Envoy to Earth by P. S. Power Read Free Book Online

food for a decade to reach the size he was, for instance. He was hungry, but Gerent shook his head, then gestured to Boxy.
    "I brought some gifts, from
my garden? Some vegetables. Melons too?" It was clear that no one there
was starving, but they weren't introduced either. It was a noble thing, then.
Or a secret one. He was either supposed to know who they were, or risk
insulting them.
    Hardly fair, since he didn't know
anyone at all, really. He bowed to the other tall people, and Petra, being that
she was polite and clearly a wonderful person, actually pointed out who the
others were.
    "Everyone, in case you
missed it, this is Countier Gerent Lairdgren. Off line, which is why he isn't
short like the rest. Adopted by the old Count. Also the hero that ended the
last war. By himself . We can go into that later, if anyone needs to know
about it." She let herself go somber on the last words, and then bowed
toward him a bit. "It's a bit of a shock that you haven't been knighted
for that. I think you have your three marks of valor, already."
    She turned toward the others,
going in order of rank, it seemed.
    "This lovely lady is
Countess Holly Printer. Next to her is Baron Michael Eager. His lands are in
Printer County, north of here. They're both here to plot against the King,
while pretending they're good citizens merely seeking aid for their
people." She wasn't smiling about that, and the Baron looked scandalized,
and ready to fight, though Countess Printer just gave the woman a dark and
slightly disgruntled look.
    "Thanks Pet. Introduce the
man as a killer, and then suggest that Eager and I are traitors? Kind of
you. The fact is that we could use the help and King Richard hasn't been
doing much for anyone for a while. I know that things are spread thin, but he
could part with some food stores. He has control of all the new food devices.
That isn't exactly going to endear him to the people taking up against him, if
no one else can get food." She didn't exactly glare at Petra, but she did
make solid eye contact.
    Baron Eager sank down, then stood
again, and tossed off a bow at Gerent and eyed Collette for a moment.
    "Sorry, I forgot myself
there. Manners are needed in such times. I agree with Countess Printer however.
We have come to seek what mutual aid we may take, and offer. I don't suppose
that County Lairdgren might have something to offer as to that end? Food would
be the most pressing thing, but wood for building materials, or..." It was
clear he didn't know at all.
    Gerent looked at the man, who was
at least in his late forties, and smaller than he was by almost a foot.
Stockier, and like he'd been thinking, none of these people had missed many
meals. Then, the rich and powerful starved last, as a rule, didn't they?
    "I don't know about that.
I've been gone, planting the Wildlands, for the last half a year. There is a new shipment of food devices and some other things to come soon. Collette and
I are going to Harmony tomorrow to get them. Queen Tiera and the others there
are providing them. I don't know if they're to all go to the King or not. I
don't think so, since she spoke about distribution. I think I'm supposed to be
in charge of that, but I won't have the particulars for a bit." He was
faking a royal accent. Much like he used to for his street performances. It was
far from perfect, but given that it varied from place to place, it was close
enough for these people not to feel too mocked.
    Then, he was downplaying it a
little too. Softening the joke. Given his new growth, it just seemed real,
rather than like a midget pretending to be one of the mighty. No one laughed at
him at least. The entire room got quiet, and everyone stared at him. It was a
bit disconcerting, to be honest. He felt a sudden urge to scurry out of the
room, ducking his head and thinking of good places to hide.
    Petra smiled at him, and then
hugged him again.
    "Well, put me down for one
of those new Tiera made units? I'm getting sick of apples three