The Maid

"Raven Coal...I hear you were insubordinate again, care to explain?" The speaker was an older man and served in the House of Parliament for Celestia and Luna.

"I won't fucking scrub a floor if a head maid won't do the job her fucking self! Your bitch wife had me flogged for your daughter, who is more like a whore snuck out, and I had to take the punishment instead of your daughter's personal maid and whipping toy."

Raven flinched as she saw her master's hand go up. The slap stung her cheek, and her temper flared up. " Your old hag of a mother must be real fucking proud to have raised a basted son who would hit a woman without blinking."

The older man, in his fury, kicked Raven to the marble floor and kicked her a total of fifty times, straddled her, and beat them for a solid thirty minutes. "You ungrateful slut! we clothe and feed you and this is how you repay our kindness?" No answer from the battered Raven Coal, and the man raised his brass-ordained cane and began to beat her some more.

"You weren't kind! You took me from my family and brought me here all because my family and I were just twenty gold bits short! I pray your wife and family kill themselves, and you get so depressed you drink yourself to death, and if you are lucky, spontaneous combustion occurs, and you burn! " Raven cringed as she was now off the floor. "The great Lord Silver Tongue isn't so smooth now, is he? How does it feel to know that the only way to show your strength is to beat a girl into submission?"

Silver Tongue, fuming now, hurled the much smaller Raven Coal into a pillar of marble. "You little cunt! I will end your life as you know. I will have you blacklisted." Raven struggled to her feet and slumped against the wall.

"I couldn't care less if you killed me! My whole life is based on being ostracized and blacklisted." Silver Tongue laughed and then sent a foot forward Raven Coal slumped to the floor again.

"I want you out in thirty minutes and anything you leave behind will be burned." Raven packed her few belongings and left her former employer.

The Guild

Raven learned quickly that news traveled fast and the Maid's Guild kicked her from out of the guild. Raven sat silently as she tried to figure out her next move. The guild mistress sat with Raven in silence for some time. "Look Raven, wish I wasn't the one to remove your guild status but Silver Tongue owns this building. Stick around and I'll do my best to help you find work. I know many rich families and some of them have a tradition where when their eldest son turns thirteen he is expected to behave like a man; in addition he's given a personal maid or servant. Depending on how be treats that personal staff is very dependent on if he remains as a sole heir."

"I want someone who will treat me with respect and can be gentle in my repremmands for my anger issues. Nurse Redheart happened to be in town and according to her my injuries were severe and I should be resting."

"Ya' know I hear Fancy Pants' son Blueblood is about to turn thirteen and he's just two months older than you. I could try to hook you up."

"Beggars can't be choosers I suppose; however, can I try to ask for employment myself?"

"You could, but it so happens they're coming in this morning, if you like when they come in be by the job board and that'll catch their eye I'm sure."

Raven Coal nodded and around ten thirty that morning Raven was by the board nervously reading the job posts and counting her money and hoping that she could get it to last one more week. "Ah Fancy Pants and young master Blueblood welcome and may I offer a beverage?" Raven listened closely to the conversation. "My son will be taking it from here as he must learn to perform his own business but I'll be here to assist."

"Well ma'am, I'm looking to employ a maid, one who can perform the typical tasks and a bit more. I need one who can be athletic and active enough to partake in my sporting hobbies. Pardon for saying this I need one that is healthy and robust."

"Here is a compiled list of everyone who fits this description. I do have one who just got terminated and removed from our guild; however, her temper is volatile and from what I was told, and rumors as well she beat a kid twice her size."

"I happen to know that fellow, Feather Bangs kinda had it coming for a while now." Blueblood was looking around the guild and caught a glimpse of Raven. "Hey who's that over there?"

"That young sir is Raven Coal, volatile temper, athletic, and if treated right is dependable. Her last employer was basically trying to get her blacklisted; he beat her constantly and starved her as well. I'm supposed to keep her off the grounds but I'm doing my best to help her. I was hoping you'd notice her, she's a good kid."

"Well then I'll go talk to her."

"Be wary, if you spook her she'll take a swing and she rarely misses." Blueblood nodded and walked over and he tapped her shoulder and before Blueblood could react a fist slammed into his stomach. Blueblood doubled over and gasped, and Raven looked horrified.

"I'm so sorry you startled me."

"My bad, I was just warned and I forgot...by the way I'm Blueblood and you must be Raven Coal. A friend of mine told me how you two fought - his name was Feather Bangs."

"I remember him, I had overheard him talking to another friend about how they found certain aspects of their counterparts attractive. The topic wasn't all that bad until they began to digress."

"Miss Raven Coal...I'd like to hire you."

"I've been blacklisted and I have no guild to recommend me."

"Your friend over at the counter recommended you and I know you had been listening for a few minutes. To help sweeten the job proposal all uniforms, food, and board will be provided at no cost to you." Blueblood now standing felt his father's gaze and he looked over at his father who looked at the guild headmistress and both mouthed silently.

"It's not like a marriage proposal relax a bit." Raven Coal felt nervous and wanted to ask if her tasks included absorbing the punishments for his ill behavior.

"The headmistress had told us about your last employer and I might help ease your decision; I shoulder my own disciplinary actions it's the way of our family."

"I guess I have no choice really, I'll accept the job offer. If I may be so bold my lord, I know a kind honest person when I see one." Blueblood grabbed Raven's hand and dragged her to his father. "Blueblood! I've got my own feet don't drag me!"

"Father I found one!"

"I can see that son, now business is taken care of I'll head home while you two get acquainted. Besides Blueblood your a man now do keep in touch but I trust you behave like a man."