Wings and Antlers [M]

[DragonSong]

(M for probable violence)

@wandering_giraffe


New additions to the household staff were rare--Finian Alstead was not a man so well enough in means that he was frequently adding to the manor's relatively sparse collection of servants, save to replace those who were leaving their posts. Or those who had died, as had been the case with Shae when she took over for her mentor in the aerie.

So it was no small subject of gossip amongst the housekeeping staff when Master Alstead's new bodyguard was set to arrive. No one knew anything about him--only that he'd come recommended to Alstead from a contact outside of the country as "the best you'll find for what you're willing to pay".

Shae didn't pay the gossip much mind, though she would admit to a niggling of curiosity. But she kept to herself--she rarely interacted with the master of the estate, except when he needed to send a direct message by raven. Aside from taking her in as a girl, he really didn't seem to have much interest in her. He let her be, and she returned the favor.

Still she couldn't stop herself from moving to the window of the aerie as the sun crested toward noon, when the newcomer was meant to be arriving. She had a fairly good view of the main courtyard from here.

[wandering_giraffe]

Connlaoth was an intriguing place, to say the least. Zjhe really, really wanted to get out of the carriage he was riding in and explore. But his driver told him "absolutely not", so he was doomed to observe this fascinating country from inside the carriage.
He leaned back in his plush seat and reread the letter that had summoned him here in the first place.
Finian Alstead was his new employer's name. This Connlaoth seemed like a pretty safe place. From what he could see, anyways. And the architecture here was much different than the country he was from. He did notice that nobody here had horns. Fascinating.

Eventually, the carriage turned into a beautiful courtyard, and stopped, the driver getting down and hurriedly opening the door for Zjhe.
Even as Zjhe got out of the carriage, he was already looking for potential threats, his steel blue eyes scanning the courtyard. Zjhe stood out like a sore thumb here, wearing a vest, no shirt, fur lined pants, and boots. His blue and silver streaked heart could be seen, the vest not covering all of it. There were some people walking towards him, and he bowed his head slightly, assuming Alstead was among them.

[DragonSong]

Shae found herself sitting up a little straighter and leaning into the frame of the window to get a better look as the new guard emerged from the carriage.

What...?

She'd never seen anyone like him. She'd never even heard of anyone like him--she had to assume he didn't have any magic, or he likely wouldn't have risked taking a job in Connloath, but still...she could come up with no other plausible comparison to his appearance than perhaps a fae creature.

She watched as Master Alstead detached himself from his small retinue and stepped forward to offer the stranger his hand. Though the aerie was located at the highest point of the manor proper, it was still only three stories up, and it did border the interior yard. On a day like today, when the wind worked in her favor, she could faintly hear conversation in the courtyard below, so long as the participants spoke loudly enough.

Which Alstead often did. "jovially booming" was probably the best descriptor of his typical tone. "You must be Ser Zjhe," He said in welcome, despite stumbling a bit over the pronunciation of the name. "Well met, well met. I trust you had a speedy journey?"

[wandering_giraffe]

Zjhe was so fascinated by this place.
And then Alstead approached, and Zjhe firmly shook the hand that was offered, making eye contact with Alstead.
"Zjhe, sir, at your service. Well met, sir. The journey down here was quite speedy." Zjhe adjusted the staff that was slung across his back, letting his eyes drift across the manor.
His sharp eyes didn't miss the silhouette of a girl in the window, and the slightest hint of a smile tugged at his lips before he turned his attention back to Alstead.
"How big is your total property, sir? And any current threats?"

[DragonSong]

Shae found herself shifting awkwardly in place, shrinking back against the edge of the window, as the stranger seemed to cut his eyes up toward the aerie. Surely he couldn't see her from this distance?

"Oh, there will be time later for talk of business," Alstead said, waving his hand carelessly--but there was a hint of tension at the corners of his mouth and eyes. "Suffice to say my estate has proven quite safe; your services will be required most often when I leave the grounds."

He beckoned to one of the servants who had accompanied him, an older man in a well-tailored though sedate household livery, and said, "This is my steward, Ranolf. He will make sure you are properly settled. We can speak more of your duties afterward." To Ranolf, he said, "Show him to his chambers, and then to my study, if you would."

"Of course, Ser." The steward gave his master a half-bow, then turned to Zjhe. "If you'll follow me?"