A hand was gently knocking on the metal door of a manor, in the middle of the forest. The caped figure turned around and flinched, looking at the man standing in front. He was like marble statue, in the moonlight, with long red hairs and dark unsettling eyes. He smiled, with a raised eyebrow. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" he quickly said. The hooded one revealed her face, with a sweet smile. A girl maybe five and a half feet tall, with a long blonde braid and light green eyes. "Do you live here? I was travelling to Skara Brae but now it is so dark, and this forest is full of dangerous creatures. I saw the castle, and I thought to ask for shelter for the night. I'm sorry if I..." Sneering, tha man opened the door interrupting her words, and motioned the girl to enter. The metal doors closed behind them, and the man stared at the guest, hesitantly walking in the main hall. "There is not much illumination here, I can't see very well." she said, with a worried tone in his voice. "This manor has been built recently, I'm still acquiring the necessary fornitures." he replied, and quickly moved behind her, with his right hand reaching for her neck. He stopped, looking at a small harp hanging from the side of her backpack, and the ferocity in his eyes faded away. She turned around, puzzled, and looked at him standing so close to her. "Are you a minstrel?" he asked, pointing at the small harp. "Oh, yes I'm, a travelling one." she replied with a faint smile. "I usually perform in towns, or inns. Sometimes I'm hired by local lords." The red haired man was silently looking at her, then nodded turning his attention to the stairs, on the other side of the main hall. "Let me show you the guest rooms, only one at the moment has forniture, but you can find what you need." She slightly lowered her head, smiling, and approached the stairs. "Are you looking for work, right now?" asked the man, and she immediately stopped and looked at him. "Yes, I was travelling to Skara Brae to look for some place to perform." "Very well then." he said, briefly smiling. "The I will hire you. I'm looking for a musician for my manor, and someone that can run some errands for me." "Are you sure about it?" she asked. "You don't even know my name, and now you're inviting me to stay in your house?" "Don't worry." he replied. "I'm sure I can trust you" added the man, intensely staring in the girl's eyes. She was standing, in the middle of the stairs, blankly looking at him like a puppet. "You will do as I say, and you will have everything you need in return. You will never question me about what I do." he whispered slowly, always looking into the light green eyes of the young woman. "And now you can go in your room." he added with a smile. She looked around, like she suddenly awakened, and smiled at the man standing in front of her. "Did you say something?" she asked, smiling. "I was saying that your room is the one on the right, when you reach the second floor." he responded, grinnig. "Very well then. Oh and my name is..." "Don't worry." he quickly mentioned, interrupting her. "Get some rest now, tomorrow we will speak." The girl nodded, and quickly went to her room.
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