Dragons and Watchmen and Tyrants, Oh My! (Chp 4)

Chapter 4: The Vimes Household Welcomes You


Laurence had to admit, it was rather amusing to watch the Commander and his wife. Where he had perceived, correctly, that Vimes was the Commander at heart, it was hilarious to see him practically submit to his wife as soon as she even glared at him.
"Samuel Vimes! Shouldn't you have asked me before you told Havelock that we would take in this stranger?"
Laurence wasn't sure if Vimes saw the glint of mischief and amusement in his wife's eyes, but he let it be, for now. He did miss Rolands now, now that he started to think about it. Maybe because she and Lady Sybil were so similar.
"Well, I figured...well, it wasn't exactly his request..." Vimes stammered. Laurence, through his efforts to not break into a grin, noticed that Sally was having trouble as well. She had a hand covering her mouth, and he could see her lips turning up slightly as she slowly lost her battle with smiling.
"Lady Sybil, I hear that Temeraire is not the sort of dragon you deal with often? Perhaps I could see the dragons you deal with?" Laurence suggested, managing a cool tone that still sounded politely interested. Sally looked at him and shivered, and then moved over to the Commander.
"Ah. The Lance-Constable has just reminded me that I'm due at the Yard, Sybil. Football practice, Carrot...I might be late to dinner," Vimes mumbled, and he waited awkwardly. But not for long.
"Alright then, dear. I'm sure the Captain here is an able talker. Just don't get hurt, Sam." Lady Sybil seemed to be excited to show someone the dragons, and Laurence looked at Vimes and then was dragged along after the duchess, listening to her speaking.
Vimes looked at Sally, then grumbled and started striding out the door, down towards Pseudopolis Yard.
Laurence followed in the wake of Lady Sybil, rather impressed with the size of the grounds and the view.
He could see Temeraire laying nearby, with that insufferable Lord Rust, and chose to stay out of sight, as he was sure that Rust wouldn't want to see him currently.
"Oh, what's Ronnie doing back here? He knows Sam will flay him if he sees him!"
Laurence had to pause, then he smiled softly as he realized she, too, had seen the lord.
"My Lady, I believe that he is apologizing. I believe the other lords rather pressured him into it, with certain silent approval from Lord Vetinari," he said softly, giving her a reassuring smile as he followed her to a strange shed.
Her eyes lit up and she chuckled richly.
"Oh, Havelock did, did he? Yes, that sounds like him! How did you like him, then? Most don't seem to like him much."
Laurence shrugged. "I don't believe I have seen enough of him to say for sure, but I believe that he is...well, at least a decent sort," he replied, looking about him and enjoying the greenery. He hadn't seen such greenery since the last time he'd been home.
Lady Sybil seemed pleased by this thought, and nodded."I think he'd find that a very logical remark, Captain. In fact, he'd probably tell you that you're a rare person to think so logically."
"That is...gratifying, my Lady."
The woman paused, and then turned to him, offering a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Oh yes...I'm sorry, but manners and all...let the Vimes Household welcome you to the Disc, Captain. I hope you enjoy your stay...despite ROnald's best efforts.""Thank you, my Lady...I certainly hope I will."
Following Lady Sybil into the dragon shed, after getting all the necessary gear on, Laurence had to admit the smell was even worse than the river. He'd been assured by Vimes that the river could smell even worse, but surely it had to smell better than this?
Several heads looked up as they entered, and Laurence was rather curious to see the oddly-shaped little bundles of scale. He got the full walk-through, long dinners with his mother aiding him in looking attentive at the dragon's names and pedigrees, even though his head swam with them all. So thee were their dragons, eh? Lady Sybil showed him what happened when they ate coal, and he had to admit...that was pretty impressive. Vimes had told him His Lordship wasn't too keen on the little things, because they'd once caught his robe on fire. Humiliating, and, above all, very definitely a thing that stuck to your memory.
Laurence agreed they weren't the cutest creatures ever, but...he could see their use, and one or two pawed at his leg, seemingly wanting to be pet. He obliged a couple, and found them warm and even caring, although the gurgles they made did make him slightly edgy...
"Your husband told me they have a nasty habit of exploding, especially when excited...?" he asked quietly, in a pause in the information.
Lady Sybil smiled slightly.
"Well, yes. Truth be told, no dragon breeder has their own hair anymore. Not after the first year or so."
Laurence could believe it...he like his hair was falling out right now from the stink and the heat and the looks of the dragons.
"My apologies, my Lady, but I would really appreciate some food...I haven't eaten since before Temeraire and I arrived, and I would be very appreciative of a meal."
"Oh, of course! Let's just change and then I'll have Willikins get dinner started and just call Young Sam down."
"Your son, my Lady?" he asked softly.
"Yes. About eight now, and very interested in the human body...Doctor lawn, our family physician, thinks he may make an excellent doctor one day."
"That is a noble profession, my Lady."
He knew he wasn't as into this as he should have been, but...this was a lot of information in one day. And he was tired, and sore, and his crew had been expecting him back...
The woman had been right...Rolands had said not to go for a nice flight, but well...they had needed the time away for a bit, and then...you couldn't predict something like this, could you?
And that thought worried him. Oh, he knew this was real, but...what about his crew? What about Rolands? What about the battle?
He sighed.
"Lady Sybil, I must apologize. This is just a lot to take in, and my mind is not where it should be."
"Oh, it's fine Captain. Sam tends to tune me out when he's worried or working anyway, which is most of the time. Family comes second, job first...to protect said family, mostly, from what I can infer..."
Laurence had known many butlers. Living in the country, however, these had mainly been old men who thought themselves important, their fat bodies being little else than tubs of lard. He had no love of butlers, although since he'd left home as a young man he had come to know one or two (or three) who he had liked. He automatically both liked and was cautious of the butler who opened the door for them.
He assumed, based on Lady Sybil's greeting, that this man was the Willikins she had mentioned earlier. But the man had some traits which either puzzled the captain, or downright unnerved him. For one, the man's sleeves were slightly down, revealing the edges of some dark tattoos from earlier life. That was the first thing. The second thing was that, despite the fact that this butler was also heavy-set, William got the feeling that he was also muscular under those shiny clothes and shoes. And the third thing...well, his face was as scarred as many of the older aviators and seamen. And he carried the air of one who carried weapons and knew how to use them...not who thought he knew how, that was a different feel entirely, and something Laurence was used to in young lieutenants. No, this man genuinely knew how to handle himself, which was both a relief and the very disturbing thing about him.
But then...what had he expected, really? This man was the Commander's personal butler, really his gentleman's gentleman. An the Commander, William had partly learned but mostly observed, was a street kid. He'd married Lady Sybil, Laurence knew that, Vimes himself had mentioned it on the way here, but...this butler was from the same bad part of town Vimes was, maybe a worse one. Those eyes appraised him in a second, seemed to note that he was with Lady Sybil and therefore no harm, and promptly addressed him in the rich tones of a butler who knows he is the head of the servants, and – in this case – knows he has a weapon that can stop any trouble.
"Lady Sybil, Captain. I had just got dinner started, and the young Master is asking if he can meet the large black dragon on the lawn. Temeraire, I believe his name was."
Laurence was impressed. Even, smooth, almost a polished up educated accent, but the hint was there...and the man had accepted that Temeraire was intelligent, a he, and – William found this very hard to believe – that he was entitled to privacy, even if he was larger than the house, which was generally speaking an accomplishment.
"Sam'll have to ask the Captain about that, Willikins. I have to change, and it's his dragon."
A boy appeared at the top of the stairs, and bolted don them. He was maybe eight, maybe only seven, and looked so very much like his father that Laurence could almost imagine the Commander. But the eyes were less haunted.
"Now Sam, no annoying our guest. Havelock wants him to stay here, and you'll be responsible for making sure he doesn't get lost in the Pink Room."
The boy was so proud of this responsibility his chest puffed, and William hid a smile, noting that the butler did as well.
"Yes mama! Hello, mister! I'm Sam! Who're you? Uncle Havelock sent a letter, said you get the empty guest room next to my room, and said that your dragon was really smart! But...Lord Rust was there, so I didn't go talk to him..."
Laurence smiled, though he was working through the 'Uncle Havelock' part slowly.
"That's the Patrician, yes? Lord Vetinari?"
"You met him?" the boy asked.
Laurence nodded. "Yes...rather liked him, actually."
"Good! Can we talk to your dragon? Please?"
Children...still, Laurence smiled to himself. The boy was enthusiastic, and Temeraire probably wouldn't object. And he was of the age where blood was exciting, so even if Temeraire had just eaten, the boy would be fine.
"Yes, alright. I'm sure he'd like the company. Are you very smart, Sam?"
"Uncle Havelock said I could be a Clerk if I wanted to, or a Watchman, but I'd rather be a scientist! Don't know what kind, though..."
Laurence caught the capital C, but didn't comment. Sally had been keen on this point when he'd asked about the girl in black. Dark Clerks...they didn't exist, officially. But everyone knew about them, and everyone feared them. And the fact that they were Vetinari's private version of the Watch made them doubly terrifying, because he apparently screened all applicants.
"Then I'm sure Temeraire wouldn't mind talking to you, as long as you're polite or interested."
The boy wasn't afraid of Temeraire, which was a plus. The butler, walking with them more to ensure the boy's politeness for his mother, told him that in this he was very like his father. The boy was not as dangerous as his father, but was quite confident and not afraid of much. Laurence had to admit, watching the boy discussing chemistry and mathematics with Temeraire, he found himself admiring the boy's intelligence, patience, and bravery.
"So...when the Alchemist's blow up their guild house...?" Young Sam asked, looking at Temeraire curiously. How had they gotten there? Oh yes, sulfur and how to use it...Temeraire, observing the technological state of this world and acknowledging the magic it possessed, had skillfully avoided anything about how to make a rifle, which Laurence was grateful for.
"They are being careless and stupid. It is very easy to avoid sulfur exploding, provided you store it adequately and don't mix it with something foolish."
The boy had asked for a notebook some time ago, and now scribbled this down in hurried, but fairly decent handwriting.
"Thank you Temeraire!" the boy said happily.
"Sam, Willikins, William! Time for dinner! Temeraire, would you like something?"
Lady Sybil's voice rang over the grounds, and Young Sam stood, and bowed politely to the dragon before hugging his muzzle. "Thank you Temeraire!" he said breathlessly, then pelted towards the house, squealing happily to his mother about the conversation.
"I will be fine, Lady Sybil, but thank you very much. Lord Vetinari was kind enough to send a few cattle around."
"That's Havelock alright. Well, if it starts to rain there's a shed over there you can put your head under, it's for my dragons when I need to exercise them."
"Thank you Lady Sybil."
Laurence smiled, and pet Temeraire's nose fondly.
"A strange place my dear...still, the people are nice."
"The boy is...very intelligent. Laurence?"
"Yes my dear?"
"Will they help us get home?"
"Well...the Lord of the city wants to help, I think...but this place is run like Italy, my dear, and the guilds who control parts of the city...some don't want us here and want us gone. But I think they will...we simply must remain for a few days and let them sort it out..."
"Ah...you had better go eat, Laurence, you must be starving."
"You know my dear...I am. I'll come out and read to you one of Lady Sybil's books tonight, shall I?"
"I would like that Laurence."
The captain nodded and hurried inside, and nodded to Willikins as he sat down at the table with Young Sam across from him, answering the by's questions about Temeraire's breed and his world. The boy didn't hesitate to accept that they were form some other world...maybe that was youth, or maybe the influence of this world's...magic, or whatever it was that the University Wizards did. Laurence hesitated to accept magic as real, but Temeraire seemed to accept it after Lay Sybil had explained it to him (while Laurence had been gone, frustratingly).
By the end of the meal, Young Sam was exhausted and allowed to go to bed, and it was Lady Sybil and Laurence chatting.
"Lady Sybil, I was told you had a substantial library. Temeraire loves to read, but cannot due to his size...I usually read aloud to him at night, before sleeping. Might I borrow a book and retire with him?"
"Of course! Most of them are just wasting space anyway. There are a few you should be careful with, but most of them are perfectly fine to read."
"Thank you my Lady. Then I must retire for the night. Excuse me, and give my regards to your husband when he returns."
"Sam will probably check on you anyway, make sure no one comes after you while you sleep and such."
"Your husband is very smart, Lady Sybil."
Laurence smiled softly, then stood and moved towards the library, the butler politely pointing it out for him. The room was packed with books, dusty old volumes and amazingly old and interesting ones. Laurence noted that many were on chivalry and duty to the crown...and saw one that was much more recent, and the rather thick volume caught his attention because of the author.
Lord H. Vetinari.
The Servant.
He frowned curiously, and picked the volume up. It was deceptively light despite the size, which was a good...Laurence looked at it again. Probably five hundred or seven hundred pages. But as he examined the title, he found himself rolling it around his brain, and found that he was smiling. Yes, this would be good. Temeraire would enjoy it, probably...and he would too. It would be interesting, at the very least.
"Lady Sybil? Might I borrow this one for the duration of our stay here?"
Sybil glanced up from her meal, and smiled, chuckling.
"Havelock's book? You can keep it captain, I have three more copies. All of them signed, of course. Go ahead, I'm sure you and your dragon will like it."
"Thank you, my Lady."
Laurence heard the front door open, and slipped quietly outside through the back, and out to Temeraire, who was watching the stars.
"I've found a little treat for us, my dear. The lord of this city has written a book...it's quite interesting. There is one chapter I think we should read first..."
"Alright Laurence."
The captain perched on Temeraire's foreleg, and leaned back, opening to the eighth chapter which had caught his eye while skimming through the table of contents.
"The Servant, Chapter Eight: The Rights of Man.
"Concerning Truth, that which May be Spoken as Events Dictate, but should be Heard on Every Occasion..."
The reading went on well into the night, the pair bouncing between chapters, and pausing to discuss them quietly together after each. The man had written an amazing book, and somehow Laurence had the feeling that there were precious few copies of this out. He didn't doubt that Lady Sybil had more than this one, but he doubted many people had a copy. Maybe a maximum of ten. Because this...this was perfect, and he found his respect for the Patrician growing with every chapter.
They got through three chapters, before Laurence and Temeraire both had to go to sleep, too tired to read more. The captain slipped inside and left the book on a table, then went back out and curled up to sleep with his dragon. They had an early morning tomorrow...the arguments for and against them would begin at ten.