After all half of the bad things that had ever happened to him, maybe more than half, could be tracked to that one event. Tor could let it go for his own sake, Rolph had already apologized after all, to him, and what were a few beatings and attempts on a life between friends?
But to tell a girl you loved her, to say that to anyone, if you didn't mean it… That was low. Most especially if you weren't going to back it up with actions later. He knew Rolph to be a good guy, a great friend and loyal to the extreme, but Tor could sure see why Maria Ward might have thought differently.
The Prince held up a hand, then two, palms out, more of a warding off of potential violence than just a signal to let him talk.
“Look, I said it, but well, we were in bed and she said “I love you.” so I said I loved her too. It was stupid, but I wasn't trying to get her to have sex with me or anything, we already were… Things said while having sex don't count.” He looked down and hunched his shoulders.
It made Tor jump, when Karina's hand slapped the table hard.
“It obviously counted to her didn't it?” She stood and stormed all the way around the table and started slapping the Prince on the face angrily. He covered his head but didn't fight back or even make a sound.
“You lied to her and she loved you, then you hurt her you… jerk! Why are you even sitting here when you should be on your knees begging forgiveness right this instant, not laughing with your friend about taking a vacation. Tor… make him apologize!” She hit him in the side of the head with a really well placed open hand blow that took him off his seat. Given their size difference that meant she was really striking him, it wasn't something playful or pretend for effect.
The King and Queen both looked at the scene serenely and everyone else either looked away or down at their plates rather than the scene of violence. Right. Violence at the table was rude. Even in Two Bends it had been unheard of, but who could say anything to a Princess about it?
She was right in this case too.
Karina moved in for another round of blows when Tor stood. Walking around the table he slowly put a hand out and touched her shoulder. Rather than slap at it or hit him, which he kind of thought she might do, as worked up as she was, Karina turned and buried her head in his shoulder. He hugged her and patted her back. Tor didn't get the why of it, but this close he couldn't help but feel the pain and sadness pouring off of her.
“It's alright. Um, may we be excused for a few moments? I think we need to talk. Prince Alphonse, Princess Veronica, if you'll come with us?” God, he sounded like one of them suddenly. Well, it was what he should be doing here, but how different was that? It just came out like it was natural or something. Spooky. He'd even gotten the accent right, all royal and courtly.
Before they left, hesitating for a second, not knowing if he'd be back or not, Tor put the new amulet set he'd made on the way over flat on the table and dug out six silvers which got set beside it. Everyone looked at him funny for a moment, so he explained his odd behavior with a small bow. Best to be polite when you were asking favors, right?
“Bribe for Kenner Thorgood. It was to be three silvers and a military grade Not-flyer, but he had to go toe to toe with several Royal Guards to alert everyone about the Larval attack, so I added a bit. Hazard pay. The Not-flyer has his name on it, so there should be no mistake as to ownership at any point. It also has an impact shield for safety. Military speed though, so tell him to be careful please? If someone could see he gets it?”
Connie took them and set both aside with a small smile and bow of her own.
“I'll see to it personally Master Tor.” Her voice didn't sound happy, but not as upset as he'd have thought given the scene with her children.
Tor nodded to her in thanks then turned to leave, but had to turn back, remembering something.
“Ah, right. I, uh, also promised him that if there was to be any punishment for his having carried my message, extra work, or a beating, that I'd take it in his stead. If someone could pass that along to whomever is in charge of him? They can send a note if I need to report for it.”
That got a soft chuckle from the table, except for the King who simply nodded and raised his right hand. Tor knew that it would really be done then. It was a freaky palace thing they all did sometimes, just indicating they wanted something done, knowing it would happen without question.
They moved, not into the hall as he kind of figured they would, but through a door in the corner of the room, that just led to a space with a few chairs and a tiny sofa just big enough for two people. It wasn’t a huge place, about ten by ten or so and just a little dark, only a single, rather old, magical light illuminating the whole thing. He sank down slowly so Karina could follow him and sat rocking her for a few moments while she made his velvet coat wet with her salty tears. The other two looked away, but for once in his life Tor didn't let himself withdraw from the awkward scene.
He kept holding her as he gently shifted back and forth.
“Right. Rolph, Prince Alphonse Cordes. After we finish this meeting, and see to your sister's needs, you're going to go and apologize to Maria Ward, bang your head on the floor and cry about the damage you've caused, with a complete list of all your flaws and shortcomings if she wants one. Then if she wants, you'll let her slap you around until her arms won’t move anymore. Understood?” Tor didn't even look at him, his main focus going to the Princess in his arms.
“Yes…”
“Good, be ready to mean it too, from the bottom of your soul, because you're wearing a truth device if I have to shove it up your royal ass. They aren't that big and with your sister’s help and some lubricant I'm pretty sure we can do it. Now I don't much want to touch your red fuzzy butt myself and I'm certain they don't, but if you force it on us, we'll just have to deal, wont we?” This came out in a low growl that made his throat hurt.
“I'll wear it! God Tor, what's going on? You've never told me to do anything before, except wear my shield, and even then you came at it obliquely. Why is this so important to you? It was a long time ago and I barely even remember it.”
Why was it? Seriously, he had to tell him this stuff?
“Because you're a better person than that. You don't do that, and you don't let things like that just go if you do mess up. That's why. This isn't about her, not now. An apology now won't help her at all, too much time has passed. It's about you and the kind of person you already are. No one wants to live in a kingdom with an heir that won't make things right if he screws up. I'm just here to help make sure you don't forget that.” At least this came out sounding a little less like he actually intended to shove things up his friends behind.
Tor sighed softly. A year ago he wouldn't have even gotten why that was dirty, not in a sexual way at least. Of course given how huge his friend was, nearly seven foot tall now, if it ever came to it, he definitely wanted to be the one shoving and not receiving.
The idea made him want to shudder a bit.
That was the easy part. Getting Rolph to do the right thing rarely took more than pointing it out after all. The hard part would be getting the story of her misery out of Karina. It was cowardly of him to want to get away from it, so he sat and let her cry and held her tighter than he ever had before. They were friends and he'd given her loads of stuff, but that was just because. She'd wanted the things, so he'd given them to her. Varley didn't tattle about her sister’s pain, and if the Prince knew he was doing a really good job of acting like he didn't.
Finally, unbidden, the girl in his arms, head never lifting, explained.