that. He tells me things when I mess up, but I only get about half of it. Lots of hand waving and hitting then, trying to make it all clear. Kind of frustrating.” Her large shoulders shrugged as if to ask what she could do about it.
Tor waited for her to finish eating then asked her to come with him. When the girl stood she was nearly six foot six already and only fifteen she'd mentioned earlier as they ate. The royal girls troubling her were a lot smaller and probably always would be. Really, if they had half a brain they would have thought about that. A giant girl with a sword could be a problem for them. Yes, a common girl like her might be killed for doing it, but if they were dead or crippled, it wouldn't be fun for them either. Noble didn't mean invulnerable. Sometimes scary and tough, but Tor would have bet on Judith over the bullies if it came down to it.
Kolb looked at her and then Tor, when they walked over.
“Problem?” He asked succinctly, face calm, which on the lean and hard man looked a bit scary.
“Not really, I was just wondering if Judith could have her weapons practice with me for a week or two, while she gets up to speed language wise. She mentioned that she's not been understanding about half of what was said here, so…”
“Alright. I'll make it happen. She'd yours for the week, and longer, when you get back. Run and stones first, if she can keep up with you. If she can't you don't get to slack off, remember that.”
So, Tor got to spend the rest of the week helping Judith adapt to school. The language was the same, just with a heavy accent, so it wasn't too hard to learn to correct. She was smart enough and diligent, which was what got her the scholarship Tor figured. Holly or one of her people had seen that in her and they weren't wrong. Bit of a rough adjustment, but all the girl needed now was a bit of help and some good friends and she'd be fine.
To his surprise she seemed to be taking care of the friend’s situation pretty well as soon as the language situation had been sorted out a bit. On the day before he left, he walked into his room to find Judith and Rolph naked on his large and rather nice bed. For once when he walked in on Rolph doing something, his naked butt wasn't sticking up in the air pumping away. The girl sat on top, frozen in place and staring when he came in. She grabbed for her top in a panic but Tor just waved.
“Hey Judith. Hi Rolph, I need my violin then. Just a second… Be right out of the way.” A year before he would have been vastly embarrassed, but now it was almost normal to him. When had that changed, he wondered.
He didn't stop, just took the instrument in its case and his sheet music. He could just set up in the commons, kids did that sometimes and the weather wasn't bad for it, not too hot or cold, he didn't think, the air was just about right for the instrument humidity wise, if he'd learned enough to tell yet. Of course most the people playing in the open like that were actually decent already, but since he didn't want to embarrass his friends, it was that or skip practice and he wasn't good enough for that yet at all.
The practice stand was a thin metal piece that telescoped out and had clips for the paper, not that he needed the sheet music for this one, having practiced it several times already. Still, Instructor Binchly, the lady that taught the beginning music class insisted they all learn to sight read, and said that practice was the best way to gain the skill. She wasn't wrong there, at least as far as experience had taught him. Doing things right always helped.
Mainly.
Tor felt very aware of people watching him, so he focused as hard as he could on his hand and wrist position, his breathing and carriage, then worked to play as smoothly as he could.
It wasn't a simple piece, Binchly had given it to him to test his resolve she'd told him, one day after class. That comment didn't get explained, but Tor understood that she meant for him to practice it daily. Finally, on the third time through he lost himself in the music, the notes felt almost like they were a part of him, he wasn't using the paper anymore, so he could play through the whole thing in one go without the rustling of paper six times in order to keep up with the lines. He noticed the scratches and uneven parts as if they practically glowed in the air, but when he stopped playing a gentle applause came. It was just one boy, standing and watching carefully.
It was him.
Or rather Burks Lairdgren in his natural form, which being essentially the same person meant that he was him. Closer than twins he'd said. After a second his clothing changed to match the canvas browns Tor wore.
“Very good. I won't point out the errors. I know you got them. Still, they'll smooth out rapidly enough. Thought I'd come get you myself. Are you ready?”
Tor tilted his head.
“I was planning on leaving tomorrow. After lunch. I suppose I can go earlier, but I want my things, since I'll need to keep up with my schooling on the trip and I want to let people know I'll be gone for a while. My wife for instance, I don't know that she'll miss me, but we have a regular meeting each night, so she might notice if I'm not there.”
His grandfather, three thousand years old and looking fourteen gave him a knowing look that Tor couldn't exactly place. The man was incredible looking, even like this, almost pretty, but in a way that didn't make him look that feminine. Of course, Tor realized, he might just be rationalizing that bit, since, after all, to most people they looked identical. Burks was taller, which Tor would be too, eventually. If the crazy Austrans didn't kill him first.
That. Ugh. Tor had been putting off thinking about it really and decided to keep doing so. He was going for a rescue mission, because in a strange and bizarre fashion, Denno Brown, the Ancient of Austra, was his brother. In a weird way his grandpa was too. It hurt his head to ponder, so he didn't. Finally Burks shrugged.
“Al right, I'll be over at your house with Bonita then. She came up to stay with Alissa while we're gone.” Burks look was appraising instead of angry when he started speaking, his voice even sounding a little amused.
“So, you've decided that she and I should marry? It would have been nice for you to have mentioned that to me first you know. Oh well, if we manage this next bit alive I said I'd make an honest woman of her.” He held up his right hand quickly.
“Old term, it means “to marry”. I haven't really been with anyone since Mary. I hear you were helping her out recently. Any problems there? I mean with her, you can tell me the rest later, or not. You know, when you explain how County Lairdgren is aiding the Queen and Princesses in supporting the school here?”
Tor thought about it, then decided to dodge the school issue all together if he could. Mary wasn't a problem at all, she was in fact, sharp. Almost every move she'd made worked and once she set someone a task she didn't bug them about it, just let them do their job. This made Burks grin widely.
“Good. I worry about her. She… has her moments. Both good and bad I'm afraid.”
Tor shrugged and got an identical one back.
“I'll meet you at my house in two hours then.” If the wait bothered the older man, well tough. Tor had obligations too, and his wife and friends came before travel plans.
He decided to meet with Ali first, and found her actually reading a school book instead of entertaining someone when he got there. He understood why she had sex with so many people, sort of at least, she was looking to reassure herself that she was loved, but it was always uncomfortable to come to the to find her and some young man or woman scrambling to dress and pretend they weren't doing anything. Even to Tor it was obvious.
Today she looked normal enough, sitting on her bed, a thick book in her hands which turned out to be a complete cookbook. Tor had heard of such things, but he'd never seen one like it before. He sat next to her and they looked at it together for a while, finally she kissed him and worked her way down his body, loosening his clothes and servicing him gently on her bed. When she was done she looked up sadly.
“It's time for you to go and do that thing, isn't it?” She knew about the plan, was even in on it, and had been the whole time, but whatever had happened in life to make her that way, most of it very bad he was sure, his wife knew how to keep secrets. Even alone she wouldn't mention anything more specific than “that thing”.
“Yes, I leave in a few hours, less now. I just wanted to see you first, and Rolph. He was… entertaining Judith Kerry in our room when I last saw him. Hopefully they're done by now, I need to pack.”
Ali smiled at him broadly, a happy thing.
“Good for her! Rolph's a nice boy and everyone likes him, that should get some of the third year harpies to lay off. They'd have taken after me I think except I have you, so they don't really dare. Plus Petra and Trice have been watching out for me. They don't think I get what they’re doing, but I do. Judith doesn't have anyone though.”
“Except us.” Tor said thoughtfully, getting a nod for it.
“Except us.” Ali gave him a strange, considering look and nodded. “Right. I'll see to that then.”
Judith was still in the room when he got there, but had clothes on and was looking a little embarrassed when he walked in. At least she refused to make eye contact and blushed prettily enough.
“Sorry sir. We thought we had more time.” The accent was still there, but just sounded charming now, she was clear and understandable, for the most part.
