Slave Line (The Young Ancients) Read Online Free PDF Page A

will let me steer the ship? I've never done that before." She seemed excited by the idea.
    Tor nudged her just a little, noticing that she was slightly taller today than she had been even a few weeks before. Pretty soon she'd be taller than he was by a lot no doubt. She was a royal giant and he wasn't. It would look a bit funny, but then all the women he knew were taller than he was anymore. Except Lyn and she was his sister in a weird and messed up fashion. In the same way that Denno was his brother. Even though he was over three thousand years old and Tor just wasn't. Denno, Burks and Tor each had common genetics even. Closer than his natural brothers, if Tor understood it all correctly. Denno looked nothing like him though. Burks did, almost exactly in fact, close enough he could pretend to be him at will. Taller though, by nearly five inches. Tor would be too, in a few millennia.
    He shook himself a little and went back to the topic at hand.
    "Ask her about it. She'll probably be willing to teach you and have you take the night shift so that she can actually sleep. We need to get this done as quickly as possible once we hit the water." He should probably take a turn himself, or maybe get Sandra to do it. She was responsible enough. That was up to Captain Petra though.
    Ali clapped a little.
    "I'll ask about it. It sounds more fun than just sitting in my room the whole time. I need a hobby I can take with me. Like Sara Debris and her bead work. Or Trice and her perfume making."
    She chattered for a few minutes until everyone else finally worked their way in, led by Sam. He wasn't the oldest in the group by any means, one of the youngest in fact, only fourteen, but he was a builder, meaning he could make his own magics at need. He was also getting decent at making copies too.
    Tor pointed at him before anyone could sit down.
    "You're not going to Austra with us." Tor noticed everyone else stiffen, but Sam just nodded, as if that kind of thing where expected. Like it was because he was from a poor family or something, instead of the real reason.
    "Instead I want you to stay here. Or possibly in the palace. If any emergencies come up that require a Builder, you'll have to handle it. Including recalling us all if needed. The others should be back in a week or two, so nothing should come up, but just in case... I don't want to leave the Kingdom unguarded. I'll see if you can work with Smythe of Westend directly. He's the military counselor and will make a good contact for you to build. You'll have my proxy while I'm away for making decisions and control of my accounts with the treasury. That's for Kingdom use though, not buying you a new... Whatever. I'll also leave you a copy of all my work, just in case you need it for anything." Tor looked around, wondering what everyone else thought of the idea. He couldn't tell from the facial expressions at all.
    Sandra finally just smiled.
    "That will work. Kind of stints him on the adventure the rest of us get, but it's an important task. Is one person enough?"
    Tor shrugged and pulled Ali a little closer, even if it hurt to do it.
    "Yes. I think so at least. Sam's up to it. If anything too big comes up, call us back home though. I really can't think of anything, but you know, you have backing if you need it. I'll take you over to the palace with me to introduce you and explain it all. After we finish here." He looked around and decided to be heavy handed and overbearing. It wasn't fun, but someone had to do it or everyone would get lazy and then where would they be?
    "OK. Sandra, we need you to get your disguise back on and finish your shift in the kitchen. Try not to get caught. If you manage it for the rest of your shift I'll give you four golds. If you don't you'll have to try it again when we get back." He had it to spare after all. Tor turned to take in the others.
    "Um, not a lot to do for most of you. I'd like copies of the clothing amulets and temperature equalizers for everyone