Read Slave Line (The Young Ancients) for Free Online

fun. Tor wasn't much in to that for himself, but he'd heard that others liked that sort of thing well enough.
    Sandra hung back, waiting for Trice to leave, which she didn't, apparently really wanting to take him away for something. Hopefully not sex, because while it was intellectually tempting ,Tor just didn't have it in him at the moment. Too sore by far. Finally the tall dark skinned girl moved forward to speak anyway, frowning still. She seemed almost angry.
    Tor wondered if it was about him suggesting she finish her day in the kitchen, which was really below her station and not something that would ordinarily be asked of someone like her at all, but she surprised him.
    "Why Sam and not me? I thought I was supposed to be in charge. Second in command at least." She held herself stiffly, upright and regal looking. Then she was going to be a Countess some day, so she'd been taught to do that since childhood no doubt.
    He blinked at her. It made some sense, because he hadn't filled in the rest of it for her yet. Really though, she should have figured it out for herself, shouldn't she? It was really clear to Tor at least.
    "Um, because you're the Kingdom's representative for our section? To Austra I mean. There's an Ambassador and you'll be backing him or her after I leave. The Ancients and I are taking off about the same time we land there, after the first day at most. I'm not in charge of that mission, which means you have to be. We can't send a military force, not this close to the war being over, so if anyone attacks it's up to you and the others to get out Ambassador out safely. If given my druthers Lyn would be the one staying here, but she's the Ancient of Vagus, so it came down to one of the others. If something happens to you over there, Mark is in charge, so it couldn't be him. Farlo is... A fine girl, and going to be a great builder soon I have no fear, but she needs a few more weeks to get up to speed. So it was Sam or Guide. Sam has something like three hours of seniority as my attaché, so..." It made sense to him at least. Trice too, from the look on her face.
    It did get the tall noble girl to soften a bit.
    "Oh. Well I feel petty now. I thought you were saying I wasn't good enough, or maybe that the King and Queen don't want me around. Or, you know, Karina. I thought we were getting along better though."
    Next to him Trice yawned, which made him feel like doing it too. The darned things were catching and Sandra did it a few seconds later, which got him to follow along, laughing softly.
    "No one there is snubbing you Sandy." Trice spoke as if she knew that for a fact.
    "Really you're kind of a hero right now. The noble that 's leading the "magical army". General Morris they're all calling you, and only about half of them are mocking even. Once they realize what you can all do, that will probably just become real. Though I think we should give you some other kind of title that isn't military. Not if you are going to mainly be doing public works projects and helping poor kids like it seems... You should all work on rehabilitating the Wildlands first. Get some of those orphans out to help maybe. Tor can pay them for it and it will be legitimate work even. Maybe get the military to take them on as apprentices for focus stone manufacturing. Gift each of the kids with their own compressor and earth mover to get them started." It was said casually, but shed clearly been thinking about it already.
    Brilliantly too.
    There was so much to do, wasn't there? Luckily it wasn't his to manage. He just had to pay for it. Why not though? They had the gold and Ali wanted the Kingdom's orphans and street kids provided for. He nodded after a few seconds.
    "Alright. Trice, Sandra, would you two arrange that with Sam and Ali? Maybe get Rolph in on it too, since he's in charge of my finances. We should use the house funds for that though, or the stuff in the Debris vaults, not the Kingdom's treasury. I want it to be our project." It