A Simple Darkness (The Young Ancients: Tiera) (21 page)

The funny thing there was that he was staring at Gerald, not anyone else. He looked nervous suddenly, as if the boy were about to actually hurt him. To his credit the man relaxed when the Squire put his weapon away, doing it slowly.

"Count Morris, sir." He bowed low, though no one else did. "There seems to have been a slight miscommunication? Our Pilot came to retrieve you and was told, a bit harshly, to remove herself, under threat of arrest? I'm certain it was a simple error, though calling her a gutter snipe
might
have been slightly too much." He winced when he said the words, leaning in a bit, even though they could all hear him.

The man froze and got a strange look on his face, one that told them all that he really couldn't believe they were making waves over a mere pilot. Not everyone could control their faces though, and she wasn't going to judge everyone on each stray thought they had. It wasn't until he started speaking that she let her anger turn on the man himself.

"So? She's a servant. I don't see why there should be an issue here." He stared at Tiera then and sneered a little, moving toward her with a single step. "Now, go sit in your carriage and wait on us. We'll be along when we're ready and there will be no more talk of leaving us behind. This silliness is ended now." He seemed to think that was enough for some reason.

Tiera smiled and took two steps toward him, then a third, putting herself in range of him for a nice kick to the groin. She was just about to shift her weight for it when she noticed that Countess Morris was behind the man, kneeling, her head on the ground.

"Forgive us! Please... This situation... It... Forgive us please!"

That annoyed the Count and he pulled her up, a little roughly. "Stand up. We don't have to worry. Nothing these people do here will cause us grief. This is my County. My word is law here."

Tiera felt her chest tighten, anger wanting to pour out all over these people, but she just nodded instead and walked, stiffly, back to her craft. She was most of the way back when the man made his big mistake and spoke again.

"See dear, the common class is fit only to lick clean our boots."

She got behind the controls, and waited for everyone else to get inside, then carefully closed the door, and left. No one said anything for a long time, but finally Squire Gemma chuckled a bit. "Um, is this a good idea? He is a Count after all."

Tiera didn't speak, her lips compressed in fury, going white around the edges. She tried to keep calm about it and focused on doing her job. That...
thing
, didn't deserve her efforts, she decided. She wasn't going to be insulted and then
still
help the man. It was all she could do to just get them back to the Capital. She dropped everyone off and no one said anything to her in particular, not even Karen.

They got more baskets of food and managed the next pick-ups in time, not having lost too much to the earlier events. It still bothered her, but it also wasn't her responsibility. Count Morris was an adult and had chosen his own path. That it wasn't a very good one was all on him and not her responsibility.

It took a while to get everyone situated, but the whole thing was easier after that, with no one saying more than that it was a pleasant day, thanking her for coming to them as she was. She liked them a lot better, and the Count in the group remarked that she had pretty eyes. It was a little forward, but it made her feel like someone actually cared enough to be polite to her.

He was an old man, as in
truly
old, nearing the age when he needed to plan for his own death soon. His voice had that tremor that meant it wouldn't be too much longer, a decade or two at most and then he'd fail. Still, he didn't let that stop him, which made her kind of proud of him for some reason.

"Are you looking to marry soon dear? I've been seeking a new wife for my dotage. You'd get to be a Countess..." He smiled when he said it, but she shook her head. It was the residual anger at Morris, but she answered him a little too bluntly.

"I wasn't planning on it. Still, if you want we could get together, if I get some time off? I'm not very experienced, but maybe you could show me some tricks in the bedroom?" She was actually trying to seem like she wasn't a total commoner, but Karen glared at her as if she were being crude.

The Count, Overland, laughed and clapped his hands once.

"Ah, if only you weren't putting me off. There was a time that young women didn't you know... Of course I was young back then too." He sounded calm about the whole thing, but she shrugged.

"I wasn't putting you off. Sorry, I know I sound funny, I... had a bit of a fight earlier. With Count Morris? Anyway, we should at least have dinner or something." She was trying not to be a Doretta, but Karen was still glaring and finally pushed her arm.

"Sorry, I should have introduced you two. Count Overland, this is Tiera Baker. Conserina Lairdgren? You two are
related
aren't you?"

The man laughed then and winked when Tiera looked over her shoulder, shocked.

"Dodged that one then, didn't we dear? Yes, my family does have some ties there. Nothing too close, but enough to make marriage out of the question, certainly. Well, I still have to say you're a delight Miss. How about you then?" He switched immediately to Karen who actually gave him a considering look.

She smiled about it though.

"I
might
consider marriage, but as to the other..." Then she shrugged. "Why not? Schedule permitting I mean?"

The others with them seemed to be very concerned about something, but Tiera wasn't certain what it was, until they let the older Count off at his Capital house, which was a decently large and nice place. Karen ran to him and helped him with his trunks, then lingered inside for a bit. When she came out she whispered to Tiera, loud enough for them all to hear.

"We arranged a meal in a week. He's a nice man don't you think?"
That
got the Countess and her people in the back to smile.

Had they thought that they were playing with the man? It was clear they had been thinking the worst, but she'd meant it and it was clear Karen did as well.

 Countess Fallen nodded and spoke loudly, "indeed dear. He's been a favorite of mine for decades. He actually is very skilled in a certain fashion. I recommend you inquire on your date. It will be well worth your time." There was no rebuke or anything, just the recommendation. Then she kept speaking. "As for you dear, you should consider my nephew, Erid, if you have the time."

The boy in question was tall and looked about twenty, he had a thin and bookish look, and blushed when spoken about.

"Aunt Madrid..." The tone was the kind of thing that she was used to hearing from her sister Terlee. That painful kind of thing that said a person just didn't want to be noticed. He didn't say more either.

Tiera had to pay attention to the road in front of them, but when they got to their house she helped them unload, and waved to the boy before he could get too far away. He didn't stop to talk to her, but did wave back and smile at her, which was nice.

When they were headed back to Timon's, Karen sighed at her.

"I was afraid you were going to tease Count Overland. Normally there are allowances for that, but he's been looking for a wife for years and doesn't have a lot of time. I feel sorry for him to tell the truth. It's hard to get a second wife as a Count, if you already have heirs. Though he
could
marry a low ranking girl and set her up, that would work and no one would say much about it. After all, they'd both benefit from it. I'll suggest it to him, if I decide not to see if he wants me. He really is a pleasant fellow."

Tiera couldn't tell if the other girl really meant it or was just willing to be polite about it, no matter what. It probably didn't matter, not really.

"I hadn't thought about being related to people in noble circles before. How did you know that?"

She shrugged and started to relate a long list of noble heritage, off the top of her head, counting on her fingers as she did.

"I had to learn it from my tutors when I was a girl, before I was allowed to go off to school. Luckily I was the ugly one, so my father let me go. Heidi wasn't so lucky. It... wasn't a good situation. It was so bad that I plotted to kill him myself. I mean I was actually going to sneak in and do it, even if it meant dying. I didn't have to though, since after the trip to Afrak, well, he died in that flying accident."

Tiera nodded. She didn't know what it all meant, but it had to have been a bad situation. Tor had married Ali to protect her from that man after all. She couldn't imagine how bad it had been, really.

Rather than tell her, Karen just directed her toward the palace gates, keeping the vehicle in city driving mode. At first she didn't get why, but Karen shook her head a little and sighed sadly.

"Well, you
kind
of declared war on Count Morris, if not his County. I'd be surprised if he doesn't call for your death. Of course, he didn't know who you were, so it will depend on how he responds to the news really. If he has half a brain he'll get on the communications device and beg you to come and allow him to apologize in person. If not he should at least declare war on you personally so that he can bring in his full force against you. That would turn into a mess, but at least it would make sense on paper at first." The giant fighting woman pulled one of the baskets from the back and ate a roll, plain. Almost as if she just wanted something to do.

"What do you think he'll do?"

"Honestly? My guess is challenge you to a duel. It's the worst thing he could do at all, but he isn't known for being sensible. He's Sandra Morris' dad, if that helps you decide not to just kill him. Seriously..."

Then there was a ten minute critique of everything that Tiera had done wrong in the situation. The first part of it was not using her title when she went to the door.

"That butler would have acted differently if you'd done that. As it was he'll probably be put to death for the slight, once it's learned of. Not that he shouldn't learn some manners, but that seems a bit harsh. I mean, clearly you aren't some gutter child, but you were offended by how he spoke to you, so you were hard on him and he didn't realize that it was a problem, so took offense himself. I guess it comes down to how you think of his honor, doesn't it? He was rude, but that's just a personal thing, between the two of you."

She didn't add the rest and Tiera could only guess at it without asking. She was still angry about the whole thing, but the subtext seemed to be that Karen felt she was being an idiot and would probably make the situation worse. For some reason she didn't feel that she could just call her on it though.

The girl sat at the front gate of the palace for a minute, not knowing what to do. The guard on duty walked over to her door and she opened it, looking down for a few seconds. Then she asked
him
what to do about it.

The man blinked and blew a whistle, before answering.

"If you were in the wrong, admit it. If you weren't, then stand your ground. If it was both, let everyone know that clearly and if you have to fight, make certain no one you love is harmed by it."

She nodded, it probably didn't really help, but seemed like good advice anyway.

"I'll try to do that, if it's allowed."

Then the man handed her a Truth amulet, because no one got into the palace now without answering some questions first. Not anymore.

The woman that led them to the room where everyone was waiting for her was just a maid, Tiera thought. Not that her occupation made her less than anyone else, but they'd been met at the front by a Princess, who left them to go do something else, making a polite enough excuse, but leaving so quickly it almost felt like she was already passing judgment on her. The only thing there was that, as far as Tiera could tell, she hadn't really been in the wrong.

Possibly over sensitive. That was true. The man at the door had been a bit abrupt and didn't listen to her, but that Count... No, it really wasn't just her. By the time she was led all the way to the correct space, winding through seven different hallways, even though there was clearly one built into the center of it with passages that led to hidden doors all around them, she was ready to fight again. It wasn't the best thing in the world but she knew that people had better treat her pretty darned well in the coming minutes or there was going to be blood. Not all hers either.

When the door opened, to a real space that held several large chairs at the front, with the King in the one on the right and the Queen on the left. Alphonse and Karina on either side, all dressed in fancy clothing, things that included crowns, or at least metal bands for the younger ones. It seemed over done just for Tiera though, but no one else was in the room except Karen. For some reason everyone seemed a bit angry and glared, at
her
.

That was just a bit too much. Hands going to her hips she huffed at them, stopping halfway down the long red carpet on the floor.

"Don't you sit there looking at me like that! That...
moron
, Count Morris is responsible for this. Tell him that if he doesn't want to wake up with his house falling around him he might want to apologize.
Today
." She growled the last word and stomped her foot. She had the weapons she needed and if she used her Fast Craft for it they probably wouldn't be able to touch her at all. It was a good enough plan that she nearly threw up her hands and went to do that at that moment, not even bothering to listen to them first. "In fact... Tell him to send his Countess away so I don't accidentally kill her and I'll meet what forces he wants to die with him in two hours in front of his house. If he thinks he can survive a fight with me then he's even dumber than he looked."

That wasn't really fair, since the man had looked just fine. His words were the issue, but she wasn't taking back what she said. Her breath was coming in deep waves, and she knew that her skin had gone pale. No one called her on it, just looking at her, as if they were shocked or something.

"
What
? Did you think I was coming to simper at you or beg protection? That isn't the situation here at all. I wasn't even going to come here, except that Karen Derring asked me to. I don't know why. If you don't have anything to say, then... I'll be on my way." She went so cold that the Queen blinked at her, and then shook her head just ever so slightly.

"I... You aren't in a combat rage, are you? I know that your brother Tor can seem strange at times when it takes him, speaking like this, but few can manage that."

Tiera shook her head once, hard and stomped her foot.

"I don't have to be in a rage to know when people are trying to abuse me. I've had enough. This will not stand!"

The King looked behind her and spoke over her shoulder, like she wasn't there. That was his right, but she didn't think it was very polite of him.

"Burks, is this... Normal?"

There was a low voice from behind her, sounding almost as if he were just waking up from a nap or perhaps slightly drunk.

"Perhaps. Laurie always had a temper as a child, but she didn't have the ability to take that level of fight to a person. Tiera isn't her however. From what I've heard of her she is often a bit... raw." He waved to her when she glared at him, her fury still on her face. "Like that. She isn't a bad girl however, perhaps if you'd relay the tale to us, we could better understand it? Would you do that for us Miss Derring." He held out his left hand to Tiera, to stop her from speaking. "It isn't that I won't believe you, of course, granddaughter, simply that Miss Derring might have a more remote view of what transpired."

Karen didn't mince her words however, though she did seem to think Tiera was going a little overboard. After she related the story she made a face that said she was more than a little upset herself.

 "The man did rather misstep. Part of that is on Tiera, for not announcing herself with full title off the knock, but who treats people coming to their doors like that? In fairness the doorman didn't give her a chance to address things in any other fashion. She doesn't do meek well. Maybe you've noticed?" That was said directly to the King who very carefully didn't nod. "What she
does
do well is fight. She won't give up. At all, as far as I've seen. I don't know if she could take out Morris like she said, but I know if this isn't fixed we'll need to fight her here if we don't want her to try."

Then she went silent, with Count Lairdgren walking up to her and putting a single hand on Tiera's upper arm. She didn't shrug it off, since he wasn't trying to harm her, she didn't think, but after a minute he turned and shrugged at the royal family.

"I have to say that I don't feel this is what I'd want my grandchild to be going around doing, but it does seem that almost anyone would be proclaiming this as a problem at this point. One of the negative parts of our system. Perhaps we should call Count Morris and allow him to present his side of things? It might not help, but he did lodge a complaint already, and I have to say while a trivial matter over all, both clearly have reason to be aggrieved. If nothing else he should at least know why he's coming under attack." He spoke with a certainty on those last words that got Alphonse to stand, shaking his head.

"No. Tiera... I hate to pull rank, but we simply cannot have you going around executing nobles, even if they are being morons. Do you agree to let me deal with it for you? I promise I won't make you humble yourself too much. There may be some and if it comes I expect you to at least
act
like you mean it. Understood?" He said something then that got her to wince and glare at him. "Remember, I'm your brother's friend, so it's my job to make sure things work out for you, if I can. Right now that means you have to do what I say."

The Prince didn't stand on rank even, just going to the communications device himself, which was on a low table between the King and Queen. He hit the Morris sigil, or at least one that had the very man himself screaming at them not ten seconds later. For that to happen he must have been hovering over the thing, Tiera realized.

"Is she dead yet? I demand satisfaction, that gutter-snipe insulted me and...
dereliction of duty
. No ex-whore is going to treat me that way! I want her dead by nightfall and better get a dispensation for travel time. I'm paying good gold to travel and not waste weeks doing it, I expect service! I-" The voice was cut off suddenly, as Tiera moved about ten feet closer to the little flat plate on the table.

"
Whore
? " She looked at the King and pulled a weapon, it was an explosive, which got half a dozen liveried guards to come out of the walls. She tapped her shield and that got everyone else in the room to do it too. "How dare you,
sir
. That's it. I'm
not
taking any more of this..."

"Shut up. Tiera, be silent!" The Prince actually thundered at her, sounding angry, which was something she'd never seen from him. Before the Count could start talking again he cut him off.

"Morris, if the next words out of your mouth aren't an apology I suggest you give up talking." It was good advice, but the man didn't bother being sensible.

"I'm sorry Prince Alphonse, is she your favorite whore perhaps? I have to admit I
did
think she was pretty enough in a slightly short haired way. Does she charge extra to do her up the ass, or is that part of the set price?" There was a wicked sounding laugh then. "You know, forget it. She can't be worth the price if she doesn't know her true worth. These uppity bitches with their flying machines think they're worth something now, but once a fuck-hole, always one."

The Prince growled.

"Shut it you moron! She
isn't
a whore, she's Conserina Lairdgren and more to the point, her brother, the Wizard Tor, has seen fit to outfit her with weapons that you can't match. Worse, she was already planning to come and kill you for your previous insults. I had to pull in her brother's name already to get her to let me handle this. Are you
trying
to die? Do you think she's too small to do it?"

Apparently the man really did.

On the good side it was only about two more angry rants in before he suggest that he'd deal with her himself.

"I'll put a switch to her backside and then make her service me until she learns who her betters are. No whore is..."

"Alright." That came out sounding clear, but also relatively calm and sweet. So much so that the room went silent and Karen actually grabbed her, pulling her back, away from the speaking device.

The large girl looked freaked then.

"
No
. We can't afford to have a war right now."

Tiera shook her head.

"Sorry, but it can't be helped. He challenged me to a duel. One with sticks? I take it that we meet without shields or other weapons then? I have them, but as mentioned, that won't help you. You against me, with three foot long clubs. To the death. I'll come there, we'll do it in two hours."

It was stupid to do it on his ground, but the man wouldn't be able to come to her. She'd just have to make it work, then leave before anyone could stop her. Turning suddenly she started to walk out, only to stop when the baffled man on the other end of the magical device made a strange noise.

"Excuse me?" At least he only sounded baffled and not abusive now. "This girl plans to do what?"

That got Count Lairdgren to clear his throat and state his name.

"As for what she's doing, well, you said that you'd beat her with a switch and then rape her. I believe she took that as a challenge to a duel. One without shields, but armed with sticks. Her intent seems to go to you and see to it. I'm not certain, but I think you may want to clarify your position on that. I would, if it were me. The young lady seems rather intent."

The Count didn't really do that, calling her names again. It was clear he felt wronged, but so did she. There wasn't a lot to do about it, was there?

The King put his foot down then, at least on part of it.

"No, we'll do it here, in the Capital. So four hours? Miss Derring, if you see to retrieving him? If this is a battle to the death, then at least the girl should have the chance not to have dishonorable behavior win the day. After her treatment by you earlier, I have to say it surprises me she was willing to go back there at all."

"I... It
wasn't
a challenge to a duel! This is ridiculous. She should just apologize and-"

Tiera sighed and shook her head, eyes closed, when she opened them she stepped in a bit and spoke loudly, trying not to be sassy.

"Fine, I apologize for any mistakes my anger drew me into."

"Hah! There I told you, now we can just go along on our day and forget all this."

That wouldn't work though, would it, she shook her head again, her breath short.

"Oh, no. I
apologize
, but you challenged me, even if you want to claim you weren't now. You're coming here like the King said, and we'll see who survives the day. I honestly don't think Sandra loves you enough to go to war to avenge you, and this is just between the two of us. Come to your death. You have less than four hours now."

The man hung up and she looked at Karen.

"Do you need to borrow my Fast Craft?"

"Um, no. I have my own. Tor gave it to me. I... should we do this? Tiera, this is a mistake. Even if you win and there's no war, it changes a person to kill another. I'm asking you... No, I'm begging you, don't do this."

Tiera frowned and just shook her head. "I have a choice? You heard what he was saying about me? Even after he knew who I was he kept goading me. He
wants
this and I'm not waiting for him to come back at me in two years, when I'm not ready. Ducking out on this only serves to help someone like him, who will have time to bring in assassins or his military forces. This is the best way, maybe the only way that I survive this." Or at least take him with her.

She had to presume he was an excellent fighter, because doing otherwise was
always
a mistake. He looked a bit soft, but it wasn't like she had years of training behind her, so if he was skilled enough it might make a difference. Short sticks would be a good weapon to pick, since she'd used them before, and he probably hadn't spent his life doing that. If he had, she might just lose and badly, but there really wasn't a lot else she could do about it. It was a duel and a fight to the death. He might try to get out of it, but if he did, well, that really did mean he'd just have a chance to come after her later with a lot more force.