Knock, knock

Theo had returned to the cabin.

'Oh, hey Theo. what's going on?'

'Not too much, I was just passing and thought I'd stop by and see how you're doing. See if you need anything.'

'I think I'm OK, thank you'

Esme was confused, the cabin was hidden from sight, so nobody was ever 'just passing'. She started to think he had come for something.

'You want to come in?' She asked.

'Ohhhh, no I couldn't possibly disturb you from what you're doing'.

She was starting to get suspicioius of him, she wanted to see what was going on.

'No, I'm not doing anything, you're very welcome. And really it's the least I can do all considering that you very kindly lent me this cabin to stay in.

'Weeelllll, if you're sure'

Theo settled himself on a chair in the corner of the living area, and glanced around awkwardly. He looked over at Esme, who was now boiling water and laying some snacks out on a plate. She was all he could focus on, the only thing in the room he could see. Her dark wavy hair, her manner, her unusual style. The perriwinkle skirt laced with emerald green frills, the belt that held her bag on her hip, and of course the quirky hat that she wore that was now sitting on the table next to her. He could hardly take his eyes off her.

He cleared his throat.

'So did you see the competition the other day?'

'I did', she responded, not taking her eyes away from what she was doing.

'Completely wild wasn't it? You know, I didn't see you in the audience?'

'I was sat at the back, just laying low for the moment since I'm kind of new here'.

'Ah well, that makes sense.'

'That Countess Raven showed up and won the whole thing, it's crazy what's going on with that whole thing, I mean, who would need to do that? Did you see?'

Esme brought the tray over to where Theo was sitting and placed herself on the sofa next to him.

'I did. I must say it's a very creative thing to do, though'.

Theo glanced at her in a way that made Esme feel that he maybe didn't expect to hear that.

'I wouldn't say creative, Esme. But I guess you don't know the rules here yet.'

'What rules?'

He put his mug down and moved closer to her.

'Swordfighting is our way of life here, it's how we establish power and hierarchy. It's our way of organising the kingdom. It's completely illegal to use a false identity to fight under, you'll be arrested for treason.'

Esme's stomach just dropped.

'What happens when you're arrested around here?'

'Well, if it's treason, we see that on a par with the worst crimes. Whoever it is will be taken to the cells and either sent away into the mountains never to return, or hung drawn and quartered. It's really up to Mayor Atlas and his court.'

'Wow, I just didn't think it would be that bad or they would've arrested them by now, right?'

'I guess it depends on what the Mayor is planning. We can never tell what he's thinking. And his daughter, Darcey, the one in the pink dress? Well, she'll be keeping an eye out for him as well and she's a tough cookie. You don't want to get on the wrong side of her. But then again, you have nothing to worry about because you're not Countess Raven, right Esme?'

She nearly choked on her drink.

'What?! No! of course not. I don't even know how to swordfight properly, there is absolutely no way that I would be able to win a competition like that.'

'Well, good. Because you're a really good person, and you'll fit in great here. A lot of us really like having you around and if it turned out that you were secretly Countess Raven, it would be kind of weird.'

Theo moved his hand onto the sofa and pulled himself in closer.

'I think you're going to be just fine around here, you have nothing to worry about, OK.'

He ran his hand up her arm and Esme immediately realised what was happening.

'I really like coming to see you, Esme.' He whispered.

Absolutely not, she wasn't ready for this and she had to keep him at arm's length.

'And I'd really like you to get out.' She whispered back. She pushed his arm away and then got up to open the front door to show him out.

'I'm sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?' He said

'Yes, you did. So you need to leave.'

'I'm so so sorry. I just didn't read the room, and I didn't see what was going on, this is embarassing. Errr, I'm sorry.'

'I don't really want to hear it, you've made your intentions pretty clear, you just want to see how far you can push it. Well, the line is drawn here, Theo. I'm not interested. I just want to settle in here and make new friends, I don't want what you're obviously trying to get from me, now get out.'

He got to the door and turned to her,

'I hope you don't think that I just offered you the cabin and the friendship just to get something from you, OK? I hope you don't feel like you owe me anything, because people sometimes do, you know, given that I like to help out with my family's things.'

Esme stared right into his soul, and then scoffed.

'Owe you anything? Unbelievable.' She stepped closer to him. 'Oh you poor little boy.' She was raging at him now for what he said to her. She lowered her voice, 'I don't owe you a thing. Remember that, OK? Now get out.'

He turned and left and she slammed the door in his face, her blood boiling. What an absolute idiot, where she came from, people never spoke to eachother like that. People never considered the idea of repaying eachother or owing eachother. They were a community, they just helped eachother without a second thought. How stupid she was for thinking it would be like that in Bellicosus Kingdom, she'd find a new house tomorrow.