Robert was returning home from his business dealings. The Estate Manager, Aspers, had sent Holder Robert into town to negotiate a trade for wool and bee's wax for candles. It was an excuse to get him off the estate and away from the running of things. The manager had given him the amount that they needed and the amount they could accept. Robert's Grandmother, Lady Agatha, was the title holder for the estate that held a profitable mining operation, hard wood logging, and fertile land.
Robert knew that he was being sent off, probably by his Lady Agatha. After a couple nights of drinking and gambling he brokered two trades between two warring houses and completed his dealing, that would be beneficial to his purse and the estate. He had promises for the wool, wax, along with coal, and some breeding stock - cattle, sheep, and horses. He even still had money in his purse. On the back of the carriage were strapped a barrel of flour and two barrels of beer. Two bottles of a new wine were in the driver's seat next to him.
To the alarm of Aspers, Robert had chosen to drive the carriage himself. Having servants along raised the prices and interfered with his other activities of chance and choice. He had enjoyed what had been arranged for him. He entertained, charmed, and partook what was offered to him, but Lady Agatha was not going to get what she wanted, a new lady of the house. Another perfumed handkerchief would hang from the rafter of his workshop to remind him.
As Robert hummed a tune, he saw the young lady staggering and fall. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him when he though he saw feathers from her back. He stood in the driver's spot and looked for thieves. The birds were singing and nothing moved. He set the break and pinned it so the wheels would not move. Then he slowly climbed out from the carriage to check on the young girl. He touched his arm to make sure his throwing knife was at the ready and grabbed a blanket. He approached her at an angle while talking. There were stories about people fleeing to the Forbidden Kingdom, changing and attacking people. This is why the estate proper had high walls.
It was reported that monsters had killed his parents. But monsters normally do not leave a horse and a servant alive to tell the tale. Bandits do. The money box had been broken and a month after the incident, the servant asked to leave. The trauma of that event was just to great for him. That was right before Robert got home from university.
As he approached he said in his most charming tone, "Miss, I'm not going to hurt you."
As he moved close enough to touch her, he said, "Miss, I am Robert. I have some skills with healing and I have food and water in the carriage. I just want to help you."
Robert did not really have much of a plan. If she attacked he would try to pin her down till she calmed down. If she was dead, he would make a grave for her as best he could. If she was not responsive, he would pick her up put her into the seat of the carriage. Two things went through his head, Lady Agatha and Aspers would be shocked if he tried to bring a young lady into the house. He did not know if she was contagious and did not want to put the house at risk. The second thing was how to deal with ripped clothing to preserve her dignity and reduce the chance of scandal. If she did not respond, he knew that he would probably see more than he should. But He would wrap her in the blanket. He wondered if she had wings or was the feathers his mind playing tricks on him.
The workshop was a combination of things. It was a two story old stone barn that had been repurposed for him. These were not his rooms, but Lady Agatha let him have some freedom and it kept him from disrupting the operations of the estate. He made his appearances as the Lady required.
The first floor was room to entertain, his workshop, and a room where he could experiment. A small forge and furnace heated the place a washroom, where one could take steam and clean up was there. His latest experiment was a shaft that was powered by a water wheel. He had been working on mechanical billows that cause the forge and furnace to be hotter. Aspers gave him a look like he was daft. Lady Agatha swore he was going to kill himself with one of his contraptions. The upstairs held a study with a large windows facing the manor house, an apartment, and a hidden room where he could practice his magic. He had four dogs that had the run of the place provide security, barking at anyone who came near.
He had six but two of them had been poisoned by another family who thought they had earned their wealth by using black magic. His Grandmother told him not do anything rash. Robert took two weened puppies to the daughter of the house as a gift on her birthday. A twelve year old girl with long black hair and a nice smile. Whoever ordered the poisoning would be reminded daily.
He had his plans, now he needed to see if this young lady wanted or needed his help.
