It only took Frederick one look at the building to know that this job was going to be nothing like what he envisioned. For one thing, it was too large; no amount of fireplaces was going to be able to keep that place warm. For another, there was no farm equipment in sight. His mother hadn't quite explained what the job was going to be, but he'd assumed it would have to do with farming or livestock.

It still could be. Maybe they have some horses in the back?

It was just one more in a journey full of surprises. The morning's travel had been unexpectedly short. After he had gathered his supplies and left camp, he had come across a friendly miller who was able to give him instructions based on landmarks. A couple hours later and he was here, at what couldn't be described as anything other than a castle.

Even the front door seemed overbearing: upon it sat a large evergreen wreath. Then again, the miller could have been confused or have given him the wrong directions.

He rapped on the door and did his best not to look out of place—a difficult task for a farm hand accustomed to sleeping in the outdoors.

A woman pulled back the door as though inviting him in, but she completed the action wordlessly while eyeing the rope he had wrapped diagonally across his chest.

Then, she turned around and disappeared into the hall. Frederick thought he had heard her ask him to wait, but it had been quiet, and he wasn't sure he hadn't imagined it. He slipped the rope over his head and stuffed it into the hammock covering on his back before pausing to look around.

The interior of the castle matched its outside; it was grand and completely foreign. There were paintings on the walls, rugs on the floor, and at the end of the room, there was a staircase leading to a second floor level. It was a lot to take in, but the most uncomfortable aspect of the castle was its cleanliness. Around the foyer room there were small tables and shelves set against the walls; each covered in knick-knacks with no discernible purpose. If it weren't for the lack of dust and the presence of the woman who opened the door, Frederick would think that the room had not been inhabited for a long time. Did anyone actually live here?

He heard the lady return before he saw her. "Have you come for work?"

He stood up straighter. “Yes, ma’am.”

“The young master is indisposed at the moment, so I will show you to your duties.” After a beat, she added, “ My name’s Anne, and it’s nice to meet you.”

“My name’s Frederick.” Silence stretched between them as they walked outside and followed a stone path that traced the edge of the castle. Anne stopped walking abruptly.

The stable was hidden in a nook nestled between the main building and the eastern tower. It was large, covered in ivy, and giving off the pungent smell of manure. From the look of it, it hadn’t been tended to in at least a couple days, if not a week, and it was in dire need of some structural repairs. Water damage left to its own devices had destroyed the roof of the first couple stalls, and two of the horses were left without stalls. These two, a small chestnut stallion and an equally small black mare, were squished in the center walkway and tied fast to one of the pillars in the back of the stable.

Frederick turned back and gave Anne a questioning look; it was clear that the roof damage was not made all in one night. Almost looking a tad embarrassed, Anne said, “Along with maintaining the stables, you will be responsible for taking care of the grounds. See to it that the garden gets the care it needs. Occasionally, you may be asked to do small repair jobs in the manor, but those will be few and far between. The previous groundsman slept in the stables, but I’m sure you’ll figure something out. You have permission to build on the eastern border of the grounds if you would prefer other lodgings.”

He blinked. “I have a hammock.”

“Ah.”

She shuffled her feet together before looking back towards the path. “Well, if there isn’t anything else you’ll be needing, I’ll get back to work.” She was about to round the corner when she turned back. “You’ll get two meals a day: one at sunrise and one at sunset. If you need anything before tonight, come find me. It is your first day, after all.” She shot him a smile before disappearing behind one of the castle’s many walls.

He dropped his belongings into the grass and turned back towards the stable. A quick glance at the sun told him he was going to have a long day ahead of him.