Faith hadn't asked why he wanted to do a quick detour; he'd tell her if he wanted to and it might be that he wasn't quite sure but was just preparing for emergencies or contingencies. Either way, she was content to give up the time, as long as they were quick. If he came back out with... but no, he came out with some wax and oil. It was esoteric enough that it was typically him, of course and so Faith just smiled and walked with him, the speed of her step telling the urgency she felt to get there.
Which, of course, they did. Right on time, it seemed. The man seemed agitated and worked up and Faith gave a slight jump of surprise when Padraig slipped an arm around her waist. Now didn't really seem to be the time to snuggle, she thought to herself but she said nothing, just letting him speak. It might have been better had he given false names, though, rather than their real actual ones. That would have been good to discuss, but still it might be worth to mention in case they... but Faith's train of thought stopped dead as she turned to look at Padraig with a slight raise of her eyebrow. Honeymooning? What was he doing? Oh, he was buying a horse for his new bride? Faith kept her gaze on Padraig for a moment and met his look eye to eye. Thankfully, she had been owned by Tristan Venora for a half-arc or more and he was rather prone to sudden, wild stories. He'd never pretended to be married, though. Still, she smiled at him as adoringly as she could muster in the moment.
She had to give it to Padraig, when he put his mind to it, he could talk. He talked the man down, explaining how Faith's heart was set on a horse. She turned to look at the man, Bill and nodded her head, agreeing with her new husband, of course. Why he was doing this was obvious, it was keeping the man talking but then, rather than go around to where the actual horses were, they made their way into the house. This didn't feel entirely like a good idea and Faith glanced up at Padraig as he ushered her in. One look at him, though, and she was reassured. He had a plan, it was fine. So, in through the gate and then in to the house.
It didn't take long. It was never going, to, really, Bill was at the point where he had to act. The woman here, she was the same as the others, all the others, she was the same as her and, as had happened four times before now, to Bill's mind and eyes, he stopped seeing Faith as the person she was and before him stood Catherine. But Catherine had brought another man home? Another man into his house and Bill knew that this could not be allowed, it could not continue. He had to do more than usual, at this point. He had to show them both whose house it was, who was in charge here. Yes, it was all clear to him and his mother, who was of course with him, approved. How dare that whore bring another man into his home? Bill was filled with fury and so was Mother.
Faith stepped into the house and was no more than three or four steps ahead of him as Padraig closed the door but it was enough, it would have to be enough for the man, after all. So Bill moved as Padraig was turning from shutting the door.
By the Immortals, the man was fast. Faster than either of them, than both of them.
He grabbed hold of Faith, who was half turned away from Bill anyhow, looking at Padraig as he closed the door. One hand closed, easily, around her throat and the size of his hand in comparison to her neck showed how big his hands were. Faith was a tiny person at the best of times and as his hand closed, it dwarfed her neck completely. His other hand wrapped around her front, pinning her arms to her side and pulling her close against him at a speed which must be surprising to them both. As he did that, as she realised that she couldn't have fought him, Faith realised that they had forgotten that small detail. He was skilled, not a novice at this. She might be able to take him in an unarmed fight, she thought with a calm detachment, but he was a lot stronger than her. The muscles which tensed in his arms were well defined and showed the arcs of training he had undergone ~ all the arcs since Catherine left him, in fact.
"One move and I'll snap her neck." Bill's voice was low and deep, different than it had sounded even just outside. He sounded like someone else because he was. When he was like this, he was the boy that Mother was proud of. "Undo the sword, drop it there. I won't hesitate, she knows. Tell him, Catherine."
Faith's eyes were fixed on Padraig, watching and waiting to see what he did. She was afraid and it showed, but her fear was as much for Padraig or even more so. She pushed it away, there was no place for fear here it did no good. "Do what he says. It's fine." The guard were coming, they both knew it. He liked to kill people slowly, they knew that, too. She just relaxed in his arms, breathing deeply as he pulled her as close as he could against him.
If Padraig complied, then Bill had to get them both restrained and he knew it. He couldn't think of how, in truth, but Mother would tell him what to do next, he was sure.
She always did.
Which, of course, they did. Right on time, it seemed. The man seemed agitated and worked up and Faith gave a slight jump of surprise when Padraig slipped an arm around her waist. Now didn't really seem to be the time to snuggle, she thought to herself but she said nothing, just letting him speak. It might have been better had he given false names, though, rather than their real actual ones. That would have been good to discuss, but still it might be worth to mention in case they... but Faith's train of thought stopped dead as she turned to look at Padraig with a slight raise of her eyebrow. Honeymooning? What was he doing? Oh, he was buying a horse for his new bride? Faith kept her gaze on Padraig for a moment and met his look eye to eye. Thankfully, she had been owned by Tristan Venora for a half-arc or more and he was rather prone to sudden, wild stories. He'd never pretended to be married, though. Still, she smiled at him as adoringly as she could muster in the moment.
She had to give it to Padraig, when he put his mind to it, he could talk. He talked the man down, explaining how Faith's heart was set on a horse. She turned to look at the man, Bill and nodded her head, agreeing with her new husband, of course. Why he was doing this was obvious, it was keeping the man talking but then, rather than go around to where the actual horses were, they made their way into the house. This didn't feel entirely like a good idea and Faith glanced up at Padraig as he ushered her in. One look at him, though, and she was reassured. He had a plan, it was fine. So, in through the gate and then in to the house.
It didn't take long. It was never going, to, really, Bill was at the point where he had to act. The woman here, she was the same as the others, all the others, she was the same as her and, as had happened four times before now, to Bill's mind and eyes, he stopped seeing Faith as the person she was and before him stood Catherine. But Catherine had brought another man home? Another man into his house and Bill knew that this could not be allowed, it could not continue. He had to do more than usual, at this point. He had to show them both whose house it was, who was in charge here. Yes, it was all clear to him and his mother, who was of course with him, approved. How dare that whore bring another man into his home? Bill was filled with fury and so was Mother.
Faith stepped into the house and was no more than three or four steps ahead of him as Padraig closed the door but it was enough, it would have to be enough for the man, after all. So Bill moved as Padraig was turning from shutting the door.
By the Immortals, the man was fast. Faster than either of them, than both of them.
He grabbed hold of Faith, who was half turned away from Bill anyhow, looking at Padraig as he closed the door. One hand closed, easily, around her throat and the size of his hand in comparison to her neck showed how big his hands were. Faith was a tiny person at the best of times and as his hand closed, it dwarfed her neck completely. His other hand wrapped around her front, pinning her arms to her side and pulling her close against him at a speed which must be surprising to them both. As he did that, as she realised that she couldn't have fought him, Faith realised that they had forgotten that small detail. He was skilled, not a novice at this. She might be able to take him in an unarmed fight, she thought with a calm detachment, but he was a lot stronger than her. The muscles which tensed in his arms were well defined and showed the arcs of training he had undergone ~ all the arcs since Catherine left him, in fact.
"One move and I'll snap her neck." Bill's voice was low and deep, different than it had sounded even just outside. He sounded like someone else because he was. When he was like this, he was the boy that Mother was proud of. "Undo the sword, drop it there. I won't hesitate, she knows. Tell him, Catherine."
Faith's eyes were fixed on Padraig, watching and waiting to see what he did. She was afraid and it showed, but her fear was as much for Padraig or even more so. She pushed it away, there was no place for fear here it did no good. "Do what he says. It's fine." The guard were coming, they both knew it. He liked to kill people slowly, they knew that, too. She just relaxed in his arms, breathing deeply as he pulled her as close as he could against him.
If Padraig complied, then Bill had to get them both restrained and he knew it. He couldn't think of how, in truth, but Mother would tell him what to do next, he was sure.
She always did.
)