The sparks that had fizzled dramatically from Mr Sterling's wand felt like they'd beelined directly for Bragi's chest, such was the heat of fear and ache of shame in his pounding heart. He'd been a fool to think he'd grown up since coming to this country, when in reality he was still a naive child, a privileged brat who'd wandered into the grounds of a familiar private stable as if it were public property. He was a landlord for Merlin's sake... he was supposed to be an expert on property.
Me, me, me, me. Bragi was perhaps ashamed of that most of all. He should spare a thought for Mr Sterling, victim of trespass and imposition, someone who's very private moment had been interrupted with brazen abandon. Mr Sterling's anger was not for nothing; he'd been so kind before, after all. Even a golden retriever will snap when threatened.
Alarmed, Bragi watched as a steely figure emerged from the shadows, confirming with his masculine presence what the Dane had known all along. There was no Mrs Sterling here. There was no Mrs anything. Bragi's instinct was to freeze, afraid that the second man would be more ruthless still. But the reality was to the contrary. The bearded stranger tried to calm Mr Sterling — and called him "Ben".
It was that, more than anything, that gave Bragi some semblance of hope.
And it worked on Mr Sterling like a reassuring hand to a bristling dog. Bragi was wide-eyed, respectfully silent and watchful — but he couldn't take the sorcerer's hand. "Oh, I'm- I'm covered in..." he meekly showed his hands, badly grazed from the fall, and also covered in dust and bits of straw.
Just then, Galahad the horse finally made a gesture of recognition to his erstwhile owner, and leaned down to snuffle disrespectfully at Mr Sterling's hair. "Oh! Galahad! Don't..." Bragi took Galahad's reins, using them to pull himself shakily to his feet. It might have been an amusing moment in any other context, but Bragi was aware that the sudden events of tonight were more dire than was being spoken.
He chewed his lower lip nervously, then said; "I am truly sorry for everything, sir. Sir", he added with a timid glance towards the other man. "I will be p-perfectly behaved henceforth. That is, I promise I... I shan't come to your property again."
It was almost as if he were missing the crux of the problem.
![[Image: bragi-sig.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/FDwcFHf/bragi-sig.jpg)
Me, me, me, me. Bragi was perhaps ashamed of that most of all. He should spare a thought for Mr Sterling, victim of trespass and imposition, someone who's very private moment had been interrupted with brazen abandon. Mr Sterling's anger was not for nothing; he'd been so kind before, after all. Even a golden retriever will snap when threatened.
Alarmed, Bragi watched as a steely figure emerged from the shadows, confirming with his masculine presence what the Dane had known all along. There was no Mrs Sterling here. There was no Mrs anything. Bragi's instinct was to freeze, afraid that the second man would be more ruthless still. But the reality was to the contrary. The bearded stranger tried to calm Mr Sterling — and called him "Ben".
It was that, more than anything, that gave Bragi some semblance of hope.
And it worked on Mr Sterling like a reassuring hand to a bristling dog. Bragi was wide-eyed, respectfully silent and watchful — but he couldn't take the sorcerer's hand. "Oh, I'm- I'm covered in..." he meekly showed his hands, badly grazed from the fall, and also covered in dust and bits of straw.
Just then, Galahad the horse finally made a gesture of recognition to his erstwhile owner, and leaned down to snuffle disrespectfully at Mr Sterling's hair. "Oh! Galahad! Don't..." Bragi took Galahad's reins, using them to pull himself shakily to his feet. It might have been an amusing moment in any other context, but Bragi was aware that the sudden events of tonight were more dire than was being spoken.
He chewed his lower lip nervously, then said; "I am truly sorry for everything, sir. Sir", he added with a timid glance towards the other man. "I will be p-perfectly behaved henceforth. That is, I promise I... I shan't come to your property again."
It was almost as if he were missing the crux of the problem.