But the Count seemed to get the idea without needing to be told. A benefit of being thousands of years old probably. It was good. Tor wasn't sure exactly how to go about capturing an Ancient anyway.
He seemed entertained by the antics at least. Then he probably found it cute too, since Tor and Burks patterns were essentially the same.
Tor walked in and gave her a huge hug.
“Nita! So I hear you've talked the Count into settling down? I figured it would be you… who could resist?” Certainly not Tor. She was nice. Her face was close to a true oval, her eyes just a bit too far apart for pretty and her nose was large, straight down the middle and hooked down at the end, but on the wrong face for it to really work. Her smile showed too much gum and her laugh was shy and timid most of the time. She was also one of the sweetest and most caring people he'd ever met, and bright too. In short, nearly perfect.
At least if you had enough brains to see it.
Burks did. So did Tor. Seeing them so happy together made him a little sad, but joyful at the same time. They both deserved something wonderful in their lives. Nita smiled at him, large and innocent.
“I know, I didn't even have to bribe him or anything, go figure? It's good to see you Tor. Do you have time to chat?”
Did he? Sure, he had all the time in the world for her. Especially if it meant putting of thinking about his pending mission. Burks chuckled, obviously having a good idea of what he was thinking. He was older, wiser and probably better at everything imaginable, but he'd been Tor. The circumstances were different, but he'd lived all this more than once, probably.
“We could spend forever here and be marvelously happy love, but every moment we waste could be the one that costs us everything. Obviously Denno can't save himself. Unless this is just a trap. It wouldn't be like him, but even those like me and Tor are people, and can make mistakes and do things that others simply don't understand. Which brings me to the first thing I wanted to talk to you about Tor…” Burks gently moved him towards the door. It wasn’t all that subtle even.
Laughing Tor quickly hugged Nita again and then kissed her, more warmly than he really should have in front of her prospective husband, but she returned it without pause. If Burks didn't like it, he shouldn't have made “the rules” like he had. The whole messed up system of the nobles was literally the old man's creation after all. Tor kissed Nita again and whispered that he'd see her soon into her ear. Then he got pulled out the door a little forcefully. Burks was chuckling a bit himself, so it wasn't meant to be a true chastisement.
They talked while they flew, taking one of the new carriages that Tor had made, the really fast ones. Tor made it gray to match the color of the clouds above. He didn’t want to scare anyone seeing it, who might think it an Austran craft come to bomb their little town or village.
Burks had started with small talk and watched Tor carefully, trying to remember what it was like to be that young. Most likely realizing how stupid it meant too, Tor thought. Well, that wasn't wrong.
He still did things because his feelings were hurt and reacted like a buffoon when a pretty girl paid attention to him sometimes. That was the hard part too, the “sometimes”. One day a woman would proposition him for sex and he coolly accept. The next day a nervous young lady would ask if he was free to chat and he'd stammer and feel like his face was on fire from blushing.
It was idiotic for him to go instead of Burks. If they could swing a good disguise device they should both go, of course, but him alone? That would be suicide. Still, if that was the plan, he had to try it. If someone called you brother and meant it, then you had to do what you could for them, didn't you?
Really he just wondered how he could bring Burks around to thinking that the idea was the right one? He was wiser, a way better fighter, maybe one of the best in the world, and had that calm under fire that Tor wondered if he'd really ever learn, same being or not. If he were the one held hostage, Burks would be the one to come get him, not some eighteen year old knock-off that could freak out at any moment.
Burks just sighed.
“I think I should go in as you Tor, I-”
“OK.” Tor cut him off, relief rushing through him.
“What?” The old man, Ancient and wise stared at him. “I'm pretty sure we're supposed to argue about this all the way to Grenwyn, then you grudgingly accept my superior skill and ability to handle the unknown and we go from there, we me carefully managing you the whole time. It's why I left two whole weeks to get ready.”
Tor chuckled.
“You're three thousand years old. If you aren't better than me at nearly everything, possibly even things I haven't imagined being real, then… no… really, You're just better. You can go in and I'll work back up, transportation and any building you think you need. I have some stuff ready and some ideas. Besides, I'd rather not have my nuts cut off. I've barely gotten to use them you know. I still haven't tried half the things Ursala, Countess Thorgood, told me about. So… is that Grenwyn down there? I've never been. It looks like Afrak… only greener.”
It did too. If Tor hadn't seen the way they lived, their domes earth houses and plants everywhere, almost turning their very spread out cities into giant gardens, he'd have missed this now. It was impressive, stunning from the air, in that it was nearly invisible. The only thing that gave it away were a few wood smoke plums rising from hills.
The Count nodded.
“There it is indeed, home sweet home. I did mention that gardening could be a satisfying hobby, didn't I? Land over there please.” He pointed to a clearing near a large hill, covered with shrubs and blackberry bushes and surrounded by trees. Evergreens at a distance, but there were fruit and nut trees throughout.
Burks looked at him from the side seat.
“That was a bit quicker than I expected. Obviously this isn't a regular carriage.”
“Yeah, but not even close to what the Austrans have. Quieter, but they can outrun us. I really don't have time to figure out how to do more before we go, I don't think. We'll need to be gone before they know it. If we can, say, get an eight hour head start, it should work.”
Not commenting the other man popped the top and stepped out easily. Tor couldn't match the grace of the movement, but did get out without tripping at this time. A woman of about thirty came out the reddish brown door sunk back into the hill and stopped suddenly, staring first at Burks and then Tor. After a moment she tried to speak, but nothing came out.
“Um, hi, I'm Tor. You can tell because I'm shorter. And I think our haircuts are different. If you want I can change my clothes into something else, here…” His voice was happy sounding enough, nearly charming even as he focused and made his student browns turn a deep purple so that he didn't look as much like the other man. Finally the woman glared at Burks and then Tor.
“I see. So this is some kind of game your playing with me? Telling me my cousin the famous builder is coming and then showing up with two of yourself instead? Well I never!” She held the incensed act, with hands on the hips of her brown dress, a gray rag in hand and an equally drab kerchief on her head for about fifteen seconds. Then she grinned, a wide and playful thing that reminded Tor a little of his mother.
“Ah, don't mind me Torrance. I'm Brenda, and actually was warned about all this. I can't say I believed it, but I was given foreknowledge, so any shock I feel is my own failing. You'll be staying here. Notice that wasn't a question? If it's not grand enough for you, then I'll beat you with a wooden stirring spoon until it is.” The tone and words reminded him of someone.