Chapter 10

Exactly two weeks after Kurt had laid out his ideas to Blaine, Jeff and Ethan, he was awoken from a very pleasant dream of dappled green light and dark curly hair by a loud shriek and crash from the room next door.

He groaned, mumbling with frustration as he rolled away from the bright light streaming in through the window. He pushed the covers off, yawning, and dragged himself to his feet. Now that he was up, he might as well go and check that Rachel was okay. He pulled on a robe over the top of his nightshirt and linen pants and stumbled across to Rachel's room. He knocked, and soon heard a quiet 'come in' from within.

Rachel was sitting on the floor below the open window, clutching her ankle with a pained look on her face. A breeze was blowing into the room and gentling flapping at the heavy curtains that hung round her bed. 'Kurt,' she gasped painfully when she saw him come in. 'Morning.'

'Are you okay?' he asked, wiping his eyes of any last dregs of sleep as he hurried over to her. 'Did you hurt yourself? Rachel, what were you doing this early in the morning that could cause you to hurt your ankle?'

Rachel shifted so she was leaning back against the trunk below her window, still holding her ankle. 'I was standing on the trunk to look out the window,' she explained. Kurt sighed. 'There's a new warrior tutor working for Coach Beiste. He's staying in one of the rooms across the courtyard and I was trying to catch a glimpse of him because I saw him when I went to pick up Finn from practice on Wednesday and he's really hot.'

Kurt tried to hide his smile as he shook his head at her in despair. It was true, Jeff wasn't bad-looking, but if only she knew. He held out a hand for her.

'Come on,' he said. 'Let's get you to Mrs S-P.' He helped her hobble to her feet.

Jeff had started working at the Academy on Monday. It had been fairly easy to arrange – a simple mention to Coach Beiste that his cousin was coming up to stay with them for a bit whilst his parents made their decennial three month long pilgrimage to his grandfather's grave, a couple of hints dropped about how skilled he was with a sword, and she had offered to meet him to see he was useful the very next day.

Jeff, being the warrior that he was, had of course excelled at everything she had thrown at him and had been granted a position as her assistant – just helping her demonstrate moves, keeping an eye on the apprentices and looking after the weapons. The Academy had provided him with lodgings and a small income, and he had already proven himself adept at his new job.

Ethan, on the other hand, had been a bit harder to place. His injured leg meant that it had been very difficult for him to even be considered for any sort of job that required strength or skill. They had asked around the village, Ethan putting on a very good front of coming from a nearby farm that had been attacked by wolves, his parents killed and his leg maimed. Although the story and Ethan's fairly excellent acting had brought him plenty of pity, no one had wanted to give a job to an injured boy when there were plenty of other able-bodied men who would be better.

Eventually, Kurt had confessed to Rory – without telling him the full story, of course – whilst grooming Pippin at the weekend. Rory had immediately jumped in with plenty of suggestions, most involving working with him – just looking after the horses and tack. When Kurt had reported back later that evening, he was surprised to hear Ethan agree with most of Rory's ideas, eager to help. And so he was to start work as Rory's new sub-groom on Saturday, lodging in the school with Jeff.

Out of all three of the boys, Blaine was the only one who had not yet found something to do. The risk of him being put in danger by being recognised was highest – he was, after all, the main runaway his father was after – so he had been keen to just lay low until he could find something secure to fill his time with. He was still staying at the inn. Kurt had offered several times that he introduce him to his father, giving him the possibility to work in his forge and stay with him and Carole, but he had politely declined, saying that he didn't want to intrude and that he had tried some forgery before but had failed miserably. And so Kurt was still on the lookout for a job for Blaine.

After Rachel's ankle had been bandaged, and after he had washed and dressed and carefully styled his hair, Kurt was finally able to start his breakfast.

He sat at a long table in the dining hall with the rest of his magic class, squeezed in between Mercedes and Tina. Despite the fact that he had arrived late and that therefore most of his friends had finished eating, the hall was still busy and crowded.

'Where have you been for the past few days, Kurt?' Mercedes was saying. 'We've barely seen you outside of lessons and meals.'

Kurt kept his eyes on his bowl of porridge. 'I was busy,' he said simply.

'With what?' asked Tina. 'Hardly any of the teachers have been giving us homework this early in the sector and I know that you think you have a load more Alchemy than the rest of us, but you don't, I've read your homework diary.'

Kurt sighed, ignoring the fact that Tina had admitted to stalking his diary and casting his mind around for an answer. It wasn't easy to come up with a viable excuse in such a short time, so he decided to tell the truth. Or the partial, supposedly true version of it.

'I've been helping out a friend,' he said. 'My cousin. His parents have to travel all the way across to Tard to visit his grandfather's grave, so he had three months to kill. He couldn't really spend them alone so they sent him up here.' He shrugged. 'He was trying to find a job so that he had something to do whilst I was at school. We finally found him one working for Beiste.

Mercedes' jaw dropped. 'That's your cousin? The new warrior assistant?'

Kurt nodded.

'Can you introduce us?' Tina asked eagerly.

Kurt smiled to himself as Mike sent Tina a grumpy look from across the table. It was funny to see the girls so excited about someone he knew they could never have. Should he tell them? It probably wasn't wise to out Jeff to people he didn't know, especially in a close-minded place like this – not that any of his friends would care, but if the word got out he could lose his job. No, it was probably better to be vague.

'I'm afraid he's already attached,' he settled on.

A frown crossed Tina's features. 'Is she from –'

'Back where he comes from? Yes.' He scraped up the last of his porridge and stood up to avoid any more awkward questions which required the use of pronouns. 'Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to History.' He gave them a short wave and hurried off to his first lesson.

Later in the day, Kurt was sitting in the library working on some Rhetoric with Rachel and Mercedes when there was a soft knock on the bookshelf behind them and Rory's face poked round the end. 'Kurt?' he hissed. 'Got a minute?'

Kurt nodded, shutting his books as he stood up. 'Pippin's having some problems with his new bit,' he lied easily to his confused-looking friends. 'Be back soon.'

He ducked into the Anatomy section of the library, dragging Rory after him. 'What is it?' he whispered once he was sure they were out of the girls' hearing range.

'I – erm – I might have an opening for your other friend. Blaine.'

'What, working in the stables?'

'No – it's not – I just – I'm not sure what you'll think of it.' He glanced away, eyes moving shiftily over the books.

'Okay…' said Kurt cautiously. 'Why… what is it?'

'It's, er. Sir Karofsky's valet is sick. Quite badly. And he, um, he's looking for a replacement. Just temporarily, until Jacob's back on his feet. I thought – maybe Blaine could give it a shot?'

Kurt sighed, eyes roving unfocused over the lines of leather-bound books. The thought of Blaine working for Sir Karofsky made something squirm in the pit of his stomach. The thought of anyone having to be at that horrible man's beck and call was enough to make him want to break something, but the fact that it was Blaine – no. He knew how Karofsky would treat him, and if he found out that he was Kurt's friend – well, Kurt didn't want to imagine the consequences.

But Blaine needed something to do to protect him from his father and any spies in the village, and where better to hide than with the very man who was preparing to defend his country against Roden? He would have comfort and shelter and yes, it could be a challenge, but Kurt knew that Blaine would work hard to protect himself.

'Okay,' he breathed out eventually. 'What kind of things does it entail?'

Rory nodded. 'Personal attendance duties – fetching him things, carrying stuff – and keeping an eye on his rooms, carrying messages, and if he's skilled enough, occasionally acting as a bodyguard. Do you think Blaine would be up to it?'

Kurt considered, then nodded. 'I'll ask him this evening.'

'Great. I'll – um – I'll let you go. Bye.'

'Wait, Rory!' Rory glanced back over his shoulder at Kurt. 'Thank you.'

Rory smiled and left the library.

'So you're saying I would be living in the castle as well?'

Kurt nodded, leaning back against Blaine's bed. 'You'll be provided with food and a bed and you can keep Merry in the stables. I don't know how much free time you'll get, but you can come and see me sometimes as well.' He smiled at Blaine, trying to keep a too-hopeful look off his face.

Blaine sighed, running a hand over his eyes. 'I don't know,' he said. 'Everything you've told me about him – I just – I don't know if I could work for someone like that.'

'I know,' Kurt said simply. 'I was the same at first.' He took Blaine's hand from where it lay on the floor between them and pressed it between his own. 'But Blaine, you could be in danger. We don't know if your father has any spies in this neck of the woods yet but we do know that he's looking for you. And I don't want to imagine what he'll do to you if he does find you.' Blaine frowned, looking away from Kurt. 'So don't you think it's better to keep yourself safe? He's not going to be expecting you to be working for Sir Karofsky, and Karofsky isn't going to expect you to be his son. You'll be perfectly hidden. Come on, trust me.'

Blaine's deep hazel eyes met Kurt's with a fond look and he smiled, placing his hand atop their other ones. 'Okay,' he said. 'I'll do it.'

Kurt grinned and pulled him into a hug. 'Rory said you need to talk to Mrs Hagberg and she'll set you up with a meeting or something to see if you'll do. Which I'm sure you will, of course.'

'When? Tomorrow?'

'Tomorrow will be perfect. Meet me at the back gate first thing in the morning and I'll take you to see her, okay? I don't mind skipping breakfast.'

'Kurt, you shouldn't –'

'No, shh,' said Kurt, standing up and pulling Blaine to his feet along with him. 'I'll be fine.' He hugged him again. 'See you bright and early tomorrow, Blaine.'

'Bye.'

Kurt scuffed the dirty floor with the toe of his boot, attempting to prise of some of the caked mud as he waited. He could hear voices beyond the door, talking quietly, occasional pauses between them. It was getting dark outside and through the high anteroom windows he could see clouds drifting over, foreboding rain.

The latch on the door behind him clunked as it was pulled open. Blaine stepped out, smoothing down the front of his tunic, a strange look on his face.

'How did it go?' asked Kurt.

'It… it was fine. Good, even.' Blaine dropped into pace beside him as they set off down the corridor. 'But he – I see what you meant. He's awful.'

Kurt nodded. 'Did you get the job?'

'Yeah,' said Blaine. 'I start on Monday. I'm staying in the servants' quarters with Ethan and Jeff, so that'll be nice. But the list of stuff he told I was going to have to do – ugh, thank goodness I'm a decent hardworker.'

'But nothing you can't easily take into stride, I presume?'

Blaine grinned. 'Of course not. I just wish I was working for someone nicer.'

'We both do, I think.' Kurt stopped in the courtyard, looking up through the branches of the oak tree that spread across it at the sky. 'I don't think it's going to rain quite yet. Can I walk you back to the inn?'

'Of course.'

They walked in easy silence until they had left the school, only starting to talk quietly about the full details of Blaine's job when they had passed the first couple of houses in the village. Eventually they got to the inn and up to Blaine's room.

'Well, I hope it doesn't rain on you on the way back,' said Blaine as Kurt loitered by the door.

'I'll be fine. I can always create an anti-rain film to have above my head if it does.'

'Ah, magic. Of course.' Blaine smiled again as he unbuttoned his jacket. 'Are we meeting up over the weekend?'

Kurt nodded. 'I'll drop by tomorrow.' He glanced out the window where it was now fully dark. 'I'd best be going. I hope you have a good evening.'

'You too,' said Blaine, pulling him into a hug. 'Thank you,' he said softly into Kurt's ear. 'This means a lot to me.'

'I know.'

They pulled apart. 'Stay safe,' warned Kurt. 'Goodnight!'

'Night, Kurt.' The door dropped shut behind him on Blaine's easy smile, and he grinned into the darkness of the corridor.

Blaine was coming to live in the castle, and suddenly, they would be seeing a whole lot more of each other.