Jack took a moment to check in on Massa, and her nurse. They were in agreement that

the growth were vanishing from her spine and central nervous system. Massa was not

happy with how that was happening.

Jack told her he would work on the formula so it wouldn’t be so violent.

He gestured for Case and King Rickard to get on the elevator so they could go down

to the cafeteria. He led the way to the counter, and got three glasses of water. He

handed the other two glasses to his companions while he took a moment to change

his to a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. They took an empty table away

from the door.

Jack sat with his back to a wall, and where he could see the door.

“All right,” said Jack. “Before Josie comes down and literally rips your heart out of

your chest, Case, do you have something to say to your future father-in-law?”

“Yes,” said the King. “Do you have something to say about this? Let me guess, you

were going to tell me when the time was right.”

“We haven’t figured out how to tell you yet,” said Case. “We were mostly

concentrating on what we could do when she was healed.”

“And what was that?,” asked the King.

“We didn’t know,” said Case. “The potion they administered doesn’t seem to be

doing anything.”

“I’ll check it,” said Jack. “It might be a low grade mix. The alchemist probably didn’t

want to sell his good stuff. I’ll tell Jane, or Mistress Harp, and let them handle it.”

“Can you heal her?,” asked Case.

“I don’t know,” said Jack. He blew the steam off his cup. “The problem is what do

you do if I can’t? Are you going to dump her and move on because she’ll be in a

wheelchair all her life? Are you going to move to the capitol and take care of her like

the semi-baby she will be? What’s the plan here, Case? Did you think about it, or

were you listening to the smaller head?”

“I think I like talking to Madam Witch better,” said Case.

“I never heard that before,” said Jack, in a tone that conveyed the opposite. “Don’t

tell me you were planning to run off with the princess like the idiots in the stupid

romance books my sister Rose used to read. That’s not really a plan.”

Case’s face scowled at his gadfly, confirming the truth.

“No wonder Josie saw through you,” said Jack. “I am going to give you the best

advice I can ever give you. Don’t gamble. You will lose everything against everyone

else.”

“We’re getting far afield,” said the King. “As Caroline’s father, I would like to know

what you bring to any joining of our lines.”

“As Case’s advocate, I can truthfully say that he is moderately wealthy with a chance

to grow it into something vaster, and he has potentially helped save the continent

from a monster infestation,” said Jack. He sipped at his cup of chocolate. “And he

will never be able to successfully lie to you, or your daughter. Plus Josie will kill him

if he can’t work this out.”

“She wouldn’t,” said Case.

“Have you really looked at this Josie?,” asked the King. “She is more ruthless than

most of the criminals I have sent to the gallows. I think that if Caroline had not

spoken up for you, you would have been burned alive in an instant.”

“She really loves that head popping thing,” said Jack. “I have to ask her how she built

it so I can use it.”

“Your Majesty,” said Case. “I don’t know what I had hoped to do. I had thought

Caroline and I would be able to feel things out before we said anything to you. Some

of our discussions were about what we could do, and where we could go. I planned

to join the expedition to take Caroline back to the capitol when that happened.”

“As a commoner, you would never be able to marry her,” said the King.

“I was going to talk to Eric and see if there was a way to get a title,” said Case. “We

hadn’t really talked about marriage, but we talked about that. We don’t even know

if we like each other yet.”

“Josie can get you a title the way she cuts through things,” said Jack. He ran a finger

across his throat.

“Indeed,” said the King. He pulled out the book Josie had given him and flipped

through it. “I count six titles that will have to be reinvested right here. Some of them

will go to relatives, but there is a chance you can buy one which will bring you closer

to being able to marry Caroline if you can work that out with her.”

“Thank you,” said Case.

“Don’t thank me yet,” said the King. He put the book away. “Despite this rocky try

at subterfuge, you seem honest enough. Lois, the queen, will take a few minutes to

calm down. This is a shock for us. Usually we have the lords ask to try to have their

sons win Caroline’s hand.”

“You need a promise ring,” said Jack. “Not quite an engagement ring, but something

to say you are serious and you are giving up your womanizing ways.”

“Really?,” said Case. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“It’s okay,” said Jack. “I need to get one for Elaine so she knows I’m serious about

our relationship working out.”

A ding went off in his head.

“I can make you two,” said Jack. “One for you, and one for her.”

“What if it doesn’t work out?,” asked Case.

“Get the ring back, and give it to the next girl,” said Jack.

“I would suggest you think hard about the nature of your question,” said the King. “If

you are having doubts now, you will have more as the learning period becomes the

knowing period.”

“I need to be around Caroline where we are on equal ground,” said Case. “Then we

can figure some of this out for ourselves.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for advice,” said Jack. “Some of it will be good, some bad.

Eric and Harp seem to have a grasp on their married life. Maybe you can get some

pointers from them when you need it.”

Jack glanced at the door and leaned in and whispered, “Act natural. Hurricane Josie

is looking for us. Don’t run, Case. She can smell fear. Just act like we have been

talking about football the last few minutes.”

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“Football?,” asked the King.

“I’m glad you asked,” said Jack, grinning and leaning back. “Green Bay does okay,

but they need another Favre, or they will never get into another Super Bowl.”

“I can’t imagine why,” said the King. He glanced up as a looming shadow appeared

over the table. “Madam Fox.”

“Caroline and her mother are talking about what the plan going forward will be,” said

Josie. She pulled up a chair and sat down. “I’m disappointed in you, Case. I feel like

I should pull you off the guard detail whether Caroline likes it, or not.”

“You will have to arrange for a chaperone if you don’t,” said Jack. “They might get

all touchy feely if you leave them alone.”

“I’m aware,” said Josie.

Case blushed at the implication.

“You’re right,” said the King. “His face is an open book.”

“Madam Witch,” said Case. “I do apologize for failing at this task. I do like Caroline,

and I do want to see how things go from here.”

“We were discussing whether or not Case could buy a title,” said Jack. “Rick says that

he has some Josie type openings in the ranks.”

“Rick?,” said the King. “A touch more respect would do you some good.”

“I’ll work on it,” said Jack. “What do you think of that as an option, Jo?”

“I have no idea,” said Josie. “I offered Caroline June’s room when we move her out

to Russ’s home town. If she agrees, the actual getting to know you part will be a lot

easier to handle, and I won’t have to chase Case that far if he screws up.”

“I promise I will look after Caroline,” said Case.

“I want you to understand, Case,” said Josie, she leaned forward on her forearms. “If

you can’t make this commitment, now is the time to say it. Once you are in, I expect

you to be as loyal as a hunting dog. If you and Caroline can’t make it work, then I

want you to be honest about it and say we can’t do this any more. I will be extremely

angry if you just throw Caroline aside for another woman after all this trouble I am

going through for you. Am I clear?”

“I understand,” said Case.

“Has Caroline agreed to stay with us?,” asked Jack. He slurped the rest of his hot

chocolate.

“They’re trying to decide,” said Josie. “If not, we will load her up on the Enterprise

and take her and Case to the capitol. It will be easier for a house retainer to keep tabs

on them for the king, but any bird I send will have to reach across the country if Case

runs.”

“I won’t run,” said Case. “I promise you that.”

“So what do we need?,” asked Jack. He held up his hand to forestall the king and

Case offering different suggestions.

“Caroline and her mother are coming up with a date plan for Case to escort her

around with a chaperone for the first three dates,” said Josie. “We need to know if

Caroline is staying here, or going home. We are assuming that Case will do whatever

Caroline wants as far as that goes.”

Case nodded in agreement.

“I have stipulated that they should be able to have one date after the three chaperoned

dates on their own,” said Josie. “With a curfew, so they can’t spend the whole night

on lover’s lane.”

“Like that has ever stopped anybody,” said Jack. He grinned.

“Shut up,” said Josie. “The first real impediment is Caroline’s condition. We have to

take a look at what the Montrose did, and fix what we can.”

“All right,” said Jack. “Other than not having your girl child going off with an idiot,

what do you want to add to this, Your Majesty?”

“Case has to get a title, and land,” said the King. “That part is the law if he wants to

marry Care some time at the end of this. He has to be ready to collect taxes, and run

part of the government wherever he gets a title. Obviously, unless he is a noble in

disguise, that will present an outlay of money.”

“I will,” said Case.

“I was kind of expecting no kiss on the lips, no groping, none of that,” said Jack.

“Okay, I will take that as a win.”

The King glared at him, but shook his head after a minute.

“Caroline might not want you to touch her, Case,” said Josie. “Not at first. You’re

going to have to deal with that while and after she is healing. She’s lucky she didn’t

die from what happened. You are going to have to give her time to adjust. Okay?”

“Yes,” said Case. He nodded.

“Let’s get you those rings,” said Jack. He stood. “Don’t look so worried. This won’t

be harder than getting your license.”

“It doesn’t feel that way,” said Case. He stood.

They walked over to the counter and Jack took two forks from the cubby. He handed

them to Case so he could transform into Magik. He took one of the forks back and

warped it in his hand, forming a plain silver ring. He exchanged that for the other

fork. He quickly turned that into a ring.

“Do you have any coins on you?,” he asked.

Case took out his money pouch and checked inside. He pulled out two silver pieces.

He handed them to the outstretched hand.

Jack squeezed the coins until they were small jewels. He jabbed each jewel into the

surface of one of the rings. He shined them until they glowed under the light. He

handed them back to Case.

“What do you think?,” asked Jack.

“Shouldn’t they be decorated?,” asked Case.

“These are promise rings,” said Jack. “You can get your wedding rings decorated how

you want. These get what I give them, and that’s all. Let’s show the king, and then

we can go back upstairs so you can give Caroline hers.”

He let the persona go. He would talk to Elaine about what kind of promise ring he

could get her.

“Jack made these for me and Caroline,” said Case. He showed Josie and Rickard the

rings. “I don’t know what kind of gems these are.”

“One is a ruby, the other is an emerald,” said Jack. “What’s next?”

“We look at Caroline and do what we can for her,” said Josie. “Then we sort out

if she is staying here, or going home with us, or going back to the capitol. Wherever

she goes, Case will have to go if he wants to have a chance of making this thing

start.”

“Do you want to try before we have to take the King home?,” said Jack. “I don’t want

an audience when I use Doctor Strange.”

“Jane will have to be there to help us,” said Josie. “We trade like we did for Bea?”

“All right,” said Jack. “Operating theater?”

“It will be easier than doing it in her room, and there is a scanner we can use to help

us,” said Josie.

“All right,” said Jack. “I like it. Case said the healing potion doesn’t seem to be

working that well, so we’ll have to check if we need to flush it while we’re working.”

“All right,” said Josie. “Before we go upstairs and talk to the Queen, is there any

other concerns we need to deal with right now before we get started?”

“I will have to talk to Hent and Brant before I go,” said the King. “Everything else

seems clear.”

“When we start working on Caroline, Case,” said Jack. “I want you to take your

future in-laws for a walk. Take them down to the Guild Hall, wherever. Josie will

send for you when we are done.”

“I can ask some of the adventurers to come with us as security,” said Case. “They

know that Madam Witch is paying our fee to the Guild.”

“All right,” said Josie. “I think we are as ready as we can be.”

The group went to the elevator and rode back up to the top floor. Jack pushed open

the room door for them. He smiled at the guards on the door.

“You guys are going to follow Caroline’s parents around for a while,” said Jack.

“Don’t let anything happen to them.”

He did a hand gesture of something exploding.

“What was that?,” said one of the guards.

“What Josie will do to your head if you let her down,” said Jack.

He stepped inside the room and let the door close.

“I would like to stay here,” said Caroline. “Mother and I talked about it. I would love

to meet a dragon.”

“Aviras is a grumpy sort,” said Jack. “I’m sure he will at least talk to you for a bit.”

“We’re going to take you down to the operating theater and do what we can,” said

Josie. “Case is going to take your parents for a walk, get them out of our hair until we

are done. You might have to stay here for another day, and then we will transport you

to our place. Tomorrow, June and Boim are moving out, so you can have their room

at the Hangar.”

“The rings,” Jack whispered into Case’s ear.

“Jack made rings for us to wear,” said Case. “Promise rings until we can have a

proper engagement.”

He showed Caroline the two rings. He handed her the emerald so she could put it on

her index finger. He put his on his ring finger. The light from the window caused a

slight spark between them.

“All right,” said Josie. “Let’s clear the room and get someone to help us transport

Caroline downstairs. Case, take the Royals for a walk. I will let you know when they

can come back.”

“Can we watch?,” asked the Queen.

“We are going to be cutting into your child,” said Josie. “I don’t think it’s a good idea

for you to be around. Let us do what we have to do, so you can do what you have

to do.”

“I’m sorry for earlier,” said the Queen.

“I can’t protect everyone everywhere every time,” said Josie. “I have to settle for

what I can do. You’re right to be concerned, but part of our job is to rebuild what

we can after the action is over. We’ll look after Caroline.”

“Don’t worry,” said Jack. “Part of this could be healed faster with a better healing

elixir. I can make one of those in my sleep. Your little girl will be on her feet in no

time.”

“Come on, Lois,” said the King. “We can talk to Case about his qualifications while

we tour the city.”

“I’ll will wait on you,” Case said. He held Caroline’s hand before they were all

ushered out and told to wait for news.

“Let’s see what we can do to fix you up,” said Jack.