believe they are. So when things don’t go as planned, it’s another letter to Morely to come and fix it, that sort of thing.” He shook his head. “I love them, but my plan is to show them how to manage. Lord Cuthbert has allowed for me to take an extended leave from his service to address the issue.”
“I’ve heard Cuthbert is a fair lord.” Casimir knew this to be a fact, having interacted with Cuthbert during his time in Gallivas.
Morely nodded. “Very much so. He has a passel of useless siblings, so he understands.”
Casimir didn’t respond immediately. This was very bold of a servant to say. “Did he tell you this?” He strove to keep the incredulity from his tone.
Morely laughed. “Of course not! But I’ve eyes in my head, don’t I? They’re always hanging about, whinging about how life is so horrid, and Cuthbert even more so. His mother’s still alive, so he can’t very well boot them from the manor. She’s a soft heart for them. No, my lord would never say such to me. He’s a good man, keeps his complaints silent. But we all can see.”
Casimir nodded. He was considering whether or not any of his servants—former servants?—would speak so well of him when his thoughts were interrupted by Morely.
“What’s your name, friend?”
“Oh? Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Yates, traveling to see my family, as well. I have worked…” Casimir strove to think what he might have done that would cause no questions. Traveling in disguise was harder than he’d anticipated. “I wish to work for no man. I am a scribe and travel to wherever I might be needed.” He’d heard of such, and it would fit him.
Morely inspected him. “I can see that. You don’t have the look of a farmer.”
It might have been a criticism, but Casimir chose to ignore it if so. “No, thank heavens. I helped a man who had a cart fall on him earlier and thanked my lucky stars that I write a fair hand and don’t have to risk myself so.”
“Travel can be risky, though.” Morely’s face was blank, his tone neutral. It made Casimir’s hackles rise. He shifted to better be up quickly if need be.
“Most things are,” Casimir said with a shrug. “Better to take a risk and be one’s own man.” Perhaps his intention of looking small initially had been the wrong one.
“I agree,” said Morely, and the moment of tension passed, although Casimir knew it had been there. He felt he’d passed some sort of test, and resolved to change his manner immediately. “Tis why I am in the service of my lord. I watched my father work for years, giving part of his labor to the knights of our lands, and I knew if I were to give of myself, I didn’t want to work as hard as I saw him work. Not for the benefit of someone else.”
It made sense, and Casimir found himself nodding as Morely spoke. “You choose to be with your lord.”
“Indeed!” Morely looked pleased that Casimir grasped his thoughts. “I am in service, but it is my choice, and I decide whether I stay or go.”
“Do you? I hadn’t realized that lords were so fair. I thought they rather expected you to stay.” At least, all the lords Casimir knew had. He didn’t think Cuthbert was that forward thinking.
Morely laughed. “That’s what they all think. What will they do? Toss me in the dungeon? No, better to let me go should I wish to rather than to upset the rest of the staff. It’s a fine balance, to be sure, but better than slaving in a field and having some lord who knows naught of farming come and take the fruits of your labors. My brothers are happy to farm, though, so I leave it be.”
“You sound wise,” Casimir said.
“I thank you, my good Yates! I have enjoyed our discussion, but I must be on my way. My mother expects me by evening. Where are you from?”
“I really don’t have a home, just go where I can find work.” Casimir hadn’t thought that far ahead, and didn’t want to give out any names where his lies might be exposed.
“Just
“I’ve heard Cuthbert is a fair lord.” Casimir knew this to be a fact, having interacted with Cuthbert during his time in Gallivas.
Morely nodded. “Very much so. He has a passel of useless siblings, so he understands.”
Casimir didn’t respond immediately. This was very bold of a servant to say. “Did he tell you this?” He strove to keep the incredulity from his tone.
Morely laughed. “Of course not! But I’ve eyes in my head, don’t I? They’re always hanging about, whinging about how life is so horrid, and Cuthbert even more so. His mother’s still alive, so he can’t very well boot them from the manor. She’s a soft heart for them. No, my lord would never say such to me. He’s a good man, keeps his complaints silent. But we all can see.”
Casimir nodded. He was considering whether or not any of his servants—former servants?—would speak so well of him when his thoughts were interrupted by Morely.
“What’s your name, friend?”
“Oh? Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Yates, traveling to see my family, as well. I have worked…” Casimir strove to think what he might have done that would cause no questions. Traveling in disguise was harder than he’d anticipated. “I wish to work for no man. I am a scribe and travel to wherever I might be needed.” He’d heard of such, and it would fit him.
Morely inspected him. “I can see that. You don’t have the look of a farmer.”
It might have been a criticism, but Casimir chose to ignore it if so. “No, thank heavens. I helped a man who had a cart fall on him earlier and thanked my lucky stars that I write a fair hand and don’t have to risk myself so.”
“Travel can be risky, though.” Morely’s face was blank, his tone neutral. It made Casimir’s hackles rise. He shifted to better be up quickly if need be.
“Most things are,” Casimir said with a shrug. “Better to take a risk and be one’s own man.” Perhaps his intention of looking small initially had been the wrong one.
“I agree,” said Morely, and the moment of tension passed, although Casimir knew it had been there. He felt he’d passed some sort of test, and resolved to change his manner immediately. “Tis why I am in the service of my lord. I watched my father work for years, giving part of his labor to the knights of our lands, and I knew if I were to give of myself, I didn’t want to work as hard as I saw him work. Not for the benefit of someone else.”
It made sense, and Casimir found himself nodding as Morely spoke. “You choose to be with your lord.”
“Indeed!” Morely looked pleased that Casimir grasped his thoughts. “I am in service, but it is my choice, and I decide whether I stay or go.”
“Do you? I hadn’t realized that lords were so fair. I thought they rather expected you to stay.” At least, all the lords Casimir knew had. He didn’t think Cuthbert was that forward thinking.
Morely laughed. “That’s what they all think. What will they do? Toss me in the dungeon? No, better to let me go should I wish to rather than to upset the rest of the staff. It’s a fine balance, to be sure, but better than slaving in a field and having some lord who knows naught of farming come and take the fruits of your labors. My brothers are happy to farm, though, so I leave it be.”
“You sound wise,” Casimir said.
“I thank you, my good Yates! I have enjoyed our discussion, but I must be on my way. My mother expects me by evening. Where are you from?”
“I really don’t have a home, just go where I can find work.” Casimir hadn’t thought that far ahead, and didn’t want to give out any names where his lies might be exposed.
“Just
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