Lord Mikael Redmond

It was just another night for Saebra. As any other, the "Black Wolf Inn" was packed to its capacity. Even to the point where some of the patrons' servants were lodging in the stables for the lack of room. The stables weren't so bad, for they were kept clean and always stocked with fresh, sweet smelling hay.

Saebra rushed about from table to table, taking food and drink orders or delivering large tankards of ale or goblets of fine red wine. She didn't mind being so busy, it kept her mind occupied. What she did mind, was the occasional drunken patron who found it appealing to grope her. She withstood the pinches to her bottom, lightly smacking the hand that would cup her breasts. But, tonight she would encounter a vile man by the name of Bela Walinski from Prussia.

You knew he had to be one who ruled his domain with an unjust hand. He wore garments of a king and had the girth of one that has become accustomed to being waited on. He was rotund, that was being kind in this description. The seams of his clothing were hard put to keep his bulging girth clad. Bela wore an off white spun shirt, intricately embroidered with silver and golden threads. Small pearls decorated the neckline but, most were obstructed by his drooping jowls. There were more pearls going down the side of his pantaloons that were supported by a black silken sash wrapped several times around his massive gut.

His clothes, though as beautiful as they were, were getting soiled by grease, food particles and drink. Saebra had to feel sorry for who ever was tasked to care for Bela's clothing. She was coming to despise the very sight of this grotesque man.

Rumours had it, that he abused women to the point they would take their own lives to escape the cruelties he considered love making. For Saebra, it had started out with Bela leering at her and telling her in guttural broken English, what he would like to do to her if he were ever to bed her. The more Bela drank, the more offensive he got. Soon, he was roughly grabbing her breasts, pinching her nipples through her thin dress. It went further than she cared for, lasciviously pulling her into his vast lap. She could feel his manhood straining through his pantaloons, pressing into her buttocks.

Saebra shrieked in anger, struggling to free herself from his strong grasp. He finally released her, laughing loudly at her as she stalked off. The other patrons took no notice of the commotion, but she could see it in their eyes that they knew what was going on, only choosing to ignore it for whatever reasons they had.

Saebra stormed over to Shane, who was wiping down tables and was now watching her approach with trepidation on his face. He stood up, wiping his hands with the cleaning cloth vigorously. It was if he were trying to rid himself of some vile substance, while his face took on a look of concern and fear.

"Shane!" she hissed, trying to keep her anger and disgust in check. "I wilst naught serve that...that man no longer!"

Shane looked at her, sighing resigningly, "I wilst look to his needs, Saebra." She could tell that Shane did not want the displeasure of waiting on Bela any more than she did. "Now, go girl. Take care of thy other patrons."

Quickly turning from her employer, she hurried over to the two large casks placed next to the bar. Taking four tankards from a small table set between the casks, she fill them with a frothy ale from the cask on the left. The other cask was filled with a strong, bitterly pungent beer that was brewed on the premises.

As she was carefully starting back to the men that had ordered the drinks, the door to the inn opens. A man wearing an unusual attire, enters the premises, causing Saebra to stop in her tracks to gaze at him.

He was dressed so strangely, nothing the likes ever seen in these regions. He wore a black wide-brimmed, leather hat, that was pulled down to conceal his eyes. A long, black leather coat that came down to just above his ankles with an attached leather cape that came down over his shoulders. The coat was split in the back giving peeks of straps holding the sides of the coat to his legs. It was plain to see that it was a riding coat and quite impressively designed in purpose and utility. The man wore black pants that were also strange to Saebra's eyes. They were of an unknown design and fabric and covered the upper portion of the black leather boots he wore. Silver spurs could be seen glinting in the firelight from the heels of the glossy footwear.

The stranger reached up a hand to push the hat a little further back on his head. This action revealed a pleasing smile set on a ruggedly handsome face. Alluring blue green eyes darting around the room coming to rest on the red-tressed serving wench. His smile widened with pleasure as he looked her over.

Saebra started as she came to realize that the man was staring at her. A blush rushed over her face and down her neck, unnerving her enough to almost spill the ale she carried as she spun away from his sight. She was flustered at being caught with her own boldness of staring at this intriguing man.

She hurriedly served the four men their ales, they teased her about the time it took to get them. "Wench! What took thee so long? Didst thee have to brew a new batch?" laughed Winston Kittredge, a local trader of assorted sundries. He performed many transactions with those that would arrange to meet him at the inn.

"Aye girl!" Ben Tullock, the sheriff, said jokingly, "Thee knows we be men of great import in this town and shouldst naught be kept waiting!" His fellow revelers roared with that statement, for they were all working men. Only Ben could boast a title, the rest of them had only the ones they gave themselves.

They knew her well and meant no harm, but Saebra heard not a word they were saying. She kept giving sidelong glances at the stranger, who was now in hearty banter with Shane. The two were shaking hands and slapping the other on the back. So! Shane knew him. She would grill the old man later and get him to tell her of his "friend".

At that very moment, Shane waved to Saebra to join them. The stranger was smiling broadly, his eyes sparking with anticipation. He shifted from foot to foot as he awaited her to join them.

Seems she would not need to grill Shane after all, she thought, brushing a straying lock of red hair back into place behind her ear and quickly straightening out her bodice.

Shane held out his arm when she was near enough, placing it about her shoulders to pull her close to his side like he would a daughter.

"Saebra Skye Ansien, thee be about to meet the noble man that owns this establishment," her employer remarked with great pride, "Lass, this be Lord Mikael Redmond. He hath asked to meet thee."

Lord Redmond held out his hand to her. She wiped her hand on her skirt, more to wipe away the sudden clamminess of her palm before placing it in his. His hand was warm with a firm grip, a grip that told her much about him. Here was a honest and trustworthy man and when she looked up into his hazel eyes, she found herself getting lost in their depths. She shivered a bit, then remembered her manners and lowered herself in a curtsey, smiling all the while.

"Nay, M'Lady! Rise! Thee need ne'er lower thine's self to me," he quickly remarked pulling her lightly upright.

Saebra looked up at Mikael, her eyes wide in disbelief. A noble that didn't want her to pay homage to him? This went against everything she had been taught. You had to bow to those of pure blood, for you were beneath them, was what she had been tutored by Garen and Adea. She had even curtsied to the vile Bela when she first met him, even though her first impression of him had been one of disdain.

Mikael was the complete opposite of Bela. Saebra felt a strange attraction to this man smiling at her like she was an angel. His eyes filled with awe and something else. Something that she could not identify, but shakey thought to be hunger.

"Tis a pleasure to meet thee, M'Lord Redmond," she replied with a dulcet tone.

"Please, Saebra, call me Mikael," he said laughing. "I feel like I already know thee so well and friends shouldst call friends by their given name."

"Mikael," she said his name aloud, testing it, liking the way it rolled off her tongue.

Shane cleared his throat to regain the attention of the two young people. Saebra looked to the elder man, then to the still clasped hands of hers and Redmond's. She quickly released his hand, feeling her cheeks becoming tinged with a blush, casting her eyes to the floor with her discomfiture.

"Saebra, child," intoned Shane. "take Lord Redmond to a table. See to it that ye take care of all his needs." Then he leans forward and whispers into her ear, "Thee wilst surely enjoy caring for him more than Walinski." Shane winks at her then gives her a gentle nudge toward Redmond.

"Aye, Shane. Mikael, wilst thee come with me?" she looks at Redmond with her loveliest smile, taking him by the elbow.

"Of course, lovely maiden. I wouldst go with thee to the very bowels of hell if that is what thee wished," was Mikael's reply.

With that, she leads him over to a table reserved for dignitaries. A fresh linen tablecloth is on it and a small vase of wild flowers, now wilting a little. Mikael takes her hand from his elbow and links her arm with his, placing his other hand upon hers. Saebra smiles at his action, thinking what a wonderful gentleman he is. Other thoughts enter her head, but she quickly puts those thoughts aside. After all, she has just met the man.

Continues in "Bela's Demise" .