me.”
Tor tilted his head and shrugged.
“I… have a few to catch up on. I'll send some things, if that's all right?” She was family after all.
When the connection was broken, only ten minutes later, Tor started writing.
“I need the dam there checked on too, if you can? Also check to make sure no one is struggling that much? After the flood… I’ll get you some gold just in case…” He didn't want to meddle, but if they needed something, the kids would need some time to get everything around.
Trice surprised him then by giving him a big hug, standing over his chair, warm breasts pressed against his face. It was still fun, half broken or not.
“I love you. I guess I never realized how much you really did for other people before.” It was followed by a kiss, which was warm and very well done. He responded as best he could.
From the door a throat was cleared.
“Breakfast is ready. Unless you two are planning to skip it?” Collette didn't sound displeased by the idea, but Tor knew he needed to eat.
“Tempting, but I need to grab a quick bite and get to county Cannor and back to Two Bends, so kind of a hurry today.” The little dragon stared at Tor and nodded firmly. What that meant he didn't know, but it was cute. It had turned a reddish purple color. The eyes were ice blue though.
He knew that because her right breast was still looming over his face.
“Um, Collette? Not to be bossy, but can the ice manufactory keep working if you spend the day with me?” She was a business woman too, after all. He had to remember that.
“Oh sure! It's the slow season. People hardly buy ice at all this time of year, even here. It will probably pick up a bit for Postern. Not much though. The hot festivals, now those are good for business. So, yes, the workers don't need me most days at all. I just check in once a week or so.”
Tor nodded and stood, which forced Trice to step back, smoothly though, with more grace than not. Her grin was infectious and Tor caught it.
They all ate together, but as promised Trice hurried, leaving half way through. Ali and Maria had plans to go to the palace for the day, so they'd be taken care of too. Reminded Tor jumped up from the table.
“Um, excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back.” He paused but they all smiled gently and murmured that it was fine.
When he got back he set a small pile of amulets next to Maria.
“New shield, flying gear, old style military not flyer, force lance and an air choke.” He pointed to each in turn. “Those are for you. To see to your safety.”
Now all they needed was to get the names of everyone else that didn't have the new shields and get those off. Hopefully the King and Queen would be passing out the gifts from Sandra already too. He was going to run out of things way before he could get back to work himself. He had a bunch of stuff made up, but the desire to do things was eating at him already.
Maria held the little amulets, all on focus stone, with glowing sigils as if they were more than trinkets.
“I…” She started crying then. Tor scrambled for something to short circuit her on that. Eep. Too many tears by far in his world.
“Oh… We should see if Glaran will go with you. I don't know how well you cook or bake Maria, but Ali needs a bit of practice for large crowds and the Queen, while a wonderful organizer, might push her staff too hard, trying to save coins that we're trying to spend, instead of hiring people. Is that all right?”
It was, since in one of those odd turns that Maria often had, she liked the woman better than her own mother. Tor had never met her at all. Given everything the woman was probably a delight. Maria had fought with both Collette and Petra for years after all, but loved Bonita, which made little to no sense. Not that Nita shouldn't be loved, that was clear, just that the others were wonderful too.
That taken care of and a nice kiss from Ali, they managed to be gone shortly after the meal. That meant all Tor had to do was use the communications device he had to talk to about fifty people. It had to be done though. If he left anyone out they might feel slighted.
That would be bad.
Collette wasn't too worried though, reminding him that, as long as he had room for people, and they were going to, and as long as he basically let anyone stay with them, his part was taken care of.
“People will just show up when they hear though, that were putting up everyone, so we probably need housing and food for twice the number of people it seems like… We have enough houses. The only thing is… Well, we need to rent the length of the south wall to the river. Then we can let people set up shops and stand rent free, between the temporary structures.”
She shrugged.
“That's going to cost. About three hundred gold for the week. It's a huge space.”
“Do we have that to hand? I know that Count Morris mentioned sending some golds, but I don't know what we have available at all.”
The golden blond beamed at him and looked down at the table.
“Oh, yes, it hasn't just been him. Everyone has sent funds, we have nearly a quarter million gold locked up in the safe room. I told everyone to invest it locally for you, instead of sending more. That of course means that people are starting more businesses, I think you actually own several hundred concerns outright now, managed by the people on site. You also own a lot of property. Martya has been buying up a lot in Warden and most of the other capital cities too. She and I… If it's all right, we're planning ice manufactories in all of the major cities. We don't have the devices for more than six right now, but, I was wondering, what would the Lairdgren group charge us for their efforts? I know that they're busy right now, but if we bought them ten at a time, for say, five thousand gold? Do you think that's fair? The price is low, but it's not original work. We could pay you, but we figured that if we left you part ownership…”
Tor laughed. It was a fine idea after all.
“I know they're busy, they have school work to do too, but we'll ask during Postern, I've invited them to stay here. Actually I invited all of them, the whole school, and Two Bends. If we could put those next to each other and maybe the place for the Counts and their families on the other side…” Tor looked down.
“But all of that is up to you, of course. Me trying to do it would be silly.”
They started calling then. It was a lot harder than Tor thought it would be.
By far.
Chapter Eighteen
At first it all went fine. Really well, Tor thought. People were pleased enough to hear from him, and either said yes, or in a few cases, made polite excuses, generally having their own plans for events. In those cases Collette gave them contact information for the rest of the Postern committee, so that they could get in on whatever mobile events that were planned. There were some magical fireworks and transport rides available for instance, as well as some of the Kings week events that, while they were needed back for that, were being lent out, so others could enjoy them.
The Waterfall mountain might be a little cold, but by just using some water heaters at the right points it should be able to be kept toasty enough. Then it would need to be cooled on the way out, but a careful hand could do it.
No the trouble came when they got to Countess York.
Tor didn't know her at all, but she, apparently, knew a whole lot about him. It wasn't that she was rude, or even cold, just a bit stiff. At first. Finally she got to her issue, which wasn't really hers at all.
“I… received some troubling information a few days ago. I don't know how to proceed on the matter. One of my Barons, Rochester, has set writ, declaring his intent to seek a duel with you for cause? I had to sign the papers, you understand? It's traditional if there is any cause at all and he claims that you beat him quiet soundly? No reason was given…” She tried to lead the question, but didn't ask outright.
“Oh, yes. Well, I can't say, promises were made to that end, to protect his name. To him. So telling you now
