“I… Forgive me please. I erred out of-” The man seemed to flounder for a bit so Tor let him off the hook with a waved hand.
“Nah, don't bother yourself over it, it's my problem not yours. I'll get it fixed. Now, you seem a little upset with your brother, is everything all right?”
That started the shouting match. The big one, who now that Tor got a good look did appear to resemble his younger and smaller brother a bit, was named Johan. At least that was what Gersh kept saying trying to get his attention long enough to explain how he was able to afford eating at the nice restaurant if their father hadn't given him the lion’s share of the school funds. It seemed that this year the funds they'd gotten were only about a third of what they had the previous year and their father had cautioned them to be more frugal.
Henry looked at the scene and spoke softly to the girls.
“It's the war with Austra. Even without huge battles yet a lot of the budget for the kingdom is going to pay for military buildup, so people that own businesses that don't deal with that area directly are losing money. It settles down so that the whole economy slows. The big merchants make more money for less work, and fewer people have jobs. Everyone is feeling the pinch now. If I didn't have this scholarship from the King, I'd be getting ready for a day’s labor at a mine somewhere to keep my belly full. That or trying to sneak into the army myself.” The boy pushed his light brown hair out of the way, it was slightly matted with sweat.
Rolph nodded after listening.
“That's not exactly correct, but the end result is about the like that. Even my parents sent me with half funds and told me to make do this year.”
That got Tor’s attention fast. Since he was doing so well it hadn't occurred to him that other people wouldn't be. His breath nearly froze in his lungs then. The reason they weren't doing better was even largely to do with him and the devices he made. What could he do about it though? It was frustrating. He knew that just giving money out wouldn't work, everyone had told him what a bad plan that was, but these people here, they were students. No one had time to get a job on the side, not a real one. Some of the poorer kids would even find themselves lacking funds for school supplies, just so he could have golds building up hand over fist in vaults around the kingdom. Gold he wasn't even using for anything.
“Um, Johan is it?” Tor said, the big man going silent suddenly, blushing and biting his lip, nodding and remembering that he'd just called the man in front of him a girl. That could lead to a fight, dual or even assassination attempt if Tor wasn't just going to really take the blame and fix the issue like he'd said.
“I paid for everyone and Rolph got the tip, so this situation at least isn't indicative of your brother having any extra funds at the moment. I'm sorry for any mix up or distress this might have caused you.” Bowing low he waited, the other guy could do anything now, including telling him to get out of the way so that he and his brother could have a row in the street. They were brothers, it wasn't like Tor could beat Johan up if they did fight.
Instead the man bowed back, nodding.
“Sorry.” It was mumbled, but seemed genuine enough. Really the big guy just looked horribly embarrassed again.
Rolph, being used to command started ushering them all back towards the school, smiling and laughing the whole way. Everyone else felt relieved enough to join in, problem averted, except Tor of course, who had no clue about what to do now. Ali walked up beside him and took his hand gently.
“You're always so brave. When I saw those big men coming I almost ran away in fright!” She sounded very young just then, so he gave her hand a squeeze back.
“Exactly the right thing to do in case of a real attack, even if you have a shield on. Don't be shy about it, no one expects you to jump forth and do battle at a moment’s notice or anything like that.” Wrinkling his nose he grinned at her and bumped his shoulder against hers.
“Honestly I shouldn't have done it either. It's never a good idea to get in between family members squabbling. If one attacks you, then you kind of have to protect yourself, but the rest would have to jump in and help them, because they're family, right? It was silly of me.” The shrug he gave her was distracted and slightly abstract, but she cuddled up against his arm as they walked, either not noticing or getting that her husband was just odd like that sometimes.
They stayed as a group though, some fourteen people, most of whom Tor didn't know at all. Probably half spies. Actually, the ones in black were literally spies, but not necessarily targeted towards him personally. As they passed the Dean’s office Tor sighed and led everyone inside. Gersh and Johan both looked down guiltily for some reason, but bravely strode to the front of the group, standing right behind Ali and Tor.
Ready for their beating or whatever they expected. Tor didn't care about that though. It had just been an argument after all. People did that.
There was a small waiting area, brown wood that looked a little gray with age and neglect, with a high counter of the same material in front of them. Behind it sat a sour looking man, Proctor Campbell, who stared at everyone in the group closely, as if memorizing their faces for arrest later. When he got to Tor he snorted.
“Trouble already?” Was all he said, his voice actually sounding like the man was sucking lemons before they'd come in. Did he keep one in his pocket at all times, Tor wondered? It must take something special to keep that expression so dour like that.
“Yes, but I'd like to speak to the Dean if he's in sir, if that's all right sir. I know he's probably hugely busy right now, but I promise to only take a moment of his time.”
The man harrumphed loudly and gave him a doubtful look, but didn't lecture him about how improper it was of him to come in demanding to be seen like some minor lord of the keep asking to see the head groomsman in the stables. A half minute later Campbell came back and said that they could enter.
“Thank you sir.” Tor looked at the group for a few seconds. Who did they really need?
“Um, Rolph, Ali, Ridley and… Henry I think, would you all come in with me?” It was a request and only Henry looked worried about it. Ali did feel worried, but Tor could only tell because he was getting to know her signs about such things. Her face had stayed perfectly relaxed and gone almost blank. With her, blank meant scared. Nothing in her life had trained her to do otherwise, not her abusive monster of a father or living on the streets for years.
They moved in quickly, Tor hurrying a little because the Dean really would be busy this time of year. It was the beginning of term after all.
“Mr. Baker? Is there a problem or is this about what we talked of earlier?” The tone was a little cool, clearly thinking that it might be another attempt to get his housing situation around.
Tor shook his head.
“No sir, I understand the importance of rules and tradition, it isn't that… Um, this is a little awkward, but I guess that a lot of kids aren't going to be coming well funded this year and, I don't want to embarrass anyone, but people should have food and school supplies…”
Sighing Hardgrove nodded, “Indeed. Unfortunately the school doesn't have a lot of extra resources right now. About half the students are new and on scholarship from either the King or Countess Printer. Amazing good luck for us, since she's starting her own school as well. Knows the value of education and threw some youngsters our way as well, but there's only so much we can do. Most of our people have already agreed to work for half wages as it is, just so we can stay afloat. I've personally set all my own coin towards that end and won't be drawing anything at all until things settle.” His hands went wide and the face under the gray beard grimaced. His bald head shone a little on top too.
This next part was what Tor dreaded most. How did he arrange things so that it wouldn't look like he was playing the big man and throwing golds around to impress people? Taking a deep breath he jumped in with his idea.