It was maybe half an hour since they'd been on the road and Nat was somewhat surprised that the longer-haul coaches moved significantly slower than the ones he'd ridden in on infrequent trips to town or other short distances from Bell House. He'd asked, and the coach master had said that short runs meant you could trot the horses, but for long runs they'd barely move faster than a walk. Well, it beat walking, even if it was a bit distracting being jolted every so often. The coach springs were good at absorbing the bigger shocks, but as the road they'd taken led away from the city nearest to Bell House, Gravlin, keeping it up wasn't as much of a priority, and it had gotten rough only a couple of kilometers out.

  If he leaned out the opened half of the door, he could still easily see the rounded roof of the common hall, which peeked above the tips of the surrounding trees. It was still early afternoon, and the sun was bright today, so he lifted the panel back into place from where it folded down to avoid the direct sunlight. It was a bit stuffy, but far preferable to sunburn, especially with a lot more road to go, and lodgings being an open question.

  They rode in silence except for Nat's questions about the coach itself and a few minutes trying to get comfortably arranged. The coach wasn't exactly small, but it was definitely a lot closer company than Nat was used to.

  There was a quiet buzz that made Nat look around every so often. Nat noticed that Lyn had their hand up near the side of their head against the coach wall, and were periodically mumbling into their cupped fingers.

  Nat wondered why the secrecy, but didn't want to be rude and ask directly, so he went roundabout. “Hey Lyn, are you talking to Moira? Can you make it so we can all hear?”

  Lyn took a moment to respond, and then simply snapped their fingers and the quietly buzzing arc appeared, “Sure. We may as well. Keep your voices down though, please. Moira thinks she can help make sure everything goes well with Tanner, but I've got to manifest her voice arc — that's this — to do so.” She waved her fingers that held the glowing electricity.

  “Howdy, howdy!” came Moira's buzzing voice, excited as usual, but at about half her usual volume.

  Tanner looked inquisitively at the small arc of electricity, staring more intently than he'd felt was polite earlier, now that the setting was more intimate. “How does that work? Where are you, Moira?”

  “Everywhere. Nowhere. As I told Nat earlier, I'm a quasi-aetheric imprint of an extradimensional cognitive entity. This isn't normally something I'd be comfortable sharing, but you've already seen enough today that asking questions would probably cause more issues than just telling you. I'd ask that you keep my existence quiet — the line I gave the administrator about being with a creche will do if necessary — the capability is not unique to me or my kind, but I'd rather people not start asking questions.”

  “Sure. I have no problem keeping your secrets. But then what does that mean? What are you?”

  “I'm what the Humans, and I suppose some Brin, refer to as an ‘Agent’. The name isn't entirely inaccurate, but the word has broad applicability so that's not saying much. You've probably heard of us by that name, or as assistants. You might know more about how we're known than I do — I can only know what's going on in the world when someone shares it with me, like Lyn does.”

  “Hmm, I've heard of you, but I don't pay much attention, honestly. My creche didn't teach us about, or offer to have us talk to one of you.”

  “See, that's strange. As a Brin, you're entitled to an assistant. Any sophont native to Earth stock is — that's part of the accords with AMA; equitable access to system capabilities for all sophonts.”

  “My creche was more focused on practical and job skills. Also, I'm only Fa rank — my difficulties meant I spent as much time in therapies as education. I'd expect you know how that works, if you're high up in one.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I'm not really with a creche at all, actually. I just let the assumption stand, earlier. And you shouldn't have to have an association to have an assistant — one should have contacted you, or your creche should have instructed you on how to request one when it was time for your trait.”

  “Well, they did not, but I haven't been a pup in a long time — I'm second generation. Perhaps things have changed?”

  “Perhaps they have. I may have to find a way to make some inquiries. I have been out of touch for… a long time. My association with Lyn was a happy accident, and is not one easily replicated.”

  “My pups are just newly sent to creche — it will be years before they receive traits — is an assistant something I should ask for, for them?”

  “I want to say yes, but I now have some questions I think need answering, first. I'd ask you to let me see what answers I receive before I respond. I'll be in touch. Lyn, would it be okay for Tanner to reach out to me through you if he needs to send a message?”

  “Of course. Please do, by all means.”

  “If nothing else I can help them, when the time comes. At your age, you've already made your choices and I doubt I have much to offer, but perhaps I could provide some insights into your traits, affinities, or talent — even after all these years, it may still be a help.”

  “That's kind of you. If we have time, I'll take you up on that. For now, though, if it's not too much to ask, could we move on with the treatment? You've all gone out of your way to be accommodating today given the unexpected, but for me these treatments might make the difference in being able to send all my pups to creche.”

  Nat checked his memory and didn't recall anything about Tanner having pups. He'd only gotten married recently, to Nat's knowledge. He thought about asking, but something else took center stage, and he asked about that, instead.

  “What do you mean send all your pups to creche? Creche is school for Brin, right?”

  “Not quite. A creche is a school, yes, but the first years are when the uplift treatments are applied. Any litter with prospective uplifts — healthy pups, kits, and so on — will generally be given preparatory treatments in order to delay maturation. In the wild, we'd mature to adulthood rapidly, but just be animals. The uplift process requires time for our brains to grow, so the medicines prolong childhood and adolescence to something closer to Human. In that way, a creche is like a hospital and school combined.”

  “So why not send all your pups to creche? Are some too young?” Nat sometimes let his mouth get ahead of his brain. This was one of those times.

  Tanner, normally unfazeable, had a shocked look on his face. “Nat.” He started. Stopped. Started again. “I love you for asking that. Anyone else I'd be punching in the mouth right now. But you really don't know, probably can't even imagine it, can you?” Tanner's expression changed to a kind one, and he continued. “Never change, Nat.”

  “The simple fact is, I can't afford to send them all. We can barely afford to send two — Koe and Kan tested highest of the four. Our third, Kis, also tested high, but we couldn't afford to send her.”

  Tanner took a moment to get his voice under control. It had cracked at that last part. “Bettany and I — that's my wife if you don't remember, don't bother answering that — get along well with another pair in our pack. So long as they guarantee to send Kis to creche, we've agreed to let Cennet and Davon adopt her. Our last, Khe — well, we're going to give him a holding dose in hopes we can afford to send him to creche next year. That carries risks of stunting, but, well, the alternative…”

  Lyn reached out and softly put a hand on Tanner's shoulder. “Let's you and me talk later, Tanner.” Their tone turned serious as their demeanor shifted to a work one, “Let's get this done well before dusk.”

  “Alright. What do I need to do?”

  “Just lay back and relax, as much as you can in here. This isn't going to be comfortable, but it shouldn't feel worse than overworking your muscles after a strenuous workout. It will take me a few minutes to set up the field though.”

  Tanner nodded, then moved to do as instructed.

  Lyn then turned to Nat, “Nat, I'm going to need you to climb up and ride with the coach master until this is done. It's important that you do not touch me or Tanner during this procedure. Also, don't mention Moira, okay?”

  “Oh, sure. No problem.” Nat knocked on the sliding panel that opened out to the bench in front where the coach master was driving from. “Hey, I need to sit outside the coach for a while, is that okay?”

  The coach master seemed amused, somehow. “Sure, kid. Grab the handholds on the left and swing yourself up.”

  Nat made to do just that, and Lyn swung the door shut behind him.

  A couple of minutes later it was obvious to Nat that Lyn had begun. Lyn had been right; Tanner's pained grunts did not sound comfortable at all.