The day was still young. Birds were chirping in the sky. Everyone around the young girl was oblivious of her task. They all just assumed her to be some servant girl. Only few really recognized her for what she was. A whore. Most of her breed wore a mask during the day. People expected them to look like whores all day long. They were mistaken. During the day, they liked to be inconspicuous. After all, no one really wanted to talk to a whore during daylight hours. That would be scandalous.

She had left John sleeping. She didn't want him to know that she'd been gone. She had heard some very useful information last night. Very useful indeed. Early in the night, she had gone to bed with a commoner who was good friends with one of the Lawley serfs. The man couldn't hold his liquor or his tongue. All it took was a little persuasion of sorts before she found out what she needed to know. She doubted that this was the whole story though. Things changed when they went through more than one person.

Jessie walked up to the castle. She had conflicting feelings about the man she was about to see.For one thing, she really didn't trust him or the way he looked at her. For another, she really wanted to find out more about him. She shivered even though it wasn't cold outside. Assuming she was a servant, they let her into the kitchens without asking any questions. She tapped the shoulder of the man she assumed was in charge.

"Excuse me but I'm here to see Owain. Could you take me to him?" she asked.

((You can just have him appear or something.))

The enormous chef hefted his bulk around at the sound of a young girls voice and the tapping on his side. His fat jolly face brightening happily at the sight of the lass. “Well what ‘ave we here! A Visitor! Taint she a lil sweetie. Oy Miriam! Taint she a lil sweetie!?” His voice boomed across the bustling kitchen electing snickers and covered grins from the other servants throughout. After the very hurried but amused looking Miriam stated her affirmation that Jessie was in fact a little sweetie he turned his attention back toward her.

“What was ‘et you wanted lassie?!” his demeanor kind and joyous, obviously a man who loved his work and life overall. “Did you say Owain? Aye, Aye m’lass he be here all’right. Overseeing the lasses serving morning meal I think.” He nodded as he said these words; his rolls of fat jiggling as he shook his head. “Oy Talbion!” He waved a fat fist toward a scrawny lad entering the kitchen through large double doors. “Go be tell’n Owain tha’ he has got himself a visitor!! A wee bonny lass!” He nodded again as he spoke those words, his fat jiggling all the more.

The boy turned and disappeared through the doors he had come through originally and the kitchen continued along at its rapid bustle. “So!! Lassie! You sit yerself ‘ere next ta ‘ol Quincy’n ‘ave yerself ah piece ah this sweet-meat.” He held a piece of large sweet-meat toward her in sausage sized fingers. “Owain’l be along when he kin. I ain’t known tha lad to leave ‘es mistresses side when she be eat’n so it might jus’ be ah bit.”

Jessie fumed a little bit when she was told to wait. She didn't like waiting. The young lady had no patience in the first place. Whatever patience she did have was being stretched by the cook and this Miriam lady. It seemed that the young woman did not like being called a sweetie. Pfft. That was no way to describe Jessie. The prostitute was anything but sweet even if she pretended sometimes for the customers.

Her eye twitched. Of course. He was with Lady Katherine. She didn't expect anything less from the man. He would be wherever his mistress was. She still did not like waiting. She held up her hand at the offering of food. She was sure that if she ate such a thing, she would lose her perfect figure. Not many men liked a fat prostitute. "No. I'm not hungry. But thank you anyway."

While she waited, her mind wandered back to the night where they first met. When he left, the two Smith sibling went back to their nightly business. She had been looking for a good spot when she came upon something in the road. Even in the dark she could see the blood. His face was mangled and broken but he was alive. Chances were that he would never marry because he was so ugly.

She had left him there. Now she wondered who had given him such a beating. Was it the man she had come to meet? He had been going that way but Jessie wasn't sure. She didn't plan on bringing it up. She started mumbling under her breath. What was taking him so long? Surely he would want to know what she had found out...

Suddenly Owain’s lithe frame was silhouetted in the doors as they swung open. He briskly moved into the kitchen. He was dressed in a crisp, clean, scarlet outfit of the finest silk. The handpicked servants of the lords and ladies commonly attired in outfits only slightly less impressive than that of the lords and ladies themselves. He moved with commanding precision across the room to the fat lump of a man. He had not yet noticed Jessie as she was standing across Quincy from Owain.

“What was Talbion whining about Quincy?” he looked evenly at the man. His voice not mean or callus in any way; simply direct and voiced as if from a superior. Owain was well respected within the household as were all the personal servants of the family. He also never showed his other side openly within these walls; preferring to save his cold, snide, behaviors for the serfs who lived within the surrounding town.

“Oy m’good ladd!” The fat man laughed jollily as he spoke. “This’ere lass ‘as ta see ya.” His head was nodding again as these words escaped his fat lips and bobbling chins. Having to take a quick step to see where Quincy was motioning Owain came around to the mans side and saw Jessie for the first time. He blinked slowly as a gentle smile brightened his handsome face. “Ahh….Lucy correct?” his smile was warm and his words were stated with a friendly tone. “I will make the assumption you have some information for me. I truly do apologize I cannot remain here in the kitchens to hear what you have to say, but I must see to the servants attending to my ladies rooms.” He glanced around as if trying to decide what to do. “Well…..how about you walk with me then?” While saying this he took two quick strides toward the servant’s staircase to the upper floors. He motioned her to follow “do come,” he said. A playful smile giving his handsome features the carefree gleam of youth. “I am most certain a tour through the private chambers of a Lady is not offered to you every day.”

In all reality his attitude and actions were only mostly a show. He had steeled himself from showing anything but a mask of gentleness and grace while within the castle and that control flowed effortlessly through him like an aphrodisiac. His fear of weakness was overcome in this setting by his trained façade. She was truly beautiful, the pupils of her amber eyes once again dilated innocently in the dim light of the bustling kitchen, and even here that fact made his insides tie themselves in knots. The fact he truly yearned to know more about this whore still amazed him, pretty she may be, but he did not allow any anger to surface because of that odd unexplainable ache.

If he had come in just a few seconds later, he would have found the kitchen in a mess and Jessie out the door. She had never been accustomed to waiting. No one had ever made her wait before. Her customers sure didn't like waiting. John never made her wait. Her 'parents' would sometimes make her wait but she had never listened to them anyway. No, she had never had to wait like this before and she hated it.

She found that she was finally relieved when Owain showed up. He didn't notice her right away but that didn't matter. At least she didn't have to be with these...people anymore. She was confused for a moment. He had called her Lucy. Then she remembered that she had told him that was her name. She knew that he didn't believe her. She didn't say it very convincingly.

She looked at him for a moment. The man, with his unkempt locks and pale eyes was only a few years older than she was. How did he get such a high position in so little time? The question in her mind brought her back to the bloodied boy on the ground. Was that how he got here? It was as likely as any other scenario she was to come up with. She stared at him a few seconds longer and his eyes were on hers.

"Alright then. I'll say what I've come to say when we leave prying ears and eyes." she said while looking at him. She still didn't trust him. He may have acted differently here than he did on the streets but she had witnessed both. But she had no choice. They needed the money. She wanted to sigh but kept her mouth closed and started to follow him. He was right. She was curious in seeing Lady Katherine's chambers.

((You can godmod her following him if you need to.))

He nodded understandingly at her words and waited for her to follow him up the dimly lit stair. After walking up a couple flights in silence they arrived at the corridor leading to Katherine’s chambers. He turned and motioned for her to halt. The corridor was deserted but bright, one wall peppered with bullet shaped windows looking down upon the southernmost stretches of the town.

“What information do you have for me? We will not be disturbed here.” His tone was direct with no trace of either friendliness or fury. He caught his eyes wavering along her slender form again and forced them up toward her beautiful, young face. The pair’s sudden seclusion in the private corridor caused his trained façade to slightly slip.

“I trust no danger befell you as you attained the information.” He said before he could think. “Do I? Do I really care?” he thought in amazement. The wonderment at her affect on him coursed through him as he waited for her to speak. “Why does she affect me thus,” he mused, “And…..why do I….care?” The realization that he cared for this girl increased his wonderment tenfold.

Jessie's pupils grew smaller in the sudden light. They were used to the darkness of the kitchen and the corridors leading to this one. She had to blink a few times to adjust. She knew that Owain would not take her all the way to Lady Katherine's chambers. He wasn't stupid. He probably knew that she would steal something from her room if she had the chance. She wouldn't have liked it though.

She noticed that again his eyes lingered on her frame a lot longer than was necessary. She raised a dark eyebrow at him. If he found her body to be pleasing, all he had to do was pay her for it. Even he wasn't above hiring a prostitute. Besides, he probably wouldn't be too bad in bed himself. No. She had to stop thinking like this. It was not helpful for her situation. Not at all.

Jessie grinned at him. She didn't expect such a display of affection. "Why? Were you worried for me? No, if you knew anything about how I worked, you would know that it's not exactly dangerous. The men are already drunk enough to spill their guts without my persuasion." she says, winking at him. She might as well have fun with it. "Before I say anything else, what am I getting paid?"

"Before I say anything else, what am I getting paid?" Lucy said directly. He smirked slightly and reached to a small silk bag that hung at his waist. Producing two coins he held them up, the pair of sterling, flashed in the light filtering in through the row of windows. “If the information is worth it, you will get these.” A knowing grin crossed his face as he looked down at the prostitute who most likely had never earned more than three coppers a fuck.

The two coins scraped together in his fingers as he held them firmly in a strong grip. Knowing full well the lass would have no qualms about snatching the sterlings and fleeing for her life. “Now what is the information,” his tone took on a harder lilt. His care for the girl set aside as business was dealt with.

The sound of distant rustling on the stairs assaulted their ears. Not wanting to be caught standing in a secluded corridor with a pretty young whore and holding two silvers; Owain palmed the coins and looked past her to listen. Hoping that the sound was simply another servant walking down to the kitchens from the floor below.

The silver coins shone brighter than any money the young woman had ever received. A glint of greed shone in her eyes, even brighter than the coins, and she tried to hide it. She was sure that Owain noticed because he had hid the coins from view. He knew her too well for having just met her. Or maybe she was just too predictable. But she refused to believe such a thing.

She wondered if he would actually give her the coins. There was a very good chance that he would kick her out without them. She had only known him for a short while but already she knew that he wasn't exactly the loyal type of man. She knew that he would not hesitate to palm the coins for himself and rape her if he wanted to. There was no one around to stop him.

But it was a risk she had to take. Especially for the amount of money he was offering. It was probably more than she and John made in a week. She wouldn't know. They never counted it. She didn't even have to take off her clothes. Yet. She sighed and began:

"Well, last night when I was with a customer, he started telling me a story that his friend told him to impress me. His friend just so happens to be a serf. It seems that the serfs are in possesion of Lady Elena Lawley. Whether she has been kidnapped, or has gone willingly, I wasn't able to find out. It seems that she is unharmed though." She hoped that they didn't already know this.

The rustling on the stairs faded gently. “Must have just been someone heading down to the kitchens," Owain thought. His fears of discovery having been abated he turned his attention back to the pretty, young, whore before him. He had been too distracted by the rustling to hear the first few words of her spiel, but he caught the bulk.

"……………. telling me a story that his friend told him to impress me. His friend just so happens to be a serf. It seems that the serfs are in possession of Lady Elena Lawley. Whether she has been kidnapped, or has gone willingly, I wasn't able to find out. It seems that she is unharmed though," she said.

As he listened, the initial thoughts crossing his mind were along the lines of “Some man is trying to impress her? Who?! I will beat the….wait, Elena what?!” His eyebrows rose sharply as she related the tale of Elena’s kidnapping. Surprise was obvious on his face as she finished her recanting of the events.

“Well…..well this is most interesting…..yes this is worth of aforementioned sum….here take both sterling and do not repeat to anyone what you have just told me.” He held out his palm as he spoke, both coins being offered to her in his extended hand. He ignored the fact that he had just given the girl two sterling for a piece of information he could have gotten for free; with some physical encouragement of course. He had known all along he would give her the silver. The only reason for this he could imagine though was that his feelings for her had overcome his normal cruel, tenacity. An unfortunate development yes, but one he found himself being less and less displeased about.

While his mind was digesting the information and pondering how it would affect his Lady. He then noticed the early morning breeze blowing through the window had caused a few strands of Lucy’s hair to fall softly along her cheek. “Her dark hair contrasts so beautifully with her……truly flawless skin,” he mused as his mind found itself greatly distracted from the subject of Lady Elena Lawley.

He suddenly realized she was staring at him, staring at her. A slight redness flushed his cheeks at the realization he had been caught in his gaze. Perhaps it was the embarrassment of the moment forcing him to speak, but before he could think the words tumbled out. “Lucy I wonder if you would like to see the town from the castle tower…..it is truly a beautiful sight,” his voice was gentle as he spoke the words.

He was obviously surprised by her information. The look on his face said it all. Before she told him, her heart had been pounding inside her chest. She hadn't been sure that what she had for him was enough. But he wasn't quick enough to mask his face. They did not yet know where Lady Elena was, or if she was safe. She had given that to them.

There was a look of confusion on her face as he gave her the two silver coins. She took them eagerly of course but she couldn't understand why he had given them to her. She knew he could get the information out of her without paying her if he had wanted to. And he knew that she knew that. She had been on the streets long enough to know that much.

“Lucy I wonder if you would like to see the town from the castle tower…..it is truly a beautiful sight,”

Ah so that was what he was after. She would have laughed if she wasn't afraid of his temper. He had feelings for her! No one would blame her. It truly was a laughable thought. But she couldn't say that she didn't return the feelings. Nor could she say that she did. The way he said it didn't sound like a joke to her. He also looked pretty red.

"I suppose I could spare a few moments if you would be so kind as to show me." she said evenly. Her voiced betrayed no emotion.

"I suppose I could spare a few moments if you would be so kind as to show me,” she said. He smiled at her agreement to his request, but a sudden uneasiness gripped his stomach. “This should be….what the hell am I doing?…..” A sudden opening of the door at the end of the hall put a halt to his train of thought. The young servant girl standing in the now open doorway seemed relieved and uneasy at having spotted Owain.

“Owain, M’lady is calling for you,” she said nerviously. He nodded in recognition to her words. “Very well, thank you Deborah,” he then turned back to face Jessie. “I can see we will have to refrain from any further discussion. Deborah will show you out.” Quickly turning he moved along the corridor toward the open door. “Deborah, please escort her out through the kitchen.” In moments he had swept through the door, disappearing from view.

He felt relieved. These odd emotions he had been allowing to overcome his safety net were problematic at best. No three copper whore was worth letting down his guard and losing everything he had built in the last four years. The relief was then replaced by happiness; happiness at having not gone through with his silly walk along the tower. “What was I thinking…..an attempt to get to know a female who makes a living toying with men’s emotions?” He shook his head grimly. “I will have to be more careful with my own stupidity and weakness in the future.”

Back in the corridor the servant girl had moved past Jessie to the stairs. “Come please, I do not wish for Owain to find out I didn’t follow his order.” The young girl shuddered slightly as she spoke. There was a tinge of fear obvious on her face as she motioned for Jessie to join her in the descent down the stairway to the kitchens. “Please hurry I have work to get to.”