The wild looking man let his eyes go wide for a second, and smiled.
“That's more than fair. Honestly the men have been getting a little lazy to tell the truth. We have a few sections deployed, but most of the time they’re just practicing now. This is the most boring war I ever heard of. Get with me on what is required and we'll make it happen.” As an afterthought the man bowed his head a little and smiled. “Lord Baker.”
Tor shook his head again, which got Varley to giggle behind her hand.
“Oh! No one mentioned that to you?” She looked at the King, who gave her a look, one that clearly said “shut up” but then he smiled.
“No dear, I haven't brought it up yet. Things aren't settled and it seemed unwise to dump anything more on his shoulders at the moment.”
Tor tilted his head.
“Um, what? You know that just saying that and then not telling me is mean right? What's the joke? Did you name me “Lord of Children's Entertainers” or something like that? If so, I'm totally out of my depth. I guess I can get up to speed. Do they even have a guild?” He mugged a little, getting a soft titter from the group as a whole. For a second Tor wondered if they really had. Well, as long as he didn't have to rip his field apart, or do more than suggest that the capering and merry making looked good that day, he'd deal.
The King smiled.
“Counselor of Magics. It's a new position, but one that seems needed with all the new devices coming on the market.” For some reason he didn't seem to be kidding.
The room murmured at him then, “Lord Baker.”
Ah. So not a joke? Goody, more work. Well, as long as it was mainly him nodding his head and telling people good job…
The King continued then looking not at him, but Smythe.
“For now however, both Baker and Morgan are assigned to you Counselor Smythe. For the current investigation. Other than those duties, both are to rest. You have the resources of the kingdom to assure that.”
Smythe didn't smile, “Yes, Sire.”
Then he turned to the others and nodded. “After this discussion we meet.”
A simple enough command. Tor answered, amiably enough. Trice grunted softly, still glaring at Tor as if he'd beaten her puppy. Had he somehow? Maria was her girlfriend and if she thought he was trying to be mean to her, that would do it. Still, how would that work given what he'd said? Had he really gotten something that wrong? Maria still looked miserable. Hugely so. How had an apology caused that?
Blinking Tor realized that that Ali, sitting next to him, was shaking his arm gently. He glanced at her as she spoke, her gaze going across the table.
Karina looked at him expectantly, as if she'd just asked a question. Tor shook his head, making her face fall. Gah. This was all so hard.
“Sorry, what? I was thinking and didn't hear that.”
“I asked if I can go with you back to Lairdgren, just to visit?”
“Oh… Well, yeah, I don't know when that will be, and it has to be OK'd by Veren and George, as well as your parents of course, but they already kind of said yes, but, I mean, I have the room and can get you back at need. Should work. Better, I'll just give you a fast carriage and you can take care of that yourself.” It wasn't a perfect plan, because she might try and use it to go after Daria, but as long as she agreed not to and go with using the professionals for that instead, it was a good idea. Really, they should all have them. Tor sighed. Well, he wasn't making them, was he?
No.
The Lairdgren group was. He nodded.
“So, I'll get those down for all of you as soon as possible.”
No one said anything about it, probably thinking, rightfully so, that “as soon as possible” meant months, or years. He let them. It would be a good project for the kids at school, wouldn't it?
After everyone largely left, he floated along with Trice and the older white haired Counselor to his plain, nearly austere, chambers. When they got there he sat Trice down and indicated a good place for Tor to hover.
“The case has stalled. Right now we're in the portion where we desperately grasp at straws and admit to ourselves that without another attack, we simply have nothing to go on. I have the interview playbacks, which both of you should go over. Maybe one of you will find something I missed? Other than that, I simply don't have use for you yet. Until then, I think that it would serve well enough for you both to go to Lairdgren and take care of matters there.” He spread both hands, a thing which got Trice's attention, and some raised eyebrows, but no comment.
“If you could make certain you're both reachable within, say, a days notice? I know that would normally be impossible, but given everything…”
“We can do that. I'll see to it.” Tor said more firmly than he thought he could really manage. Good, but odd.
Smythe rose and ushered them out with a fatherly wave.
“Good. I'm not truly certain why I've been, honored, with having both of you as assistants, but right now I'd take a diseased donkey if it would help. I truly dislike this kind of investigation. Every day I fail to find the killer, it's a chance another innocent dies.” He seemed really sad about it, but Tor understood. He held his right hand out to the man, which he took, if awkwardly.
“Each day we fail. We will find them and stop them. Whatever the cost.” He sounded bold when he said it. Stupidly so.
“Whatever the cost.” Trice added softly, almost crying again.
Smythe just bowed, a little, towards them both.
Chapter Fourteen
“OK, Trice, spill already, I clearly did something wrong and you clearly want to scream at me over it, so, let it out and we can move past it or I can try and fix it or at least feel bad about what an awful person I am.” They were both in the front of the carriage, a fast one, sitting side by side. She was driving, being better at it than he was and nearly back to normal, physically at least. A little thin, but nothing a few good meals and some exercise wouldn't fix. Everyone else was in the back.
That included the Wards for some reason, which he was almost fine with. It wasn't his idea of a fun good time, but, well, he'd said they were all friends now, hadn't he? It meant that he had to let the past with them go.
Except for them getting a bunch of girls pregnant to punish Rolph. He'd forgive his part in it, but Ward had better step the heck up and make sure his child, even if claimed by Count Peterson, didn't suffer for it. Ever. That was part of being a good friend too though, wasn't it? Making sure your buddies didn't mess up too much?
Next to him, Trice went a bit stiff through the face, lips turning white. Then she growled at him.
“You know what you did.” It sounded angry.
Tor just grinned and shook his head.
“No, not this time love. You know that I'm not from here, and that a lot of the rules I know are totally different than the ones you know. If I messed up, either fill me in or let it go, because I really don't have the energy to play three weeks of “you know what you did” followed by two of “It's nothing” and you should get that. Just sitting here is killing my behind you know. Granted, that's my fault, but, you know, it means I'm not up to taking a lot of extra emotional trauma right now. Poor weak little me… So, seriously, what is it?” It could be anything, from giving her the little dragon amulet to, he just didn't know, what she said, voice low and hissing, was unexpected though.
“What did you do? Oh, let's see… That's right, Maria went to bow to you, to humble herself for raping you and you didn't let her. Then, even being sick, nearly to death, you laid on the floor and begged her forgiveness for… I heard it and I still don't know what you were thinking.” She growled again.