“So, if I feel like I need to fix all this and make it right, barely knowing them… what is he feeling? I mean, really, what would I do if one of my own brothers was trying to take over the world or one of you? I just can't imagine it though. I guess I'd try to make sure you just couldn't and talk you out of it. I don't think I could kill you or anything. So, uh, please don't go crazy and try to destroy us all or anything?”
Karina was still effecting all black, and her black hair was still lanky and flat, which made a passable disguise, but wasn't that good overall. Tor stared for a bit, until she stared back at him grinning.
“Hey! Why look at me? You think at this table I'm the one most likely to go side slip and try to make a massive power grab? Hardly fair at all. I mean, if you want to see who the most likely person to do that here is, I suggest you look at the guy with the super weapons and all that.” Then she made a little humming noise under her breath, a playful little sound meant to distract from her implied insult.
Tor shrugged.
“A point, but I was thinking about disguises, not anything else. I… Well, I have a device for that, but I've never gotten to use it.”
Everyone else reacted, though in different ways. Ali sat up and looked baffled. She was charming and very friendly, to everyone, but her intelligence wasn't the highest ever. She largely made up for it by keeping silent though. It worked for her and she tried hard, which really should be enough. Tor was in charge of the rest, at least until she got up to speed.
Rolph however acted like he already knew that such a device existed. Maybe he did, or suspected it at least. In all the world, he was probably the single person that really knew him best. Karina shook her head at him and… laughed.
“Only you Tor! No one else I know would have brand new and powerful magics sitting around and not take them out to play with them. You know what your problem is? You're spoiled.” A spread of hands, each larger than Tor’s by forty percent at least was used to deflect from the responsibility for his current rotten state.
“I'm spoiled? I…” It was his turn to sound baffled and concerned.
Had he been running around taking liberties and being demanding and not even realized it? Or grown so soft and used to luxury that everyone saw him as weak and useless? Before he could go on to long she continued.
“Yeah. It's the magic. You're so good at it and so much faster than everyone else that you don't even value it. Not really. You make stuff and treat it like it was some costume jewelry a little kid made for mother or as if it was just a hobby. I'm not saying you should be greedy, give it away by all means, I couldn't afford your stuff otherwise, but don't treat it so casually.” Then she took a deep breath and actually looked slightly scared for a second.
“Also… and please don't get mad at me for saying this Tor, but… You, personally, are not responsible for Noram. At this table, almost everyone else is more responsible for that than you are, I could even argue Alissa as being your equal there and not have to stretch much! In the chain of who needs to be working hardest to fix this, you’re like… way down the line. Like two or three hundred people down really… You come into play first as a Knight, and there are thousands of those really.”
Rolph sat straighter and nodded, looking at Tor hard.
“Damn straight. I'll grant you going off to save some distant relative, that was noble and a good example for the rest of us, but this latest stuff? No. Now it's time for you to step back a bit and support us in doing our jobs, which right now is supporting the King and Queen. Maybe even Count Lairdgren if he hasn't gone all evil on us. I doubt he has, but if not, getting in his way will probably just mess things up. Half of this going off is just because dad and mom don't know what's required right now.” He threw a glance to Karina that looked grateful, as if he hadn't wanted to be the one to bring it up.
So, he was a jerk?
He'd been taking on too much and acting above his station? Tor kind of wanted to get mad about it, tell them that what he'd been doing was important, and that of course he was the one responsible for everything, but it wasn't true. Not at all.
Really, what was he in all this? Some school boy that made some things? A friend of a few important people? The tiniest and worst noble ever? None of that really said, “hey, let's put him in charge” did it? It was true then, wasn't it? He was over bearing, pushy and self important.
He buried his head in his hands and put his elbows on the table, the black velvet of the tunic pulling across his shoulders a bit.
“Your right. Gah. I'm a moron. Sorry, I've been overstepping for a long time, acting like I was important when I'm not. Can you all forgive me? I've been insufferable… I-” Tor jumped as a small hand found his back. Ali.
“That's not what they said. No one said you weren't important, they said that you weren't responsible for Noram. The world too. No more than anyone else. You keep doing a lot of good things, stuff that really helps people, but you aren't getting to enjoy your own life at all. I know part of that's my fault. I shouldn't have made you stay married to me. I should have let you go once… he was dead and couldn't hurt me anymore.” Alissa's voice had gone quiet, soft and a little sad at the end so he reached out and took her hand gently.
“Made me stay married? I seem to recall fighting for the privilege rather hard at the time sweet. Don't think for a second I regret that. Besides, this is my life. It's confusing and terrifying and most of the time I feel overwhelmed, but that's just what I get. I'll make do.”
Varley threw her hands up in frustration, her voice a little sharp when she spoke.
“But that's what we’re talking about! This isn't your life! It's Burks Lairdgren's life! It's my father’s life! Tor Baker is just a talented, kind and good looking boy that should be busy having sex with as many women as possible and trying to figure out what he actually wants to be. You keep acting like you're more than that and someone’s going to end up killing you Tor.” She took a breath to continue.
“So, build your magics, help us out, please, but stop taking the weight of the world on your shoulders or it's going to crush you!”
It all sounded like great advise, past the yelling, it had the ring of conviction and truth too. Tor just didn't know if he could actually understand what the meant. Could he even go back to just being normal?
Was that even a thing?
Chapter Nine
Just because his life had been turned upside down, that was no reason for Tor to be gloomy. Especially since that could set Karina off. Still, the King and his advisors decided that the safest way to “hide” them all was to send half the palace Royal Guard and a train of wagons and carriages off to some undisclosed location thousands of miles away. He didn't want to be a pain, but it was about the worst thing that they could have done as far as Tor was concerned.
“Why? I really don't like carriages, I can put up with it, but we could be wherever this is in hours if we flew, instead were all going to be sitting in the back of a bouncing box for months instead. That's not much of a vacation, it's more like a punishment.” Tor tried, and largely failed, not to sound like a petulant, and spoiled, little Prince. To make it worse the real Prince was the one coddling him out of his dark mood.
“If we flew we'd be there fast, true, but we'd miss all the things in between. There are people to meet and new things to get to know! It's an adventure Tor. Besides, we have orders, so, you know, start enjoying it, because it's what we’re doing anyway. Complaining the whole time won't help anything.”
It was a point. A good one really. What would being a jerk gain him? A much less pleasant trip. That was the only thing and no matter how he twisted it, not a benefit at all. Fine, Tor sighed and made himself smile, then nodded and asked what they should do.
“Oh, well it's the first day, so normally people read or tell stories. I suppose you could work if you wanted, but try not to disappear on us into your head for days at a time? We're supposed to be having fun, and really, carrying for “corps Tor” isn't as thrilling as you might think.”
Tor smiled and stuck his tongue out playfully.
“OK. I think I'll go running, want to come?” It was a genuine offer, but Rolph just begged off and gave him a wave.
“No, but take a guard with you, or two. I'll join you later for some fight practice. I know I should run, but it's
