She nodded and said that they'd do that, carefully not looking at Tor. Quietly she suggested that they set aside some of the funds for those children that lived in orphanages. They didn't often get fine foods or parties. They weren't abused, but that didn't mean life was simple or easy for them.
It made sense to him at least, but he didn't say anything. It was her idea.
A very kind one too.
At the end of two hours they stopped and ate dinner, which was done in high palace fashion. There he was between Collette and her mother, again pretty far down the table. He managed to sit without too much discomfort and smiled at the ladies, listening more than speaking. They had a lot of ideas about things too. A whole lot. After dinner he mentioned that, and coaxed them to speak even in the company they were keeping. Then he shut up and let the real powers in the room take over again. He didn't nod off, but he so truly wanted to.
Finally he got to leave, Johanson only half happy.
“I was kind of hoping that we could spend a bit more, to tell the truth.”
“Get with the, I don't know what to call them… The top of the table there? I once heard from the King that you were the best person he'd ever seen when it came to spending golds. It wasn't an insult or a joke either. So you know, counsel away.” He smiled which got the older man to simply snort back.
“Oh, I do like you Counselor Baker. I do indeed.” The bow he gave had no irony at all and he walked off to bug the Queen immediately.
Half an hour later, Tor was in his room, actually getting to sleep in his bed, the sores mainly healed. It felt nice, but he still had to sleep on his side mainly. He woke up, snuggled between two bodies. Large and warm, but both female, and no one was doing anything to him at all, so he just went back to sleep. In the morning it was a bit of a shock to find that it was Maria that held him from behind, smelling of jasmine and lavender and Collette in front, his right arm gently over her. Just past that on the huge bed that had gotten bigger while he slept in it, he thought, was Count Ward holding Trice, Ali was between them all and slept alone, looking young and cute, eyes closed tight to block out the bit of sun coming through the window.
It took a minute to get free and Maria woke up, murmured something at him and then went back to sleep. Well, they were friends and they'd followed his rules, so he had to be all right with it. He also needed, rather badly, to first go to the bathroom and then get to everything he needed done. It was looking to be a long day again…
Except that he had help, didn't he? Smiling, he got himself cleaned up and showered, then shook first Trice and then the count awake.
“Work time!” He whispered, but tried to sound happy about it. He felt that way. For the first time in his life, having help didn't feel like cheating.
Not overly.
Just a little.
Tor found the little room behind the dining area and decided to use that for his office and got a couple of soft lounging chairs to appear by thinking about it for a few moments while touching the wall on the left, which Collette had decorated to look like wood and leather for some reason. It had a real “work” atmosphere at least. The chairs matched the color of the wall, but had a surface like satin, which he liked the feel of better personally. They were very fine looking, but Tor made himself stand. He needed the exercise.
When the others were comfy he went over what needed to be done for the day. Trice had some paper and took notes. It was darling of her, because he'd forgotten to do anything like that. It was nerve racking talking to two nobles like they were supposed to be listening to him, but they’d agreed. Still, it was hard. He kept expecting Count Ward to order his death or something. After all, he'd been touching his wife all night. It didn't matter that “The Rules” didn't allow for that level of jealousy at all. Tor still half expected it.
“If you'd go up to Lairdgren today and check on the working group there Count Ward? We really need to make sure they're resting at least part of the time, oh, and eating. Make sure there are people seeing that they don't go hungry if they’re in a working trance for too long. That can be fatal. They should be looking out for each other, but they all have loads of work right now. I don’t want anyone being missed.” Tor thought for a few seconds, going silent.
“Oh, um, also, be encouraging? They can all do more than they have been for instance. Pat them on the back and make sure they know I have complete faith and confidence in them? I do, so it shouldn't be hard to manage.”
The Count chuckled a low rumble deep in his chest.
“I can do that directly. Just get with the headmaster to find them all?” He said as if going to the man in charge just made sense to him. After all, he'd be able to walk him over to everyone’s rooms, wouldn't he?
Tor froze for a second. It was noble like in how high handed it was, but the Dean deserved far more respect than being used for errands. At least ones for Tor. He blinked…
“Um… Yes, but I need to send a letter with you for that, I think. Or, I don't know, I mean you have a Counts right, but I'm just some former school student of his, what should I do here?” A fine social panic tore through him then but Trice just looked at him appraisingly, fortunately getting it all without explanation.
She was incredible like that.
“If it's just Tor asking, then you need to find someone else to take your messages around. Sending a Count, even one that's a friend of yours, is too much. If it's the Counselor of magics doing it, then Kyle will just have to jump and pretend to like it. He's high merchant class, and important himself, as you know, but as headmaster…” She spread her hands.
“Now if you were going, or just some regular errand boy, it wouldn't matter. Just grab some kid in the commons to show them around…” She glanced at the Count and smiled.
“I know, why not pull out your William Merchant disguise? Then you can do either without seeming high handed. Sure, Rolph's dad coming to check on everyone won't have the same impact, but everyone likes him there and really, that seems far more likely than a Count being sent anyway. Tor knows the man too, so it works all around. I can fly you in, using Tor’s fast carriage and be back inside an hour and a half, then pick you up later? Or, I don't know Tor, do you have an extra of those floating around?”
He did and ran to get one, just sitting in a box near the front door. It was more of a pained shuffle than a real run, but it wasn't floating and faster than a walk.
Yay improvement!
The Count and Trice had followed him out, because he hadn't said anything about coming back. That was really rude of him, but neither seemed overly concerned.
“Here. Oh, and a better shield… Or, no you already have a class six. Does Maria?” It was a good question. Having been used by the Larval assassins already and personally threatened, she might be subject to a death dust attack or just a knife when she wasn't ready.
“No. I've offered her mine, but she refused, since it was given directly from your hand. She doesn't wish to stress your good will.”
Tor couldn't help it, his head tilted and eyebrows went up slowly, it felt like his face was melting. Maria was forgoing protection, fearing he might be concerned about where a shield went? He shook his head.
“I'll… fix that then. Um here. Just you know, don't go to war with the kingdom using these, right? It's part of the deal all the Counts have to agree to when they get weapons.” It was too. Even Ursala had to agree to it.
Trice sucked in air like she was drowning. It made Tor jump a little.
“Oh, Gods, I… that's not some weird insult is it? Giving him weapons? It's just a an air choke and an explosive weapon, one of the smaller ones, not a copy of the planet killer.”