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Jikeh paused and watched the distance figure turn off the main road and start to make their way up the winding path to the gates of the Manor. From this distance it was hard to pick out anything interesting about the figure and so he knelt down in the brush again and returned to plucking weeds from the ground. It was a monotonous task. A minute later his eyes once again sought the figure, whose back was to the sun. The fellow had not made it very far - he was not convinced it was a main as the figure gave no evidence of a skirt. Once again he stopped and added steadily to the pile at his feet. Sooner than before he looked up again and this time the visitor was close enough for him to tell if he knew him or not. He didn't - which was good because he didn't encourage his family to bother him at work. The walker, was young - though it was hard to tell if he was in his twenties or his thirties. It was equally difficult to tell if he had come to visit the Master of the house or to ask for a job. His clothing was neither tattered nor new. Jikeh contemplated calling out and then thought better of it - after all, no matter what the stranger wanted it had little to do with him. So, back to pulling the weeds he went. He continued fixedly until footfalls and eventually a shadow looming close to him, made ignoring the visitor's presence a viable action. Somewhat irritated he turned around. Up close it was clear to see that the man was a teenager, like himself, perhaps a year younger than his own eighteen years. He was perhaps one of the cleanest men that Jikeh had ever seen, and even as he thought it - he wondered what he even meant by that. It was true however, everything on this man was in order, and what seemed out of order was in symmetry, and wahat was neither sparkled as if it had been polished - like his cerulean eyes. They faced off - a slient introduction that went on for about three minutes. Jikeh cleared his throat and straightened his body so that he was at his full height. "How may I help you Mr-" Jiken bega tentatively, betraying nothing but politeness in his tone. "Cade," the other man said shortly. His voice was clipped and even tough he only uttered his own name it sounded haughty. Jiken bristled, pulling his hands free of his gloves and stuffing them in his pants pocket. He used this motion to distract himself from his urge to be rude. "How may I help, Mr Cade," he said quietly. Cade took his time in answering. The boy before him was far too emotional, he concluded. Though his voice betrayed little, his eyes told the whole story. He was a servant, that wasobvious - but he had an animal like alertness. He rocked back slightly on his heels, no retreating but effectively making it easier for him to do so. He was as defensive as a Mother protecting her chicks over this small Manor in the middle of a remote village, which employed him. For a nothing he was beautiful. His features young and unremarkable - but appealing to the eye. His ribbon thin bands of energy refused to yield to his presence. Ah yes - this boy was interesting - And agitated. He had placed hands in his pockets to hide the way they contracted in response to the silence. Cade looked passed him to the manor, a two story brick structure with a thatched roof and surveryed it for signs of life. It was still. "So you are the only servant that remains," Cade said, his eyes settling on the boy again, this time sliding from his face to the pile of weeds at his feet. "A gardener?" Jikeh was startled. This man knew that he was the only person currently employed here, the others had left with the Master, destined for this main residence. He had been willing to go, but the Master had not been willing to take him. It still stung to be unwanted, even if the Master had said that it was the extent of his good character and work ethic that had prompted him to entrust him with the Manor. Jikeh turned away. Why ten was this man here, he would have to know that the Master had left. Was he here for ill reasons? "No, I'm not the gardener," Jikeh said, turning back around. He preferred to be facing the unknown, "What do you want Mr. Cade?" Under Jikeh's surly gaze, cade extracted a document from the bag on his shoulder and handed it to Jikeh. The boy took it, scanning it first intently and then was disbelief. "The M-manor? S-sold.. to you?! But it has been in the Isok family for generations! How could Master do this! It flies in the face of his ancestors!" Jikeh said angrily, though his face was almost expressionless. "He needed money," Cade said in a semi-amused tone which earned him a poisonous look from Jikeh which he ignored. Jikeh read the document once more, then breathed deeply and handed it back over. The next moment he spoke. "I'll gather my things and leave with in the hour," His tone was flat. After speaking he knelt again and began to gather the heap of weeds into a cloth bag he had aside for the purpose. Cade returned the document to his bag and watched the boy struggle with the simple task. The emotions which he was battling with, though he kept them disguised robbed him of his coordination. Jikeh's mind was racing. Without this job, what would he do? He had never tried to bee good at anything else. He family had worked for the Isok lineage for generations, and now it would end with him. He felt bitter towards the Master and this, Mr. Cade who had bought the Manor. Cade waited until Jikeh had risen again to speak. "I had no intention of you leaving. I have no knowledge of people in this area, and no inclination to fix that. I do not mind housework, but a house this size I have not enough time for. You may stay on," Jikeh stared blankly at Cade for a moment, then laughed richly. Whether noble or peasant - the man before him was amusing. "I work for the Isoks, no one else," Jikeh informed him bluntly, "And in the future - don't buy a house that is too large for you to clean alone, especially if mingling with others long enough to hire help, if beyond your scope," Cade smiled, unfazed by Jikeh's words. "I bought it sight unseen," Cade put forward, "And though I'm sure you have some wisdom to impart about that, spare me it please. I'll pay you three hundred rounds a day," Jikeh eyes widen compulsively. He was sure that his jaw had almost broken loose, given how suddenly it had dropped open. Three hundred a day? That was twice his yearly salary. Either this man was senile,he was lying or he was too rich to have good sense. None of the three were favorable. Just as Jikeh was asking himself why would this stranger put forward such an offfer, the stranger was asking himself the same thing. He had only planned to rest here for a few days at the most - he had bought the manor as a favor to one of his favorite muses, nothing more. And he had visited it only on a whim. He had not spared a thought for servants.He did not like company.And no one could clean, cook and organise to his exacting standards. However, he liked this boy. It was a gut feeling - and a surprisingly pleasant one. Jikeh came to a decision. It was dangerous to deal with this unknown, but with that money he could go to the academy. And with an education suddenly in reach, almost anything was no little sacrifice. He breathed and stood at attention before bowing politely. "Jikeh, at your service, Master Cade," It was Cade's turn to laugh. He had not expected it to be so quickly - but then for norms, money was a great motivator. "Very well then Jikeh, give me a tour of my Manor," "Of course," Jikeh said briskly, pushing his wariness aside and embracing the present.
Azraella · Wed Jul 01, 2009 @ 11:27pm · 0 Comments |
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