Winston twittered and acted flustered before storming off, presumably to tell Alissa's mother.

"Now you're in for trouble," Randy remarked, still smiling.

"It's worth it, did you see him flapping about?" Alissa waved her arms in an imitation of Winston's flailing. "Besides, maybe if he thinks I'm a harlot he won't want me,"

"One can always hope," Randy replied.

"Maybe I should do something scandalous in front of him..." she mused.

Randy raised an eyebrow at her. "We don't want you being sent away again, now, do we?"

Alissa sighed, "No, you're right.....best not to upset him too much," she agreed.

"If anything too terrible were to happen, I could always... try to persuade him to keep quiet," Randy offered.

"Let's wait for an emergency before we go and do that," said Alissa, giving his arm a pat.

Randy grinned. "I suppose we should try to avoid unnecessary risks for both our sakes."

She pulled him down for a kiss, "In the meantime we'll just have to sneak around I suppose,"

"That is perfectly alright with me," Randy replied. "I've no objections to a little sneaking when necessary."

Alissa giggled, "Good, because I think tonight might be a nice night for some sneaking,"

"I look forward to it," said Randy. What could be better for washing away the foul stench of a Winston's intrusion, after all?

"I'll see you tonight!...After I go and talk to the new Stable hand mother hired, she said he's terrifying but he makes a good horse shoe, do you want to come with me?" asked Alissa.

"Alright," Randy agreed, wondering what could possibly be so terrifying about this person...

Alissa opened the door to the stables, "Mr. Blackwellder?" she called.

"'Lo," a gruff voice called back just before its owner stepped out to greet Alissa and Randy. He was nearly Randy's size and shape, square-jawed and thick with muscle. Unlike Randy, though, he was rough and hairy and so strangely pale that he actually appeared to be grey. The oddities didn't end there, however, as his shaggy blond mane hung down his back and sprang up in all directions like a haystack and his amber-colored eyes seemed to reflect almost like a cat's in the dim light. Dark marks lined the bottoms of those eyes, as well as his upper lip. He offered a friendly grin, exposing large teeth with pointed top and bottom canines. Randy knew immediately what he was, and it didn't take him long to recognize Randy's kind, either.

Alissa gave a small shiver as she took in the strangers appearance, he was like no man she'd ever seen before, but in spite of being a little afraid she squared her shoulders and held out her hand for him, "I am Alissa Summerville, it's a pleasure to meet you, sir,"

He gave her hand a shake. "Likewise," he replied. "You c'n call me Cha'les." He turned his eye to Randy. "I b'lieve I know you already!"
Randy grinned. "So you do. I am glad to see you well."

"Oh you've met?" Alissa peered at them, now that she looked Charles and Randy has some similarities, almost like Randy and Gilbert...that odd sameness that seemed to imply they had a similar origin. "Are you two...by any chance related? There's something I can't put my finger on. You two have a...sameness."

"Perhaps distantly so," Randy replied, "but no more than that. We met some years ago, both bound for the same destination."

Alissa was immediately curious, "Where did you come from?" she asked.

"I was taken in by a lovely couple 'round Dartford," said Charles.
"I was born on a ship, myself," said Randy, neither response offering a clear origin.

Alissa squinted at them, "That's not a real answer," she grumbled but she didn't pursue the question further.

"I'm sorry, Miss; 'fraid it's the best one I c'n give yer," said Charles. "I were an orphan, can't quite recall 'oo done birfed me after all these years!"
Randy nodded. "And I have spent most of my life in travel."

Alissa frowned but nodded, "I suppose it will have to do, Mr. Charles, it's going to be quite cold out tonight, if you have nowhere to sleep there's an empty bed in the servant's quarters you can use," she said kindly, no matter how large and...troll-like... the man was, there was no reason to spare him the same kindness she showed the other servants.

"I greatly 'ppreciate it, Miss," Charles replied with a broad grin.

She offered him a genuine smile of her own, he wasn't so bad...different...but not bad.

"I s'pose I'd best be gettin' back t' work, then." Charles gave Randy and Alissa a nod. "Lovely meetin' you, Miss Summerville--an' seein' you again, Randy. We'll 'ave plenty of things to talk about later if we're given the chance!"
"I am sure that we will," Randy replied with a soft smile.

"He seems nice," said Alissa briskly as she took Randy's arm.

"I do not know him well, but I believe he is rather friendly," said Randy.

"Well if he's anything like you I'll like him just fine," said Alissa.

"I do look forward to speaking with him again," Randy mused. "I am quite curious as to how he's been faring since we first met."

"Well he'll probably be here for several years, you can talk to him anytime," said Alissa.

"That would be perfect," Randy assessed. It was apparent that the blorknog had found a way to coexist successfully with the humans, and he was eager to receive Charles's reports on the matter. He certainly had grown considerably since their first encounter, but that was to be expected. He supposed the same could have been said for himself.

"I hope he doesn't run into Winston...it might inspire him to quit," said Alissa.

"Winston certainly is troublesome... though I doubt Charles could be intimidated by the likes of him." Randy shook his head.

"If anything Winston should be afraid of him, he looks like he could smash him," said Alissa.

Randy chuckled. "With very little effort."