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 Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 11:50 am
Oscar sometimes preferred to discuss options with landowners before taking more drastic steps. There was one piece of land in particular, owned by two brothers - the Kaspars. They took good care of the land, and it would be valuable - except for the fact that they weren't doing anything valuable with it. It was of no consequence. Oscar Berlitz was a man of means and determination. If idle, boring chatter wouldn't get him what he wanted, he'd just have to take a different course of action.
The road that led up to the small home was rough, but well-cared for. The cottage they drew up to was backset by two smaller homes. Oscar knew that the older son, Henrik, lived in the closest one. The other son, Kevin, lived in one of the other two, while their elder parents lived in the third.
Oscar did not know who lived in which home, and he really didn't care. It was of no consequence to the man.
The fine carriage he rode in drew to a stop, and Oscar straightened his waistcoat as he stepped out through the side door. The woman butler, Diana, waited for an order. Oscar gave the small cottage a thoughtful look before murmuring, "Stay with the carriage."
"Sir."
The dirt crunched beneath the soles of his fine leather shoes. He took his time to reach the door, and when he did, he knocked with one broad, scarred hand.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:00 pm
Henrik hadn't been expecting visitors.
He hoped, sometimes, that Alec might stop by just to surprise him, and they could sit in Henrik's beloved little garden while the sun warmed their skin. Or maybe they could walk to the small pond that was nestled nearby and take a little swim. Eat lunch together, and just enjoy one another's company. Oh, how he hoped that Alec would show up at his doorstep all smiles and blue eyes. The thought constantly brightened Henrik's day, even though he knew it was unlikely to happen. Alec was in the military now, which meant that he had to earn his days off, and the redhead had family of his own to visit.
When the knock at the door came, Henrik frowned slightly. His brother would have just come in, and his parents didn't leave the house much.
He slowly opened the door.
The man on the other side was incredibly well dressed. Henrik could never even imagine owning such fine clothes.
"Yes?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:02 pm
"Mr. Kaspar."
Walls, but he was a big brute of a man, and Oscar had to entertain the thought that he might be well-suited to the fighting dens. Then again, he was big which meant he would be slow - so perhaps the dens would not suit him.
Oscar lifted his eyebrows expectantly.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:04 pm
Henrik was still a little dumbfounded that he had such a fancy man standing outside his door; he didn't think invite the man in, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to. There was a hardness around the man's face, something that was absolutely not to be trusted. It was difficult to look him in the eye, too. There was a piercing sharpness in those eyes that made Henrik feel as though he could see right through him.
"Oh - oh, yes, uh. Please, come in, I am.. who are you? I was not expecting any company."
Henrik held the door open for the other man.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:41 pm
"I am Oscar Berlitz. I've traveled from Wall Sina to speak with you today."
Oscar was not the sort to mince words. He hadn't been, not for a long, long time.
"Your land. I'd like to buy it. I'm willing to pay whatever you think is fair, right now."
Oscar crossed his arms over his chest and waited for a response. His voice was cool, collected, composed - all business.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:51 pm
Henrik's first reaction was to laugh. It was an abrupt noise, harsh, and left his throat feeling raw. Was this man serious? Wall Sina. Henrik had never gone, but he'd heard about the wonders within. Henrik had to wonder if this was some sort of nobleman, and it was kind of a terrifying prospect.
"It.. it is not for sale, sir. It is my home, and my brother's home. My parents. It is our land, and our livelihood."
Henrik didn't want the man to think he was slighting him. His eyes took in the scars on his hands, the crooked pinky, the nose that was slightly off-center. Oscar Berlitz had a sort of wolfish look about him, and it made Henrik exceedingly nervous.
"I am sorry that you have come all this way. Let me pack some food for you to take with you - all good, homegrown food. Fresh fruits and vegetables."
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:53 pm
Something about Oscar's face changed, then. It sharpened, grew darker. His eyes were brilliant pools of molten gold, and the curve that took his lips was a chilling farce of a smile.
Everything was for sale. Everything had a price. He'd learned that the hard way, and it had not been a lesson that he would ever forget.
"That is your answer then? It is not for sale?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:55 pm
"I am afraid so, sir."
Henrik turned to move towards the small kitchen area, eager to pack the offered food for Berlitz so that the man would leave. The sooner, the better - and Henrik hoped he would never have to see the nobleman ever, ever again.
It was silent for a moment as Henrik worked - but the silence was broken by the sound of the door softly clicking shut.
The man had left.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:57 pm
It had been a wasted trip, Oscar supposed. He made his way to the carriage and paused before he climbed inside. Diana waited. She would have her orders.
"Burn it. I want the houses reduced to ash by morning."
"Sir."
The door of the carriage was closed, and Diana took her seat. She would return later that night to carry out Lord Berlitz's command.
It was what she was paid to do, after all - and her dedication to Berlitz was fathomless.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:02 pm
News traveled fast.
"I heard they caught fire by mistake."
"I heard that it was arson."
"I think it was just a freak accident."
"...a terrible thing, so very sad..."
"...their parents perished, did you hear?"
"Yes, both of them burned to death in the fire."
"Well, they were very sickly, you know."
"I heard that Mrs. Kaspar had started to lose her mind. I bet she did it."
"It's sad that Kevin and Henrik were the only two survivors."
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:05 pm
What will we do?
Sell. What else is there to do?
I don't want to live here. I can't stop hearing mother...
Do not think about it. You cannot think about it.
And then what? Once we sell?
Join the military. I have friends there. I do not know what else there is to do.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:07 pm
Oscar was in his garden when Diana returned. He was clipping roses from one of the numerous bushes; they fell from his fingers to a basket on the ground.
"Is it done?"
"Sir. It's finished."
"Excellent."
"They'll sell, sir."
"Take care of it."
"Sir."
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