Grooming Weeds

Act Six

Hm, the royal sorcerer's room, huh? That's what Baileywick said anyway. And his name was Seedrick? What kind of weird name—? Whatever, it wasn't her name thus not her problem. On the other hand, delivering fresh bed sheets and dressing the mattress was. Not a big deal, just go on down do her bit and get it all over with. This was her last duty of the day so getting it finished and heading back to the sack was her more important than anything!

Heather moved down a lonely staircase, the lighting on the walls becoming few and dimmer as she traveled. What the heck, what was up with that? He was a royal sorcerer, not the royal dragon! What was with this cave of a stairway? Creepy.

She was sure she was going the right way; after all she made certain to pay special attention to the head maid on duty's instructions, when she got them earlier in the day. Was this guy allergic to the sun or something? Geez. He was probably some old geezer anyway; no one had said a thing about this magic-man since she first discovered he existed! Only when Sofia mentioned him last night did she had any idea such an occupation was necessary.

Ah well, get in and out that was the plan. If she were lucky the old fart wouldn't be home.

She descended the spiral stone staircase while juggling the sheets in her left arm until a large wooden door blocked her path. The maid's eyes darted to the right then to the left, vision falling on the odd gargoyle statues at either side of the frame. Was that some kind of warning or precursor or something? Gah. Welp, better to get this finished and go back to her room to for a nap then to stand in the darkened hall and get spirited away!

Doing as she was taught during orientation, Heather lifted her fisted hand to the door and gave three hard knocks on the door. "Housekeeping!"

Now time to wait a good three seconds.

One marshmallow, two marshmallow, three marshmallow.

No answer. Okay time for a second round of knocking. She repeated her actions and again waited a good three seconds before giving a heavy sigh. Really?

"Housekeeping! Hello?" The urge to press the side of her head against the door came and left. All she needed was for that old timer to open up right on her face. "Housekeeping! I'm coming in!"

No more waiting! She had waited long enough for the geezer to answer. Opening her palm, Heather grasped the door knob in her right hand and gave the piece of mental a twist. A loud, eerie click echoed through the near empty hall. She twisted a second time and nothing but another click. Locked.

Great. Now what am I supposed to do?

"Hello?" She leaned into the door in the hopes that her voice would reach someone's ears. "Hello! Come on!"

Her lips parted to shout out again with the sound of several heavy footsteps broke her concentration. Someone was coming! Yes! That meant she could do her job and not get in trouble…again. This time around she leaned into the heavy dark-colored door and pressed her ear against the cold surface. Any second now!

"And just what pray tell do you think you're doing?"

A cold shiver ran up the baker's spine, forcing her to stand straight up. She spun around to face the voice that loomed over her shoulder, only to meet with a disgruntled glare. Oh, that guy. This was that guy from yesterday! The weird one who gave her directions! What was he doing here?

"I'm here to see the royal sorcerer." She said, face growing red. God, why did she have to look like such an idiot all the time? She must have looked like some kind of stalker! "I hafta change the bed sheets."

"You don't have to look any further." He replied, glare lifting.

"You?" Heather's arm shot out, finger extended in the tall man's direction. "You're the royal sorcerer?"

His brows shot down over his eyes once again. "Who else could I possibly be?"

Her arm fell back to her side. "But you're…so young."

"What else were you expecting?" He asked, tone shifting and right cheek giving a solid twitch or two. "My father perhaps?"

Father? What the? Why in the world would she assume his father would be here and furthermore, why did he assume she would know who his father was just by looking at him? Was she supposed to know who his father was? Unless it was Roland or something. But he looked nothing like the king.

"I don't know—"

"Never mind!" The sorcerer, who she assumed to be the Mr. Seedrick Sofia spoke of hours earlier, moved his arms out in front of his chest and stepped around her almost like she were some kind of virus. "Stand aside."

"Okaaaaay." Mr. Bossyboots is more like it.

Heather pressed the fresh white sheets against her chest and took a step or two backward, her eyes on Seedrick the whole time. He turned his back to her while his right hand emerged from his oversized sleeve. Watching with a curious stare, she followed his hand as he made his way toward the gargoyle at the right wall. Flipping open a secret compartment, he found his bedroom key without any problems.

The question why he hid his room key away traveled up her throat but died on her tongue. That really wasn't any of her business but it didn't stop her from wondering.

"Come in." He said in a less than enthused tone. "But hurry up, I have things to do." With that order hanging over her head, he used his hidden key and popped open the heavy door.

"Um, are you royalty?" The question left her lips before she had any real time to stop and think about it.

He paused, midway through the doorframe. "What makes you believe I am royalty?" He hissed, throwing his chin over his left shoulder, glaring at her.

"I don't know," She answered with a shrug. "You kinda look like it."

"That's completely ridiculous." He huffed back and continued his way through the doorway and into the dark room he called his own.

"Oh. Sorry."

Heather gave a shrug, regardless whether he saw it or not and followed him. While the room was a bit brighter than the hall she'd just come from, it still seemed a bit…damp, especially for a bedroom. How did he live somewhere like this? Did he like it down here because he was alone or something? He did look the type to like his privacy.

All her thoughts and movements came to a stop when a solid mass in front of her slammed against her chest. Her nose dove into the soft but worn robe of the wizard, leaving her to inhale in shock. Spices? Nutmeg and even a hint of cinnamon hit her senses and made a row of goosebumps roll up her shoulders once again. Had he been working on some kind of spell of something?

"Ah!" She gasped, backing away from the taller male. "Sorry!"

Yanking away from her like she was a hot spike, he turned to face her. His face twisted into a look of frustration and disgust. What was with that look?! It wasn't like she was of goblin or whatever! Geez! He took a moment to step away from her and dust off his thick purple robes.

"That's the second time." He frowned down at her. "Try to watch where you're going! I've warned you twice now!" His dark eyes rolled and his chin lifted to the ceiling and in a deep tone he whispered. "Daydreamer."

What a sourface! But even as his features narrowed, lip curled and twitched and brows arched why did he look appealing? Cute almost. Kinda like a five-year old trapped in an over grown man's body. He pouted like a teenager!

"I'm really sorry, sir." Heather let out a sigh.

"Sir?" The sound of his heavy voice made her flinch. "Why do you insist on calling me that?"

"There are a number of reasons." She responded, frown relaxing. "You are like my superior, right? And my mom was from the south, so she always taught be to be respectful. I'm trying not to get in trouble."

"Ah." He nodded and whirled around on his heel. "Well, don't."

"Sure." She shrugged her shoulders, white sheets still pressed against her bust. "Is mister okay though?"

"Good, fine, whatever!" He moved his right arm and waved at her, almost as if he were trying to silence her. "Just get done your business and go."

"Alright, mister Seedrick."

He froze all of his muscles. Like he had actually been poked with a hot spike this time around he arched his back, balled his fists at his sides and tilted his head to the sky. What the hell? A rumbling growl left his throat and made her shudder from the toes up. Was he angry or something? He whirled about in the blink of an eye and turned to her with a fierce glare glued to his face. Geez! Now what?!

"It's Cedric!" He shouted in a tone way loud for the tiny room they stood in. "Said-rick! I don't need two girls running around the halls calling me Seedrick! For the final time, it's Cedric!"

"Whoa!" Heather removed her right arm from her chest and put on the brakes, her palm extended out toward the magic-man. "Relax! I'm sorry; Sofia called you Seedrick last night. I thought that was your name, geez." The natural tone from her reaction forced her to back away an inch. Oh no, she wasn't in trouble again was she?

"What kind of name is Seedrick?" He asked, moving closer to her. "When have you ever heard a name so ridiculous? That isn't even a word let alone a name!"

"Look," The baker took a moment to clear her throat and calm her voice. "I didn't know, okay? I've heard weirder names…none of I can think of right now but I have!"

"Oh? How very convenient."

Her brow twitched, the fire in her belly coming back twice over, "Was I supposed to know your name?"

As if it had taken a moment or two for her words to hit his ears, he went from a state of semi-calmness to one of rage. His upper cheek lifted and spazzed, with just a hint of his pearly white showing between his lips. His thin eyebrows darted downward while his eyes focused solely on her.

"I'm the son of Goodwin the Great!" He announced, slapping his open palm against his flat chest. "Of course you should know that much!"

Wait a second…"Who?"

"Goodwin!" He barked once again, her inner child backing down in fear. "Goodwin the Great, the greatest sorcerer this kingdom has ever seen?"

Her brown eyes shifted from right to left. "No, I have no idea who you're talking about."

"Do you not know anything?" Cedric removed his hand from his chest and slapped it to his forehead. "How have you not heard the over exaggerated truths about Goodwin the Great? I come from a long line of royal sorcerers! You should know my name and at the very least, his!"

"Sorry," Heather's frown returned. "I don't know much about that kind of stuff."

"Ugh, useless." His hand fell away from his face.

Useless?! What the hell! "Hey!" The words leapt from her lips faster and louder than she'd originally planned. "I've been more than respectful to you." She pressed the white sheets to her bust and extended her index finger toward the slender man. "And seeing as you're not royalty, I don't really have to! The least you could do is treat me with the same respect I give you!"

"Oh is that so?" Cedric forced his arms over his chest, hiding his pale hands in his oversized robe sleeves.

"Yes!"

"You seem to forget that you're a maid." A wise-cracking smirk spread over his lips as he leaned down into her. "I am the royal sorcerer and as you stated just seconds ago: you're superior." He stepped further into her space, forcing her to take several movements backward. "I can treat you any way I like."

Oh come on! Just a little respect wouldn't hurt, would it?! "I just want to be civil."

"Oh of course!" Cedric's arms slid from his robes and out around her shoulders and with a gentle spin he turned her about until she was facing the exiting door. "And the best way to do that is to stay out of my way."

"I do have to change the sheets." Heather felt her face grow heated and swollen with blood.

"Don't worry about that." His tone fell flat before he took the liberty of snatching the white sheets from her arm. "Just get along now! Like I said, I'm very busy!"

"But!" At this point she had been lightly pushed outside of his bedroom and into the creepy spiral stairway. "I don't want to get in trouble! It'll just take a second, please—"

"Nice to meet you Maid!" Completely ignoring everything she'd just he spoke in the phoniest tone possible, "Good day!" He then proceeded to slam the door inches from her nose.

Well that was eventful. Did this mean she would get off earlier than expected? In what world did that happen, especially after being scolded by Baileywick about doing her job just right? Was that some sort of test or was that magic man always that nuts? Hard to tell; if he was acting he was doing a damn good job at it. Shit, now what? She was going to have to report to Baileywick and tell him something.

The truth would probably be best but what if that got her in more trouble? And there was the small chance that'd get Cedric in trouble too but it wasn't like she cared much about that. Not after him being such a jerk about everything.

The right thing to do would be honest. Ugh! This job was already proving too hard and it'd just started! Who knew that customer service was a part of being a maid? She would also have to ask Baileywick if she was required to be polite to Mr. Cedric.

Having him say 'no' would be great but that was not guaranteed. Ah well, it was worth asking anyway.

XoXoX

"So you've finished all your chores? Very good." Baileywick, hands filled with several stacks of papers, turned to her with a smile on his face. "You may retire for the night. Dinner is at nine and you may go to the kitchen any time after that to pick it up."

Wow, was he ready to just send her off too? It wasn't like she was annoying everyone into blowing her off already, was she? Then again as the castle steward, he must be pretty busy. So what now, just forget the fact that she had questions and head back up to bed? He had said before that if she had any questions to come promptly to him and ask. Was this any different?

"Since your sister is leaving in the next few hours, I suggest you spend what time you have left with her." The white-haired male continued regardless of the thoughts running through her mind. "She's been with the children most of the day and probably in need of an adult ear." He chuckled just under his breath.

"Um." Now or never. "Mr. Baileywick?"

"Yes? Heather?"

"I had a question, do you have a second?"

"Of course. I'll explain what I can and get you whatever you need." He shot another heartwarming smile in her direction.

Okay, if he was this open to talking there was no reason for her not to ask! He'd said it before, there were no such things as stupid questions! "I just ran into Mr. Cedric. Is he like… royal? Or something?"

"Cedric?" A single white eyebrow arched on the steward's forehead. "Heavens no!"

"But he is the royal sorcerer, right?" Heather tilted her head to the right. "Doesn't that mean anything?"

"He just comes from a long line of sorcerers; it isn't as if he's related to the king." The features on Baileywick's face settled. "His father, Goodwin the Great, was our royal sorcerer before he came of age and graduated school. So the seat was passed down to him."

So that didn't mean anything? It sure sounded like it meant something, at least to her it did. If Cedric's father, grandfather, and great grandfather were that important, didn't that make him special? So why the hell did he reside in that dingy old cellar? Cedric had mentioned that she should know his father by name, like he was super famous. And if his father was that well-known, shouldn't Cedric be too?

"Goodwin the Great, the greatest sorcerer this kingdom has ever seen?"

"So his dad." Heather piped up once again, the former sorcerer's name still fresh in her mind. "Goodwin, what was he like?"

"Oh Goodwin." A fond smile formed on his lips almost as if he were reminiscing. "He was no doubly the best sorcerer Enchancia has ever seen. Kind, honest and remarkably skilled at magic, Goodwin earned the title 'the great' soon after he retired."

Wait. So he received that title after Cedric came to the family seat? What the fuck was that supposed to mean? That was kinda wrong seeing as Goodwin would only be considered great after something terrible happened. That terrible something wasn't Cedric, was it?

"Was he really that great?" She asked, even if her question had already been answered two seconds before hand.

"Of course! I miss having him around the castle, in fact." Baileywick turned his focus to the many sheets of paper in his arms. With his index finger he began to flip through each parchment, eyes scanning each page during the process. "He was a much better sorcerer than Cedric."

"Oh?" Again, what was that supposed to mean?

"You haven't been here long enough to witness Cedric's magic 'skills' have you? Hmm." The older man bit down on his lower lip, his eyes still moving right and left. "Try not to get your hopes up when you do see it."

"What? Is he bad at it?"

"Terrible."

Oh…

Baileywick's eyes and hands came to a halt, no doubt because he found what he was searching for. Once on the proper page, he used his thumb and index fingers to pluck a single sheet out from the rest. "I suppose the magic gene happens to skip a generation."

Whoa. That was kinda mean. Dare she crack open her yap and admit that aloud? Then again it was a tad early in her career to start expressing her true opinions. So what, she was supposed to stand here and just accept what her boss was saying about her 'superior'.

"But he did graduate school, right?"

"Fifteen years of it, yes." He answered, tone falling away almost as if he losing focus with her.

Hm. That had to mean something. It had to. The magic school-or whatever he graduated from, had to have let him out with at least passable grades. So how was he terrible at his trade if he graduated? Then again was sorcerer school supposed to last fifteen years? Or was he held back a number of times? Gah! So many questions, so little time! Who was she supposed to ask about all of this?! Obviously not Baileywick, not at the work rate he was going.

"Is that all, Heather?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, the younger female stood straight and gave a firm nod of her noggin. "Yes sir."

"Alright then. If you need anything else, please come and see me." Still shuffling about with his papers, he spun on his heel and walked away from her.

That, again, was eventful. Either people around this castle were really busy or they just didn't care enough about Cedric to talk about him. Could be both and probably was seeing things as she did at the moment. No wonder he was in such a badass mood all the time! She would be too!

So how was she supposed to act around him? At first meeting and by the way he treated her, her instinct was the be just as rude to him as he was her. But now…? And what if he continued to be a jackass to her? Just because he had everyone on his wrong side didn't mean that he was owed anything! Maybe there was a reason, beside the fact that he was a failure that no one wanted to be around him. He was a total jerk a half hour ago.

Well, there was one person to ask about this kinda thing. The one person she could count on more than anything.

Act End.