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The word of mouth had been that some rather upper crust horse breeders and handlers needed able bodied men to work an auction. Something about recently them getting to many horses and how everyone was getting ready to relocate with winter coming and would need new horses or this and that. the reasons didn't matter to Marcus. Work was work, and he'd gone following the lead he'd heard. He needed coin they needed men who knew how to work with horses and who could actually deal with 'upper crust' and were not disreputable.

If he, a runaway slave was reputable was anyone's guess. He was a free man in his own eyes and had committed no crimes. Not in Sunderland in any case.

He'd arrived, was given a run down of his duties, given a 'temporary' set of 'presentable' work clothes and sent on his way. His job would be saddling and brushing the horses before sending them out to try an entice the nobles gathering to buy. His hair was dyed, scars hidden, brand not looking like it would be exposed anytime soon. The only problem-

The tiny fawn that had followed him around. Bloodrunner was less underfoot so much as he was a worry. The tiny fawn was around the much larger creatures, who really seemed to pay him no mind. The other hired hands however were passing him curious looks. Marcus didn't blame them, the little 'guardian' looking more like it was the one in need of guarding.

The gaze on him had Blood Runner pause, looking to who or what had set their sights on him. Marcus was still focused on the horse, brushing out knots from the end of the mane and making sure the bridle was unbroken and polished. Ribbons in the horse’s hair, he’d never quite understood it. Braids yes, it kept a mane from flying into one’s face, ribbons? Frivolous. His old master had even thought such yet he’d never gone without them. The memory was a bitter sweet one. Marcus was oblivious to the ones looking at his guardian, but the tiny fawn was very much aware, and very much puffing out his little chest to look as proud and noble and ‘intimidating’ as a little guardian fawn could be.

At the addressing of ‘sir’ Marcus didn’t initially respond, not until Blood Runner went over to give him a nudge, weaving between the horse’s legs. Thankfully, the beast had already gotten used to the fawn’s antic of leg weaving. “Hrm, what is it now Blo- Ah.” Stopping his work, Marcus bowed his torso. The man’s clothing spoke of a higher station, or, of a man that was not temporary help. Old habits of his past lingered as Marcus realized he’d simply bowed on instinct. He wasn’t a slave, he needn’t bow so low. A simple bow of the head would do.

“I am not so much a sir but yes. He is mine. Or I am his. Depending.” The chosen looked to his guardian slightly amused as the fawn inched closer to Axe and Eluf. “He bites.” The tiny deer hopped in a circle at that as if to say ‘how dare you! I do no such thing.’ Marcus looked from man to deer and a small smile flicked across his face. “I hazard you belong to him. Will mine be an issue Sir?”

A bow returned Marcus chalked it up to culture. It might have been a few years, but small aspects of Sunderland would always catch him off guard. It reminded him in a passive way how he was still a runaway, a refugee of sorts, only of his own making. Lost in his thoughts, Marcus didn’t notice Blood Runner’s eyeing of Eluf’s buttons. He might not bite fingers, (he did have to prove Marcus wrong however), but buttons about the size of berries? Those were worth attempting to eat. At Axe’s displeasure, the tiny fawn kept his chosen between him and the older guardian. ‘Neener neener your chosen wants to give me attention not you’.

All Marcus got from the fawn was a sense of smug superiority. A feeling he got often enough from the new guardian. The compliment to his work did earn a small smile from the dark haired chosen. “Thank you sir. I used to help tend to my er, my lord’s horses. It’s actually a bit nice to be in a fine stable working with such beasts again. City stables…” A shake of his head. “They never muck them as well they should. But he-“ a hand wave towards the fawn, “-is Blood Runner. Axe though?” Blue eyes went to the large buck a low whistle. “He’s a handsome buck to be sure. And Marcus Delacroix.” Looking around he found a semi clean rag, even if his hands were rather clean, it was still polite. Clean hand out, the man nodded. “It’s a pleasure Mr. Torrell. Didn’t know there was another with one of these boys around else I’d have thought to ask. It’s… odd with some employers.”

Blood Runner refused to play into the older male. No, it would bask in the attention of Eluf and look at the buttons and debate to see if he couldn't nick one to try and nibble on. Some humans wore flowers in their hair, just as some guardians wore feathers and bones and this and that. Something to chew on- was just something to chew on. Blue eyes went up at Axe, slightly challenging. He wasn't that scared. Maybe a bit, but the tiny fawn wasn't going to completely back down.

Marcus meanwhile was focus half on the horse, half on his employer. Hand shake given, the man relaxed a bit, hand running down the neck of the horse. "I enjoy the work. Keeps me fed and active." And going back to the taverns for this and that. Most this with a side of that. Women didn't care what a man looked like so long as he had decent coin. "And I try to be an honest man. Looks don't change with actions, not to me anyhow." He still cared and worried about his old master after all. What did that say about him?

Looking to the fawn, Marcus sighed. "Spirited, a good... word for him. Glad to know he's allowed though. A bit of brat he can get into trouble time to time. I've just told him no riling the horses. Don't need him trampled." The tiny deer would be crushed. At Eluf, Marcus shrugged. "He'd been nibbling on this and that- going out to try and eat some of the roses for the decor when I'm not looking. Hungry is... what he always is."

Marcus looked from man to fawn a small snort of laughter escaping him before he caught himself, muffling it under a cough. “My apologies. But I don’t think he’ll be so much strong as well, either fat from eating too much, or just remain demanding to be fed as always. Just glad he can keep himself fed if I can’t get him this or that. Grain prices alter town to town far too much for being such a common thing. Bit difficult to save or splurge when paying to keep a little one content and happy.” Blue eyes went to blue. Guardian and chosen clearly having a moment of discontent and disagreement. After all, Blood runner only deserved the finest of foods. And treats. All of the treats. Marcus often got that impression.

So when Eluf presented the dried berries, the little fawn gave a tiny jump of joy followed by his tail flicking wildly. Bumping his hornless head to the man as a quick thank you, the young guardian was quick to begin nibbling away, much to his chosen’s amusement. “Well that certainly made him the happiest little thing. He can be amusing, I’ll give him that too.” Still, for all his gripes, there was affection lacing Marcus’s tone. He truly did care about the little fawn under his charge so to speak.

Once he looked up to see gold eyes- Marcus leaned back, brow raising at guardian. It could buck at him, attack him with his horns, try to trample him- but there was a horse near. Not to mention he doubted that Eluf would allow it. “Your’s doesn’t like me much I take it. Or Blood Runner. Cant blame him though, it must be a bit odd to have such a spry thing bouncing about your feet acting as he does.”

Grabbing a bush Marcus worked on the last bits of the horse’s coat, giving it that final glossy shine that they’d want to see. All that was left… well there wasn’t much left he could do. Dressing it up was more someone else’s job. He could saddle it up but with the whole showing off and fancy trimmings- Marcus was just doing what he knew. “He’s growing alright, keeps trying to sleep next to me on the road but then attempts to steal my bedroll. One of these days I’ll just get him his own if he keeps trying to wiggle his way onto mine in the middle of the night and shove me off.” Blue eyes of the fawn looked up at his chosen, innocent as innocent could be. Blood runner did no such thing.

“True though. All in all he’ll be fine. He makes sure he gets all he needs, weather I know it or not.” He might have caught the fawn attempting to sneak into a feed bag already. “But thank you for the offer. It’ll keep him happy and maybe a bit busy. If I’m lucky, he’ll eat himself to sleep.” Nibbling at the berries once more, Blood runner’s tail flicked back as forth wildly before he began to settle, happy to just have tasty things coming at him in what looked to his mind to be an endless supply.

Bush set down, Marcus gave a shrug as Axe snorted at him. “No harm done. Yet at least. Every… beast has their own personality. Though our boys are hardly beasts.” Looking back at Marcus, the guardian suddenly went back to his side, bouncing a bit, head butting for attention. “They’re special in their own right. Just a matter of… ah. Its hard to put into words. They just give off a certain feeling you know?” Like how Blood runner was now the most happiest thing ever. He got berries and Marcus was getting the impression he should stay. “This horse is done though really, need to move onto the next. Else I’ll get the whi-“ He froze. He wasn’t going to be whipped. He hadn’t been in a long time. “Chastised.”