Harper didn't go far. He was painfully aroused, though he was absolutely confused as to why. Men were attracted to women, not watching to other men... do things. His face burned as the scene replayed in his mind and he ducked into a linen closet that barely fit him, then dropped to the floor. 

Unable to push away the images, Harper awkwardly slid his hand into his breaches. He got himself off as fast as he could, trying hard to be absolutely silent besides his needed panting. When he was finished, he wiped himself clean with a pair of socks he found in a small box with several other pairs, then shoved them to the back of the closet before standing back up and straightening out his clothing. 

Not a moment after he'd stepped out of the closet, someone was calling for him at the other end of the hall. Thankfully, it was a female voice, and when he turned, he noticed an unfamiliar maid walking toward him with a hesitant smile on her face. 

"Excuse me, but are you master Hari, that just arrived with lords Rule and Arthur?" She asked, drawing a small frown from Harper at the use of his old name. And he wasn't sure why she was calling him master. He clearly wasn't one. 

"Yes, miss?" He said, his words sounding more like a question than an actual answer. 

The maid looked nervous as she clasped her hands together in front of her modest black dress and bowed her head slightly. "I have been instructed to ask you for your assistance out in the stables, if you are available, sir." 

Odd. 

"Uh, sure." 

He carefully made his way down the stairs, then outside, being careful to keep an eye out for the two lords and keep as much weight as he could off of his leg. They seemed to have disappeared... or not left the room at all. Their perverted images began running through his mind again, but Harper forced them away. He couldn't embarrass himself in front of others! 

As he stepped out the door, he paused, looking to the side where his shovel silently leaned against the wall. The sight of it reminded him of the fun old woman who'd given it to him. Well, I am outside. I might as well take it with me. Maybe it will be of some use. He thought as he picked it up, then headed off toward the stables. He began using it to help him walk, already smiling that it was coming in handy. 

There was only one boy working when he stepped into the large building. "Hello?" Harper called out as he approached, not wanting to spook the boy, who was loading a cart full of hay with a pitchfork. 

Ah, my poor shovel will be of no use for such a thing. 

The boy looked up a moment later, giving him an odd look. 

"You... asked for my assistance?" Harper pressed, suddenly feeling a bit awkward. If the boy had not asked for him, then who had? 

The boy's expression changed abruptly as recognition lit his tired eyes. "Ah. Yes, master Hari?" He asked, earning a slow nod from Harper. 

He pointed over to a sturdy ladder built into the ceiling, that had been dropped down to allow for climbing up into the hay loft. "Two people were hoping you could give them a hand up there for a few moments." 

In the hay loft? 

As a female, he'd never worked much outside. It still seemed odd to ask specifically for him, when they had no idea who he was, but having been a servant for so long, he couldn't find it in himself to disobey. 

Holding his shovel firmly in his left hand, he carefully climbed the ladder upward. It definitely wasn't a pleasant thing to do, but thankfully his foot wasn't doing too badly. At first glance, the loft looked deserted as he used the shovel to help himself stand, but then a figure appeared from behind a large stack of bales at the far end. 

Lord Walters. 

How was he not surprised? Honestly, he got surprised by everything, but this trap just smelled fishy from the beginning, but if he hadn't gone, they would have figured something else out, he was sure. So, where is Matilda? He wondered as he found a wall to press his back against, then took in the rest of the large loft. 

"She's not here, yet. We were hoping lighting up Rule's home would get rid of you and allow us both to go back to what we wished, but you just persisted, like an annoying fly buzzing about."

The sound of someone climbing up the ladder drew their attention to it right before Matilda's hair came into view. Harper tensed, but a sudden roaring snarl broke his focus and widened his eyes right as Matilda screamed and lost her grip on the ladder, disappearing. Harper heard her crash to the ground, then the snarling got louder, as well as her screams. 

Walters ran over to the opening and stared down, a look of horror on his face. He knelt by the opening, seemingly considering helping rescue Matilda from Kite, who Harper now knew was the one doing the mauling by the sound of his growls. I wouldn't go down there if I were you, but...

Licking his lips, Harper carefully used the shovel and made sure to walk as quietly as he could up behind the man. Now, my shovel, make your new dad proud! He thought with a grin as he lifted the shovel, then swung it hard. It connected with a sound that made him wince, and lord Walter's scream louder than Matilda. It also sent the evil man stumbling forward, right into the ladder opening. 

The snarling stopped after Matilda and lord Walter's let out a scream together, telling Harper that he likely fell on top of her. Curiously, he carefully knelt down, then looked over the edge to see the two, indeed, lying atop each other. 

Blood was beginning to run in lines into the dusty ground, turning nearby bits of hay dark red. As if sensing him looking, Kite looked up, his expression seeming unimpressed. That's okay, I'll stay up here, but you enjoy your new toys. I promise I won't take them away. Kite gave him an annoyed quiet woof, then turned his attention to enjoying his new mauling target. 

The sound of several feet pounding away outside told Harper that several people were on their way to help. He waited patiently, grinning when Kite stopped attacking and sat down, panting like a good little puppy when Arthur appeared below. 

You are an evil demon, dog... and I owe you. 

Harper was considering not calling out to the lord, and just waiting for everyone to leave, but he knew that it would be stupid to do such a thing. It had been hard enough climbing up to the loft. Getting down wasn't going to be safe, at all. 

"Lord Arthur?" 

The man looked up immediately, the two wounded people lying before him completely forgotten, left to the help of the others who had come. 

"Harper? How are you up there? Are you trying to break your entire leg now?" He asked, then frowned as he looked back down at the two on the ground. 

"Wait a moment. Did these two call you here?" He asked, looking up again. 

Harper shrunk back a little, but nodded. "A girl servant of yours told me I was needed out here. Then the stable boy told me to go up here." 

Arthur squeezed his eyes closed and pressed his fingers to his head, shaking it slowly. "And you wisely thought that it was a good idea to listen to them?" 

Harper shrank back a bit more. 

"I don't make the best decisions." 

Rule stepped into his view at that moment. He was panting and looked a bit... uncomfortable? The idea for the reason why made Harper's face burn, making the lords give each other a look before Arthur stepped forward and began climbing up the ladder. 

"Stay there." He said as he moved, as if Harper could run off. 

Yes, let me just jump down. My broken foot would love that. 

Arthur got most of the way up the ladder, then turned to lean his back against the it and proffer his hands. "Come here." 

Hesitantly, Harper leaned forward until Arthur was able to pull him into his arms. The lord squeezed him tightly for a moment too long, then shifted him so that he could use one of his arms to help him descend. Before the man's feet even hit the ground Rule was there, taking him from Arthur's arms. 

His hug was even tighter than the other lords', but Harper just returned it and pressed his face against Rule's neck for a few moments. They didn't move until Harper felt something tap against his left shoulder, drawing his head up to see Arthur holding up his shovel with a look of pride. 

"I was pretty mad that you had been gifted with this thing at first, but I see that it does seem to have its uses. I believe, considering how badly lord Walter's is complaining about his back, that you have a decent swing." He said with a rare grin. 

Rule slowly set Harper back down. Arthur handed him his trusty shovel before nodding over at the two that were being carried away to be tended. "I'm assuming they brought you here." Rule said, earning a nod from him and Arthur. "In a round about way," Arthur said. 

"I shall have a very stern talk with my servants about listening to those who are not their direct masters or at least known servants." Arthur said before Rule added. "And I will go deal with Matilda and lord Walters. I believe a brief trip to the magistrate is in order." 

Harper nodded, but grasped Rule's sleeve when he tried to turn away. "My lord, they told me that they were responsible for the fire at your home." 

He hated telling on people, but there was only so much he could not say. They deserved to be punished. They could have seriously hurt someone... besides himself. In fact, they did. Arthur had been in bad shape, and he wasn't sure if anyone else had gotten badly hurt. 

"Thank you for the information, Harper. I will use it well." 

Rule leaned over and pressed a kiss to his lips briefly before turning and hurrying from the building. Harper remained where he was, blinking in surprise until Kite nudged his shirt with his bloody muzzle. 

When he looked down at the dog, it sat and gave a huff. "Oh, right. Thank you Kite, for your help." Harper said as he gave the dog a pat on the head. It gave a loud snort and narrowed its eyes, making Harper frown. 

"I will give you a treat later? I have nothing at the moment." He said, earning a glare from Kite before the large dog padded out of the stables. 

Harper got barely a moment before he was being lifted back into a set of arms. This time, Arthur scooped him up. When the lord began walking, Harper settled in, being careful not to let his shovel hit the lord's legs by accident. 

"You can bring your shovel inside now. It has earned a space in my home... but it stays downstairs." Arthur said, earning a quiet laugh from Harper. 

"Thank you, my lord. It has certainly become useful in such a short period of time." 

When they got back inside, Harper set his shovel down against the wall by the door, then was promptly carried up the stairs to lord Arthur's chambers. Wait. Why am I being brought back up here? Arthur didn't stop until he was in his washroom. 

The bathing tub was already full with water. "Rule used it briefly..." Arthur mumbled as he let Harper down, then leaned over and stole a gentle kiss. 

"Get cleaned up, you have hay and dust all over you. I will be back soon." He said before taking his leave. 

That... wasn't so bad. I thought I was in trouble. 

The unmistakable sound of the lock being turned in the main door made his heart drop into his stomach. 

Ah. Punished later. Got it.