Nita fell heavily into her chair, putting her head in her hands, with a deep sigh. Carson sat quietly and let her gather her thoughts. Taking an occasional sip from his drink. Eventually Nita got back up, refilled her drink, then started pacing back and forth.

“Guns.” Nita said, letting the word hang in the air a moment. “Fucking guns, as if this world doesn’t have enough ways to die.”

“Guns?” Carson prompted.

“That they started with muskets is strange. Didn’t Earth start with fireworks and cannons?” Nita thought out loud, half remembering conversations from her youth.

“Cannons? Like what we mount on our ships?” Carson prompted latching onto something he could relate to in her ramblings.

“Yeah, but instead of a buildup and release of fire mana, gunpowder is used as an accelerant. With a spark source, flint and steel I believe.” Nita answered looking back at the count with a nod. Everything she remembered about muskets and guns came from one source. One of her favorite movies as a kid: about musketeers. Which, truth be told was probably a terrible reference material.

“Gunpowder?” The count prompted.

“Yeah, don’t even ask how it’s made. It’s not something a kid would have been allowed to learn. Not to mention, if I think about it, I doubt it was even in use anymore.” Nita explained further. Thinking about the clouds of smoke from the musketeers’ muskets and the lack from guns in other movies.

“Memory is nebulous. Should we call in Ander and see if he can help you remember better?” Carson suggested, seeing her struggling with the details.

“You know, I always wondered why fire mages never took it past cannons and grenades, to something like muskets. But I always refrained from asking, because once an idea is out there someone is bound to use it.” Nita elucidated thoughtfully. “I don’t know if there is much more for him to dig up, everything I know comes from those moving picture stories I’ve mentioned before.” She added in response to his question.

“Like an illusionist play. I remember.” Carson replied with a nod and another sip of his drink. “If your stories are anything like the illusionists, there would be a lot of embellishment for entertainment.” He added thoughtfully. Looking into the bottom of his glass he found it empty and looked across at Nita’s glass. He saw it too was empty.

“Another?” He asked, standing.

“Please.” Nita answered with another sigh, handing him her glass as he passed to the sideboard. She took the moment to think on the situation. The damage was already done, if the enemy was already using the weapons. No doubt the king already had some gunpowder. They had detailed drawings of the muskets and probably firsthand knowledge on how to use them from captured slaves.

Mind mages made keeping secrets difficult. More so if you didn’t use them to wipe information from your own people’s minds before they were captured. All they were missing was how to make the powder. No doubt the alchemists would figure it out eventually, if they hadn’t already. The king probably wanted to expedite the process. That and tactics involving the weapons, which she knew nothing about. She took her glass back from the Count and took a small sip.

“This whole situation is shit. What am I going to do?” She asked him, once he regained his seat.

“For now, we buy ourselves a little time in which to think. I will send a response to his majesty about this conversation. Reiterating that you were a child when you came to our world. We will have Ander come in to verify what you have told me. Then I won’t be lying to the king when I say I had a mind mage confirm this knowledge.” Carson said giving her a frank look.

Nita nodded consent, putting her drink on the side table to rub her eyes with the heels of her hands. “Alright, the last thing I want is the royal mind mages digging around in my head.” She said with a grimace.

“I agree. Though there must be more people from your world coming through lately, if these ideas and devices are slowly starting to appear. I don’t imagine it will slow down. The histories we investigated on your behalf all mentioned people coming more frequently for periods, then significantly slower for centuries after, before picking up again. None of this is your responsibility or fault, who can know the thoughts of the gods.” Carson said kindly. “I imagine the King may know of others and is seeking them as well. If we can put him off long enough, with good reasons, maybe he will find his answers elsewhere and not insist on having you.” He added.

“You know, that would probably be worse than me. An adult that came through would know a lot more than me. I know guns weren’t the worst thing the people on earth came up with. I just can’t remember anything specific and that’s a blessing.” Nita said frankly.

“Even good inventions can have large impacts. Look at the effect the printing press is having on the merchants. They are richer and more powerful every year.” Carson said with a small chuckle.

Nita nodded. Knowing full well that one of the main reason Carson was now a Count was in large part due to his printers. Knowledge truly was power, and educated people were better at enriching themselves.

“Alright, I’ll send for Ander.” Carson said, getting up to stick his head out the door. “Dianne, please fetch Ander for us.”

“Yes Master.” Came her faint reply, then hurried footsteps.

“Alright, now we need a valid reason for you to stay away from the capital. At least in the short term.” Carson said once he returned to his seat, thoughtfully drumming his fingers on his glass.

The silence dragged out, as they both thought.

“I got nothing.” Nita eventually admitted.

“I think I got it. You’ve been saving for one of Master Durgon’s weapons, right?” Carson asked

“Yes…” Nita said slowly. “We were just talking about that during court.”

“The process, as you know, takes a couple weeks to complete, and you can’t go far once it’s started or the whole thing has to be scrapped. With the money involved it wouldn’t be unreasonable to delay untill it’s completed.” Carson continued.

“There are a few problems with the idea. I don’t have an appointment and it takes months to even schedule one. I also don’t have the money or materials. You know how particular he is.” Nita stated, a smile starting to touch her lips as she grew excited by the idea. If anyone could pull the strings, the Count could.

“That’s the easy part: we just throw money at it. I’m sure we can buy someone’s spot, and we can scrounge up the materials.” Carson said waving off her concern. He got up and gestured for Nita to follow. “Come, I’m sure Ander will find us when he arrives.” They left the room and headed a few doors further down the hall and entered his large office. Once there he grabbed a quill and paper and started writing a letter, while Nita leaned on the door and continued to drink.

Hearing footsteps in the hall Nita stuck her head out of the office, and spotting Dianne, waved her over.

“Master Ander will be here shortly, master. He was just finishing some business.” Dianne reported.

“Thanks, Dianne, just wait a moment, then I want you to deliver this to Master Durgon.” Carson said glancing up at her briefly.

“Okay, here you are, be sure to wait for a response.” Carson said minutes later as he passed the letter to Dianne.

“Yes master.” Dianne said as she scurried out.

“So, have you decided on a weapon?” Carson asked as he leaned back in his chair and studied Nita at the door.

“Yeah, I was thinking a mithril gladius with the armlet as the stored form. It’s my everyday carry and it would be nice, not having it banging around at my waist. The quick draw with it close to my hand would be awesome.” Nita explained.

“Can I make a suggestion?” Carson asked.

“Like I could stop you, if I wanted to.” Nita said rolling her eyes at him, gesturing with her glass for him to get on with it.

“I think you should consider a spear or glaive, with bracers as the stored form. I know you’ve added plenty of density to your muscle mass, so it doesn’t affect your delicate feminine look, while giving you plenty of strength for a woman. But, you’re still a human woman, and unless you start using some kin adjustments on yourself, you’ll always be weaker than most of the kin, and plenty of human men. The polearm, as you know, would give you distance and allow you to make excellent use of your speed. The glaive is also the weapon you’re most naturally talented at.” Carson explained.

Nita started to protest.

“I know, I know, I’m beating a dead horse with that argument, but it’s true and it’s a big decision. I want to explain my reasoning. I know your world had a love affair with swords, but real armies use polearms and archers, with mages as force multipliers. Swords and daggers are for when the battle goes to shit, and your formation is in ruins. Or, for duels and small engagements.” Carson continued, opening the cabinet and pouring himself another drink.

“You know, muskets change all of that. Besides, since when am I joining the army, I’m a guard remember?” Nita argued.

“It may take decades before those changes matter, and you know it.” Carson reasoned, looking at the door behind Nita.

“He’s right, you know. You’re already carrying a very nice gladius, and you’re used to its weight. Why not get something you don’t have.” Ander said from behind Nita where he had been listening to the last bit of the conversation.

“You!” Nita said turning on him. Ander was the odd one in the family, he got his slight, scholarly build and dark hair from his mother’s side of the family.

“Sister.” Ander smiled gently at her, then turned to his father. “You sent for me?” He asked

“Yes, we need you to verify some information Nita has in that head of hers: for the king.” Carson said.

“Alright, let’s get this over with.” Nita said turning to Ander and holding out her hand with a big fake smile on her face.