16 Interlude: Ken

Kent stares straight ahead of him determined not to react.

He may not like the idea of Lady Auron fraternising with the errant Lord Ausset, but it's not a servant's place to chastise their master.

Especially not in front of someone of higher standing.

So instead he stares straight ahead and tries not to interject as Lord Ausset attempts to charm Lady Auron.

He is merely an attentive servant.

Nothing more.

The young Lord's voice is grating to him.

Much too charming and careless.

His words drip with honey but Kent knows how easily it can turn to poison instead.

He grits his teeth when Lord Ausset asks Lady Auron to call him Timothy and she accepts.

That kind of familiarity will start rumours.

Lord Ausset, knows that of course.

All Lord Ausset wants is a rich bride.

He doesn't care how or why she agrees to be his bride.

Just that she brings with her enough funds for the upkeep of his House.

Kent can understand that cold-blooded devotion to his House, but he still doesn't like or trust Lord Ausset.

A trained snake is still a snake.

Lady Auron, however, doesn't seem to share his sentiments.

If anything she seems to be enjoying the attention.

It's distressing how much she sucks it up.

She's pretty enough that she has to have been flattered before and yet it's like each of Lord Ausset's compliments is a revelation to her.

Not for the first time, Kent wonders just how protective Lady Auron's brother had been.

Had he chased away all potential suitors and sheltered her to the point that she was vulnerable to a little flattery?

Or... is Lady Auron acting?

Kent is unable to tell and that worries him most of all.

He won't be able to assist her if he doesn't know what her game plan is.

At the same time, he's not sure he wants to assist if it will result in Lord Ausset gaining House Auron.

To have House Auron tarnished in such a way and become this man's vassal...

Kent is almost relieved when one of Lord Ausset's servants bursts into the room and ends that train of thought.

Lord Ausset excuses himself to speak to the harried man.

Kent considers discussing the situation with Lady Auron and dissuading her from further contact with Lord Ausset.

The only thing that stops him is that there could very well be someone listening in.

It wouldn't do to make it seem like Lady Auron was reliant on the opinion of a mere servant.

It immediately sets Kent on edge.

"Lady Auron, you need to leave."

There's no mistaking the urgency in his voice.

Kent's stomach turns even as Lady Auron inquires as to the reason.

"What? Why?"

"The King's men are outside. They say they have cause to arrest you."

For a moment Kent is frozen.

This is all too similar to what happened to Sonia.

"What reason could they possibly-?"

Kent doesn't let her finish.

He grabs hold of her arm and starts to usher her towards the back of the house.

"We need to get out. Now."

He refuses to lose another master, especially when there will be no other after her.

"He's right. Leave through the back. I'll stall them for as long as I can."

Lord Ausset follows them but stops at the door to the room.

"Stay safe, Lady Auron."

With that he turns and goes to greet the 'guests'.

Kent leads Lady Auron out into the back alley, looking around furtively for a possible ambush.

He wasn't able to protect Sonia.

She chose to give herself over to them.

He will not let another Lady Auron make the same mistake.

Seeing nothing he leads her down the backstreets heading away from the estates of House Ausset and House Auron.

Both of them are probably crawling with the King's men.

They keep moving, needing to duck out of sight of soldiers multiple times.

Wherever they go, there are more and more of them.

It's only when night falls that they stop.

It's then that he realises one terrible truth.