“Goodbye, Earl Kasidy,” she smiled. “The next meeting is Thursday.”

Well, thought Kasidy. I met a lovely girl, but I didn’t even get her address or

anything! It’s amazing how stupid I can be; almost as stupid as Audric! How many

times have I talked to a girl like that? Many! I should know better!

That was actually the first time that Kasidy met a girl and they didn’t swoon

all over him, and exclaimed how much they knew about him, and sniffed him, and

called him names like “Kass-Kass” and “The Never Dying Beauty of The Forest”,

which they probably got from his middle name, Amaranth, a make-believe flower

that is immortal. Kasidy never liked his middle name, for that was his father’s name,

the scourge of his life that Kasidy could never forgive. But of course, beauty

always comes with dark thoughts….

Kasidy opened the door to the terrace, and scanned the land for Audric. That

butler of his could have been anywhere, and the young earl now realized that if he

wanted Audric to behave, he’d have to subtract from his pay. Maybe then Audric

wouldn’t act so much like a child….

“Boo!”

Kasidy rolled his eyes and turned around.

“Audric…..”

“Did I scare you, Master Kasidy?”

“NO, Audric. You did not scare me. Where were you all this time?!”

“I was talking to this chap named Heath. He’s American! He even said he was

interested in medical study!”

“Oh yeah?” Kasidy said. Kasidy slapped Audric across the face, something he had

gotten used to doing when Audric didn’t behave. “Now, you just don’t disappear like

that without permission, Audric, remember?”

“Yes, sir,” he said. “Do you like to slap me, Master?”

“Yes I do,” Kasidy said; “and I like it so much, I’m gonna do it again!” Kasidy

slapped Audric’s face again. “Now, Audric, what are you going to do before you run

off?”

“I’m going to ask for your permission, first, Master Kasidy.”

“Good job.” Kasidy laughed. “I want you to go home……I doubt there are any

carriages near by, so I’m better off walking. Go on, Audric. Go on home.”

“Yes, Master Kasidy!”

Then the twenty-seven year old man went off with a gawky run, and was out