Kate and Sean

Untitled Part 18

Sean lay awake in the makeshift bed staring up at the bark-shingled ceiling. The thought of Kate cold-shouldering him and taking back off into the great hall haunted him. Had they been home, he would not have much worry. They spatted with each other and made up all the time. Here things were different however. If your relationship was not solid, you stood the chance of being replaced. He had not wanted to hurt her, but the thought of seeing her enslaved bothered him. She would never leave him of her own free will.

 For her to entertain young men she didn't know would be an even worse risk to her. The ways of these people were so savage. So unpredictable. Then the thought of her being sold like an ornament, an old piece of furniture. It didn't sit well with him. He tossed and turned throughout the night. Finally, he gave into the need to find her and explain his position, his justification.

He quietly opened the window and slipped out, it was a bit high of the ground, and the thud that he left behind was unnerving to say the least. He was sure he had woken the beast asleep inside. He waited a few minutes to see if Thomas would come looking for him, and when there were no sounds coming from inside Sean scurried through the shadows and winding pathways towards the palace.

He meandered through the bushes and stood still when he heard the palace door open and shut. His petite size made it easy for him to go unnoticed. He finally reached the door when he was slammed head first into it. The pain radiating through his face as he spun around to see who had assaulted him. Thomas towered over him, reached down and grabbed the front of his collar, cinching it tight enough to restrict the air. "You try to escape me, and break into the palace? Had the king found you it would be your death." He shoved Sean towards the cottage, "If it is death you want, I can do it. Will be far more merciful than what Mavis will do to you."

Sean sputtered and coughed, tripping on his own feet as he was still reeling in pain and trying to recover from the choking. Thomas picked him up off the ground and nearly bowled him off his feet as he shoved him onward. The moment they got back into the cottage Thomas locked the door and stood arms crossed over his chest, "You ever try that again I will cut your throat and leave your carcass in the woods. Everything you do reflects on me. I granted you mercy in letting you in my home. I give you shelter, I give you food. You will learn to respect me or you will pay for it."

The next morning, Sean entered the palace with a darling red-haired, toddler, cub on his hip and a satchel over his back. Thomas followed them in and directed him to a room that was set up for Abbott's daughter when she visited. It was full of toys and plush decorations. The doctor's daughter was already in there with a chambermaid keeping watch. When Thomas entered he addressed her with a warm smile and a kiss on the back of her hand. "Should you need a break, my slave can take over your duties in your stead."

The maid took note of Sean's bruised and scratched face, "Oh, do you need tending?" Sean shoved her hand off and sucked his teeth at her, rudely.

The action drew an immediate warning growl from Thomas, and Sean responded with, "Sorry lady, I don't need no help. I will watch this kid too if you want to run off and what not." She thanked them both and politely bowed to Thomas before she left to catch up on her other duties. Sean noticed the lingering stare Thomas gave her as she left, "Dang, yo. She like you. She sweet too you should hit that." Thomas whipped around from watching her walk down the hallway. "I would never hit a woman. That is why you are in this position, you have no respect. You will learn it before I am through."

Sean rolled his eyes, realizing he would now have to explain. "Not hit that as in hit her. Hit that as in get with her, ya know?" The response to this explanation was not much better and he decided the only way to clean this up without finding himself in more trouble would be to speak properly, "You should take her out to dinner or something, have some fun with her."