Zemnian Nights

Chapter Two

As commanded, Caspar fell back and slipped into the shade of the manor, quite skilled at being invisible when he chose to be. His keen attention noted that as Wilhelm vanished into the house, the girl's eyes followed him. The look was keen as it traced his form from head to heel before she gave a small nod as if deciding something. Most would never have noticed it, but he was a rogue at heart and the subtle was his bread and butter.

The girl then turned to face the guards who had ridden with them as well as the driver who was attending the horses as they milled about a bit in the courtyard. Her smile did not seem forced as she lifted her chin and spoke loud enough that it could be audible without resorting to shouting above the rising murmur of the crowd. 

"Welcome, Sirs, to Rosenfeld Manor." When she had their attention, she clasped her hands before her waist and offered a polite nod of greeting before she continued. "As my father is occupied with entertaining your Lord, I am granted the honor of seeing you properly situated. Your time with us may be brief, but we wish it to be as comfortable and pleasant as possible."

She gave a sweep of her hand outward and the guards turned to look behind them. A small group of men stood there, tidy but obviously work-hardened. "This is Mallos, Tarin, and Korit. They will help you with your baggage and horses." She nodded in the direction of the staff who moved to begin the task of aiding the coachman in getting the conveyance moved and taking the reins of the soldier's mounts. "While the horses are being watered, I will show you where you will be resting. No doubt you are all anxious to refresh yourselves." A nod and she moved away from the manor, her hands still linked before her waist.

The men looked to one another, then to Caspar as he moved out of the shadows, his nod giving them permission to follow. As they walked, he was quite aware that while she strolled unescorted through the courtyard there was never a time that some worker on the grounds of the manor was not watching her. Caspar was reminded of guard dogs prowling about, their demeanor and gaze tender when on her, and threatening when they looked to any other, watching for the slightest hint of trouble.

She lead them to what appeared to be a smaller stable to the north side of the manor grounds, the wide door currently sitting open. "It is not much, but I do hope you will be comfortable here."

Stepping inside, the soldiers and Caspar were taken aback. Within, the air was fresh and clean, the stone floor devoid of any hint of straw or dust. Each stall had been made into a little room. A cot on either side of a wooden stool on which rested a pitcher and basin, each cot adorned with a folded woolen blanket and a pillow at the head.

After allowing the men to look about the small but well-appointed space, she cleared her throat from the door. "If you have need of anything, please feel free to speak to any of the gentlemen who I have introduced to you already, or to Heinrich, who oversees the guards. You will know him by the bright red beard." She chuckled good-naturedly. "My second request is a bit ... personal. The last stall at the end..." 

Caspar had moved down that way and looked within, the men following at his heel. A lantern, as yet unlit, hung from the ceiling. A large barrel of water and a heavy pitcher on a tall stool sat beside it. The most notable feature, however, was the round wooden lid that, no doubt, sat over a very deep hole. 

"... is provided for your...." she blushed a bit. "Privy needs and so forth. I would ask that you use it rather than the manor grounds."

Her back straight despite her obvious discomfort speaking of such uncouth things, she nodded once. "I am certain it is not required to say aloud that while you are our guests, please refrain from fighting, over-indulgence in drink, or ..." She blushed a bit but drew a breath and lifted her chin a bit. "Pressing familiarity with any of the servants."