Since his childhood, he had not been able to exist amongst the rest of society. Having been born among wealth, he was separated from the lower classes. Then, the choices made in his adolescence distanced him from his own family. But he was still a Barron by title and capital. In fact, he was Barron Demetrius of Jerzay, currently incommunicado with the family Jerzay; but drawing upon the jurisprudence of the family's name nonetheless. He needed it, that name, given that his current venture required a fair bit of capital, and the creditors were not likely to deal with his alter ego-the Gypsy Barron.
That name had come from the most circumstantial choice of his adolescence. It had begun as a simple test on his personal abilities in the family business-trade.
At the rather miscreant age of 17, Demetrius had decided, in utter disobedience to his step-father's will, to try his own hand at trade. The family Jerzay's deep rooted position in providing finer goods for the noble houses of Wroan ensured that those belonging to the family itself need never worry about the hassle of actually bartering and other such trifles.
Demetrius did not like the more sophisticated business matters reserved for the Jerzay men. Which made sense, given he was not in fact a Jerzay. His real father had died years ago, something to do with a quest. His poor mother had had to remarry, or doom her children to being beggars. He had inherited his true father's hunger for adventure and challenge, but it was luckily tempered by a sensibility stemming from his mother's line.
So, he defied his step-father's wishes and went into the markets to partake in the take and be taken world of bartering. But to his disappointment, no fair chance was to be given to the young noble at determining his own skill. This was because no matter which merchant he dealt with-they always gave him the best deal, did not try any deception. They feared punishment from the house of Jerzay, their own patrons. The lad felt cheated of any real test of ability. But he carried on nonetheless, and made a fine income at it. For two summers, he dealt in silks, leathers, fine soaps, and anything else the gentry desired.
Over these months, he had indeed grown bored, but had also built up quite a favorable reputation among the other minor houses. In fact, people all about the Wroan district had begun to associate the Jerzay name with rising fortune and opportunity. His step-father had somewhat forgiven Demetrius for slighting him. The lad's slanderous actions actually improved the family's business. Some of the largest shipments had been secured by Demetrius, so no payment was ever made to a middleman. Because of this, the Jerzay family coffers were filling out quite nicely. The Jerzay heir had become increasingly popular, with no enemies in sight. He was well liked and appreciated by nearly all those in Wroan.
Suffice it to say, given his coming of age was nigh, many wealthy merchants were now feverishly introducing him to their often lovely daughters. Twice, sometimes three times a week, he was cornered into dining at a stranger's table. The wives usually cajoled him into consuming more than his share of food that had been laced with what was surely a moon's worth of wages in spices. Shortly thereafter, the pretty young maiden was put on display-the first time he had been put through this trial, Demetrius had been quite astounded. The girls would sing, or dance, or play flute. But no matter how chaste their actions seemed, it was in their eyes that spoke in a more direct persuasion. The lad had not yet known how seductive a woman's eyes could be.
If it had not been for the fact that he dined at yet another merchant's home the following night, the Jerzay heir would likely have begged that first maid to be his wife. His life continued thus for two and a half moons-until he had visited the home of each of the higher merchants more times than he could count, and even into some of the less prominent homes of Wroan. But then he met Sirinus.
She was dazzling in her beauty and her presence was as sweet as a gentle breeze through a garden. But greater than this was her voice. As if her golden streaked locks, and sparkling blue eyes were not enough temptation for any man, the tones of her sonorous voice were breathtaking enough to settle the most free-spirited of men into marriage. Sirinus was of the high class merchant family Buldoon, who dealt the precious metals in Wroan. Sir and Lady Buldoon were full delighted when Demetrius was to dine at their manor a third time-more, according to Lady Buldoon's sources, times than he had eaten with any other family! Surely this heir to the Jerzay fortune was coming back not only for the provisions, but also for the young maid Sirinus.
Indeed, it was this intention that Demetrius carried in his heart when he signed an affirmative to the summons request to dine at the Buldoon residence. The date itself was not for three more days, but since the engagement was as good as set, he figured he ought to pay a visit to the maid in question. Rather than writing his permission, as was custom, he decided to surprise her. Demetrius knew that Sirinus took almost daily walks in the glade adjacent to the town at this time of year. It was renown throughout the town that she would gather flowers to wreath nosegays for her mother.
However, what else she did in those afternoons was not so well renowned. In fact, none but she and the stable boy, Fince, knew of how she occupied the rest of the day's hours.
The 'maid' Sirinus was really no maid at all, but one wicked-hearted girl who had learnt the credit of her beauty at a young age. Since, she had made most use of it to her own designs. One would assume that marriage to one wealthy and coming of age young Barron-to-be would fit in quite nicely with her designs, but alas, no. Sirinus fancied herself in love with the horse groom, Fince. True, he had strength and cunning looks as well carved as any woman could like, but he was of low class, and, sadder still, of no great intelligence. Sirinus knew this-and did not care one whit. This was because she thought that intelligence and wealth would probably only spoil her adoring Fince, just as it had spoiled her. And despite her wickedness, she rather liked the idea of preserving his innocence. However, his innocence was only spared on her part in respect to monetary greed and useless knowledge of anything but her own flesh. It was in this fashion that her many afternoon hours were spent. He would meet her in the glade, on horseback, and together, they'd ride out to a small cabin in the wood. They would waste no time in consummating their love daily, but would linger in the small hours after, talking the nonsense that lovers are oft to speak of, putting off the time when they would have to depart from one another. It was during this most sweet of times that Sirinus would make use of by wreathing the nosegays she was so famous for. Whether or not what they shared ought to be labeled as true love, or love at all, is not of any importance. What is important is that Sirinus valued what they had, for it was a secret, hidden away from any to know of, and that made it much more precious. When first their meetings started, she had been ashamed if someone should find out, but now her pride had chased that away. Now, it was only the discovery itself, and the shattering of their perfect dream world, that she feared.
