Then they started again. It was so brutal that everyone was standing around and staring by the time they were finishing up.
"Gods, what did she do to deserve
that
? I know she missed yesterday, but isn't that a bit extreme?" The words came from a fourth year girl that Tiera knew as Brettle, and thought might be a Conserina, but wasn't certain. They'd worked together, but not often at all.
Kolb took the healing amulet when she was done and passed it to Karen who didn't need it long, and then Havar, for about the same amount of time. Kolb went last, being the least harmed, and waited until that was done before addressing everyone.
"She sent a note, so the absence was excused. This was just her monthly full force exercise. You've all seen her normal routine, so... why don't you get back to work, instead of standing around gaping?"
Havar looked at Kolb hard and actually blinked several times.
"She sent a note? I thought she'd simply gone off to play in town. You might have mentioned that."
"And have you coddle her like you normally do? Hardly a sound plan. How did things go with that anyway?"
Tiera had mentioned what she was up to in the letter after all, since hiding it wasn't going to help. Apparently neither was sending it along, but she just cycled her clothing to get the blood off of it and motioned to Karen, picking her for the next bit of work. She was thinking something with full shields on.
"It went well. I took over County Morris, renamed it County Baker and was confirmed Countess. I'm taking some people down this afternoon to set up some homes and businesses. Do you want to come? I know it isn't weapons practice, but I could use the help organizing my new fighting forces."
There was a growl, coming from Havar, who glared.
"That isn't funny. Even claiming that could have you put to death, if Count Morris heard about it. I'd rather not lose you." Then he looked away, seeming angry, but didn't explain why.
Kolb chuckled.
"
Not
a joke. It was what she was doing yesterday at least. I heard about it from the King last night. He didn't know the situation on the ground, but did mention that it was real. So, not just Countess Baker, but the sitting Countess. An impressive day's work. She killed the Morris family, day before yesterday."
That got Karen to sigh and shake her head.
"Really, it's just your whole family then, isn't it? You didn't even get in like your brother Todd is, by marriage. I'd feel inadequate, if not for the fact that I'm clearly wonderful, and everyone loves me." She sounded very serious, but then bowed. "Countess Baker."
Kolb and Havar did it too, which got everyone to turn and stare, meaning that the whole story had to be told, from the beginning, taking up valuable practice time. She shorthanded a lot and then got back to work. Countess or not, Karen kept hurling her into the stones and Mitchell came over with Johan and Keras to take their own turns. Size really helped with grappling too, so she had to struggle a lot harder than they did on the throws. Most of the time she ended up under them, forcing her to lock her legs into place and fight from there, even when she'd started the motion. They all just
fell
on her when they could.
Hardly fair, but just physics.
When lunch came she went to see Tor, and beg for food, which got him to smile.
"Borrow a million gold from me, and you still can't afford two coppers for some hand pies?"
She shrugged and quickly ate the first of the meat pies she'd gotten. They were good, with just the right tenderness to the crust and a bit more body than a light fruit version would have. Not everyone did that, but Tor actually used slightly different recipes for each kind he made. The difference was subtle, but there.
"That's for the County, not to line my pockets. If I borrowed it, personally, I'd have to pay you back. This way I can assure you of your good deed and tell everyone how my brother paid for it all, because he loves them. That way they won't think I'm
totally
insane when I have to have them executed for committing crimes and all that." She took a bite, swallowed and then made a face. "I hadn't thought about that. I need to review the laws there, don't I? So that, taxes... making sure everyone has food..."
Tor nodded.
"I know. And to think, some people actually want the job. Well, as long as you need food, my door is always open. You know that."
"I do. Thanks. It's good to know. Anyway, I'm off to the County. What time should I be here tomorrow?" It was her off day, the first of two, so she was slated to work the Bakery. The set up was normal enough and she tried to memorize what he had in stock at the moment, so that she'd know what to prepare for the next day.
"About four is when I've been starting. I have a copy of the key." He did too, in his pocket, ready to go. Here, she'd thought she was showing how honorable she was, impressing him with her willingness to keep her word, even as a Countess, and he was acting like it was totally normal.
Which, she realized, it was.
That got her to smile and take the brass thing from his fingers, then keep eating. She washed up in the sink he had behind the counter, and took off for her room to get the chests she'd stored there. It would have been a risk, if anyone had known what was in them, since the school dorm rooms weren't exactly bank vaults and it would be worth the risk of stealing to a lot of people, but they were still there and a good sixty people were standing around in the commons, clearly waiting for her to arrive. Including the Headmaster.
Kyle Hardgrove.
"Countess Baker, so kind of you to have us all for the day. I do hope that you aren't put off by the number going?" He looked at the assorted bodies, which included several adults, including a few she didn't know, as well as a lot of girls that had to be friends of Sherri and Ali, since they huddled close to them, as well and a good twenty fighters.
"Not at all, in fact, it's very nice of you all to come help me like this. We'll need some space. We can all ride in the one vehicle." She tried to sound happy and, she realized,
was
.
Not everyone here was a personal friend, perhaps, but they'd come to help her, or at least get in on the free adventure, which was fine too. Sherri and her people even smiled at her and half the fighters section people made a point of waving, showing they personally recognized who she was.
So she took the time to make the craft really nice inside, making the exterior deep green with a sky blue stripe again. When people got into place, they all seemed impressed and said so, very politely. About eighty percent of them were nobles, including Farlo Ross and Mark Sorenson from the Lairdgren Group. Of the two, it was the good looking tall boy that seemed uneasy, and he actually walked up to her and bowed instead of settling into the back with the others.
"I know that things haven't been good between us all the time, so if you want me to not go along, I'll understand."
She was already seated, so gestured for him to take the front passengers seat. It was big and a deep green color, feeling like fine leather and so padded that the boy sunk into it, his arms going to the rests instantly. He looked a little surprised though and it wasn't about the seats.
"Sam apologized to me with sex, and all you're offering is to
leave
? Hardly fair... Of course, I think that the sex might have been totally tangential to any apologies, to tell the truth, so maybe I should just take it, and call it good? The answer though is that you're always welcome. If you aren't, I'll find you and let you know. I don't generally hide things like that. You may have noticed?"
He gave her a nod then and turned to look behind them.
"Good. About Sam, I mean. People haven't been rude to him, but they've all been putting him off. It's hard for some of them to realize that he's not a just some commoner. Stupid of them, but he's short, and from a rural background. At the very least he's merchant class now, in his own right, and in less than a year.
More
than that. I'm... not happy about Sandra. I understand it, but she was a friend of mine. After she killed Regina Helmsley, we all sort of knew that she was done for, but it's still sad." He shook his head and teared up a little. "That probably sounds wrong, doesn't it? I saw it happen, if from across the way, so I
know
it was murder. Worse, we all know that she'd broken her father's treaty with you, even before that. It's just..."
He didn't explain it, but she knew anyway.
"That she was your friend, and it shouldn't have had to happen at all. I still place the blame with her father. He set it all in motion and could have ended it at any time with a simple apology. He didn't, because I was too
short
. It's a stupid reason to die."
On that, it seemed, they both agreed and the boy got up and moved to the back, either angry with her, or just wanting to hold a conversation with someone that wouldn't be tense and edgy the whole time, which theirs would have become, if he kept talking about how sad it was that his friend had been murdered. He might just have understood that, or perhaps it was something else entirely.
The trip didn't take that long, and no one moved in alongside of her, not even Ali, Sherri or Karen, letting her pilot in peace. Once they were on the ground, a large group of people waiting for her, many of them armed, she stood up and waved to the people in the back.
"Well, I see some friends, but just in case, everyone should have a shield on?"
That got most of them to do that, but a few of the girls looked frightened, since sudden attack was really a part of their worlds now. They had the devices to protect themselves, and with a little help managed to walk out with her. She took the lead, figuring that, if anyone was a target, it would be her. She might as well make it easy for them.
The assembled people bowed, going low and the man in front, her new friend Lawrence, smiled.
"Countess Baker. We have some news, as well as some individuals that have come to seek new positions? These here have all passed truth testing and seem to at least have good ideas." He gestured to them, as Tiera set the floating cases on the ground, for unloading.
It was probably rude, but the first thing she did was open the boxes and when she found the right one, unpacked the communications devices. Without asking she set the first one up, writing the name on it, using the control screen and then showed Lawrence how to use it.
"We seem to have a hundred and forty-eight of them, so a hundred and forty-seven left. This will let us all stay in touch. Our Baronies will need at least one each as well, and it might be good if they had a few. Can you apportion those, or really, since I need you here, can you assign that to someone?"
That took the fellow about half a minute, and another five for her to show the new woman that ran up, a forty something female, in a guard uniform, who was to be in charge of the city it seemed, to learn what to do.
Then she let Ali and Sherri have-to on the rest, so that she could see to her own tasks. It was less fun, but a house sprang up near the city wall, and several people left to put up a palace inside. Everyone looked at them, impressed it seemed. Very much so.
She mainly just watched people, listened to their ideas, and in a few cases had them given communications devices and once, an ice manufactory. She owned it, but the man suggesting the idea had been hoping that she'd talk to her brother for him about the very idea. Things happened fast then, and by the time the sky was starting to darken she was able to handle most of what was needed in the short run.
Then she waved to Lawrence, to get him to follow her.
"The first house, the one out here? That's for you. Sorry about the poor location, but it's a symbolic thing. The other one, inside the wall, is mine. I'll be back in two days, and then we can see to the rest of these things. If you need me at all, use the communications device."
The man didn't just bow, but actually sank to his knees.
"Thank you Countess. I promise, none of us will let you down."
Then, almost as if it were planned, the rest of them did the same thing.
Tiera herself left shortly after five in the evening, but almost half of the people that had come with her elected to stay. That was a bit of a problem, since she couldn't really afford to feed them all yet, but Lawrence seemed to think they could handle it, without putting her in too much debt to anyone. What he had planned, she didn't know, but suspected it involved a bit of light robbery of a grocer. It wasn't a good thing, but as long as she got the needed funds to the establishment in a timely fashion, it should be all right.
Technically, she realized, it was legal, even if she didn't pay them. That would mean hardship for them, which wasn't what she'd promised earlier, so had to be avoided, even if it meant looking bad now.
She didn't even have food for herself, except some dried fruit in her room, which was better than going hungry. True, she could have gone to Tor's and Ali's for it, but her sister-in-law was just coming back with her, and hadn't had time to cook for hours. Sherri was still setting up her house, along with an Instructor, who was named Mary Hendrix. She was a very sweet woman, Tiera thought. Also, apparently very knowledgeable about what was needed and aware that Tiera herself was on a budget.
Eating slowly, all alone in her school room, which seemed a lot smaller now, being plain inside and just fifteen by fifteen, even if it
was
being shared with a Conserina first, she had some time to think about things. The main one was simply that, as a Countess, even if it was uncomfortable and annoying, she needed to pay a better visit to the King and his family.
It was literally one of her duties, and while she'd missed the Council of Counts, not being anyone in particular at the time, it seemed right for her to make an appearance. To that end, when she finished her lovely and delicious meal of dried apple, which wasn't enough for her to feel full, she got on her communications device and contacted Prince Alphonse.
Yes, it should have been the King, but she didn't have Count Morris's official communications device and wasn't certain it still existed. The Space Craft had turned the guest house into a scattered mess, most of the pieces no bigger than half her hand. A few had been larger, but even focus stone was just a kind of rock. Besides, that would say "Morris" on it. This one at least listed her as Tiera Baker.
"Alphonse here." The voice was calm and sounded decently happy, which was a positive thing to her mind.
"Hello. This is Tiera. Just thought I'd get with you and see what the real plans were. You know, all the secrets that Conserina's don't get to know, but Countesses do. The recipe to fluff cream and how to secretly signal that you want juice in your glass, but a kind that will make people think your actually drinking spirits." She sounded a bit blank and serious, which oddly enough got the man on the other end to reply in the same fashion.
"Ah. Well, fluff cream... I actually know that one. You just whip air into cream and add some sweetener at the end. As to the other, you simply request it of the head server, and let them see to it. It's more common than you might think to do that." Then, without so much as a chuckle, the Prince went on. "How are you doing? I mean, really doing? You aren't mad at us for forcing this on you, are you?"
That was actually a good question. After all, she didn't want to be a Countess, did she? It was a job, certainly, but she was supposed to be in school, not off seeing to the lives and fortunes of several million people.
"Angry? No. I can see that this was actually my mess, so I need to clean it up. It's a lot of work, so far. I think we can forgo the beatings for your father and Counselor Smythe, for now.
You
on the other hand..." She was joking and thankfully that came across in her voice, but the Prince, after she finished chuckling, sobered quickly enough.
"Tiera? Just a word of warning, jesting like that can be considered an act of war for you now. You've entered a new and wonderful world that isn't half as glamorous as most think. For the time being, try to be sensitive as to how anything might sound, and
make
yourself care about it, since we can't afford a petty war right now. Not with a rebellion going on. Your County wasn't as hard hit as some by the Gray Plague, so at least you have that going for you, but the whole economy is rocking from all of this still and might not stabilize for a long while. I don't suppose you have any reports about that from your area, do you? Morris wasn't exactly forthcoming with data for us."
She blinked at the tone of the whole thing, being a lot darker than she'd planned when she called. Not that she couldn't use some schooling on how to act, but going directly into the finances of her County seemed... Really, it was correct and what she should have been doing. Sighing she made her report, which didn't sound that good at all.
"No, nothing like that, yet. I'll get with my people, and see what I can find. I really wanted to know if I was supposed to come and visit with you soon? More to the point, your parents? Oh, I also need an invitation to your wedding. That's going to be a bit awkward, since I can't have
you
as my date..." She stopped, wondering if that statement was too out of place, but the Prince actually laughed.
"That one I can see to. It's in ten days you know. I have to admit it's a bit more nerve wracking than I thought it would be. I should get with Tor and remind him that he's standing for me. I don't think he'd forget, but he's been so busy lately, what with his new business concern." He sounded a little funny as he spoke, and she realized he was walking, the sound of his heels on the real stone floor of the Palace giving him away, as well as a bit of heavier breathing.
He stopped talking, without warning her of anything, but she got what was probably happening, especially when he started speaking again.
"Countess Baker is on with us. I believe she's trying to make certain that her duty as Countess is being upheld in a timely fashion. She's already agreed to get an assessment of her peoples well being, which is better than a lot have done in the last months. I don't know the meeting schedule that well, or hers at all..."
That got a low and rumbling voice to speak from the background, since, naturally, the whole thing was being addressed to King Richard himself. It wasn't so out of place for her that she expected anything too much different however, so wasn't surprised by it.
"Countess Baker. I believe that, given your ability to travel, you might be able to come to our evening meal here this night? There are a few minor things that I'd like to run past you, if you have the time?"
She grimaced, since she had a class and Doris wasn't likely to excuse her just for a fine dining experience, was she? Still, it was a bit before six, so if she got there early and explained, maybe she could be out in time to make it?
"That's at nine?" She didn't sound as certain as she should, or as confident, because unlike her brother Tor, she wasn't used to eating at the Palace. It would probably be a bit of a mess, but at least would get her first meeting out of the way.
"That's right. Are you available? I know this is short notice..."
"It isn't that part of it, just that I have a meditation class at seven. I think I can manage it. I'd... like to confirm for that?"
There was no laughter at the mention of classes, just a happy sounding voice from the side.
The Queen. Constance.
"We look forward to having you then, dear." There was a soft gasp, coming from the same location it sounded like, and a tight voice following. "Forgive me, I forgot myself, Countess Baker."
Tiera actually went silent and had to work out what had happened. It took a bit, just being too strange.
"Oh... No, that's fine. After all, we're family and I can almost guarantee that I'll get a thousand parts of protocol wrong tonight, so I don't want to start problems with something as minor as you being
nice
to me. Particularly since... Well, I'll explain myself more later, if that's something we can do?" She had to offer a way out, she thought, so that they wouldn't feel bad if they were busy. That or she was going overboard, but it felt correct at least.
The King clapped once.
"Definitely.
Dear
. We look forward to seeing you." He started to go into a long and flowery goodbye, but Alphonse laughed and took the device, she thought, walking away.
"There we go. We'll talk then?"
"That seems right. Thanks Alphonse. I feel like I'm barely keeping up with all this right now. I need to run to class and try to get a seat early."
The Prince let her go then, with little preamble, which was nice. Protocol was something that could take years to learn and she was trying to do it on the fly, which, as she'd mentioned, would probably be a disaster.
Doris saw her come in early, her eyes peaceful and holding a slight smile on her lips. Tiera walked up to her and whispered so low that she wasn't certain the woman would be able to hear her.
"I've come early, since I have to be in the Capital at nine. Meeting with the King. Is that allowed?" It made her sound a bit young and weak, but after a few seconds the Ancient lady gave a single nod, and smiled slightly more for a moment, then gestured to the side, for her to take a seat on the floor.
To make up for being a pain, asking for special privileges, she tried extra hard to go as deep as she could, starting with a clearing of the mind, remembering what that was like from her best efforts before and then noticing and suppressing any thoughts that came in to her head. It still wasn't perfect, but she was getting better at it, she thought. Then she had to make that realization go away. She closed her eyes for it, which was part of what everyone else was doing, so missed the change in focus. When Doris touched her shoulder lightly the rest of the room was busily staring at a burning stick of incense.
The woman didn't speak, just gesturing to the door, indicating it was time for her to leave. She walked to it calmly, but started sprinting to her room, uncertain of the time. When she saw the clock in the commons, she had to shake herself a bit. Doris had gotten her out at seven-thirty, which was plenty of time to get ready and be there on time, as long as she didn't dawdle.
There was, she realized, a bigger problem than she'd thought. The higher your rank was, the nicer you were supposed to dress for any given occasion. That meant that, while some of her learned outfits were nice, they might not be exactly correct for a Countess. Worse, this was a Palace dinner, which meant she had to go in looking nice, and not doing so would be something that others might scorn, but if she looked too good, it would seem like she was saying she was better than everyone else. Now, if she had it right, from things Karen had said, at a large party or ball, the goal really
was
to do your very best, and even make the Queen look dowdy, if you could manage it.
Not at a normal meal though.
In the end she decided to wear the nicest dress she knew the pattern for, and hope that anyone seeing her would just assume she was downplaying her wealth for a reason. Since she didn't have any to speak of, that would work. It was a light colored dress that had body to it and layers of white mixed with translucent pearl colors. It would wash her out, so she spent a few moments using her disguise amulet to undo that. A bit of extra color to her skin, along with slightly redder lips and some blush to her cheeks. Given all that, with her very short and bristly fighters cut, she realized that she looked a bit like a made up boy in a dress.
That got her to smile.
At least she looked like a very
pretty
boy.
The trip went smoothly and Tiera was actually a bit early. Not too much she hoped. There
was
something about not showing up places on time, for show, but as far as she knew that didn't apply when going to visit the King at his home. It would be rude and demonstrate that she didn't care much for the man. That was still true, but she could swallow that for her new people, if she had to. They didn't need a war, just food, shelter and a chance to make a better life. That part they had to do for themselves, but it was something that she could help with a little, she thought. Maybe not though? Most Counts and Countesses didn't really do that much for the commoners, did they?
Perhaps it was too hard to really manage?
She took her craft down after settling slowly, and put the silver amulet around her neck. Then she slowly approached the Royal Guards that were waiting and smiled, since George was there, and she really did like him. Holding out her hand she took the Truth amulet and just affirmed she wasn't a threat to anyone that night.
"Except Carol Coltress, who I might need to beat later. She has apologies to make. To her daughter. If she hasn't already. Still, it's my job to make certain she doesn't relapse or anything, so I need to get in touch with people. But I won't do it
here
." That got a laugh from the others, even as they bowed. It wasn't just a polite one either. As she handed the device back she looked at George directly, and made a bit of a face.
"So, do I look completely out of station here? I can't do much about the height yet, but the dress and make-up?" She was hoping that they'd reassure her, but instead of saying anything, a tall dark haired woman was called to the front.