Perceived Fate

Calm lake, serene sailor and sunny sun. It was nice, relaxing, but Malum couldn’t stop wanting to go out and but his goods. He wanted to grow stronger, faster and now!

He reeled back in his energy and shushed his energetic voices. It was just a few minutes of waiting, so he focused back in.

The sun felt nice.

The breeze was lovely.

The rocking of the boat, clam and methodical.

`Okay` Malum opened his eyes, `It’s been hours now and Jameson is still not here. He wouldn’t have forgot, so something wrong has happened.`

He jumped up and walked outside. There, he asked the coachman outside if his friend had been taken anywhere to which he heard a resolute no.

That meant he could walk there. If Malum was Jameson he would get a snack on the way, so he checked around the local stores and found a small bakery to which recognised Jameson from description.

With that he gained the direction he was heading and Malum followed it towards the centre of the city. The streets gradually got cleaner, and the roads began to become more polished.

Every step he took, he got closer to the Noble district.

Feeling a headache coming on, Malum searched every store on the way and asked as much as he could. Nobody recognised him but the smith reminisced over his family.

“Good employers those lot were. Mi dad used to work there and I did me apprenticeship there before I did mi own thing. Heard only good things from mi old man, wish the young Sir good luck, on both mi own and mi dads behalf.”

It was nice to hear to wasn’t what Malum was looking for. Although it did give Malum an idea as to where he could have gone.

The old estate of the Household was in the Noble district and Jameson never sold the place. The business they could steal, but the house was a gift from the King so nobody would risk their head over land but house prices had raised since then so Malum decided to check it out.

He rushed down the streets and asked for direction where to go. Street to street slowly he entered the upper ends of the Roosevelt city and slowly Malums rushed figure was becoming more noticeable among the fine suits and dressed of the Lords and Ladies.

Thankfully, he worse decent enough wear to not get stopped. His plain clothes made him look like any others runner, delivering news to and from the city.

He continued to run until he came across the right road, named Coal Road it was a place where only Nobles lived and the use of glass displayed their wealth.

Malum gulped slightly as he moved on closer and slowly he tapped on the door.

He could hear an argument inside, it seemed heated and it was definitely loud.

The sound grew louder as the door was opened and the sight of a cleanly dressed butler came into view.

“We have not ordered any mail today.” He said, shooing Malum off like he was a dog.

“I have news for Sir Jameson Smith”

He got slapped, “That’s Baron to you boy!” Malum looked up at him with some rage on his face, `how dare he.`

The butler continued, “Adress them properly if you want to keep your head.” He said in a much lighter tone. Malum rage reduced considerably.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me, tell me the news and I can deliver it for you.”

Malum could only shake his head. “I’m sorry sir but I was told to only tell the Baron.”

The butler nodded, not at all offending by his actions. Instead he guided him in and took him towards the Barons office.

Whilst they walked, Malum was just happy he had correctly guessed the right place whilst the butler continued to chat about his boss.

“Today some people came and so the Baron isn’t in the best of moods. Say what you need to and then leave. I hope your news isn’t anything so bad he would force you to stay.”

Malum nodded to the man’s words and he saw some slight relief appear on the man’s face as he thanked the fact that alums hadn’t brought more bad news.

Malum was interested alone by the fact his friend had a butler but to be fair, someone had to maintain the house when Jameson was elsewhere and it wasn’t like he was poor.

Past several sword pedestals as well as a few portraits Malum noticed his friend in several of them. He looked so young; his scars were non-existent and his smile was far brighter.

Then at some point it turned. From little boy to grow man. His smile wiped off his face, and instead he saw the Baron.

The butler saw his eyes but didn’t say a word.

Malum followed him until they reached the office where he knocked on the door and announced his entrance.

“Your butler brings a message boy!”

He gestured Malum in and Malum entered into an office. He couldn’t see his friend behind several books, they stacked his desk so high they almost seemed unstable.

The butler than left after saying his goodbyes and it left Malum and the Baron alone in the room.

“Message then?” the Baron said.

Malum peaked behind the stack of books to make sure it was his friend. Same eyes, same nose, he thanked the Gods that he was right.

He was still adamantly reading and Malum read the cover and it stated `Residential Law`. He moved closer to see if his friend would recognise him but found instead that the Baron was to focused on reading his book.

“Message!” He shouted again, still not looking up.

Malum, now behind him, announced with as much gusto as he could.

“The Duke of Malum land desires yours attention!”

Hearing the word duke, Jameson snapped out of his line of focus as he automatically pulled his suit together. He then processed the words and turned to see the messenger.

“The duke of what?” he exclaimed.

Malum just smiled at him and Jameson could only look at his friend as his mind slowly processed things.

“You’re here? How? Wait, what time is it?”

It was only then that he looked outside to see the darkening spring sky.

“Oh,” He pushed his hand to his head and groaned. “Sorry mate, I’ve been trying to sort out something that came up. Did you eat?”

“Yes I did Lord Baron.” He even bowed slightly to add emphasis.

“Fuck off with all that. Even the butler calls me Lord... Well I am starving and I owe you more than a drink. Grab me my coat and I’ll change out of this formal crap.” He moved over to a separate room but he didn’t stop talking.

“You know I went on this meeting today. Baron Hildenborough he offered me a mountain of gold for the estate and because he’s my boss’ boss I actually had to hear him out. Bastard got so much ambition he practically begged me for the location.

You know the houses next to this one house are owned by Viscounts and even the Count of Arms lives three doors down. Bet that pig wanted to go around the whole neighbourhood giving out his name and forcing them to shake his spotless hands.”

Jameson walked out in more casual clothes but he still didn’t stop talking.

“I guarantee you he’s never even touched a sword, perhaps not even a practice one. I could have sliced the man in half in heartbeat. You could for fuck’s sake and yet he’s a Barony based of their strong defensive sword play.

At least I still remain a decent smith. He’s lost the most important thing of all, the damn reason he even became a Baron.”

Malum only looked at him blankly. To which Jameson could only say, “Sorry for venting, right pub, eat, fun. Got anywhere you want to go?”

“Not really, heard the Golden Goose had good eggs but that’s about it.”

“To the Golden Goose it is, today Malum you shall dine on the finest of eggs.”

As they bantered, the butler heard them down the hallway and could only second take what he had seen.

The message boy seemed to have made friends with the Lord, and not only that but he could make the Lord smile!

As a butler, he only wanted the best of his Lordship so to see him happy made him happy as well. He made sure to note the name, Malum, before he got back to doing what he did best. Cleaning, repairing, and ensuring the mansion was prepared for his Lords next stay.

“Hold me Malum.” Jameson blurted out. His shirt barely able to hold back his belly.

“They were goooood.” Malum said, to which he turned his thick neck to see Jameson nodding.

The golden eggs had filled them both up. To the point they had to lay down to cope with the food.

Only when one of them sat back up did they decide that leaving was their best option. They slowly waddled home and once they did they both fell into a food coma. Jameson had experienced a day of hell, and Malum had also had one hell of a day.

Still, they both knew that it wasn’t the hellish work they would remember. Instead it would be those eggs, because they were goooood.