Chapter 3

Fifteen minutes later, Carrie carried her bag up to where Merric's rooms were. All her belongings fit in a small rucksack. She rapped on the door loudly and Merric flung it open.

Merric's rooms included a central living room and two bedrooms that broke away from them. Well, one used to be an empty room but now it was Carrie's bedroom. Carrie pushed past him into the room that was hers. She put her things away quickly and sat on the bed in a huff.

It wasn't that she didn't want to work for Merric, it was that he only took her on out of pity. That was the one emotion she couldn't stand to have from other people. Pity. She had felt pity before, and she didn't want it here, not from people like Merric and Kel. Soon everyone would know that Merric pitied her, she wouldn't have enough work to do and people would figure it out.

A soft knock came on the door. "Merric go away!" she yelled, forgetting that he was a noble and she only a commoner.

"It's Kel," a voice said.

Carrie sighed and moved over to let Kel come in and sit on the bed next to her. Kel had traded her guard duty with someone else to help out this oddly matched pair.

"Don't be upset," Kel said, quietly enough so that Merric wouldn't hear from the other room. Carrie didn't answer. "He knows how much of a help you will be to him," Kel said quietly. "He doesn't pity you, you know."

Carrie looked up, Kel had read her mind.

Kel continued, "He admires you, actually."

Carrie laughed at this, "Yeah, sure."

"Really," Kel protested, "He likes how everyone gets along with you."

"Well everyone gets along with you too," Carrie pointed out to Kel.

"Yeah, but I work at it. It just comes to you. And I'm a noble, naturally most nobles like me. You, though, you are a commoner that the nobles accept. I don't know why Carrie, but everyone just loves you to pieces."

Carrie burst out laughing, "To pieces?"

Kel punched her lightly, "Oh shut up! Anyway, Merric just wants to help you out." Kel stood up to leave and as she was closing the door, she added, "Besides, I think he may have a little bit of a crush on you." Kel grinned wickedly.

Carrie stared for a second then threw a pillow at Kel's head. "Kel! Don't even say that! You are mad!" Carrie protested.

Kel stuck out her tongue and walked into the other room. She saw Merric in there.

"You talked to her?" he asked anxiously, standing up.

"Yes, and I don't think she's mad anymore," Kel said with a smile as she walked out of the room.

Merric rapped on the door to Carrie's room.

"Carrie?" he asked gently.

"Yes Merric?" Carrie said sweetly, opening up the door.

"Are you still mad?" he asked.

"No, actually I'm grateful. Thanks." Merric was a bit surprised, "Well you're welcome. I do need you though, you know that?"

Carrie laughed, "Of course!"

Merric smiled, and they started going over what her duties would be. She would be a lot like Tobe was to Kel. She would clean his armor, clean the rooms, which were dusty, and basically do anything else that he needed her too. As well as keeping up with her normal camp duties. She sighed, it wasn't going to be easy. She had better get some real nice shoes.

Merric finished his list and said, "All right Carrie. You better get to bed. And I'm warning you already, I won't be awake when I'm supposed to be. Kel usually comes in and bangs on the door until I wake up. But maybe you could do it tomorrow?" Merric asked hopefully.

"Sure," Carrie smiled, "And I bet I'll get you up faster than Kel does."

Merric grinned, "All right. Good night."

He stood up and stretched his arms over his head and Carrie couldn't help it. She watched his thick muscles move under his tanned skin. When she realized she was watching Merric, her master, she hurried into her room without saying goodnight.