Only without the hangover.
The days dragged on, but at least he had product for the shops that carried his goods, the one in Printer and the other in the Capital. He even made up a large box for Dorgal Sorvee, since they were supposed to be friends now, even though the boy had been a jerk to him while they'd attended school together. Tor still wasn't really sure it wasn't some elaborate trick, but if they were going to be friends, that meant Tor had to look out for him as he could, didn't it?
Being a half hearted friend didn’t make sense at all. That would just waste time and cheat everyone involved out of a chance at really building something worthwhile.
Finally, on the fourth set of off days after Kolb and his people arrived, Tor managed to get to the barber and get his hair cut off. He went short, an elite military cut almost, a fighter’s cut, barely long enough to be brushed or combed, but it left his head feeling light and free when he stood up. The haircut was “free” but the service was one that the school had actually covered in prior years. Henry had arranged for Tor to do it now, which kept the older man in business at least. Tor gave him a gold as a tip and thanked him for freeing him from the prison of hair. The man was happy enough to have helped and pocketed the gold without really realizing it wasn't a copper. It was too much, but Tor also knew that even the rich kids had been tipping less this year, so it would help keep the man and his family afloat.
It was walking out of the small shop that opened directly into the stone commons for the school that they found him. Three of them, large, powerful, and bent on his capture.
“There he is!” One of them called to the others, which made him look around to see who they were talking about before he realized who was there.
A hug came in from up high, exuberant, but not so hard it triggered his shield into action. That was Petra, who didn't let him go, but shifted so that Sara and Trice could take a turn too.
They all looked good, healthy and strong. Sara had restyled her hair a bit, the blond military cut slightly longer now and brushed back from her face. Trice looked interesting, her hair bleached blond on the outside with nearly two inches of dark brown showing at the bottom. It was just her hair growing out, but it was an attractive pattern anyway. They all wore student’s clothing, Sara and Trice in black, Pet in brown, all of their outfits were made to look like high end clothing, silk and leather, but Tor knew it was all just the clothing devices. His still looked like canvas. Felt like it too.
“We've come back to school too, isn't it great? The war suddenly died down for a bit, so the King suggested we all come and learn what we can in the mean time. Plus he said he wanted these two to keep an eye on you.” Petra sounded happy and excited about the prospect and the other two nodded. Of course, friends of his or not, they were sent by the King to keep tabs on him. The black meant they were training to be spies after all. Probably good practice, though really, if the King wanted to know something, it would be quicker to just ask. They both also claimed to have feelings for him, which was generally true, but confusing. He was married now and even though he was allowed to sleep with other people by social convention, he hadn't yet. Not even one of his personal friends.
So, Tor thought, wonderingly, about half his people had managed to come back to the school as well? More if he counted the ones he knew that were in Kolb's group. Petra was one of those, and really, the idea of her coming back to school as a student was more than a little odd. She was a hard core combat giant and hadn't slacked off in the year and a half or so she'd been out of school, in fact she'd spent part of that time teaching him, so he didn't get too rusty or out of shape. When he asked about it she smiled and hugged him again.
“It's obvious, isn't it? If I were an Instructor here I couldn't sleep with you. This way I can. My course load is light and Marvin is paying for it, even giving me a full allowance, which is nice of him. Mom was covering it all from her funds for years. It's practically a vacation for me.” She really seemed happy about it, so Tor kissed her, and then, laughing had to kiss the other two as well, so that they wouldn't feel slighted.
They all ate in the big dining room, the one that Tor had used his whole time at school, except once. It was one of the changes at the school to save gold. The other kitchen for the special school kids cost nearly as much to run, and only fed about thirty of them. The food was simpler than in the smaller rich kids dining facility across campus, served on wooded plates that looked like square trays, and sometimes earthenware, with silverware made of steel instead of silver at all. The cups were heavy ceramic things in a dull and boring brown, most of them chipped and cracked. The special school students still looked a little awkward crammed into the room with the regular kids. A few sat in mixed groups though, Tor noticed.
Making new contacts. It was a good idea really. Anyone here could end up being useful or important after all.
Henry and Gersh sat with Ridley and Ali for instance. Rolph was next to Sheri and another girl that looked a little older and cuter, who was obviously trying to get the Prince into bed. Tor didn't even have to hear the conversation to get it. She kept smiling and patting his arm openly, leaning towards him and smiling the whole time while trying to make eye contact. The tables were long and each had room at them, but only a few places were left. Trice looked around and raised her eyebrows.
“Well… cozy. I guess we mingle now and learn to get here earlier from now on?”
It was a plan at least. Tor moved to the nearest seat and tucked himself in, getting an odd look from the girl that sat next to him for some reason. Girls did that with him. For a long time he'd figured they just thought he wasn't good enough for them, but he'd been told that wasn't really the case, and most of them wanted to be friends. Actually, what was said was more pointed and suggested they wanted to be his girlfriends, but how likely was that? He wasn't anyone special or anything, right?
“Um, hello.” The girl’s voice was soft and shy. She wasn't pretty or anything, in fact, she was a little snubbed nosed and pinch faced. Her skin was about as dark as most people’s compared to his own very light tone, but she did smile at him, and friendliness always counted for more than looks.
It took him a second to place the face and then the name.
“Lyn? You made it! This is great! How are you liking your classes so far?”
The girl giggled and looked around the room.
“I love it here. The foods good and I get to work on learning to build every day. It's harder than I thought, but I think I'm doing alright. I'll tell you for certain when the marks come out.”
For a second he wondered why she'd do that, but then he remembered that he was personally sponsoring her at school. It wasn't even a generic scholarship. He paid for her directly. As her patron. She was a fellow builder after all. One capable of making copies without a template at thirteen. Without any prior lessons in it at all. Looking at her he realized that she had on a clothing device, but that it wasn't one he'd made, she'd copied that too. Without a template. He knew that for a fact, but he’d never bothered to build one for that device. Excellent. The field was strong and healthy too.
“Oh!” Tor remembered something then, since he was sponsoring her he needed to see to all her expenses and maybe some spending money. It was part of a sponsor’s duty after all.
“Can you stop by my room later?” He asked, not saying why. After all, it might embarrass her if other people knew that she wasn't from a rich family. Some of the kids could make a huge deal out of things like that, as stupid as it was.
She nodded and ate quietly for the rest of the meal, if happily enough.
She just followed him Rolph and Trice back to the room, walking behind them as if she weren't part of the group. Tor stuck his tongue out at her.
“Don't hang back there, people will think you're too good for us or something.” His smile and wide eyes got a laugh, if a slightly nervous one. Trice held out her right hand to the girl smiling and held hands with Lyn until they got to the door.
“Too right Lyn. If Tor’s adopting you, then that means you’re one of our people now. It’s probably a dubious benefit, but we clean up nice.” The words got a giggle from Lyn and a wink from Rolph. Tor just nodded seriously.
She was one of his people now, wasn’t she? It was a very real point and he’d kind of fallen down on his job with her. Tor didn’t apologize though. No, the only way to make this slight up now was work.
In the room he didn't make her wait though, he counted out the weeks they'd been at school, seven now, and handed her a gold for each, making her blink and the others go still. Was it too much? Princess Karina had told him that she got five golds a month allowance and he knew that some kids got more than that when at school. Finally though the Prince nodded to the girl.
