The rivers didn't go in without a hitch, they had two floods in places where the water just wouldn't follow the pits dug, choosing to make its own way. The water in one flattened and spread into what would probably be a swamp if they didn't fix it, but Mutta asked if they could leave that alone.
“Wetlands are excellent for water purification and holding the air temperature steady. There seems to be several streams developing on the other side so it should drain, we should wait and see what happens.” Her look was oddly excited by the prospect, which Tor didn't get. If she'd wanted a swamp, she could have just asked. That wouldn't have been too hard to come up with at all.
The evenings were spent resting and planning out the next day, they didn't have wood for communal fires and didn't need them, since no one was feeling the heat or the night time chill at all. So they sat around a glow plate instead.
Mutta, trying to get to know her perspective husband, had taken to sitting right next to him and chatting about Noram life, leaving Bonita sitting alone for once, next to Ali. Tor got them to scoot a tiny bit apart so that he could sit between them and put an arm around each, hoping it wasn't too foreword. He hadn't been with Nita much lately and this was about as much contact as he'd ever had with Alissa. They both leaned into him, which he took as a good sign. Leaning away could have meant anything from “don't touch me” to “wish you'd showered first”, of course he had showered already, the dust and dirt here kind of required it. It got into everything, even under his clothes and into bodily crevices that would have rubbed him raw if he hadn't cleaned up immediately after work each day.
“There you are Nita! I know I suggested that Alphonse meet you and you two get to know each other, but I also told him not to steal you away forever. He agreed, but I think under the brilliance that is you, he forgot. Not that I blame him, it's obviously all your fault, how could he help himself? I'll let it go this time, but try not to let it happen again. At least spread yourself around a bit so I don't have to worry about fighting the heir to an entire kingdom for you.” He leaned back into her gently and kissed her.
“Hey! We’re going to get married right? A little discretion then please.” Ali said, sounding almost like she meant it.
“Sorry. You're right of course. Rude of me.” Tor kissed her too, trying for a chaste peck on the lips. She grabbed his ears and didn't let go until she'd made him do what she wanted for nearly a minute. It didn't hurt, so his shield didn't turn on to protect him.
Tor felt bad about that. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he didn't want to break the law either. Not that kissing was covered in the law, but still, it was kind of sex adjacent in his mind. Really though, Tor realized, he didn't even know the laws about that here, he may have been breaking them already with Trice. Tor called out the question to the Ambassador across the glow plate sitting on the ground.
“What? Oh… there isn't any actual law about that… You get married when you have the funds and wherewithal to keep a man. I've heard of girls as young as twelve doing it and as old as fifty going for their first one.” The small women looked around as everyone stared.
Ursala blinked rapidly, doing calculations in her head.
“But you have to be married to have sex? And only ten percent of the population is male… then, do you have a lot of girlfriends? How does that work?”
Mutta smiled and giggled behind her hand, a Noram court gesture.
“We do without a lot. Gray changed the people of Afrak several thousand years ago to not be as sexually… driven. We mainly do that just to have children. Still, if I wrangle a Noram Prince, I'd have to change my mind set on that wouldn't I? Having sex with people. It will take getting used to.”
Ursala nodded, her face still. Tor got the idea, she'd been thinking of Rolph as hers almost her entire life and in a very real way she was right, but if she wanted to make it stick, she needed to get going soon. Bonita squeezed him and whispered in his ear.
“Too bad I couldn't get married. No one wants me though. Still, this has been nice. Everyone on this trip has been so kind to me. No jokes or games at my expense. Thank you for that. It means so much, even if I have to go back to the country estate after. I'll always remember this.” She looked sad so Tor risked Ali's wrath and kissed her cheek.
“Not unless you want to. Ali's already made plans for you to come live with us and, well, I did some checking around for you, since I can't marry you myself now, given the current plan, which I was kind of thinking of doing for a while… asking for your hand myself? Count Lairdgren likes you and he should have a wife soon. I talked to him about it and he seems to like the idea all right. You… seem to think he's funny at least, if you want I can try and get that going. Plenty of decent guys out there for you if you don't want him though. I don't get the whole thing with you thinking you aren't good enough… We could probably find a half dozen guys right here that would marry you right now if we told them you wanted to.” Who would be dumb enough to miss how great she was? Not him. Not Burks either.
They all just sat and talked that night, for hours. Tor slept alone but got up early and started working as soon as everyone got things together. Wensa and her crew had all the rivers up by day nine, and the rest of the crew had the last of the main side streams moving out into the desert for irrigation and back into the main lines to prevent flooding three days later. It took a bit longer than he'd thought, but even out of the sand and bare earth seeds had started growing along the water already, the moisture spreading in large dark fans from the glistening muddy brown rivers and rivulets. They hadn't even put any out. They were just there, waiting in the earth for enough water to sustain them.
Tor took down his little emergency house the next day and brushed his teeth after eating the tasteless fat bar he had in the bag on his hip. He wasn't the only one doing that, in fact he'd gotten the idea from Trice who suggested it to him on the third day. The cinnamon lingered in the mouth, but was better than just fat.
Finding Mutta he sighed.
“There you go. Ten full rivers even, instead of just four, and enough water to drown this vast desert if you don't monitor the situation closely. Believe that I'm not really the Court Jester yet?” He did his best to smirk at her, failed since it wasn't a look he could easily pull off and smiled winningly instead.
Spreading her hands the dark woman gave him a serious look.
“You can't be both? And to that end, are you really sure you aren't the Court Jester? You certainly spend a lot of time seeing to the amusement and comfort of others… Speaking of which great-uncle…” She fingered the amulets at her neck self consciously.
“Can I keep the magic clothing and heat equalizer?”
Since Tor hadn't thought about taking them back at all he nodded and asked if she wanted anything else. She smiled and looked down a bit shyly.
“Well, there is one thing…”
Tor just nodded when he heard it. It was a daring move on her part, but would make her proposal to Rolph a lot more real wouldn't it? Plus she'd invoked their family connection, which meant, by his rules, he was required to aid her. Not that he wouldn't have anyway.
They all moved back to the ship, finding it exactly as they left it, later that afternoon. Tor started right in on baking, the crackers and bread he'd made for the trip barely passing the first day before running out. No one showed up to help, being tired and wanting naps, hot soaks and entertainments. For that most of them that seemed to play cards. Tor found that so boring he wouldn't even bother and preferred working or talking to people instead. Mutta had come with them, the big “present” she'd asked for from him, so she could press her case with the Queen herself. It was actually a good move Tor knew, since a woman in a foreign land would be a lot easier to ignore than one in the next room. Ursala wasn't any too pleased about it and hinted that she could have an “accident” on the way over… But only out of ear shot of his great niece.
Mutta, it turned out, had a first name too and it wasn't even Ambassador. Close though, Tor thought. It was Abbie. Actually that was a nick name for Abumanintali, but no one other than Tor could manage it without adding or dropping syllables. She asked him to call her that instead of her last name, since they were family, a point she'd made several times when asking if she could come.
Well, he could afford her upkeep easily, if it came to that, and she had all that medical skill, the Afrak were years beyond Noram in that regard, which made her valuable… Maybe centuries ahead. Even if the marriage to Rolph fell through, and Tor did tell her it was a bit of a long shot, she could practice her craft or even teach at one of the schools. The idea made her happy it seemed, she smiled at least, and suggested she could do that even when the marriage arrangements came through.
The trip back found Tor with more helpers in the kitchen, since everyone was just that bored now, and working really did beat sitting around. For him personally it meant some actual free time to practice fighting in the afternoons. It was fun in a way, though Kolb and Petra were both constantly trying to get him killed it seemed, demanding he do better each day, and not just a little. They kept putting him up against four and even five people at once, which he couldn't beat of course, as hard as he tried. He was sore and bruised all the time, but didn't complain about it. What else did he have to do for fun? Mope?
Trice started hanging around with him constantly, and so did Sara. It was nice enough, but didn't make a lot of sense really, unless it was a spying thing? But what was there to spy on here, his secret baking recipes? Tor’s failures in fight practice? Still, if they wanted to hang out that was fine, they were friends, spies or not. On the fourth night they both moved into his room with him, their trunks sitting along his far wall and both lounging on his bed when he walked in after dinner. Looking at the whole thing Tor crossed his arms.
He didn't mind, but they each had their own room, they didn't even have to share…
“Relax Tor,” Trice said gently, giving him a hug.
“Were just claiming you as ours, that's all. You'll thank us later. Karina was about to auction you off to the highest bidder and a few of the people stepping up were definitely not your type. I think a few just wanted to have anal sex with you as revenge for making us eat those awful fat bars.” Crossing her arms the fuzzy headed bleached blond shook her head woefully.
“Who could blame them? Those things sucked. They'd have broken you though and then no one would be able to play with you.”
Sara pushed her a little and winked in his direction.
“Oh, it wasn't that bad, Trice is exaggerating. Karina was just joking about it all anyway. We just wanted some company and to solidify our claims on you. Married or not, you're our Tor. Saw you first and all that. We'll Petra saw you first, as she mentioned earlier, but you seem to like her, so we need to work harder if we don't want to be left behind.”
What? They thought he didn't like them? Why? He asked, but neither answered him until he comically started tapping his foot, hands on hips like a farmer’s wife demanding the shops oven bake faster.
“OK! I'll talk, but don't get mad?” Sara looked at him tentatively as if he really was going to get mad over something. He promised not to get too mad, and hoped he could keep his word.
It seemed that everyone thought he was being all stand-offish again.
Tor didn't visit with the crew really, or play cards, or bathe with them, except by chance and then he didn't hang out, just washed quickly and leaving. Tor also didn't make a point of spending time with any of the women overly, even his women. That made him stop Sara for a bit.
“I have women? Why doesn't anyone tell me these things. How am I supposed to know? I mean seriously, I don't think I can know things like that! I mean it may be, like a real thing, me not being able to see it. Is this serious or just casual? What am I supposed to be doing that I'm not? I mean, I understand I should spend more time with Ali, but there are others too?” He tried to think of who, but not much came. Sure, he had some friends, but…
Oh, right. They were supposed to be his girlfriends. Ah. It sounded stupid, even in his own head, but he'd forgotten that part of things. Somehow.
Sara continued without much pause.
“It's not that big a deal. It's just that you're alone a lot, so we came to make sure you aren't lonely. Is that all right? Don't worry about the rest, we're just teasing. Kind of. But… you do have some offers if you’re willing. You might want to try some of them out, build alliances and make friends. People still think of you as a bit stuck-up you know. That or so discrete no one really knows what you're up to. If that's the case you might just want to shake that up a bit. You're supposed to be discrete with your partner, not the whole world.”
Trice had to tease him then, because that was who she was. He even liked it about her, when it wasn't directed at him.
“Let us know if you need the room, or, if you want we can stay and help?” She giggled after that. As if it were just a joke?
Tor sighed and then nodded.
“Alright. But when I bring back a small hoard of women, you two have to move along quickly. Otherwise it would get all awkward, don't you think?”
Sara gave him a look that was so serious Trice busted up laughing. That got a sharp look from the blond towards her friend.
“Trice… do you really think he can't do it? Or won't?”
That got the laughter to stop for some reason.
That night was fun, wonderful really. It wasn't that they did anything much, but they talked and kissed and hugged a lot. Tor would have liked to do something with them both, but didn't know how to ask. The trick was probably just asking. They weren't exactly afraid of such things, so why should he be? Still, he put it off until he fell asleep, missing the chance completely.
As he drifted off Tor wondered what he was doing here.
It wasn't really his world, but if this wasn't who he was, then what was he? A bakers son from Two Bends? A Builder? A guy too dumb to score with two women that probably would have jumped at the chance if he'd even mentioned sex, if only because it was less boring than chatting with him for hours?
Sleep took him hard and his dreams were odd, strange and uncomfortable. Sex dreams, a few with the girls in the room with him even. Trice had climbed in next to him at some point and the stump of her left arm was over him when he woke suddenly. She didn't wake and just rolled over and cuddled in to him when he shifted, her body warm and smelling faintly of flowers, her perfume. There wasn't enough light to see, but he could feel it was her and that she was in a deep sleep, not dreaming. Holding her close for a while he thought about what the dream had meant, if anything.
It was simple enough. He'd found the new combat giant girl Dara in the bath and asked if she wanted to have sex with him, she agreed, even though the whole thing was way bolder than he would have been with a woman he didn't know, and he'd expected her to hit him for mentioning it. Then, there in the tub, as they were doing things, kissing mainly, her face melted and she turned into his friend Karen from school.
But she was dead.
They talked about that for a while, but the answer didn't make sense to him. Her father killed her? Was it a message from the dead? That was rumored to happen even to regular people, and all the building he'd done probably made it a bit more likely to happen to him, but Tor didn't think it was the case here.
No this was his own deep mind talking to him. What it was telling him was probably complicated and troubling.
Had he loved Karen?
They'd only been friends, she'd help him train in fighting, and was nice to him, which counted for a lot, but they hadn't been that close, had they? Had he wanted to be? Honestly, on the conscious level Tor had always been more afraid that she'd beat him than anything else. He'd kept missing her lessons, and really, deserved the beatings, but she never did it. That was the nice part of working with her. She pushed him, but she didn't punish him for being lazy or late. If he had been harboring some secret crush there, it would have made sense. It certainly wasn't off-putting in the dream. He'd been more than willing to keep going when she turned out to be Karen, hadn't he?
Trice snuggled and felt him behind her, erect, which asleep or not got her to wiggle her behind into him even more. It was nice, and frustrating, at the same time. He didn't want to wake her, but it would have been really nice to not been laying there awake and wanting her while she was literally touching him.
Well, when in doubt, meditate. Tor focused on nothing and waited. It wasn't sleep, but it passed time and kept the mind sharp. Hours later he got up and made his way to the showers fuzzily, and was standing under the warm water with his eye closed, just sensing the space quietly when he felt her next to him.
Again.
Karen.
Eye's still closed he turned. He expected to find the room empty when he opened them, but she was there… not Karen, but Dara.
“Oh! Hey Tor. Didn't see you there. Um, is it OK if I shower too? I don't want to bother you, but I was just having a late night work out.” She didn't wait for him to talk, taking his wave and nod as good enough at this hour of day. He stared a little the double feeling still strong. Dara noticed and made a raspberry with her tongue. She smiled though.
“Not that kind of work out. A real one, I like to go and work out at night, get a bit extra done. You can't slack off too much, because you never know when the attack is coming. I always say that at least.”
Tor, subdued, nodded and went back to washing, then stood under the spray to rinse his hair, the curtain of water spread and splashed softly. He heard the girl, woman really, about twenty-five based on her looks, washing next to him. He reached out to her again mentally, wondering if he was just reliving part of the weird dream, or projecting things on to the giant woman next to him.
Nope, she was Karen. No doubt at all. Around her neck were a bunch of his amulets, he could feel that, mostly his work, and one that wasn't at all. A disguise?
That or he was losing it.
Well, both were actually possible. He grinned and looked at her, seeking her eyes. Brown. He couldn't remember what color Karen's had been. Ali's were blue though. Davie too, he thought. The face wasn't pretty, ugly was more the case, but he searched it looking for a hint of his friend anyway.
“Um… you're staring Tor.” She said softly. The woman didn't cover herself or anything she just looked back, her eyes going to his stomach, then lower.
Well, staring at a naked girl could do that, he thought, his mind still deep enough that it was an abstract thing. Now he could either act like it was a big deal or play the erection off. He chuckled.
“Early mornings. Sorry. Not exactly polite of me. Um… if you’re not seeing anyone in particular, this afternoon, late, say after dinner, would you like to practice with me?” Looking down Tor tried to act like he was as awkward and shy as he used to be. Since he really did feel pretty awkward, all things considered, it worked pretty well.
“I mean weapons practice. Um, other stuff too, if you want? That's OK if you don't want to though. Um…” He tried to give her a way out, as was polite.
“I'd love too!” she looked down at him again and smiled.
“Do you want to do some of that other stuff now?” She looked around mischievously.
“Here? No… later will do fine, thank you for the offer though, right now I need to get dressed and actually get to work. The food won't make itself and people will whine if they have to wait too long. Find me after dinner?”
“Sure. Sounds fun. I always liked chasing you around with a sword Tor, you know that.”
Tor made himself blush and look down, then get going on his day. He needed to get her alone and make sure he wasn't just losing it, missing his friend too much.
Tor worked the whole day, not leaving the kitchen except to eat. Well and plot out the birthday cake for Ali. Two days. It hit him that they were going to get married the day after, and he didn't even have a gift for her. What would she like? A house? Maybe her own magic carriage? A doll?
The last thought was unkind. She was very mature for her age. Probably more than he was in some ways. Tor still felt a little guilty when the topic of sex came up for instance. He really doubted she did. For instance he kind of thought she'd managed to “entertain” at least a few of the other men on the ship, legal or not. Sure, it was a technical thing, a few weeks, but it was where the line was drawn. Then, not everyone cared about things like that, did they?
So a cake for her birthday and…
He had nothing. Not a single clue what women wanted. Flowers, but they were at sea right now. If he tried for poems she'd probably refuse to marry him, with cause too. Not a skill of his at all. He decided to go with a set of amulets. A shield, a flight rig, a weapon? Force lance and air choke. That and a house. One of the new ones like the palace. Maybe some gold to go with it, so she could purchase what she wanted?
What he really needed was some female advice, but who did he have to ask? When it came to house holding he was the only one on the ship that knew anything at all. For clothing he had Petra, but that didn't make much of a gift now, not with the device for it so easy to use. He'd have to think about it, or put it off and pretend that what he was doing was normal, and that gifts weren't expected, being at sea and all that.
The haze lasted for the rest of the day, badly enough that no one really talked to him overly. At dinner “Dara” came to see if he still wanted to practice with her, which he really did. Not just for the exercise, which he needed, but because he had a plan, sort of.
Karen had always fought with a specific style. She used bold strikes, aimed without much precision. Tor had been trained to look for the gaps in armor or a defense, and to strike into them. Davie, who had probably learned from the same teachers, if not from his sister, fought nearly identically to her.
In a way Tor was lucky he was imagining Dara to be Karen, because if it was anyone else in the world he'd have no clue how they fought at all. She and David were the only people he'd ever analyzed that closely.
They started with practice swords, no armor and not making contact.
Tor couldn't tell at first, were the blows like he thought they would be or not? They might be, but short of getting Davie out to practice with her so he could watch, it was no use guessing.
Darn.
Well, so much for that part of the plan, he thought a bit bitterly.
After a few minutes Tor stumbled and she checked him with a shoulder, which took him of his feet so easily it was almost laughable.
“Get up! Don't just lay there. You have to be ready for that, you lack the size to not be ready for-”
Tor had already rolled under where her blade went and came up stabbing toward her midsection then heart. It was Karen. She used to love to use that move on him then berate Tor for not getting up fast enough. They kept going, but he was sure now. Interesting. Exciting.
Karen wasn't dead?
How? Why? After about an hour of work, trying not to give everything away, he walked with her to his room, bodies coated with sweat, but it was clean and fresh, the deck not collecting dust or dirt on the ocean. At the room Sara and Trice worked at little projects, Trice had vials of glass with her, poisons or possibly scents, or a combination of both, the glass was clear and stopped with cork and the little case she had open on the table had about forty places for them, but a third stood empty.
Sara worked on a beading project, it was complex and good, a bag of some kind? He couldn't tell. She always did bead work, but he never saw her with any. They both looked up when they walked in.
“Um, not to interrupt, but you said if I needed the room?” He tilted his head.
They both scurried to put their things away, and he didn't hurry them, not really knowing what he should do next anyway. Get close to her so he could feel her field? It seemed like a plan to him. He'd already invited her for that anyway, the getting close part. How did he do that though? Sex was fun, but Karen and he had never had that kind of relationship, and even if they had, Dara and he hadn't.
It's what she'd come for though. Besides, the idea of getting her to have sex with him felt a bit naughty. Especially since “Dara” didn't really know him very well. The idea that she might actually be willing too was strange to him, but really flattering too.
As soon as the door shut Tor gestured to the bed.
“Here, lie down on your stomach-” Before he got the words out she had her clothes off and dove flat on the bed. The move could have been playful or even sexy but it seemed slightly panicked instead. Frightened suddenly.
“Um. I… was going to give you a back rub first, since we don't know each other that well, is that OK?” He made his voice soft and friendly hoping it was the right thing to do, she seemed really nervous, more than Bonita had been the first time even.
Small tremors played under his hands as he touched her. Soft and gentle, but her skin tried to move away from his hands. Like he was revolting to her. He almost stopped, but reminded himself he was actually doing something here, popular with the girl or not, so started a simple pattern of movement and found the fields around her neck with his mind, separating them as he ran his hand gently down her back. The good news was that she was excited and wanted him to keep touching her. The bad news was that the idea also terrified her and made her think of unbearable pain.
It was clearly Karen.
Her breath came faster, turned on, wet, and still desperately dreading the whole thing. Gods. What the hell had been done to her? Worse things than he wanted to know, Tor was sure. The amulet for the disguise was elegant, very much so, probably a Maris work, which meant expensive. She only did work for specific clients, normally beauty and healing devices. The field was delicate, intricate and fresh. If this device was over a year old Tor would have to find Maris and take lessons from her, because it felt very sharp still. Clean. There was no way Karen could have ever gotten the money for something like this. Tor could, in a few days worth of work, but it would cost about the same as two days of the King’s week festival had for him. Forty thousand gold?
Working down her body he noticed something odd, when he got to her behind her tension decreased. Tor had expected panic as he ran his hands over her, but it just didn't come at all. She relaxed a lot and when he let his hand brush the soft curls between her lean thighs she positively melted. She'd been worried that Tor would reject her then? Why?
Her body was good, lighter than as Karen, in both color and build, her skin even, except a few moles, which were fake, he found. It was an excellent piece of work. Brilliant in fact.
Tor could smell the heat rising from her, how aroused she gotten from a few tentative brushes. She looked back over his shoulder and smiled, still looking uncertain.
“Um… which hole do you want?”
The question wasn't anything he'd been ready for.
Girls could do that, Ursala had said so. Tor just couldn't imagine them wanting their other hole used, or a woman being that blunt about it for that matter. Of course being willing was different than wanting it. Tor kissed her lower back, stalling for time. How did you answer that? He decided not to and asked her to get on all fours, entering her from behind, in the proper fashion, without warning. She seemed happy enough about it, enthused even, now that they were into the act itself. She had to lean her upper body down and he needed to kneel on a thick pillow, a beige one from the top of the bed, to make things line up right, but once that was done she tightened almost instantly, her body responding after only a few gentle thrusts.
Tor wasn't ready yet, so carefully kept going, only to find her reaching her own peak again and again as he did. Finally, looking for an excuse to touch her close to the neck he reached up and grabbed her hair with his right hand, feeling it splay between his fingers, pulling her head back. She gasped, at first he thought that it was in pain, but he felt her tighten on him so powerfully he had to stop moving or risk injuring himself. During that moment he focused his intent and turned off the disguise.
Instantly her skin darkened, about half way between Rolph and Petra in tone, about like her brothers or Ali really. Her hair was the same, but slightly lighter, a soft brown instead of the darker color. Her face was large and a little rugged for a woman, but when she looked back he recognized the eyes. The color a blue green with a tiny bit of gray. He started thrusting again, then after a bit asked her to roll over so he could look at her. Every minute or so she was wracked with intense spasms of pleasure, Tor knew he wasn't doing anything special, so it had to be her. Something in her make-up? But if sex was always like this for her, why did she dread it and want it at the same time? Well the wanting part made sense, but the rest…
Reentering her again, the slick moistness of her hugging him, he kissed her gently, then kissed her breasts one at a time, the nipples tightened with pleasure and excitement, her lips more red than he remembered them, she chewed the lower one lightly, sweat covering her brow slightly, even though the cabin wasn't warm.
When he let himself go she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him gently.
“I love you.” Her words sounded young and gentle. After a few moments her eyes popped open in horror at what she'd just said.
“Don't worry Karen, I love you too. I can't marry you or anything, and that love is more of a friendship thing, but you're definitely fun in bed. We should do it again sometime.”
She nodded and then her hand went to her neck quickly.
“Crud.”
“Well, it could be worse. I'd already figured it out before, if it had turned off in the middle of that and I didn't have a clue, I probably would have freaked. I thought you were dead. Can you… Tell me why and… how? I think we can milk the sex excuse for another hour, but I have to get to bed soon anyway… Work in the morning, you understand. So hurry if it's possible?”
She nodded. Took a deep breath and dove in.
“Davie and I faked my death. We knew the wine had been poisoned, we had the detectors you'd given us at school, and used them on everything. After you got poisoned for not doing that, it only made sense, didn't it? The idea was that I'd wait and train and then sneak back when everyone had an alibi and kill the beast. Um… the Count… my father. I know, it's totally illegal to do. That's why I couldn't afford to hire it done. The guild would have handled it, but they wanted nearly nine thousand gold for it, a sitting Count isn't an easy target. It's dangerous and if anyone suspects, a lot of innocent people can die in the mess. So it had to be me. My older sister…” Karen took a deep wracking breath but didn't sob or cry.
“What happened with me there, in bed just now? He… conditioned us all to be like that. Mom too I think, but I've never been certain of that. He never forced her to watch or us to watch with her. But I got away, kind of. Got lucky and was made a Knight. He may be my father, but a Knight serves the Kingdom. He couldn't touch me then. Heidi is better looking though, so he wasn't going to miss out on using her. No one could help us, so… all this.” The gesture took in her naked form and spread as if trying to include everything.
It wouldn't have worked but she happened to be near where Maris lived when her body had supposedly gone into the waterfall. Davie had drunk a tiny bit of the poison, making himself sick and weak, but not enough to kill him. That was the hope at least. But he managed to fly away, desperately seeking “help” for her. In the female builder Glyn Maris, she found a better ally than Karen could have ever hoped. Literally just showing up on her doorstep to beg aid for the day.
“She didn't just help me a little, she gave me this amulet, for free, it took her months to make it, and she hid me away the whole time, since I was supposed to be dead anyway. I had to starve weight off and exercise more to keep it that way. I told her why I needed a disguise, but she gave it to me anyway. Dad… He raped her once. He's used his position to do that to a lot of women. When it's over no one can say much. It's like with Rodriguez? How you couldn't kill him because he was a Count, so you used those devices to make him give up? Only nothing would make dad give up. He's a monster, you have to believe me. I… I know that you're friends with the royal family and have to turn me in, but… but… I made them help me. Maris and Davie… It was all me. I… forced them too, I… I threatened them into it… They weren't really a part of it. They shouldn't be held to blame.” Her voice had grown increasingly panicked as she realized what could potentially go wrong.
Tor shook his head.
“Screw that, I paid ten thousand gold to have the man killed, if we want to start pointing fingers I don't think they actually move all the way over to you if he shows up dead now.”
“You what? Really? Why? Not that there aren't a thousand good reasons, probably one for each coin you spent, but it's dangerous to take on a Count like that.” Karen did not sound displeased. Happy was closer really.
Why had he? The answer was simple enough.
“Because no one else really could. He hurt people, hurt my friends. I can't make him pay for that, not really, but I can stop him now that I know. Look, I don't know if anything will even happen, so you have to keep being Dara, and I have to marry Ali, your sister Gretchen? So that he can't get at her. I can't protect the boys, but David is his own man now, and Jerral has an apprenticeship with Kolb lined up, which will get him away from home at least. It's the best I could come up with so far.”
“Ali is Gretchen? I didn't know, she looks so different! And you're getting married? When, is she even old enough? I… Aue twelve… Tomorrow? Today now? She's an adult under the law. Not free of him, but able to marry. But you need his permission… or… how?” She seemed worried suddenly, confused.
But oddly hopeful.
That was simple, he told her, his fingers gently stroking her back again, a sudden thrill of fear and desire in her. Gods. That bastard had conditioned her to both desperately want and fear sex? Why? What kind of sicko did that? The kind that had total power in his own little word, obviously. A lot of people didn't do very well with power did they?
“I got permission from the King himself, acting as her father. If Count Derring shows up before it's consummated, he can take her, but after that she becomes my responsibility. If he tries to touch her then I can take her away, or even fight for her. Every man has that right, even against a Count and his army. Only, you know, most people can't fight an army. I cheat.”
Magic.
The Count may be able to beat him in a real fight, man to man, or bring an army to bear, but with magic Tor could best him. Maybe at least. It was a risk, but Tor would do it if forced.
After a few moments he asked her what she wanted to do, meaning a plan or something, how he should act around Dara that kind of thing. She smiled happily and pushed him back, her mouth finding him hungrily, eagerly. Tor was just about to finish when the girls came back just walking in, not making a noise. Trying to catch him and Dara? Well, oops. Karen didn't stop, or even look up until he was totally done, then she started licking him clean, her attention riveted on Tor alone, oblivious to the two new comers standing and staring at her.
At Karen.
“I… see.” Trice said after a moment, nodding and making sure the door was locked.
Sara just blinked at them, looking a tiny bit jealous for some reason. Maybe she wanted Karen for herself? Well, or him, but she kind of already had that, so it didn't really make sense.
Tor explained quickly and swore both girls to secrecy, for now at least. The King and Queen would know, Burks would know, these two and him. Davie knew she lived, but not that she was Dara. OK. That was fine as long as they didn't drag things out for years. Everyone could keep a secret that long though, couldn't they? The weakest link here was probably him. Tor the bumpkin. All this intrigue stuff and lying was new to him after all.
They all talked most of the night, meaning he had to leave early to start on Ali's cake. Apple spice, with a butter cream frosting and a light dusting of crushed almonds. It was what they had the ingredients for, though he was using dried apples chopped almost into powder. At dinner everyone clapped and called Ali out, let her have some cake, and then proceeded to do lewd things to her that would have been illegal the day before in Noram. Like half of them hadn't done the same things already.
They stopped short of getting really naughty, and apparently no noble girl was really expected to make it to fourteen as a virgin, but it was the tradition to pretend anyway. What could they do? Tradition was tradition after all. Finally she settled on his lap and asked for her present. Tor was thankful that he'd packaged something up for her, things that got applause even though out of everything only the house was really hard to get yet. At least for this crowd.
Smiling she leaned in and kissed him.
“That's not what I meant.” Her hand reached between his legs to the laugher of the room, making him blush. That and squirm a little.
Oh.
Oh.
She was legal, so it wasn't a problem there and so completely not a virgin that it wouldn't hurt anything, but he felt like they should wait for their wedding night. Then again he'd done that twice and it hadn't worked for him at all, had it? Could they split the difference somehow?
Petra had an answer for him.
“Sure. We won't dock until tomorrow afternoon, not really docking at all. Wait two hours for midnight, have the wedding here and the King’s orders will be fulfilled. Consummate and everything will be jolly.” She kept her words low.
Honestly, Tor hadn't been aware that she knew that much about why they were getting married, but apparently either as ship’s Captain, member of the secret army or just his girlfriend, she'd picked up that this wasn't just a casual thing.
At sea, the Captain could marry people legally. Everyone knew this, except him, which made Tor duck his head, slightly ashamed. Right, it was in the stories of nobles and merchants, but not bumpkins.
They had two hours in which to decorate and pick clothing. And of course, now that a marriage was going to happen, Tor wasn't allowed to see her, it was bad luck. Petra his go-to clothing person, was helping the bride, so he got Karina and Rolph instead. They'd worn clothes almost their whole lives, they assured him, so it wouldn't be a problem. He ended up in black velvet with tight white stockings under loose pants and a fine jacket that hugged the waist, for color he had a brilliant red sash that ran from left shoulder to right hip.
Rolph looked at him and shook his head.
“It will have to do, can't change the face at this late date.”
Karina punched her brother on the arm hard enough to activate his shield.
“Don't you dare tease him now, besides, you know full well that if we sent him out on the streets of the Capital looking like this we'd never see him again. Some Countess, or Princess, would kidnap him and he'd be whisked off the country. I'm not at all sure it would be me getting there first either. It would be a race.” She sighed.
“My lovely Tor.” She petted his arm lightly and looked at him wistfully, but didn't kiss him or even move in to hug.
The ceremony was short, but attended by a group of splendidly clad combat giants and ten Royal Guards dressed in full livery, stiff black and purple, standing on either side of the top deck spectators behind with the Prince and Princess as the first maid and best man. Petra had jotted down the words quickly, but they resonated with him. Powerfully.
“To protect, to honor, to love.” She said calmly, but loudly, the rest of the people behind them repeating the words when she said them. It was an impressive effect, something to remember if he was ever designing such a ceremony, that group chanting thing. Tor glanced at Alissa, trying to keep the nervousness off his face as she was asked if she took him as her husband.
She said yes. A simple word, but when he was asked Tor thought his voice might catch or crack and betray him. Somehow it came out strong and clear.
“Yes.” Maybe too loud? No one laughed at him.
“Then so be it, you are for now, and always, man and wife.”
No one had to tell them to kiss.
That was in all the stories, even in Two Bends, and everyone did it. Somehow, magically, bafflingly, he'd done it. He was married. It hit him all at once, but he wasn't going to let it show now, it was done. Except for the consummation.
Normally no one would question the word of a man or woman that said they'd had sex and that the marriage was real, but this wasn't a normal situation at all was it? They kind of needed to be able to prove the deed had been done, and well enough that a child could result. It wouldn't, but that wasn't the law, they just had to do it.
Karina held Ali's hand tightly, Showing support. He'd married her as Gretchen Derring, so that it would really Count, and there could be no possible loophole. Tor led her to a bed that was set up for the purpose of making sure there were unimpeachable witnesses to the whole thing.
Whee.
No pressure or anything.
Well at least his mother wasn't there to watch. That would have made it about impossible, as it was he had to spend a lot of time on foreplay so that it wouldn't hurt her, no one had thought to bring lubricant and while she could have handled it anyway if he was quick about the whole thing, she assured him, his wife didn't have to risk pain for him.
Ever.
It lacked the sweetness he'd have liked for her, too many eyes for that, but he did everything he could, and used every trick he knew to help her relax. She didn't really, but her soft cries and finally after nearly an hour, his own, satisfied everyone watching. Then there was normally dancing, games and all that, but unless Ali wanted a post-nuptial sword fight, they didn't have a lot of games at hand and music had been totally forgotten in their hurry to get out of Noram.
She held his hand and whispered softly in his ear after the clothing was arranged and the bed put away.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Forever and for always.”
It was a lie, of course.
She was too young and too new to him for real love, but if he had to lie for her to feel safe, he'd make her think he loved her, no matter what. He'd make himself love her. For all the horrors she'd gone through, she remained sweet and innocent, or at least she could still act that way, which was probably good enough. How much could you ask of a person anyway?
He swept her into his arms and danced with her in front of everyone, someone started humming a song he thought he remembered from school, but couldn't place. Then almost everyone joined in. After a bit he recognized it, the Lairdgren school anthem “Oh, be my heart so green”. It had never made any sense to him, but now he thought he kind of got it, knowing a bit more about Burks. It wasn't about loving the school's colors beyond all reason, but the world.
It was a pledge to protect it. No matter what.
Oh. That made sense then, didn't it?
They laughed and played, holding hands while walking around so he could introduce everyone present to Mrs. Baker, a fact which they already knew was a reality first hand, a thought that made him blush, but no one teased him or Ali about it. Dara had broken down crying, and moved off to the side after giving his wife a hug. She smiled through the tears a kerchief in hand.
“May you be safe forever.” She said softly, as they walked away.
At nearly two he had to go to bed, having been up for a day already, longer than that. He also had to be up in a few hours again. Still, it was worth it, he told himself. They'd done it. Ali really was safe now. At least from her father. The rest was up to him.
They slept in the same bed and he kissed her cheek when he forced himself up to go and cook for the day. She roused and looked at him blearily.
“Hmmm. Do you want to have sex? Or I could use my mouth? Let's do that. I'm pretty good at it.” Her voice was exhausted so he chuckled and put her back to sleep, reminding her that they had forever now.
“I love you husband.” She murmured, so innocent and sweet he nearly lost it and cried.
“I love you little wife.”
That got Tor thinking. She'd be little until she got her full growth going, then she'd probably be as tall as Karen, six-six, or more. Well, that would still work in bed and if it looked funny walking together he'd work out some way to make it look better, that was all.
Maybe blinding anyone that laughed about seeing it? That would work. Tor nodded, since he knew he could make a device for it.
The morning was normal until about seven when a still tired looking Alissa walked into the kitchen and started trying to help. She explained it with a yawn. His work was hers now, right? Plus, it wasn't like she could help out with the building work, so cooking it was.
Tor smiled and set her to whisking the eggs he'd cracked already, keeping an eye on her while she tried to make scrambled for seventy-three. The big focus stone bowl nearly slipped twice, but she kept her hold on it and then tried to fix the eggs in the bowl by sitting it on the griddle top, Tor nearly panicked but then smiled and added some oil to the mix. As long as she stirred from the bottom regularly it would work. The pans were all made of the same stuff after all. He showed her how to fold them over pulling the already cooked egg from near the heat. It actually seemed to work pretty well. She needed help putting them into the big covered serving tray, and getting that to the other room, not used to carrying heavy, hot things, or possibly just wanting Tor to help her, because they were married. Either way he smiled at her.
She didn't want to leave him she said, but hadn't showered yet, and since they had plans later…
He almost drew a blank on that. Oh, plans, he got it then. Before lunch he decided. He kept having a feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong when they got to Printer. But if it did, whatever they faced, whoever it was, they'd be in for a fight if it came to it. Count or not, that bastard Derring was not going to get his bride. Not even if Tor had to rip his own field apart to stop it from happening.
Everyone else thought so too, it seemed to Tor, Kolb flying from the ship to scout things out himself first, three of his people checking in all directions. They touched down lightly on the deck over the course of ten minutes and said it was all clear.
It really was. There wasn't anyone to meet them at all. Not from the palace at least. The towns people met them in good force, and cheered when Tor introduced his new wife. For some reason they all seemed happy enough to see them all, but especially Tor. After a while he understood what the deal was, they remembered him from the big storm and apparently that meant a good bit more to them right now than more trivial things like two members of the royal family standing there beside him. All the attention for his friend just got a huge grin from Rolph though.
He was cool that way.
“See, and here you thought people didn't like you.”
Holly Printer walked out of her big house with a smile and a hug for him and one for his bride, offering them the comfort of her home for as long as they wanted. The words weren't just formal either, Tor could tell she really meant it, which was touching. He almost said yes, but Ali spoke first, a small smile on her face.
“Thank you Countess Printer, you're offer is most generous. We have our own home with us, would it be impolite to use that? Privacy… you know.” Ali sounded so correct suddenly that Tor nearly clapped his hands. A very proper wife indeed. Now if only he could manage half as well.
The Countess smiled and gave the girl another hug.
“Anything you want. Either of you, seriously. If we have it, or can get it for you, it's yours for the asking.” Turning to the short builder she grimaced a little and let out a gust of air.
“Tor… Alissa, would you please excuse me for a moment? I fear my position requires me to impart some bad news to one of your ship’s crew. I hate this part of the job, I really do.” Her eyes took on a dark tone, somber and regal at the same time.
She didn't hesitate though, hating the duty or not, walking straight to David Derring and speaking softly for a few seconds, her right hand on his upper arm gently. After a bit he said something to her, and then broke out into a grin. Then he half tackled the Countess in a hug, swinging her around happily.
“Whooooo! That fucking bastard is dead! I'm finally free! Gretchen! We're safe, we're free! It's true, the official call to mourning has gone out already! Dad's dead!” He didn't dance around, but he pumped his fist with glee and Ali clapped rapidly.
From across the winding path Dara ran over and started celebrating with them, picking Ali up in a hug and swinging her around, then grabbing Davie and pounding him on the back hard. After a few minutes David gave her a slightly funny look. It had a smile at first, still happy, but faded to something more somber after a moment.
“I'm glad that you're happy too, and trust me, if you're ever going to be pleased over any death, this is the one to celebrate, but… did you know him? He… didn't harm you or yours, did he?” His jaw clenched and the words tightened when he asked. It was all too possible that his father had done horrible things to her. It showed on his face.
She dropped the disguise and the giant boy whooped again.
“Karen! You were with us all this time? Thank god, I was so worried he'd gotten you! Oh, gods… I have both of you back.”
If there were tears then, no one bothered to notice them overly.
That led to a retelling of the whole tale, for everyone that wanted to listen, their friends, Countess Printer and even the towns people. None of them hide anything of note or left things out. Tor cried and celebrated the man’s death himself then, even with the reek of death filling his nose and hearing a whisper of the dead man’s voice in his ears. Accusing him angrily.
It was worth it.
Completely and totally.
Tor hugged his new family in their “grief” and helped them plan what to do next.