitting in the carriage and didn't intend to stand until he had to. He explained it all quickly enough and waved a little towards Marvin.
“So the Wards are hosting her in Warden, her family too, once we clear them. I'd like a real protective detail to go with her, we can buy her a house, or send her with one.” He turned to the Count to explain. “I'm not trying to send spies in. If I want to know something I'll just use the communications device and ask. But these people won't let anything bad happen. Is that alright with you?” It might not be, Tor knew. But sending Baron Haver as a spy was… funny. Yep, that's what it would be. The idea of him hiding in the bushes trying to listen to secrets…
Not that he couldn't do it if need arose, but he didn't look the part at all.
“That would be fine. We don't have much crime there, so the security forces are a little light. I don't think that Miss Smalls will have any trouble, as I mentioned. I'll introduce her to Martya, so she can quickly establish her new business.” He sounded kind enough about it.
Debbie was still crying softly, but she spoke then. Tor expected her to complain about him sending her away, which he understood. It was high handed and bossy of him. He hadn't even asked, but he also didn't think she could make a good decision at the moment on the matter.
And shouldn't have to. If not that, then she'd probably take him to task for talking like she wasn't there. He hated that himself so got ready to take whatever she had to say.
“Who's Martya?”
Except that, he froze for a second, how did he explain that she was an ex-whore from Warden? Petra solved that for him.
She was so great.
“She runs the ice manufactory there and is branching out with Collette Coltress across the kingdom with them. It's a good business. I'm investing what funds I have in it.” She shrugged. “Martya's really nice, you'll like her. Maybe I can take you around? She was my best friend when we were little.”
Tor shook his head, but with a smile.
“Um, no? I have a request of you Pet. It's kind of important, and it means you'll be busy for a few weeks, possibly longer. All the Austran spies that turned themselves in need to get home and I was kind of hoping you'd lend your ship and captaincy skills? They shouldn't be a problem, they just need a ride. It's a matter of honor that they arrive both safe and treated well. The King agreed to those terms and I'm in charge of overseeing that part of things.” He tried to make it clear but she was already agreeing.
“Sure. I love sailing. When do we leave and who's going with?” She sounded pretty happy about it, enough so that Kolb gave her a look.
Petra got it, the day was truly a dark one, wasn’t it? She made a bit of a face, but addressed the man directly.
“Oh, come on, how often do I get to play ship’s Captain like this?”
Tor agreed himself. That's why he'd asked, plus she had that huge boat. Two big boats actually. It would mean he didn’t have to have a new one made. He could read fields now, if he was careful, but that didn’t mean real building was an option for him. It wouldn’t be for a bit. This was easier. Besides, it would mean he could have his friend with him.
“I'm going with you, but will probably be leaving from Austra. I don't know who else will be with us, other than the spies… Lyn?” He looked out the door at her and she nodded back, not turning around to look. She was still on guard duty after all.
“Weasel too then most likely. Maybe my mother and little sister, Uncle Dan and maybe Denno Brown and Count Lairdgren.”
Sam snorted a little but it was Sandra that spoke, looking at him only briefly, then back to the security zone she was supposed to be covering.
“I get why your family might be going, if you are, but why Lyn, she's one of us.” Her voice was certain of that at least.
So it was. Tor shrugged.
“That's true. She's also the Ancient of Vagus. Red. We have a meeting to get to there in a week or so. That said, good point, if Petra will have a bunch of ner'do-well builders on her crew, you should all sign up. You might actually be useful, when you aren't washing dishes and all that. This is serious work though, not a game. So the dishes need to get really clean each time.”
None of them said anything after that at least, since good guards didn't chatter too much. It was distracting and made it too likely you'd be attacked. They moved inside a little awkwardly, the kids all pretending to be Royal Guards, checking the doorway first and Guide holding the rear, as they all got in. Kolb watched them closely as they “worked”. When they got to the quiet room, which was pretty secure, he stopped them at the door, and ripped into them like he would if his own people had screwed up that much.
“I counted sixteen separate points of attack left unguarded. We will now go over all of them. Haver, the door please?” He kept speaking, not sharply, but with decent volume as it got shut. Lyn was in the room with them, which got a funny look from Ward.
“So, another Ancient? Collecting a set, Tor?”
“Looks like.”
“Ah.” The giant winked. “I would have suggested something more portable, given your penchant for travel. Still, most of them aren't overly big…” It was a joke, but Lyn turned on him and crossed her arms suddenly.
“Oh?” Then without moving her body at all, she started to stretch, and grow. It kept going on for nearly a minute, with her ending up an incredibly thin, rather horrible looking creature, almost like a pale walking skeleton. Her fingers ended in black talons, and veins stuck out of her face, blue and sharp looking.
Tor just nodded, not acting surprised at all. He yawned, which was a real thing, as tired as he was. “Yeah, she'll fit in the luggage better the other way.”
Count Ward just chuckled, sounding almost sincere about it. Instead of horribly panicked. Then no one had said he was a coward, just that he was too pretty, and slept with a lot of women. Maria looked a little scared suddenly. So Tor waved at Lyn and spoke softly.
“It's still just her Maria, don't worry, she's nice, no matter what she looks like. It's… her way.” At least he hoped so. If he was wrong this could get messy.
Lyn spoke softly, if a deep, gasping growl got to count that way. Her voice was low now too, more so than
