reason, but bravely strode to the front of the group, standing right behind Ali and Tor.
Ready for their beating or whatever they expected. Tor didn't care about that though. It had just been an argument after all. People did that.
There was a small waiting area, brown wood that looked a little gray with age and neglect, with a high counter of the same material in front of them. Behind it sat a sour looking man, Proctor Campbell, who stared at everyone in the group closely, as if memorizing their faces for arrest later. When he got to Tor he snorted.
“Trouble already?” Was all he said, his voice actually sounding like the man was sucking lemons before they'd come in. Did he keep one in his pocket at all times, Tor wondered? It must take something special to keep that expression so dour like that.
“Yes, but I'd like to speak to the Dean if he's in sir, if that's all right sir. I know he's probably hugely busy right now, but I promise to only take a moment of his time.”
The man harrumphed loudly and gave him a doubtful look, but didn't lecture him about how improper it was of him to come in demanding to be seen like some minor lord of the keep asking to see the head groomsman in the stables. A half minute later Campbell came back and said that they could enter.
“Thank you sir.” Tor looked at the group for a few seconds. Who did they really need?
“Um, Rolph, Ali, Ridley and… Henry I think, would you all come in with me?” It was a request and only Henry looked worried about it. Ali did feel worried, but Tor could only tell because he was getting to know her signs about such things. Her face had stayed perfectly relaxed and gone almost blank. With her, blank meant scared. Nothing in her life had trained her to do otherwise, not her abusive monster of a father or living on the streets for years.
They moved in quickly, Tor hurrying a little because the Dean really would be busy this time of year. It was the beginning of term after all.
“Mr. Baker? Is there a problem or is this about what we talked of earlier?” The tone was a little cool, clearly thinking that it might be another attempt to get his housing situation around.
Tor shook his head.
“No sir, I understand the importance of rules and tradition, it isn't that… Um, this is a little awkward, but I guess that a lot of kids aren't going to be coming well funded this year and, I don't want to embarrass anyone, but people should have food and school supplies…”
Sighing Hardgrove nodded, “Indeed. Unfortunately the school doesn't have a lot of extra resources right now. About half the students are new and on scholarship from either the King or Countess Printer. Amazing good luck for us, since she's starting her own school as well. Knows the value of education and threw some youngsters our way as well, but there's only so much we can do. Most of our people have already agreed to work for half wages as it is, just so we can stay afloat. I've personally set all my own coin towards that end and won't be drawing anything at all until things settle.” His hands went wide and the face under the gray beard grimaced. His bald head shone a little on top too.
This next part was what Tor dreaded most. How did he arrange things so that it wouldn't look like he was playing the big man and throwing golds around to impress people? Taking a deep breath he jumped in with his idea.
“Um, that's very noble of you sir. I… don't want to be…” Suddenly stuck for words? Grimacing himself he stammered on.
“Well, what I'm saying is that I'm footing the bill this year. I mean Lairdgren is. Um, the County Lairdgren Special Fund. It’s what we used to pay for the last King’s day celebration, in part. I have… some control over that.” Was that real enough? He was in line to be Count Lairdgren after all. The real point there was that Burks would back him on it. Tor hoped so at least. He might get a beating for overstepping himself though. “Um, School supplies and clothing, I'll provide devices to everyone for that, and right now I want to get permission to set this all up and kind of, um, keep it secret? Would that be all right? The funds aren’t the problem, but the Count can be a bit of a stickler when it comes to people doing things for themselves. I just disagree about that when it comes to students. We may have a fight about this later.
“ I was thinking that since Henry here seems to know economics, he could run the ledgers and handle payments for the supplies at the student store and Ridley could over see the rest and make sure everyone has what they need? He's personable and going to be a Baron some day, so it's good experience.”
They both looked flabbergasted, but the Dean smiled and gave a nod. It wasn't cold at all, but he did raise an eyebrow towards Tor and didn't actually smile.
“The Count mentioned the County Lairdgren special fund to me before as a matter of fact.” A small hint of a wry grin showing from under the thick beard.
“I seem to recall that being his pet name for your personal funds being held at the treasury.” The man didn’t seem to expect an answer at least, probably getting that Tor was trying not to make a big issue of the matter.
If he wasn't happy about it, Hardgrove didn't tell him to go away either, or seem upset overly. It made Tor feel very small, knowing that this very good man probably felt like he was belittling him. It wasn't his intent, but what could he do about it now?
Chapter Two
Rolph gave him funny looks the next day as they sat in the student’s dining room eating bowls of oatmeal, dried fruit bits stirred in, and drank small cups of fruit juice. Hardgrove had let them use the facilities so that everyone would have something to eat before lunch, and came to eat with them himself. Tor and Rolph had actually made the food, humble as the offering was, and Ali helped out by serving it along with her roommate Sheri. It was a team effort all around and if no one mentioned it, they didn't complain about the quality of the food either. Since they were mainly nobles, that spoke about just how many of them had gone without the day before.
Most of the highborn loved to complain.
When Hardgrove asked, his voice quiet, what should be said about who was paying for everything, to throw Burks off, Tor actually had an answer ready. It had come to him in the middle of the night as he dozed and fretted over that very thing. Not that he could really hide it from Count Lairdgren, since it was being done in his name, but he could distance himself a bit and get some cover maybe, using someone else as a shield.
“Right. Well… Um… it's a special project of the Queen and the Princesses isn't it? Gathered up their allowances and some other coins from friends, and are spending them here on us, so that we can repay the kingdom later with knowledge and good works. Plus… it isn't free really. Everyone is expected to work on breaks or during emergencies if they have to. Not that people wouldn't anyway, but it will let people feel that what they're getting has value and that they aren't being humbled by it. I hope so at least. We really will put them to use if need be, right?”
That got an actual smile from the man.
“Very good. I must thank they're majesty's then. You may want to get with them first though. So they know of their good works and don't get taken by surprise. We wouldn't want the Count to feel confused as to who's doing what, would we?”
Tor just smiled back and nodded himself, happily. It didn't shock him at all that Hardgrove had figured out his plan so easily. The man was basically the kingdoms “trainer of spies” or something like that. He could probably have a fairly accurate accounting done of how many pair of socks Tor owned.
The answer was zero, though he wore a good facsimile at the moment. Brown to match the heavy canvas clothing he affected.
The rest of the day for Tor was spent working, at least after he gave five thousand gold to Ridley and Henry for their part of things, which had required a run up from the Capital to deliver it. Collette, his friend, got his little sister Tiera to deliver it. It was nice to see her, even if she was a little pushy at times.
Rolph said it might be too much, but Tor didn't think they'd steal it from the other students. Besides, if you didn't trust people they couldn't prove worthy of it, could they?
It wasn't fair really, but Tor dumped a lot of the work on his friends, sticking to copy work for a few days as the term started, at least in the evenings. It wasn't good, he knew, not enough, but he did make an effort to spend time with Ali each day, making love when they could, of course, but also just talking about how things were going for her. She seemed happy enough so far, but Tor worried, because she would have said she was happy even if she
