Chapter 4.

Gregor: 

I sat down to dinner with Felicia and to an awkward silence. I debated with myself for a moment, watching her play with her food. 

“If you would like I can arrange for another position for you. Perhaps in the village?” I said finally. 

She jerked her head up to look at me wide-eyed. “No. Please don’t send me away. I won’t meddle again, I promise.” 

“I just thought that after today you wouldn’t want to stay here.” Her response had baffled me. I had thought she would surely want to escape from me as soon as possible. 

“Sir, I know you would never harm me on purpose. I know. I lived with someone who harmed me a much as he could, in every way he could and you are nothing like him.” 

“Do you mean your stepbrother?” 

“Yes. A crueler person is hard to imagine.” 

“What about Arkane?” 

“I only met him once. I believe my brother sold me to him. But he had cruelty in his eyes.” 

I looked at her earnest face. She truly didn’t want to leave, and I felt an odd sensation from the realization that she liked living in my tower...with me. 

“I won’t send you away unless that’s what you want to do. But I do think we should get you your bed. It will make things more comfortable and ...proper.” I said. 

Her face flushed for a moment before she nodded. “ Yes, that would probably be best.” 

“I’ll try and keep my business short tonight, so tomorrow morning I can accompany you into the village. Feel free to get other supplies you need as well.” 

“Thank you, Gregor.” She smiled. 

“Your welcome. Good night.” And once again I left her in my tower. 

I slept better the next night, despite everything. I heard the wolf howling again but it didn’t bother me as much. I was finally beginning to relax in my new surroundings. I didn’t feel like I was constantly walking on eggshells with Gregor. Not like I did at home. His reaction to my foolishness made me trust him more. 

As soon it was dawn I awoke and decided to do an inventory of the tower's supplies and make a list of things that were needed. I was just finishing it up when Gregor returned. He smiled at me but it seemed a little forced. 

“Are you ready?” He asked. “We need to be done with our errands before midday.”

“Yes, I’m ready.” I grabbed my cloak from the back of a chair and settled a basket over my arm. 

Gregor was standing by the door holding it open for me. He frowned and gave my attire a critical look as I passed him. 

“Can you sew?” He asked as we descended the many steps to the ground floor. 

“Yes of course I can see.” I looked at him. “Why? Do you need something mended?” 

“No. You need some decent clothes.” 

I stopped and looked at him. 

“I refuse to allow someone in my employ to suffer because their garments are rags. When winter comes those clothes won’t do. Today you can select enough material to have a decent working dress and a nice one for outings. And the things you need for... underthings...and sleeping attire.”

He said it as a command, but I knew it was more than just appearances. 

“Thank you, Gregor.” 

We walked out into the morning sunlight, and Gregor locked the door to the tower with an ornate skeleton key that looked like it was from the beginning of time. 

“How long has this tower been here?” I asked. 

“Since the beginning of the Embalarian Empire.” 

“That long?” I was surprised. The Embalarian Empire had been overthrown ten years before, but before that, it had existed for at least a century. The current king had renamed the realm Bruin Desposia. Most of the realm had suffered ever since. “How long have you lived here, Gregor?” 

He thought for a moment. “I do believe it will be ten years soon. Though it’s hard to keep track, living as I do.” 

“How did you come to live alone in such a strange place?” 

He stopped walking and gave me an assessing look. “Well, I wasn’t alone when at first. The last Keeper of the Valley lived here, and I came to live with him. He taught me many things, but sadly he died about four years ago.” 

“Keeper of the Valley?” I was confused. 

“Ah look. You can see the village now.” He pointed ahead to a where I could just make out the thatched roofs of a settlement. It looked much like my home, so healed no novelty for me. I was much more interested in my companion and his mysterious life. But he seemed to be disinterested in continuing the conversation. 

We continued until we reached the village. There was a general hustle and bustle of people going about their daily business. Those selling wears calling out to the passers-by. Farmers selling stock, or produce for the most part. A few vendors selling more frivolous things, like jewelry and products to prolong one's youth. 

I went from stall to stall gathering the supplies we needed. And Gregor shadowed me, paying the bills when I was finished. I tried a few times to get his opinion on a few things, but he just smiled and told me to get whatever I thought best. 

Finally, we came to a stall that sold bolds of cloth. There Gregor handed me his coin purse and told me to purchase what I needed, and he turned to leave me. This made me rather nervous for some reason. “Where are you going?” I asked him. 

“I have to meet someone for a moment.” He patted my hand like was a fearful child and no doubt that’s how I looked to him. “I won’t be far away and I’ll only be gone a few minutes.” 

I watched him walk away. For some reason, his attitude annoyed me. I turned reluctantly back to the stall. 

“It’s not every day I get a customer as fair as you, miss.” The vendor was a young man, maybe a year or two older than me, and very handsome with a charming smile. I was unused to being given any sort of compliment, so heat rushed to my face. 

“What are you looking for today, my lady?” He asked. 

“I need material for a day dress and a Sunday best. Some linens for underthings and a nightgown, and some suitable material for a new cloak.” By the time this speech was done, I was mortified and my voice hitched. I cleared my throat and tried to overcome my embarrassment. I told myself no doubt he heard requests for undergarments a hundred times a day. 

“Excellent!” He put together a bundle of the linen first then showed me a couple of calico cloths for a day dress, and some finer material for a Sunday best. I chose a soft green calico for my day dress and a lovely cream lawn for Sunday best. 

“Now for the cloak.” He pulled out a bolt of fine wool in a deep scarlet color. “Might I suggest this? It would look so becoming against your fair skin and dark curls.” 

I gasped in delight, but despite his flattery, common sense won out. “It is lovely but I’m afraid I need something more practical,” I said. 

“None sense. The Scarlet suits you.” Gregor had come up behind me. “How many yards?” He asked me with a smile. 

“On no sir, it’s much too fine.” 

“How many yards would you say, young man?” Gregor turned to the vendor. 

“Five, to do it justice.” The boy said with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. 

“Done,” Gregor said and the boy began preparing the cloth. 

“Thank you, sir,” I said quietly. 

“You’re welcome. And my name is Gregor.” 

“I can’t call you that here,” I whispered my eyes going wide. 

“I’m not your master Felicia, I’m your employer, but I hope I’m also your friend.” He whispered back. 

My face flushed again, and looked at my feet in confusion. Gregor took the package of scarlet wool, and then we began our walk back to the tower.

“I spoke to the local woodworker and ordered a bed frame for you. I’m pretty sure I have an extra straw tick in storage at the tower.” Gregor said as we walked along. 

“Thank you, Gregor. I’m grateful for all your kindness to me.” 

“Making sure my housekeeper has a decent bed and practical clothes is not a lot to ask.” He said giving me an odd look.

“My own family never did anything half so kind to me,” I replied quietly. “And then there is the cloak.”

He smiled. “I’m sure you will look lovely in it, which is all the thanks I want.” 

It was nearly mid-day and the valley sparkled with dewdrops as the sun shone on them. They would quickly disappear under its heat. But at that moment they dazzled me. The valley dazzled me. And so did the mysterious man walking beside me. Who was kind without even thinking about it. 

Gregor:

Spending the day with Felicia was very illuminating. She seems to be completely self-effacing. Almost afraid to draw attention to herself in any way. And she acted as though no one has ever done or said anything kind to her. I don’t want to think about the sort of life she must have had to make her act that way. She deserved better, every living thing deserves better really, but especially a selfless and nurturing creature like Felicia. 

As we walked I watched her face. She kept giving the scarlet wool sidewise glances, accompanied by an excited and bashful smile. As though she couldn't wait to begin work upon it. The obvious and yet innocent joy it gave her made my chest tighten with an odd mix of emotions. My sense of compassion and justice was offended, yet there was a pleasure at being the person who elicited these reactions from her. I was also aware that I wanted her reactions to be repeated, and often. 

It had been so long since I had had a companion, I know I was awkward, and I'm sure I was less than what would have been expected from a gentleman, the sort of man she deserved as any sort of companion, the sort of man I was supposed to be. The man that had been lost years ago. But, perhaps I could find him hiding somewhere deep inside my broken, and isolated mind.