The next item on the list brought Seren to a nice little villa on the edge of the Spring district. Just before the villa was the little caretaker’s single room house. Seren looked over their binder and tapped the little note they’d written to themselves. Specifying that it was the cottage and not the villa that they were looking for.

Seren skipped up to the front door and gave a knock, hopping back and waiting for the answer. A woman opened the door and her face fell instantly.

“Oh. It’s you.” She said.

“Hello, expecting me?” Seren asked with their usual chipper smile.

“I had a feeling you’d be coming around,” The woman sighed. “I don’t have anything to offer you. But I suppose that won’t stop you.”

“It won’t.” Seren said, the woman opened the door and let Seren in. Seren looked around the cozy cubbyhole with the smallest rooms and only scraps of fabric around.

“How often do you get compensated as the caretaker?” Seren asked, listening for the sound of value.

“Once a month. It’s modest, if you’re wondering.” The woman followed Seren’s idle wandering.

“I wasn’t.” Seren said. Wandering to the kitchen. “I’m open for negotiation if you have something else to offer.”

“Like what? We barely scrape by as it is.” The woman huffed. Seren paused at the counter.

“What do you grow in your garden? I saw a barn, you have livestock?” Seren leaned on the counter and crossed their arms.

“Yes, enough to live on.” The woman crossed her arms as well. Narrowing their eyes at Seren.

“Come on, please just work with me.” Seren sighed. “I know we can come up with some sort of compromise.”

“The only thing we have to spare is the wool from our single old alpaca.” The woman snapped but Seren straightened.

“Dyed? Can it be dyed?” Seren asked. “I’m in need for a royal blue and a red rose yarn.” The woman’s anger cleared. Seren pulled out their binder and did their math.

“What weight?” Seren asked. Making notes in the margins.

“Uh, what weight would you like?” The woman asked. “I can do two pounds, but I need time to dye it.”

“How much?” Seren asked, making notes. “And what dye are you using? Synthetics or naturals?”

“I have synthetic, some. I don’t know if it’s enough for the colors you specified. But I can try.” The woman rushed to the hall cupboard and pulled out three bottles of primary colored dye.

“Let’s see how close you can get. I’ll be back at the end of the day to see the progress and if it’s too my liking I’ll take the two pound skeins of each color as payment.” Seren said. “That roughly equals the required amount for this month.”

“I can do that. Royal blue and rose red. I can work with that.” The woman said. Bringing out a tub of white powder and a thick black syrup as well.

“Lovely, I will see you later today then.” Seren put their binder away and left. Satisfied they’d have new yarn to continue their scarf with. They wandered further through the Spring district to the giant flowered manor where the Spring family resided. Seren steadied themselves before entering the gate. The newest Lord of the spring district was a real pain to deal with. Seren had been trying to collect from him for days now. Always coming away empty handed due to the Lord's stubborn and entitled ways.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Seren stood straight as they could and rang the doorbell. Within the minute, the butler opened the door. Looking at Seren tiredly.

“Back for more abuse?” She asked sympathetically.

“I said every day if I had to and I meant it.” Seren said. “Shall we begin the dance?”

“If we must,” The Butler said and stepped aside. “I’ll alert the Lord to your return.”

“Please do,” Seren said, smiling as they rolled out their shoulders. They were determined to bring something back today.

“Again?!” Seren heard the yelling from upstairs. “Send them away! What do you mean they're already here?!” Seren smiled and followed the sound of the yelling, knowing it was their cue. They gave a half hearted knock on the door to the study and entered.

“Did you miss me?” Seren asked.

“I missed you not bothering me,” Lord Spring said. He was a pudgy doughy man. Clearly young but it was hard to tell how young with the roundness of his face.

“Well, this account needs to be closed.” Seren shrugged, letting the butler escape out the door as they advanced. “If my senses are accurate you could close it in a day. Right now in fact. So why drag this out?”

“It’s the principle of the thing.” Lord Spring sniffed with his upturned nose. “That account belongs to my parents. I have no business with you. Take it up with them”

“Your parents are dead and buried in the cemetery.” Seren said, “any attempts to contact them have been unsuccessful and by law of succession, that makes the account yours.”

“You think you’re so smart,” Lord Spring sneered. “But there’s more than one sharp eyed shark in these waters.”

“Whatever you say,” Seren shrugged. “Now I’ve been more than fair the last few visits. But this time I am afraid I’ll have to be a bit more forceful.”

“Oh really? What are you going to do? Call the authorities?” Lord Spring laughed. “The ones I pay? Or better yet, you gonna run off and bother the king? Beg him to help you with the baby matters?” Seren smiled darkly.

“I wouldn't dream of having any one else in this room but you and me.” They said. Walking closer to the desk.

“Why?” Lord Spring’s smug look vanished. “You gonna try that fae magic? It’s not going to work, I have several fae-touched in my service. I know what you can do.”

“Magic? Rob myself of this catharsis? I wouldn’t hear of it.” Seren brought out the caestus rings. Now having a matching set for both hands as well as a fae silver coating.

“Are you threatening me?” Lord Spring’s voice broke.

“It’s not a threat.” Seren stopped on the other side of the desk. “A threat is words or rumors of violence. This isn’t a suggestion.” In a single leap, Seren was on the other side of the desk. Lord Spring didn’t even have the time to scream before Seren brought their fist down hard onto his thigh, just above his knee. The interconnected rings digging in deep. Lord Spring’s mouth dropped open in pain and horror. Nothing but wind came out, his eyes bulging out of his skull.

“Care to rethink your position?” Seren asked, readjusting their rings.

“I’ll alert the authorities!” Lord Spring wheezed. Seren laughed.

“Yeah? What are they gonna do? Big guy like you? Beaten into submission by little old me?” Seren said, drawing back and striking again. This time sinking thier rings into the weight of his stomach. Causing the man to pitch forward. Dry heaving on the floor.

“How embarrassing for you.” Seren clicked their tongue. “Having to admit that you got the sense knocked into you by a kid that can’t even drink yet. A puny little fae-touched who didn't even use any magic.”

“Just illegal weapons.” Lord Spring spat before throwing up.

“Weapons? What weapons? I don’t have anything, and you can’t prove I have them either.” Seren said, waving their fingers and making the fae-silver rings vanish. “Nothing but hearsay from a debtor trying to outsmart the law.” Seren brought up their boot and drove their heel into the prone Lord's back. Dropping him fully to the ground.

“How’s that working for you? All that smart double speak and legal smoke and mirrors?” Seren asked.

“I’ll get even.” Lord Spring spat onto Seren’s boots. Seren knelt down, their face stone cold.

“You think so? You slighted me first. You brought this all upon yourself. I told you that you could have just paid to make this all go away. But no, you chose this way. I hope it’s everything you wanted it to be.” Seren stood back up.

“I’ll be back tomorrow to close this account.” They said, taking a step to the side before thinking better and delivering another swift kick to Lord Spring’s stomach. “Be ready. Or we’ll do this dance again. And again, and again. Until you are ready.” Seren left the room and closed the door behind them. Seeing the wide eyed butler spying at the door.

“Have a good rest of your day,” Seren smiled, “and I will see you again tomorrow. Don't worry about showing me out. I know the way.”