When Bastion turned back to the old man, he had already carelessly torn the seal open and was reading the letter, the young man trying to catch what the lordling was after by peering over Franks' shoulder. Franks' eyebrows danced all over his forehead, almost doing a jig across his face. Suddenly, Frank thrust the letter toward his young counterpart, acknowledging him for the first time.

“You deal with this, Junior. I must get back to my duty.” And Frank turned to walk away. Junior seemed about as surprised as Bastion felt indignation. Forgetting himself, Bastion crossed the two remaining stairs, and the threshold into the house, attempting to stop the steward from walking away- this wasn’t how this was supposed to happen! He needed to speak with the overseer, not his Stewards grandson, and he was about to say so! However, the second the shade of the house had engulfed him, Bastion was instantly and painfully on his back, looking at the clouds outside again. Writhing in pain, and grabbing the back of his head, Bastion hardly realized the hands grabbing him until his back was against the cold stone wall, a hand to his throat.

“Now, now, now...this is as unnecessary as it is appreciated. Let the boy down, he will go with Franklin and find a spot in the longhouses. Franklin will explain schedule, pay and the likes. After all, when I retire it will be his job.” Frank spoke to the door guard directly, but his words were for everybody.

Threw half-closed eyes, teeth gritted from pain and anger at his own stupidity, Bastion had eyes only for the broad-faced, brown-skinned guard holding him against the wall. Bastion heard Frank's footsteps as he started to walk away again, and he tried to call out, to bring him back- but the guard, who stood eye to eye with him Bastion noted in that moment, squeezed his big hand around Bastions throat, cutting the words dead there. Effortlessly, Bastion was thrown onto the cobblestone courtyard. The mansion door was slammed shut before the dust cloud that burst up had a chance to settle around him.