Lord Makai is a pain.

Not literally, he doesn’t cause physical pain, but he’s mentally exhausting.

Our “practice” week has nearly come to an end and I already want the trip (that hasn’t even started yet) to be over. From morning until night, I am his errand boy. There’s tea in the morning where I wait for him to finish because apparently he can’t pour his own cup and snacks throughout the day. I help with his cufflinks and his coat because nobles can’t do that themselves either. Then I help in his office, either clean or retrieve anything he needs whether it’s a book from the shelf, another cup of tea, or sending out letters. All that seems ok, right?

Well it isn’t the job that bugs me! It’s the person.

Lord Makai is not a conversationalist. He glares, he snarls, and he reprimands. When I do something well there is no thanks or compliment, but if I mess something up even a little I get the signature “do you want to die” snarl accompanied by some form of a lecture.

Perhaps Higra learned her ways from him because the two are kind of similar. She yelled at me for the teacups not being straight in the cupboard and Lord Makai whacked me on the back of the head with a rolled up piece of paper when I didn’t set the table right for lunch. The only mistake was the knife was on the wrong side!

And he’s rude! He doesn’t talk. I made the mistake of attempting conversation and only received two words, “Be quiet.”

Not as a request, but an order spat out between clenched teeth. The only sign of an emotion other than pure annoyance wasn’t even good. I stubbed my toe on the side of the couch once and hopped around while biting my lip to keep quiet. But it wasn’t the pain that was the worst part, it was looking up to find Lord Makai watching me with a devilish grin.

“Know that if you don’t do well on this trip it won’t just be you that’s reprimanded,” Lord Makai warns over lunch on our last day before the trip. “Higra is the one that taught you, after all.”

So that’s two threats, one involved ripping out my tongue and the other is threatening me by threatening Higra. What a pleasant fellow. I’m tempted to mention that people may like him more if he had a better attitude but, honestly? That’s a lie. They wouldn’t, so I cut him some slack.

He’s still super annoying. I used to look up to him when I was a kid after the whole saving my life thing. Now I’m a tad bit disappointed, and I wish I could get over those feelings of being grateful so I can just hate him.

“If you’re so worried about my performance, why not bring Higra?” I ask even if she has already explained as to why.

“You must really be an idiot,” he responds, leaning back into the couch after setting his meal aside.

I’ve learned he eats normal food too. I wonder if it actually does anything though? Or does he just like the taste? Does it even have a taste to him? If I could ask, I would.

“I’m not nearly as well educated as you, Your Grace, so I fear in comparison I may be an idiot,” I respond.

“Do you wish for me to go through with ripping out your tongue?”

Oh, I have been threatened again. I should probably stop.

“My apologies.” I pour another cup of tea. “Why did you give Layne leave when the trip was so close? It would have been much easier to take him.”

“You ask a lot of questions.”

I’ve asked two, but ok.

“He should have been able to attend, but the baby was premature,” he actually answers. “You were recommended, although I’m beginning to think that was the wrong choice.”

Really? Because I put the knife on the wrong side and happened to get some tea on a blank piece of paper two days ago? You…

“I will make sure to better myself, Your Grace. I promise I will serve you to the best of my abilities and more while on this trip.”

“Of course you will, Wallace.”

Why does he sound sarcastic? He’s so hard to please.

“Your Grace, I really would appreciate it if you called me Wallie.”

And there’s the snarl, only this time I’m lifted off the ground. Red smoke forms around Lord Makai’s figure. He snaps his fingers and the doors open just in time for him to wave his hand and I’m chucked out like a rag doll with a surprised shout. The doors slam just as I drop to the floor, at least I didn’t slam into the wall, but still, he threw me out, literally! What a jackass.

I take that as meaning I can go? Just to make sure, I knock and ask, “Do you need me for anything else, Your Grace?”

The door rattles with his shout. “Leave!”

I’m impressed with myself. A week ago I would never have the guts to knock or speak with him, but now? It kind of feels like associating with a stray cat. They let you get close, petting is off limits though, and they’ll scratch or bite if you try, but there’s no horrible consequences, although based on what’s been said around the mansion that could change. Whatever, so far he’s only been annoying.

Since I’m off babysitting duty, I head to dinner. I’ve felt almost like a celebrity this last week since the moment I step into the kitchen all eyes are on me. Everyone always asks what it’s like working side by side with Lord Makai. Layne and Higra are always the ones to do it and they don’t exactly share their work. I try not to either, but it seems my awkward smiles give it away.

“He’s awful, isn’t he?” Janein sighs heavily while she eats with Hael, Elamir and myself. “Your face says it all.”

“I wouldn’t say awful. He’s just—”

“Moody?”

I take a bite of a buttery biscuit. My friends chuckle.

“He hasn’t hurt you though, has he?” Elamir asks nervously.

“No, although he did literally throw me out of the room earlier.”

The girls gasp and Hael chokes on his drink.

“I’m fine though! I don’t mean like a bad throw?” That makes no sense. “It was magic, lifted me off the floor and bam, out of the room.”

“Still, what if you had gotten hurt?” Janein gasps.

“That probably would have been better. It’d get you out of traveling with him,” Hael points out, which immediately has me regretting being so nice earlier. If I had been mean, he may have thrown me further.

“You’re right.” I gape. “I should have done something bad in order to get out of it.”

Elamir rolls her eyes while Janein giggles then says, “If you had done that, he would have just fired you.”

“True.”

“You’re leaving early tomorrow, aren’t you?” Elamir asks.

I nod.

“Good luck. Hopefully you’re not completely miserable by the time you get back.”

Everyone laughs save for me. Sure, sure, I see how it is. Laugh at my pain. One of these days I hope they get this job instead and we’ll see if it’s still funny then!

That night I barely get a wink of sleep due to nerves. Having Higra around has made this week easier. If I had questions, I just asked her. Although from time to time she’d growl and ask why I didn’t read the notes she gave me. Obviously I never told her the truth. I’m still saving up with the hope of getting a private tutor even if it takes me a while to do so. Once the trip starts though, I’ll be on my own.

When morning comes, I’m not ready, but there’s no backing out. I’m up before Hael to prepare Lord Makai’s tea and make sure everything is ready to go. Higra does help. We’re outside speaking with the drivers. Lord Makai’s luggage is packed onto the back of the carriage. Everything is in order and we’re meant to leave as soon as Lord Makai is ready.

Higra orders me to do well before, surprisingly, wishing me luck. All the luck in the world probably can’t save me from this fiasco of a trip though, but I appreciate everyone's effort! And when the time comes to leave, I’m met with a new dilemma that nearly has my eyes popping out of my skull.

“What exactly is this, Your Grace?” I ask after opening the brown package Lord Makai handed me.

He’s tethering a sword to his waist, which only worries me more. He has a sword and now he has given me a dagger. Not a small rusty one either, but rather a well crafted piece of cold steel with a blade longer than my hand. The handle is pure black, simple but effective, able to be put away in a dark leather pouch.

“A dagger, obviously,” he answers.

“Yes, yes I can see that, but why are you giving this to me?”

“Because you may need it.”

“W-What?”

“You’ve been here long enough to know that answer.”

Then he leaves, brushing by me like he didn’t just admit that by going with him my life is in danger and he gave me a dagger to protect myself. Me, someone that has never used a dagger for anything other than cooking or farm work.

“Wallace!”

I jump and nearly drop the knife, somehow fumbling it in my grasp. Good thing it’s back in the pouch. Nervously, I tie it to my belt, hidden beneath my heavy jacket, then grab Lord Makai’s briefcase and coat in order to meet with him downstairs.

“My apologies, Your Grace, I’m coming!”

Higra is waiting at the front doors with a scowl. Lord Makai is there as well. He holds back his arms for me to slip his coat on. Higra is making sure to watch as I dust off the nonexistent dirt and flatten out any possible wrinkles that also definitely don’t exist. That does the trick because she turns away from me and bows.

“Have a safe journey, My Lord.”

“If there is anyone slacking simply because I am on business, fire them.”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

I open the front door, shivering at the burst of cold air. Lord Makai isn’t affected, at least I don’t think he is. Does he feel cold? Does he just wear a coat to fit in? There’s no way to ask, and it doesn’t matter. I need to stop being so curious.

A light snowfall has started. The grounds are dusted white and the sky is a dark gray. It’s a dreary day for the start of a dreary trip, but I try not to think about it too much when I open the carriage door for Lord Makai to enter. His carriage is much more elegant than the one I took. It’s black as night with seams of gold within the wheels and the carriage itself. The curtains are dark and windows squeaky clean. There’s no scratch or blemish, although after the trip that will probably change and it’ll be fixed or replaced immediately.

Just as I’m about to close the door to join the driver, Lord Makai peers out and asks, “What are you doing?”

“Shutting the door.”

“Why?”

“So we may leave.”

“Get in,” Lord Makai orders. When I open my mouth to question him his eyes flash a fearsome red.

Ok, I’m not complaining about sitting in a warm carriage rather than up front, I’m just curious as to why I’m allowed! The butler never sits with the noble, but Lord Makai has ordered it. So I kick the snow off on the step up and slip inside, shutting the door behind me while sitting across from Lord Makai.

It’s nerve wracking. The carriage is big enough for probably six people but we’re both fairly tall so our legs nearly brush. I try to angle mine away. The idea of being so close makes me nervous. My stomach is twisting into a knot.

“Thank you, Lord Makai, for allowing me to ride in the carriage,” I say, although by now I should know better.

“Speak again and you will sit outside.”

See? Rude.

Lord Makai holds out his hand. “Briefcase.”

I quickly pass it over. He digs into it, reading over papers and setting them aside, but then things take a turn for the worse when he hands me a handful of letters and says, “Search through these. Any from the Baylor or Esour family that doesn’t have to do with my business, set aside as trash.”

Then he’s back to work, completely unaware that I can only perform half of his request. Baylor is a word I recognize, I have seen it everywhere. Certain words are ok, such as “bakery” or “vegetables.” Anything I saw in the market everyday as a child and learned from picking it up, but Esour? I don’t know that word nor can I use context clues. I can’t read any of these.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Lord Makai growls.

I bite my lip. If he finds out, will I be fired? Maybe he’ll just turn the carriage around. We aren’t at the train station yet. It’d be easy to turn back, although he would have to take Higra.

I bow my head in embarrassment and mumble, “I’m sorry, I—I can’t read, Your Grace.”

“What?”

“I’m very sorry.”

“Is that not something you should have informed Higra of?” Lord Makai sighs and, honestly, I prefer that over a growl.

“I didn’t think I would be needed to read, Your Grace. I’m terribly sorry.”

The papers are snatched from my hand causing me to flinch. I wait with eyes shut for a scolding, maybe even pain, but it never comes. When my eyes open, all I find is Lord Makai continuing to work with the papers set aside, although he is certainly not happy. His brow is furrowed.

“Surely there is a worker that may teach you. When we return, request assistance,” Lord Makai orders. “Next time I won’t be so lenient. Is that understood?”

“Absolutely, Your Grace, but—”

“What?”

“That implies that you’ve already accepted me as your second choice butler.”

And there’s the whack to the back of the head I was waiting for, but you know what? It was worth it.

♱♱♱