Maria and
Marvin. Rebellion right then was stupid. If he'd been the one in charge he
would have told everyone to wait ten years, for things to stabilize a little.
Or at least make sure they had regular food before spending their time and
efforts trying to get rid of a King that was no worse than any they'd ever had.
"I'll ask about that. Even
if I can't figure it out, I bet some of the others can. We should get back,
before everyone thinks that I'm stealing you away tonight." Not that it
wouldn't be fun, but it was pretty clear that wasn't exactly what the woman was
going for.
"Thank you. I know that
you'll do what you can."
Then, as they walked back, she
folded the paper she'd been working on and handed it to him. He made a special
little pocket for it, on his left breast, so he wouldn't lose it. There was a
little flap that lifted, keeping it from falling out.
Debbie might not have been family
to the Wards, but she walked right into the palace there as if she owned it,
not even bothering to knock. In a bit they were back with Collette and the
others, who seemed to have done their writing work quickly enough. One by one
they all handed him their sealed envelopes, marked with different names on the
outside. Several to Tiera, Timon and Tor. One addressed to Conserina Karen
Derring, and one to Conserina Farlo Ross. They were both in the same hand, if
he could make that kind of thing out well enough.
Thanks to Patty he could
understand them. He hadn't lied to Debbie, about not reading well, but his
writing was very slow and stilted, comparatively. Gerent could make out most of
the simple words on things now, if he tried hard enough, and guessed for a
while. He'd never even tried to read something like a whole book. That was the
same as magic to him. As far as he knew it was even related. After all, the
wizards he'd met could all read.
Gerent was willing to stay and
talk, but the important things had apparently all happened while he was being
coached by Debbie at her store. Collette stood and started hugging people at
any rate, so he followed along. Bowing to most of them, except for Petra who
grabbed him pretty forcefully. The embrace being just a bit warm. Friendly
even.
That got Maria to smile and move in
for her own hug, though the Count stood back this time, just smiling.
His deep voice rumbled enough
that Ger actually felt it in his chest.
"We can expect you both back
soon? Perhaps for a longer stay?" It was polite, but the fact of the
matter was that Gerent just didn't know the real answer.
Collette started to nod, as if
wanting that, but he had to think first, trying to work everything out.
"We'd love to, of course,
and one way or another I will be back with aid for your people. Even if
I have to tie Tor to a chair and threaten to ruin his baking for a whole day to
get it done. As for the rest, I don't know what I'll have time for soon. If
things are this bad here, well, other places will need help too. Afrak,
Austra... Vagus and Tellerand. I don't even want to start to imagine what's
happened in Soam."
The whole room got quiet then,
and everyone stared right at him, as if he'd said something wrong . Not
just slightly off, but an evil so vast and dark that he might need to be
cleansed with fire to make the words right in the minds of those present. Then,
even when no one else moved, Baron Eager bowed, going low. After ten seconds he
stood, his face a bit red from exertion.
"I think, in our focus on
personal concerns, that we forgot about those others. Thank you for reminding
us. I'll..." He sighed and shook his head, then looked at Countess
Printer. "I have to see to my people first, but surely some of our young
people could be spared to help with such efforts? You could offer them extra
marks in school for good works, perhaps? Not that I'm telling you how to run
your school..." He blushed, but Holly just let her face look bemused and
nodded, which got the man to relax a good bit.
Then she looked at the
Marvin. Rebellion right then was stupid. If he'd been the one in charge he
would have told everyone to wait ten years, for things to stabilize a little.
Or at least make sure they had regular food before spending their time and
efforts trying to get rid of a King that was no worse than any they'd ever had.
"I'll ask about that. Even
if I can't figure it out, I bet some of the others can. We should get back,
before everyone thinks that I'm stealing you away tonight." Not that it
wouldn't be fun, but it was pretty clear that wasn't exactly what the woman was
going for.
"Thank you. I know that
you'll do what you can."
Then, as they walked back, she
folded the paper she'd been working on and handed it to him. He made a special
little pocket for it, on his left breast, so he wouldn't lose it. There was a
little flap that lifted, keeping it from falling out.
Debbie might not have been family
to the Wards, but she walked right into the palace there as if she owned it,
not even bothering to knock. In a bit they were back with Collette and the
others, who seemed to have done their writing work quickly enough. One by one
they all handed him their sealed envelopes, marked with different names on the
outside. Several to Tiera, Timon and Tor. One addressed to Conserina Karen
Derring, and one to Conserina Farlo Ross. They were both in the same hand, if
he could make that kind of thing out well enough.
Thanks to Patty he could
understand them. He hadn't lied to Debbie, about not reading well, but his
writing was very slow and stilted, comparatively. Gerent could make out most of
the simple words on things now, if he tried hard enough, and guessed for a
while. He'd never even tried to read something like a whole book. That was the
same as magic to him. As far as he knew it was even related. After all, the
wizards he'd met could all read.
Gerent was willing to stay and
talk, but the important things had apparently all happened while he was being
coached by Debbie at her store. Collette stood and started hugging people at
any rate, so he followed along. Bowing to most of them, except for Petra who
grabbed him pretty forcefully. The embrace being just a bit warm. Friendly
even.
That got Maria to smile and move in
for her own hug, though the Count stood back this time, just smiling.
His deep voice rumbled enough
that Ger actually felt it in his chest.
"We can expect you both back
soon? Perhaps for a longer stay?" It was polite, but the fact of the
matter was that Gerent just didn't know the real answer.
Collette started to nod, as if
wanting that, but he had to think first, trying to work everything out.
"We'd love to, of course,
and one way or another I will be back with aid for your people. Even if
I have to tie Tor to a chair and threaten to ruin his baking for a whole day to
get it done. As for the rest, I don't know what I'll have time for soon. If
things are this bad here, well, other places will need help too. Afrak,
Austra... Vagus and Tellerand. I don't even want to start to imagine what's
happened in Soam."
The whole room got quiet then,
and everyone stared right at him, as if he'd said something wrong . Not
just slightly off, but an evil so vast and dark that he might need to be
cleansed with fire to make the words right in the minds of those present. Then,
even when no one else moved, Baron Eager bowed, going low. After ten seconds he
stood, his face a bit red from exertion.
"I think, in our focus on
personal concerns, that we forgot about those others. Thank you for reminding
us. I'll..." He sighed and shook his head, then looked at Countess
Printer. "I have to see to my people first, but surely some of our young
people could be spared to help with such efforts? You could offer them extra
marks in school for good works, perhaps? Not that I'm telling you how to run
your school..." He blushed, but Holly just let her face look bemused and
nodded, which got the man to relax a good bit.
Then she looked at the
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