Got to love being a royal, Tor thought, wondering again what the benefits were exactly. Being rich? That was gold, not royalty. Being tall? OK, but was being able to reach the top shelf really worth it? For a split second Tor wondered what would happen if he took Karina and Nita away, say to the forest, and just left all this behind? They had another Princess after all, they didn't need this one. He couldn't protect her from life though, not and let her have one. No one could do that.
The Princess stared at him, so clearly confused that Tor almost cried.
“Tor… what, how…”
“Combat rage.” The words came out easily and without rancor. No one really meant what they did in a combat rage. So far the only one that could really control it at all seemed to be him, for all the good that did. She looked down.
“I see. Are you hurt, did I… anyone?”
It was a noble effort on her part, after that long in, that deeply under, it was amazing she could remember to try and ask the right questions. Who was I fighting? Why? Did anyone get hurt? Do I need to apologize for my actions?
It was clear that Connie wanted to run to her, but she waited. A royal had to act with decorum after something like this, even if it wasn't fair. She had to show she was in control. But it was enough. Tor dropped his shield and after a few, slow thinking seconds, she did the same, so they could touch. Other people moved in slowly each taking a turn holding her. Ali looked like she wanted to, but was baffled, not knowing her place it seemed, or why her friend had attacked like that. Tor waved her over and told her it was all right, hoping that it really was.
She hugged her friend tightly then and clearly didn't want to move, at least until Karina chuckled and suggested they go someplace softer, so it wouldn't hurt as much when she fell down.
That turned out to be bed for her, and they all trooped off to her room. It was the first Tim he’d been in her space. Looking around Tor saw that her chamber was covered with hangings showing old battles and strange devices from history that his mind could barely understand. Some of them he'd seen before though, machines that flew, like those of Austra. The shapes were different, but he got the idea rapidly enough. Products of “technology” rather than magic. Oddly on the far wall was a single tapestry that looked out of place for the room, a thick and durable woven thing that had a deep burgundy background with small black designs, diamonds, and a stylized rabbit wearing very Ancient style clothing. He had a funny hat too. Most hats were a little silly looking to Tor, but how was that one supposed to work with those ears? The light brown fur looked likely, but the eyes were an odd green color. Bunny's didn't have green eyes, did they? He'd always thought they were all black.
Karina was out faster than he expected. Then really, would he have lasted longer? After that? No, she needed to sleep and it was pretty much what had to happen now. When the light was turned off, he met everyone else in the outside hall.
“Ali… do you have parents or someone that's going to look for you tonight? We should be in touch if-” The question died on his lips as the girl hugged herself and shook her head.
“My dad, he… kicked me out two years ago… said I was too much work and didn't pull my weight. I tried, but… I was living with Lilli. I don't have anyone else. I…” Her eyes misted up, but Tor shook his head.
“You're with me now then. You can… be my assistant. Tonight though we need to stay with Kari, so no bad dreams scare her too much. Is that all right with you?” His voice could have sound patronizing using those words, or like he spoke to a child. Instead, by some miracle, he sounded reasonable and like he had a plan. Ali nodded gently but looked better somehow, less worried.
“In the morning someone will have to spell us. Rolph and Trice? No, Trice and Sara. Then at least one of you can, comfort her, if she needs it. Ridley and Alphonse later in the day? Bonita will want to come by too. Basically make sure she doesn't kill herself or go around killing other people for now. And… if she insists on running off, anywhere, I'm going with her. If anyone tries to stop us, if that's her choice… I'll…” Do what? Yell at them and cry? What could he do that wouldn't make things worse?
“What I'll do is… go anyway. With her. Alright?”
Oddly everyone but Sara nodded. Even the King and Queen.
“Me too. If there's leaving, I'm going along.” It was a simple statement and probably meant that she could act as a spy for the King if need be, but that was alright. She could come, they all could as far as he was concerned. His point, if he even had one, was just that he wasn't abandoning his friend when things got hard for her. That was all.
For some reason Trice was standing beside him, her right hand in his left. It didn't bother him, but it seemed odd. Really if anyone was going to feel the urge to hold his hand here, he would have expected Connie to, but her thoughts went to her child, where they belonged.
But didn't Trice have Ridley now? Or, really, probably the whole time they knew each other? It was alright, but seemed odd to him. So much did here. In a way he longed for the more innocent times of even two years before, when he was just a school boy and no one treated him as anything more. Back when everyone was pleased enough if he did his school work on time and managed a little extra credit now and again. No girls looked at him to do more than glare and the boys only glanced to make sure they didn't accidentally step on him.
Or even the times when he could hide in his work and not be a part of everything. Back when, if he just left no one really worried or cared, they only wanted him for his work. Was that different now? He didn't know, but it felt like it. Maybe people didn't love him, but they acted like it, they hugged him and held his hand and even made love to him, saying it was because they wanted to.
Nita wouldn't want him now, of course, not after Rolph had been with her. Tor couldn't compete with him, the Prince was just… incredible. Petra had hardly talked to him in days, so she probably had some boyfriend from home he didn't know about, or one of Kolb's people. She was one of them, so why wouldn't she? They all had more in common anyway. And Trice was… weird. She held his hand and didn't let go, as if they were together or something. Yeah, he'd called her his girlfriend, but what was the definition of that in their world, the noble world?
In his, it would mean that they'd most likely get married, but that clearly wasn't the case. Which was fine, her being a royal and all… a noble, Tor corrected after half a second of thinking about it.
Even that, he realized looking around, was different here. In his home village, anyone over six-six was a “royal”, title or not. Here the King’s family were the royals, the others with titles were nobles and there were layers and levels below them.
With him at the bottom.
Only that wasn't true, he reminded himself, as Burks had told him to.
Tor was only, what, two steps from Rolph or Karina? One if he took over as Count some day. And he was a Knight. A small, weak, and right now internally whiny one, but he had the title. Basically, for him it just meant doing what the King said and trying to protect people. It was as close as he could come to describing what he'd want to do right now. The protecting and helping people part.
Trice didn't let go of him when he went into Karina's room, following instead. Well, the bed was big enough, and Ali took the outside anyway, so he snuggled in between Karina and Trice. She didn't try anything, she just hugged him, as if he was the one going through all the darkness here. It was nice, but Tor would be fine, in the end, he always was.