Magnus was to start the next morning by moving in and touring the house.

The house was four levels, with the ground floor being taller than the rest to account for the impressive ceilings and stone arches.

The basement served as the kitchen and common room for the servants. The ground floor was the entertaining area, always to be kept presentable by a team of parlor maids, and had an elaborate grand staircase to the second floor, which was just hallway after hallway of bedrooms. The final floor was servant quarters. Magnus had his own room, much to his relief.

He owned very little and what he did have was being kept in a little room above a tavern in town.

He was completely settled in by lunch time, which he spent watching the kitchen staff and footman flurrying around in panic. If this was lunch, what would dinner be like? He leaned against the wall, in a full valet's uniform, a black coat over a grey vest and white dress shirt, one foot propped up against the wall.

A lady's maid was floating around in the servants' dining room and Magnus figured she seemed more interesting than post-lunch clean up in the kitchen. He sat in the seat across from her.

She looked up from her sewing, strands of untamed blonde hair, cluttering her face.

"You must be the new valet," she said, setting it aside.

"That I am," Magnus said.

"You're a smug one," she said, with only mild contempt.

"On a good day," Magnus smiled.

"My name is Catarina."

"Magnus."

"I work for Lady Maryse."

"I'm not quite sure who I'm working for as no one's really told me," Magnus said.

"Master Alexander," Catarina said.

"And he is--"

"I don't gossip," Catarina said. "It's what separates me from everyone else."

"What's life downstairs without gossip?" Magnus pressed.

"Why don't you entertain me with something other than your horrible bantering," Catarina said, frowning. She picked up her sewing.

"Do you like jokes?"

"Not particularly."

"Riddles?"

"Depends on the riddle," Catarina said.

"Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it you die. What is it?" Magnus asked.

"Nothing," Catarina said. "My father taught me that years ago. Try harder."

"If I have it, I don't share it. If I share it, I don't have it. What is it?"

She opened her mouth to speak but a little bell on an entire wall of them rang.

"I don't know yet," she said, rising. "But I will figure it out."

"I can not wait!" Magnus called after her.

"Mr. Bane," Mr. Davies said, entering through the door Catarina had just left through. "Shall we go meet Mr. Alexander?"

Magnus smiled, rising.

.......

Two boys were lounging under a tree, one with jet black hair, arranged in no particular fashion, and a blond with an equally messy head. The one with the black hair was peeling an apple with a knife while the blond gestured up at the sky.

As Magnus and Mr. Davies approached, the apple boy went silent. The golden blond took awhile to notice their presence.

"Good afternoon," the blond said, speaking ahead. "What can we do you for, Mr. Davies?"

"I am here to introduce, Master Alexander's new valet, Mr. Bane," Mr. Davies said. Magnus gave a little bow.

"Ahh, yes, well, I am so pleased to meet you and just thrilled to take you on as my valet," the blond said. Magnus was confused. The blond looked nothing like Mr. Lightwood. He would have guessed the boy tossing apple peels off his lap to be Alexander.

"Don't confuse him," the black-haired boy snapped, setting everyone straight. "I'm Alexander Lightwood," he said, shielding his eyes from the sun as examined Magnus. "At least he looks young."

"He's more than capable of the job," Mr. Davies said. Magnus nodded.

"And when do I get a valet?" the blond demanded.

"You can have this one," Alexander said, jumping up to his feet. He dusted off the front and back of his pants. "I don't want a valet. I don't need a valet. And I certainly don't want him."

He took a pointed bite of his apple and walked away, leaving them with the other boy.

"He'll grow on you," he assured Magnus. "Like a mushroom or disease."

He cracked a crazed smile and began running after Alexander.

"That would be Jace Wayland, Mr. Lightwood's ward."

Magnus watched him go with disdain for them both.

..........

Magnus knocked at the door to Alexander's room.

There was no response so Magnus carefully twisted the brass knob, entering the room. The light was dim in the room, lit only by the fireplace. The room was larger than his old master's had been, really showing Magnus the grandeur and scale of the Lightwood's wealth. The center of the room was a four-poster bed, curtains pulled back and bed made, though probably not by Alexander. Alexander sat at a desk in the corner of the room, writing something furiously.

"Sir?"

Alexander turned around, his face dropping as soon as he saw Magnus.

"The dinner gong rang ten minutes ago," Magnus said.

"Then you should have been here ten minutes ago, in theory," Alexander stated. Magnus tried to keep a straight face. "But I thought I made it clear-- I do not want a valet."

"I am being paid to be a valet," Magnus said.

"And now you're going to be paid to do nothing," Alexander said, turning back around. He resumed writing. Magnus crossed his arms.

"With or without my help, you still need to get ready for dinner, sir," Magnus said.

Alexander stood up, pushing the chair back violently.

"Let me make this very clear, Mr. Bane. You will not dress me, you will not keep my schedule, you will not follow me around like a lost puppy. For appearances' sake, you will stay in this very room when I get ready in the next room. You will clean my clothes and shine my shoes like any common servant but I will not have you watching over me like I am a child," Alexander seethed. "Do you understand?"

Magnus stared at him in awe.

There was no one else like Alexander Lightwood, of that Magnus was sure.

"I understand."

Magnus pushed the food around on his plate, idly. He was waiting for the moment he could flee to his room.

Something about doing nothing was exhausting.

"Secret."

Magnus looked at Catarina, who had sat herself down next to him after dinner.

"It is a secret, correct?"

"I'm sorry--?"

"The riddle. 'If I have it, I don't share it. If I share it, I don't have it. What is it?'" she said.

"Ah, yes," Magnus said, smiling.

"So it's my turn. What is a room no man can enter?" Catarina asked.

Magnus rattled off lists of rooms in his head, yet all of them were enterable.

"Give me time," Magnus said, nodding.

"How was Mister Alexander?" Catarina asked.

"Horrible," Magnus muttered under his breath. "He doesn't want me there."

"Ah," Catarina nodded.

"I certainly hope you aren't gossiping at the end of the table, Mr. Bane," Mr. Davies spoke up. Heads turned to Magnus and Catarina. "How was your first day in the house?"

"Fine. Thank you for asking," Magnus said, smiling.

"I trust Mister Alexander wasn't too much trouble?"

"Oh, no," Magnus said, settling back in his chair. "He was just a delight."

There were quiet snickers up and down the table.

Mr. Davies stood up, and everyone followed in suit, as if he were the judge and the rest were the court.

"Mr. Bane, follow me please."

Magnus stepped away from his chair, following the butler out of the dining hall.

"I sense Mister Alexander wasn't pleased to see you," Mr. Davies said as they walked down the halls to his private office.

"No," Magnus said. "He doesn't want me and in all honesty, I have no interest in working for someone who doesn't want me."

"Need I remind you, you signed a two-year contract," Mr. Davies noted as he unlocked his office. Magnus vaguely remembered signing his life away to the Lightwood family. "I'll speak to Mr. Lightwood."

"Alright," Magnus said. They stepped inside, Mr. Davies shutting the door behind Magnus.

"It's not in my place to speak about the residents of this house behind their backs. But Mister Alexander has proven to be stubborn, time and time again, which is why I feel less guilty in telling you that while I will speak to Mister Lightwood, I cannot guarantee that Alexander will improve his behavior. I understand it will be frustrating but I beg that you stay on. Searching for replacements is exhausting, especially those who are as young and hopefully resilient as you."

Magnus contemplated it all for a moment.

"I want a pay raise."