Tori Transmigrated - Chapter 173: This is a Sack of Rice

Chapter 173: This is a Sack of Rice

Tori stood with Kasen behind her, staring at the table with five men around it. Several of them were avoiding her gaze as her eyes narrowed. She wasn’t angry. She just wanted to know what they were doing there.

“I was not informed that there were visitors on the island,” she said in a low voice. Okay, so I’m a little annoyed…. “When I said the delta was open for guests, that did not include Anahata Island.”

Instructor Ignatius’ head was the lowest and he didn’t let out a peep. Master Ramos shifted in his seat. “These guests have been pre-approved….” Even as he said it, he sounded unsure. Tori narrowed her eyes further.

Idunn had gone to check on the farmlands while they were visiting, but Sebastian had gone to the island to visit his master. When Tori had arrived there with Kasen to see what they were doing, she was stunned to find two unexpected guests: Bishop Florakis, the Archbishop of Karap, and the Emperor Emeritus.

She did not know they were coming.

“I almost didn’t make it this year!” Bishop Florakis said, as if to explain himself. “It was unexpected that I had time and it slipped my mind to inform you ahead of time, my lady. Before I realized it, I was already on a boat coming here.”

Tori accepted this. After all, the Bishop had planned to come last Spring Festival, but had been unable to due to prior commitments. Her eyes drifted to the white-haired old man who looked anywhere but at her. She hadn’t seen him since Gideon’s birthday and part of her had thought he’d left to continue his wanderings.

“What about-”

“Ah, that meal earlier tired me out! Old Jorge, I’m going to sleep in your quarters!” The Emperor Emeritus shot up from his seat and dramatically yawned. He didn’t wait for anyone to say anything more before disappearing into Master Ramos’ flat behind him.

“Tori,” Kasen said behind her. “Is the Emperor Emeritus afraid of you?”

“…I’m starting to think so.”

Her brother paused for a moment. “Good.”

“What are you two doing here?” Sebastian asked as he held on to some crystals that were on the worktable. It was the main one in the center of the courtyard often used for meetings or small-scale experiments.

“I wanted to talk to Benedict and Tori came with me,” Kasen said. Instructor Ignatius sat up straight and tilted his head to the side.

“About what?”

“Trifecta reblessing for my children,” Kasen said. “I need a godparent and as they can’t be immediately blood related, I thought I’d give the honor to you.”

Tori wasn’t sure if Kasen phrased it well or not, but before she could decide, Instructor Ignatius’ face lit up, as if he’d been bestowed the greatest of honors.

“You want to make me a godparent to one of the children?” he asked to confirm. Kasen gave him a lazy nod.

“You will be the godfather for Robert Benedict de Guevera de Rivere.”

“Kasen….” Instructor Ignatius almost looked stunned and then touched. “You named him after me?”

“Who else would I name him after?” Kasen raised a brow, but didn’t deny him. In Soleil, especially in Sur, children were often given names after people their parents were close to, admired, or wanted their children to be similar to.

For a child to be given a name that was part of another person’s was an honor and seen as a way to keep a close connection. Tori’s goddaughter was named Sophia, after Tori’s third name.

“Thank you, Kasen.”

“Who is Fiona’s godparent?” Bishop Florakis asked. It seemed that he’d already been briefed on Kasen’s children.

“Idunn,” Sebastian said. “She has selected Noasha, goddess of creation.”

Tori nodded. Noasha was connected to agriculture, too. As expected of Idunn.

“What are Robert’s other two gods?” Instructor Ignatius asked.

“Saphira, as the abbey dedicated to her took them, and Zoara, goddess of logic and reason, like myself,” Kasen said as he lifted a hand towards his chest. “Fifi also has Saphira and Kekokei.”

Bishop Florakis squinted. “The…god of animals, specifically domesticated animals?” It was a strange god to have for a blessing if one wasn’t from a farming family.

“My daughter likes chickens.” Fiona had asked if there was a goddess of chickens. There wasn’t and Kekokei was the closest they could give her.

“When is the blessing ceremony?” Instructor Ignatius asked.

“A few days before Sebastian’s wedding.”

Instructor Ignatius inhaled sharply. “Why are you only telling me this now?”

“You’re invited to the wedding, and I said there was a blessing when you arrive.”

“Not my godchild’s trifecta blessing!”

“Then you don’t want to be my son’s godfather?”

“Of course, I want to be your son’s godfather-”

“And didn’t you tell me before that you already selected a god for their trifecta when we were still in school?” Tori’s brows shot up at her brother’s words. She didn’t think that they’d already discussed this sometime in the past. Admittedly, she often saw Instructor Ignatius as a sort of lackey of her brother more than when they were friends.

Instructor Ignatius nodded. “Karsar, god of fortitude.”

“Oh, like the Countess.” Bishop Florakis chuckled and smiled. “What a coincidence. I didn’t know Lord Kasen and Benedict were so close as to have planned it some time ago. It’s a good relationship to have after all these years. It is truly a blessing.”

“Speaking of good relationships, Master Ramos, Instructor, are there any specific laws and regulations I should know about while working with crystals? Why haven’t you told me about them?” Tori asked with a slight frown.

Master Ramos raised a brow. “Simply do not kill anyone with them seems quite obvious.”

Tori let out a heavy breath. “I meant similar to how there are laws for charms.”

“Ah.” Sebastian sighed and gave her a shake of his head. “Crystal work is a bit more specialized and there aren’t as many people who can do large-scale damage working with crystals in a similar way. There hasn’t been much need for too much regulation.”

“The nature of crystals has certain limitations. If one wanted to do harm with them, it’s quite possible, but it isn’t so complex and widely used as charms that they would require so many laws,” Instructor Ignatius added.

“You don’t need to worry about them,” Sebastian told her. Tori wrinkled her nose.

“I just think I should also take a look at the laws and regulations regarding charms,” Tori said as she sat on a stool to join them at the table. “Kasey mentioned it when talking to Alvere. It never occurred to me that there were such a fixed set of rules.”

“It wouldn’t need to,” Kasen said once more.

She sighed, tired. “Kasey, I should still be aware of what I can and can’t do.”

“You have not explained it to her properly,” Master Ramos said with an annoyed shake of his head. He looked at Tori gently. “My pupil, they are saying that you do not need them because what you have been taught, not only the specific processes, but your foundation of what to do and what not to do, has all been in line with those laws. If you read the written text regarding them, you will think that they are all obvious. As if having them written down was unnecessary, as it comes as second nature to you to write them in a particular way.”

“There are, of course, small pockets of charms systems that stray and can break those set styles, but those are rare,” Kasen told her. “Rare enough to the point that it is a waste of resources to find them. An example is Montan’s mother. I believe her mother specialized in a particular school of making charms that could easily be abused.” He paused and let out a low breath. “It was easily abused.”

“It does no harm for her to review, though. My pupil’s mind is flexible. Reviewing the actual verbiage may be enlightening to her,” Master Ramos said with a hint of pride.

“In that case, I’ll send her some texts to reference,” Kasen replied. He looked at their brother. “Robi and Fifi want to say good-bye to the abbey before we go to Presidio.”

“I’ll arrange it.” Sebastian gave him a nod. He looked over at Tori. “You’ve been busy here, haven’t you?” He tapped his hand on the tabletop and Tori looked over at the small ring in the center, where her little crystal ‘train’ was slowly going around in circles.

“There are many things I’m experimenting with that can maybe help the people of my county,” she said as she sat up straight and lifted her head. “Now that they are more settled, we have time for innovation.”

The corner of her brother’s lips curled up. “Did you innovate those dirt pillars at the abbey when the roof collapsed?”

“No, that was an act of desperation.” Tori tilted her head to the side. “You saw them?”

“When we went to pick up the children, they showed me. The workers are still taking down the collapsed buildings, but are having difficulty with the pillars. They’re very compact and difficult to move.”

Tori frowned. “I told them to contact me if they needed assistance.”

“You are the Countess of Cosora, as well as a student and merchant. Perhaps they do not want to bother you considering your workload,” Bishop Florakis said with a thoughtful look.

“I don’t mind.”

“How did you move the earth and compact it into a stone-like density?” Sebastian asked.

Tori furrowed her brows. “I used terracrystal and then first pushed earth up, through the floor, and compressed the materials by using the energy to realign and bring together its, uh…smaller components.”

“What technique did you use?”

“Visual,” Tori said. It was her preferred method. To her knowledge, outside of the crystal table which was an anomaly in itself, energy wasn’t exactly visible to the naked eye, but she could see it in her mind and when she could see it, she could manipulate it using the right crystal.

“Can you do it again?” Sebastian asked. “I’d like to see it.”

Tori nodded. She knew he didn’t mean the grandiose example at the abbey, but something small scale. She slid off her stool and went to a patch of dirt off the path to the dock. She adjusted her bracelet and put her hand on the ground.

She regulated her energy, expending as little as possible. A lump on the ground appeared and a loose dirt pillar rose about a hand’s length up. Then, it stopped rising and the loose dirt seemed to be pulled to the center and compressed to become denser.

“How’s that?” Tori pointed to her little pillar. It was looser than the pillars at the abbey, but still hard. Sebastian and the others circled the dirt patch and examined it. Instructor Ignatius touched the small pillar.

“This is just compressed dirt?” he asked.

“Yes, I visualize the tiny components the loosely packed dirt is made of, then pull them closer together until the energy I see is almost squeezed out.”

“Did you see her crystal-powered water hammock?” Kasen asked. He had remained at the table and grinned at the three men squatting on dirt. Sebastian furrowed his brows and looked over his shoulder.

“What crystal-powered water hammock?”

That was how four adult men fought over a water hammock.

Tori was forced to explain her little experiment to them. Instructor Ignatius had unknowingly helped, as he’d discussed technicalities with her, but didn’t ask what she was going to do with it. To think the crystals fed stored energy to aquamarine rods to make them push water in specific directions, allowing the water hammock to move without a paddle or being pushed.

Piers had drifted over from where he had been ignoring everyone. “Can this method be used on larger vessels?”

“Yes, in theory, but it will need to be larger and stronger to move a boat.” Tori let out a tired breath. “This one can’t even pull two water hammocks at once.” She looked at Piers, who was still laying on his water hammock and with a wine glass in his hand. Who had swum out to where he had been drifting to give him a glass of wine?

His eyes were fixed on the aquamarines on a metal rig screwed to the upside-down water hammock. “Contact your O’Tuagh cousins and discuss.”

“That ship fanatic, Eili, may be interested,” Sebastian said. He patted the water hammock and looked at Tori. “Bring this with you when you go home for my wedding and show it to them. If this can be altered for larger vessels, it could be revolutionary.”

Tori furrowed her brows. Presidio was landlocked. “Where are we going to put it?” There were fountains and small pools in the Fortress, but they were all shallow. Presidio had a temperate Mediterranean climate, and they didn’t have large lakes. The only place she could think of was the river outside of the city used for trade, and the water hammock was too weak to fight against the current.

“There is a place,” Sebastian assured her. “Trust me.”

“Why does everyone want to throw their children at my sons to be instructed?” Tori heard her father sigh heavily through her comcry as she laid across a large, regular hammock by the beach. Usually, she and the others would already be going back to Horizon now that the sun was setting, but they decided to stay for the last fireworks of the Spring Festival before leaving.

“Sebby and Kasey are masters in their respective fields, Papa,” Tori said to defend her brothers. “It makes sense that someone would want their children to learn from them.”

Her father snorted indignantly. “There are better masters….”

Tori rolled her eyes. She heard shuffling on the comcry. “Tori, are you sure that Fiona prefers yellow?” her mother asked.

“Yes, a pale, pastel yellow,” Tori replied. “Her favorite animals are chickens and the yellow reminds her of baby chicks. After yellow, she likes blue.”

“Why blue?”

“Kasen’s eyes.”

She heard her mother let out a small, painful groan. Tori knew it didn’t mean her mother was hurt, but rather, earnest to meet Robert and Fiona. “Oh…I can’t wait to meet my first granddaughter and grandson.”

After some discussion, it was decided that Kasen would bring his two adopted children to live in Presidio, as at least there would always be someone at home. This was important, as Kasen often had to travel for his work, and Tori, though in Horizon, was boarding at Lycée and couldn’t live with the children.

As a result, their parents had been planning for the children’s arrival. They prepared rooms, clothes, toys, educational materials, and for any medical needs. Her mother had just told her that she had already contacted dance instructors for Fiona, who had mentioned wanting to dance.

They talked to the children over the comcry to get familiar with them and though the new grandparents were excited, the two children were still a bit nervous. Tori couldn’t blame them. Robert couldn’t remember their birth parents, but he knew there was a fire involved. According to the orphanage records, toddler Robert and an infant Fiona had been left on the doorstep of the abbey.

What was terrifying was that it had been winter, and no one had knocked; they had simply left the children there and vanished. A nun had happened to have been returning late from Horizon and saw Robert in thin clothes clutching a baby while curled up in the stone doorway of the abbey’s main entrance.

If they had been found in the morning, they might not have survived the night. Perhaps it was good that Robert couldn’t remember much about what happened before they were left at the orphanage. He had been non-verbal for a year after being found. Fiona starting to talk was what prompted Robert to start talking. He was a smart boy and the nuns tried to encourage him. Even if no one adopted the children, then they could get an apprenticeship or continue higher learning once they came of age and eventually support themselves.

Tori remembered asking if anyone had tried to adopt the children. There had been several interested parties, especially for a baby like Fiona, but the nuns were reluctant to separate the children. Robert, even as a toddler, had refused to let his sister go. He’d once flung himself against a prospective adopter’s legs, crying for them not to take his sister away from him.

Kasen had praised him for this, saying that it shows his character to want to keep and protect his sister, even at such a young age. Though he had pointed out the benefits, Robert had insisted that he had no regrets. If such a thing had happened and the two children were split up, then Robert said he would try to find Fiona.

“They’ll be there in a few days,” Tori told her mother with a chuckle. “Fifi will be shy at first, but once she’s comfortable, you will have your hands full.”

“Yes, Kasen says she reminds him of you when you were little.” Her mother sounded pleased with this, but Tori couldn’t help but wrinkle her face.

“Robi is sensitive and pragmatic for his age,” Tori continued. “I’d say you have to be more careful with him.”

“Mama will hug them often,” Antonia told her, as if promising. “You should come home, soon, too. It’s been some time since everyone was at home together.”

“It’ll be busy,” Tori said. “I hope you’re prepared.”

“Tori, it will be dinner soon. We should go.” She turned her head towards the water. Piers was wading on to the shore, his water hammock left behind, as water splashed up to his calves. Tori lazily let her gaze sweep over his body and took in the golden hour light cast on him. He made no move to cover himself or reached for a towel. He simply approached her, dripping wet as he ran a hand through his hair.

Kudos to the von Schwert family for their excellent genetics. She gave Piers a curt nod.“Put your clothes on and we’ll go to the restaurant.”

“Tori…who are you talking to?” Her father’s voice sounded somewhat nervous.

“Piers, Papa. We’re going to eat dinner at the restaurant-”

“Why isn’t he wearing clothes?” Her father’s voice shot up and Tori sighed.

“He’s wearing swimwear. He was in the water. We’re at the beach,” Tori replied in a dull voice.

“Auntie, let’s go eat!” Fiona’s voice cut through the beach and Tori saw a little child stumbling towards her over the sand with Kasen waiting by the wooden pathway. Seeing an opportunity, Tori handed her comcry to Fiona and told her it was her grandparents.

The little chatterbox flushed and hesitantly greeted them in a quiet, shy voice. Once they asked how her day was, she launched into an excited list of everything she had done from the moment she woke. Fiona liked to sleep in Tori’s tent with Tori and Alexander, so her tale started with waking up with Alexander next to her.

Tori got off her hammock and tossed Piers a large towel, then dug around a cloth bag where she had put extra clothes and towels. After Piers came out of a changing booth in dry, clean clothes, he followed behind Tori and Kasen, as Fiona’s short legs led the way back to the Promenade. They were earlier than the others and as they took their seats on the reserved patio area, Tori’s friends and family trickled in.

Axton was seated at the table next to the main one with Montan next to him. Montan was looking around and shifting awkwardly in his seat. Perhaps he felt he didn’t belong, though he had been in a group with Gideon and Fabian before.

“Okay, Grandma, I love you, bye-bye!” Fiona beamed as she held Tori’s comcry and then shoved it under her brother’s face. “Robi, say bye-bye to Grandma.”

Robert’s face flushed. “Robert? You tell your dad to call us later so you can talk to us,” Tori heard her mother’s voice say. “I know you’re having dinner right now.”

Robert nodded, but as if realizing that Antonia couldn’t hear him, his face reddened further. “I will, Grandma.”

A few more words were exchanged, and Kasen ended the call before giving the comcry back to Tori. He sat on a seat next to Fiona’s highchair, which was next to Robert, then their cousins. Tori sat across from them with Sebastian and Idunn on one side and Piers on the other.

Right behind Tori, at another table, were her friends and she was constantly turning back to chat with them. Amid Henrik trying to explain that next year, they would open King’s Island with restaurants and shops, as well as allow guests to stay in some of the finished buildings, Tori overheard Axton’s exclamation.

“I can’t bring him?” Tori turned her head towards the other table and saw Axton’s devastated look.

Sebastian raised a brow. “I didn’t say you couldn’t bring him.”

“He said he didn’t want to go,” Kasen added. With the brothers as a united front on a matter, Tori wanted to know what they were talking about. She looked at Piers and he leaned closer.

“Axton wishes to bring Montan to Presidio this summer for the wedding, but Montan wants to stay in Horizon to work,” Piers told her.

That sounded fine. She didn’t know why Axton was so disapproving of it.

“Isn’t it boring to stay in Horizon just to work at some store?” Axton asked.

Tori narrowed her eyes. “The ‘some store’ where you begged to get a membership card?”

“I don’t mean to say it’s bad, but why work when you can go to Presidio for the biggest event in Sur?” Axton asked.

“Because perhaps what your brother wants is to work and not travel for several days to attend a large event with people he is not familiar with,” Kasen replied. “You are not thinking of what your brother wants.”

Axton turned to Montan with a questioning expression. “Do you really want to stay and work in Duel over the summer?”

Montan had finished most of his dinner and slowly nodded his head. “We expect summer to be a busy season, and there is an escape room launch towards the end of the summer that we are preparing for.” He looked towards Tori, and she took a deep breath.

“There are several events happening at Duel this summer and all the part time workers will be working full time for the season to counter the understaffing we’d have otherwise,” Tori said. “He will be paid his usual rate, as well as be allotted a bed in the employee dorm area over the summer. He also gets employee meals at the cafe during this time.”

“I’ve already gotten my approval from Mr. Somerset, the manager, and am being trained on running some games by myself. He said I’m almost ready,” Montan told him. Axton still looked unconvinced.

“Axton,” Sebastian said as he put down a glass of wine. “He wants to work over the summer and is clearly excited to do so. Why do you want to stop him just so you can drag him to my wedding?”

Axton looked torn. “I don’t want to leave him alone in the city.”

“I won’t be alone. I will be working and there are always people at Duel,” Montan said. “I have also joined the Tabletop Gaming Club and they will have gatherings during the summer.”

Axton frowned. “You should be on guard. What if-”

“Why don’t you assign some Alvere knights to him?” Kasen asked. “There are a good handful you’ve hired and only a few of them will be coming with you to the wedding as an escort. Why not assign the rest to guard Montan? It wouldn’t be for the whole time, either.”

“Just when he’s not working or in Duel,” Tori said. “Duel has private security and several retired knights. He’ll be safe there. Let him earn money.”

“I can give him money. He doesn’t need to work,” Axton said with a frown.

“But he wants to and that is what is important,” Sebastian replied. “Axton, you cannot be greedy with your brother’s time. Working is also a good way to become more responsible and working at Duel is ideal. You know the environment is honest and safe, and you trust the owners.”

“If that’s the case, then why don’t you work at one of the Lunar Inns?” Axton perked up and looked at his brother. Montan’s eyes crinkled up a bit and he didn’t agree immediately. He looked hesitant to answer.

“No offense, Axton, but I think working at Duel is a bit more fun and interesting than working at a Lunar Inn,” Tori told him. “He gets to meet like-minded people and play games at Duel. The food is great, and he’ll be protected. At Lunar Inn, he’d meet tired merchants and travelers.”

“I like working at Duel, Your Grace,” Montan said carefully. “It is as the Countess says. My manager and the staff are very good to me, and I find the work enjoyable.”

“You can’t stay indoors at Duel the entire summer,” Axton said in a deadpan voice.

“I won’t. The club will have social gatherings outside of playing games. President Tiff has sent out a schedule already,” Montan said earnestly. “There are meals together in the city, picnics, and excursions outside the city, including a weekend retreat here.”

“Axton.” Kasen gave him a stern look. “This is important to your brother.”

Axton took a deep breath and furrowed his brows. “All right, but you must be accompanied by knights when you go out,” Axton told him. Montan nodded.

“You must pay more attention to the wants and needs of your brother. This is important,” Piers said, as if he were some sort of all-knowing master of sibling relationships.

“Piers, when we go to Presidio, are you going to take a carriage with us? If so, can I share yours?” Gideon asked from the other table.

“No, I’m going with Tori. She is being picked up by Sur Bronce and a ship is faster.”

It seemed that knowing what one’s sibling wanted and needed wasn’t the same as agreeing to their wishes. Tori rolled her eyes and Gideon slumped a bit.

“I thought everyone was going to take Sur Bronce,” Idunn said as she lowered her glass. “It is a massive ship. It can easily carry everyone to Tres Arcos.”

“We should discuss this later,” Sebastian replied. “I am sure the Emperor and Empress have concerns to be addressed regarding travel arrangements to the wedding.”

Tori continued to eat. Considering that her godfather had been sent to investigate some possible trouble on sea going traffic, perhaps having both princes travel by sea on the same boat wasn’t a good idea as far as heirs to an empire went. It was customary for at least one of the princes or the Empress to go, if only to represent both the imperial family and the von Schwerts.

“By the way, can no one else on your von Schwert side come? Extended family?” Tori asked as she leaned towards Piers.

“It should be my uncle, but he is unable to come due to his position on an active defense front. If it were not such a family related event, he could send his second in command to represent him.”

“Captain Roth can’t come right now anyway. She’s in a delicate situation.” Axton heard them and spoke up.

“Oh, that’s right…Seb, we need to send a gift soon,” Idunn said as she lifted her head. Sebastian nodded.

“Mama is already preparing one from the family.”

“Is Captain Roth related to the von Schwerts?” Tori asked as she leaned back to Piers and kept her voice quiet. She didn’t recall hearing that name before or knew of a branch with such a surname.

“She married the Marquis General a month or so ago, while at the Amber Fortress,” Piers told her. “It is a marriage of convenience and due to her situation right now, she is staying in Buchenberg for her safety.”

Tori narrowed her eyes and slowly put together the clues. Delicate situation…marriage of convenience…currently in the von Schwert ancestral castle for her safety. Her eyes went wide, and she automatically grabbed Piers’ forearm on the table. She lowered her voice. “She’s pregnant?” Holy crap, she got to sleep with the Marquis General.

The corner of Piers’ lips curled up a bit and nodded. “An heir is needed; else they must go back through the family line. Since Axton is now the rightful Duke Alvere, Uncle has allowed himself to try for an heir of his own.”

“And he asked Captain Roth?”

“They are old friends, and she is trusted as his right hand.”

“Does she want to have his baby?”

Piers’ head tilted a bit and he almost looked confused. “Are you not the one who believes that my uncle would be much sought after?”

“Him being sought after isn’t the same as her wanting to carry someone’s child,” Tori said firmly. Piers kept his eyes lowered.

“Uncle would not have forced her, and they have made an arrangement. The men of my family are not terrible.” He seemed a bit disappointed that she’d think so and she sighed.

“No, they are not.” Tori rubbed his forearm to try to placate him. “I can tell. I know you.”

“Why are you whispering?” Fiona asked from across the table. Her head tilted to the side, and she looked at Tori’s hand on his arm. “Oh, Uncle Piers ate too much.”

Tori furrowed her brows and pretended she didn’t see her brothers’ heated looks fixed on them. “Why do you think he ate too much?” She chuckled a bit. Sometimes, she didn’t know where Fiona’s mind went.

“Robi also grabs my hand to stop me when I’m eating too much,” Fiona said with a voice laced with pity. She lifted her small hands and patted her rounded stomach. “But I can’t help it. The food is too yummy.” She said it like a complaint and behind Tori, she heard a small thud behind her and Ilyana’s small cry that Fiona was too cute.

“I ate too much,” Piers said, agreeing with the child. “Will Fiona help Uncle Piers eat his dessert?”

Her eyes lit up, but before she could reply, her brother gave her some side eye. “Aren’t you full?”

“I am trying to help Uncle Piers,” Fiona said, matter of fact. “This is a sack of rice.”

“Sacrifice,” Kasen told her.

“Sacrifice.”

Tori shook her head and removed her hand from Piers’ arm. As dessert was brought and Piers slid his small plate across the table to the excited child, Tori turned around her seat to look out towards the water. The fireworks were always scheduled around dessert when she was having a party or large meal. Two noise muffling rings went around the restaurant, while the patio had one ring to muffle the explosions.

It was enough for most people, but she reached into her pocket and took out small crystal ear buds in a box.

“Piers.” She tugged on his shirt sleeve and held out the small, velvet lined box with the crystals. “Tap the left to soften the noise and the right to let it in. Each tap is about half a ring worth of noise obstruction.”

He nodded and picked them up. “New?”

She nodded. “That way you can go wherever you want if it is noisy.” They no longer had to be trapped on a bench. She watched him put them on and helped him test it out just as the first explosion echoed through the Promenade.

It was the last night of the Spring Festival, and this would be the last fireworks display of the festival. This year, it would also be the last before the Fall Harvest, as the usual birthdays that happened towards the end of the Lycée school year would be postponed.

Instead, Tori thought they could just use the trip to Presidio to celebrate their birthdays, for which everyone was excited. Each person got to pick an activity to do while there.

Tori watched Piers’ face. Satisfied that the crystal ear buds were working well, she rose to finalize the payment of the meal while everyone was distracted. The night before, Sebastian got to it before her, and she complained.

“My lady, there is a messenger for you here from Horizon,” the restaurant manager intercepted her as she got to the lobby of the restaurant. Tori furrowed her brows. She didn’t expect anything in Viclya and most communication could be done through a comcry.

Still, she nodded and walked to the waiting area of the restaurant, where a young man in dusty outfit and a heavy leather satchel was standing, transfixed by the fireworks. She waited a moment to let him enjoy the sight. He still had riding gloves on and a light cloak, so he likely just arrived.

As the fireworks died down, Tori approached him.

“I was told I have a message?”

“Countess Guevera.” The young man whirled around and bowed his head. “I am Oswald Fraser, a messenger of the Guthry family. I have a personal letter here for you from Madam Guthry.”

Mail like this was usually an urgent package or invitation. Tori nodded. “I will accept it.” The messenger bowed his head once more and turned to his side to fish out a rather thick envelope and handed it to Tori.

“Madam asks that I wait for your response with urgency.”

It was an inconvenient time to read the letter and answer, but Madam Guthry wouldn’t say it was urgent if it wasn’t. “Mr. Fraser, please come in and have a meal. Take some time to rest. I will reply once I review the letters in a moment.”

“Thank you, my lady.” The messenger bowed yet again and Tori stepped aside to call over the manager to seat him. She remained standing in the waiting area and broke the wax seal of the envelope.

As her eyes went over the contents, the curious look on her face dropped and her lips pulled into a frown.

“Tori?” Ilyana reached her and she jerked her head up. “Is everything all right?”

Tori swallowed and nodded her head. “I…I got a letter from Madam Guthry…I need to reply to her.”

Ilyana furrowed her brows. “Does she need something?”

Tori held back from explaining. “It seems like it. I’ll be back in a moment. If anyone asks, I need to get something from my tent.” Without waiting for Ilyana’s answer, Tori quickly walked out of the restaurant with some unease.

She’d only read the first page of the letter and Tori didn’t think she needed to read any more of the former Prime Minister’s wife’s desperate message begging her for any help she could give, as Dimitri Guthry was apparently dying.