Varley wanted to go, but knew she didn't have a real reason to at all.
The only one that didn't say anything, other than the prisoners, was Dorgal. He just sat back and waited. Finally Tor looked at him and asked if he had any thoughts on the matter.
“Are you coming back? If you think it's not likely, then we should all go. If you're just going for a day or two, well then take the smallest group possible to get the job done.”
It was sound thinking. Tor thought out load, talking it through.
“Well… we're all here hiding so that Burks and the Ancients couldn't find us, and we can see how well that worked. I think we should all go and…” Tor looked at the guards who all looked angry for a second.
“The people without the prisoners should go somewhere else. Maybe where they can hide without using a magical building? My bet is that the Ancients used something to see the new building showing up instantly somehow. When we escaped from Austra, we couldn’t have too large a craft, because it might be noticed. This place is pretty big. I don’t know how they do it, but that would be my guess.”
Burks wasn't talking, and Black clearly didn't know exactly, the only thing he knew was that the information had come out of Austra. That tidbit of information set Tor on edge. He didn't mention it out loud, having picked it up by sensing the man’s field. Burks was fighting to hide his thoughts, and doing a good job of it too. He did react to the idea of them tracking the new building, that was clear.
Tor shrugged.
“Fine, so after we split up, pick one of the guards at random to pick three destinations and then pick someone else to choose one of those. Then contact the palace from a remote location. I can't say more in case one of these two gets away again. They probably will eventually if we don't kill them. Or, you know, if they aren't just let go.” It was just the truth, but everyone in the room stiffened when Tor mentioned it.
The Ancients made sense, what with the implied death threat there. OK, Tor knew that it wasn't real, his friends probably got it and really, that Burks wasn't rolling his eyes was just a sign of politeness most likely. The man knew Tor well enough to get that. Black looked to be preparing to fight again and all the Royal Guards… That was something that he didn't get at all. Why would they react to it?
One of the younger men humphed.
“Like they'd escape from us.” He muttered softly. Wensa shook her head at the younger man and after a second so did George. It was the older man that spoke then.
“They're thousands of years old. You don't get that old by being inept. Don't underestimate them at all. These are probably two of the most dangerous people on the planet right now. If they even look like they're escaping, kill them. Don't wait for them to succeed.”
Tor walked over and placed a hand on Black’s shoulder gently.
“Still, for all that, don't really worry. Just be nice and polite and you'll probably be sleeping in a warm bed tonight after a good meal with freedom of the kingdom. Burks may be in trouble, but the King likes him, you personally should be fine though, so don't bother turning this into some major thing, you know?”
The man nodded a bit stiffly, “I guess I should mention that I have an inborn trait that forces me to fight if I perceive a threat? No real control over it. It’s why I came at you last night like I did.”
Burks took a deep breath and slowly let it out, as if relaxing on purpose, readying himself for something, it took a second but all the Royal Guards started bristling then, starting to pull their weapons. Ah, OK. Tor got it, if a little slowly. As far as they were concerned Black had just challenged them, claiming that if attacked he'd fight, set something off with them in their training or natures. Burks knew it would happen, because he was the one that had come up with the training protocols. Something had to be done before the whole thing went sideways and upside down on them then.
Tor laughed.
“Ah, well, that's no worry then!” He said calmly, once everyone was paying attention to him.
“No one here will attack you unless attacked and the Royal Guard are many things, but they don't mistreat prisoners or guests.” Not unless told to at least. They were all versed in torture too, just in case it came up. At least Tor assumed so from some of the things he'd been threatened with himself over the last few years. They hadn't tried it yet though, so at least there was that.
It took a minute and a few more comments to get everyone to back down a bit, but they were able to set things up in one of the upstairs bedrooms, just clearing the space out and rearranging things, moving the walls and setting up a fast carriage inside, then Varley stood by to make the outside wall vanish as soon as everything was set, Tor moved out carefully, amazed at how easily the whole thing shifted sideways, since it couldn't move in any other direction.
The transport was a cloud gray today, to match the sky, matte colored so it wouldn't reflect easily in case the Austrans were watching from above somehow. The inside had rows of seats, six of them, but only ten people were there in all. Tor drove, and had set it up so that Ali could sit next to him. In the very back, away from the Ancients were Rolph and Karina, both armed and shielded. Warren and Burks tied up still, sat in the middle of a circle of guards, all facing inward. It was tight because of the strange seating arrangement, but no one complained. After all, if something happened at all on the trip, at the speeds they were going, odds were everyone would just die.
The whole thing had to go towards the south west, Tor guessed, to reach the Capital. Wensa just nodded when he asked and pointed which way to go with an exacting gaze and a sharp nod. Everyone managed to behave themselves the whole way and the only ones that talked were Karina and Ali.
Ali sighed and looked back at everyone.
“So, vacations over then? Well, I guess it had to end sometime. What are we doing next? Back to school? Or…” She looked back and finally turned around to stare at Lairdgren. “Or not. I guess holding the owner of the school hostage and demanding he help us capture and kill what amounts to the Princess of Austra won't help our grades, will it?”
The tone was sweet, gentle and soft, but Tor could feel the intent coming off of his wife, young as she was, she meant the words, it wasn't playful banter at all. Karina snorted.
“I don't think you have to worry about grades now. We have more important things to do. First we need to make plan though. Everyone will excuse us if we don't discuss the particulars in public? I don't want anyone to feel obligated to stop us.”
Now Burks did roll his eyes, but didn't speak, Tor could feel it, because the man was trying to pass him a message using his field. The meaning was clear enough, it just asked for him to remain calm and help them, that there was a plan. Tor shrugged openly and sent back a single thought that was stronger than what Burks had put out by far.
Why should I trust you?
If there was a bit of anger mixed in, well, Tor still felt more than a little betrayed, didn't he? Sure, eventually he'd let it go, but who lied to a person that was essentially themselves? Not that Tor didn't understand… But, well, he didn't, did he? His nature pushed for him to forgive and forget, but the Count had betrayed the crown and worse, annoyed his grandson.
They took their time getting into the palace complex, moving so slowly over the city that even the Royal Guard was happy with it. When they got on the ground they didn't all boil out like angry hornets, choosing to move slowly and carefully first, letting George and Wensa get out and summon support, then build a wall of death outside the hatch, letting the royal kids and Ali off first, then half the guards, with Tor coming out last, weapon at the ready.
Sure, it wasn't needed, but it made for a good show, didn't it? Neither of the Ancients was going to take him as a real threat, they probably couldn't. Tor nodded softly at the realization; after all, he wasn't one. Not to the likes of either of them. So he'd have to cheat, and bring weapons they couldn't beat yet and try to stay ready. It wouldn't be enough if the men moved on them for real, Tor guessed, but all they could do was try.
So far, out of all the palace visits, this one was, surprisingly, both the most tense and the easiest for Tor. For once no one seemed to blame him for anything and the reports mainly came from George. He summed the whole thing up pretty quickly and then fell silent, the King not having any questions yet. Instead Richard raised his eyebrows and stared at Burks a little.
“Well?” The monarch asked pointedly. Nothing else, just that one word.
Burks sighed and shook his head gently.
“It's just a misunderstanding. Yes, I took Denno, but that was needed. Once Tor decided to act and inform
