When the others were comfy he went over what needed to be done for the day. Trice had some paper and took notes. It was darling of her, because he'd forgotten to do anything like that. It was nerve racking talking to two nobles like they were supposed to be listening to him, but they’d agreed. Still, it was hard. He kept expecting Count Ward to order his death or something. After all, he'd been touching his wife all night. It didn't matter that “The Rules” didn't allow for that level of jealousy at all. Tor still half expected it.
“If you'd go up to Lairdgren today and check on the working group there Count Ward? We really need to make sure they're resting at least part of the time, oh, and eating. Make sure there are people seeing that they don't go hungry if they’re in a working trance for too long. That can be fatal. They should be looking out for each other, but they all have loads of work right now. I don’t want anyone being missed.” Tor thought for a few seconds, going silent.
“Oh, um, also, be encouraging? They can all do more than they have been for instance. Pat them on the back and make sure they know I have complete faith and confidence in them? I do, so it shouldn't be hard to manage.”
The Count chuckled a low rumble deep in his chest.
“I can do that directly. Just get with the headmaster to find them all?” He said as if going to the man in charge just made sense to him. After all, he'd be able to walk him over to everyone’s rooms, wouldn't he?
Tor froze for a second. It was noble like in how high handed it was, but the Dean deserved far more respect than being used for errands. At least ones for Tor. He blinked…
“Um… Yes, but I need to send a letter with you for that, I think. Or, I don't know, I mean you have a Counts right, but I'm just some former school student of his, what should I do here?” A fine social panic tore through him then but Trice just looked at him appraisingly, fortunately getting it all without explanation.
She was incredible like that.
“If it's just Tor asking, then you need to find someone else to take your messages around. Sending a Count, even one that's a friend of yours, is too much. If it's the Counselor of magics doing it, then Kyle will just have to jump and pretend to like it. He's high merchant class, and important himself, as you know, but as headmaster…” She spread her hands.
“Now if you were going, or just some regular errand boy, it wouldn't matter. Just grab some kid in the commons to show them around…” She glanced at the Count and smiled.
“I know, why not pull out your William Merchant disguise? Then you can do either without seeming high handed. Sure, Rolph's dad coming to check on everyone won't have the same impact, but everyone likes him there and really, that seems far more likely than a Count being sent anyway. Tor knows the man too, so it works all around. I can fly you in, using Tor’s fast carriage and be back inside an hour and a half, then pick you up later? Or, I don't know Tor, do you have an extra of those floating around?”
He did and ran to get one, just sitting in a box near the front door. It was more of a pained shuffle than a real run, but it wasn't floating and faster than a walk.
Yay improvement!
The Count and Trice had followed him out, because he hadn't said anything about coming back. That was really rude of him, but neither seemed overly concerned.
“Here. Oh, and a better shield… Or, no you already have a class six. Does Maria?” It was a good question. Having been used by the Larval assassins already and personally threatened, she might be subject to a death dust attack or just a knife when she wasn't ready.
“No. I've offered her mine, but she refused, since it was given directly from your hand. She doesn't wish to stress your good will.”
Tor couldn't help it, his head tilted and eyebrows went up slowly, it felt like his face was melting. Maria was forgoing protection, fearing he might be concerned about where a shield went? He shook his head.
“I'll… fix that then. Um here. Just you know, don't go to war with the kingdom using these, right? It's part of the deal all the Counts have to agree to when they get weapons.” It was too. Even Ursala had to agree to it.
Trice sucked in air like she was drowning. It made Tor jump a little.
“Oh, Gods, I… that's not some weird insult is it? Giving him weapons? It's just a an air choke and an explosive weapon, one of the smaller ones, not a copy of the planet killer.”
After a few second his girlfriend, tears in her eyes shook her head.
“Nothing like that. Just, you know, you called him friend and we all shared a bed, which as far as anyone else in the world is concerned means we all had sex, but giving someone a weapon is a sign of trust beyond… Well, especially something like this.” Her hand flew out.
“Plus, you have them sitting in a little box by your front door? That will be fixed before hundreds of school kids come in, right?”
It was a good point.
“Yeah. OK.” Tor had to laugh, even though he didn't know why. It was a hard thing at first, but just didn't stop for a while. The others joined in after a bit, if much more softly. Being polite likely.
“OK, Trice, um, could you help me with the next bit? I have an idea who to get to act as a go between for Sandra, but it will take some begging most likely. Then I need to contact each Count and Countess and invite them for Postern. I'll get with Collette on that, she's good at those kinds of things.”
Trice went stiff, but Count Ward left without hesitation, which was heartening. Before he stepped out the door the man touched his chest and transformed completely. If Tor hadn't seen it before he would have goggled a bit. There was no way, without using magic, to tell it wasn't him. Except possibly scent.
That magic could be used was a real point too. The height thing as well. He could make him look taller, but shorter… It didn't seem possible. That probably meant it was a brilliant idea if he could work something out. Tuck one of these giants into a commoner body and no one would ever find them.
As they walked back into the work room Tor remembered that they hadn't fed the Count yet, which had to be all kinds of rude, when you had a royal guest. Tor held his breath after mentioning it to Trice, who just shrugged, a sullen and unhappy thing. Tor winced.
“That bad?”
“No, well, normally yes, if you refused him food it would be a big deal, especially if you had it and I can smell the kitchen working already. But he left on his own, probably to avoid seeing me humbled.” She walked to the door of the room and stopped.
“I know that, things between us have been a bit… less than perfect. I accept that you may require me to do things to win your trust. I…” Her voice caught, like it did when she was starting to cry, “I'll do what you ask. Who do I have to beg?” Her face looked so forlorn it nearly caused him to start chuckling, but he knew better than to let that happen.
“Oh! I'm… That was just a turn of phrase Trice! I want to see if we can get Countess Cannor in as go between for Sandra. It may be hard, since she hasn't seen my mom since, well you know all that. But she should, and really, if we can get her around for it, it should be done even if we can't get her to act in that capacity.” He shrugged. “In that case I was thinking of Countess Printer. Really, she should start a working group at her academy too. I should bring that up.”
Tor moved in and gave Trice a hug. It wasn't all he wanted to do to reassure her of her place, but really, sex was just out. He wasn't even sure he could function at the moment. Nothing happened from pressing his body against hers and that normally did the trick all on its own.
“Don't worry, I love you. It's, well, I'm not holding any grudges. Honestly, I… don't think I can.” It was really almost an alien concept. He knew it happened, people getting mad and even staying that way for years, or even the rest of their lives.
How they did it just didn't work mentally for him at all.
Mary Cannor answered her communications device herself, sounding excited and happy. She even offered to start that day cross country by carriage to perform her task.
“No time for that Grandmother Cannor.” Tor said, using the words for the first time. Step-grandmother was too big a mouthful. A happy sound came from the device at least when he said it.
“So, what I'd like to do is send in Patricia Morgan in with a fast carriage. Those fly, but are really safe, far safer than a regular ones with those unpredictable horses and all those divots and bounces along the road.” He was leading the conversation, having a feeling that the Countess had never flown before.
“Oh, I can handle it. I want some of that flying gear though, if you’re looking for a birthday present for
