"I said get to the boat!"

"Put it down, Irving."

The man shook his head and said "You and I both know this ship will sink if he stays aboard."

Johnathan looked up at his father and saw the sorrow enter the man's eyes. His grip tightened on his shoulder and he looked back at his uncle. The man cocked the trigger and aimed the gun at him. Two guns fired and his ears ringed

Waking to the gun shots, his eyes flew open and he sat up in bed. His pulse was racing and he ran his hands through his hair. Taking a deep breath, he looked at his drawn curtains and found the first rays of sunlight trying to come through. Quietly he slid from his bed and crossed the room. He pulled the curtains back and let the sun warm his face.

He took another deep breath and pushed the old memories from his mind. Slowly he pulled away from the window and made his way to his wardrobe. He found an old shirt of his father's and slid it on. Grabbing his boots from the end of his bed, he slid them on and left the room. Silently he walked through the quiet wing and stopped at the stairwell.

His eyes moved down toward the West Wing and he shook his head. Quietly he made his way into the old part of the castle and stopped outside the occupied room. He didn't hear a sound and tested the handle. Pushing the door open, he cracked it enough to see inside and found the place still dark. Stepping into the room, he glanced at the bed and found it made up with no sign of that blonde woman ever using it.

His frown deepened and he left the room. Retracing his steps back to the stairs, he descended them without a sound and walked to the kitchen. He heard Oric working on breakfast and stepped into the room. The cook had his back to him and was chopping away.

"If you're hunting down Eve, she is either still down at the beach or out wandering the grounds."

He leaned against the counter and asked "What makes you think I am?"

The man chuckled and said "I know you, Johnathan. Even after ten years that ingrained curiosity is still there."

Oric slowly looked back at him and he found the old man smiling.

"What?"

"I just find it interesting that our guest seems to have similar patterns to you."

His frown flashed again and the man shook his head with a smirk. Silently he walked out the back door and began the walk down to the beach. The sun was still rising and the morning was a little cold. The waves called to him and he wandered further down the beach. Everywhere he looked the place was empty and he let out a sigh.

Raking a hand through his hair, he took a seat in the sand. Letting the sun rest on his face, he took in the morning air and felt the tension slip away. He could hear the morning calls from the birds and the first wave of cooking food drifted to him. He found a smooth limestone resting by his boot and he picked it up. Rubbing it between his fingers, he stood up and looked back at the sea.

Swiftly he tossed the rock out onto the water and watched it skip a few times before disappearing. Silently he closed his eyes and took one last breath of freedom. He looked back at the glowing sea and turned back toward the castle. As he drew close to the kitchen he could hear Oric laughing again and stopped. That man has been laughing since their visitor arrived and it felt so weird to hear it so often.

The old man would always chuckle at some smart remark he made but he never laughed so freely. He couldn't remember the last time the kitchen had been filled with that deep laugh. That was a lie and he knew it. Ten years ago he'd always hear the laugh that would make him smile in return. Now he was hearing it again and it left him uneasy.

"What will happen when Eve leaves? Will the place grow quiet again? How long is that woman even going to be here?"

Pushing the thoughts aside for now, he opened the kitchen door and found the two souls working side by side on something. He found the woman dressed in the same clothes that she was found with but they looked different on her. Normally women didn't walk around in pants and boots, but it seemed natural on her. Her hair was pulled back and her boots were still shined.

"Return to fill your stomach Lad?"

His eyes narrowed at the name and he shot the cook a look. The man chuckled and handed him a plate. Quietly he took a seat at the counter and Oric handed him the small glass of juice he had every morning. He felt the blue eyes on him but ignored them as he started eating.

"He doesn't socialize in the morning at all."

She smirked at the taunt and asked "Does he period?"

Oric let out another laugh and said "You're a feisty one that's for sure."

She laughed with him and Johnathan forced the food down his throat. He couldn't stomach the woman's approach at all. She was kind to everyone she spoke to but was up front with him. He hated those kinds of people more than any other. If someone couldn't say the truth, then they should just keep their mouths shut.

"Done brooding yet?"

He looked back at Oric and the man smirked. Rolling his eyes, he finished his food and emptied his glass. The cook took his dishes without a word and he walked to the door.

"I need to run to the valley and I was hoping to take Eve along as extra hands. Would you like to show her around?"

His hand stopped on the door and he took a deep breath. That was the worst idea he'd heard in a long time but he knew it wasn't a question.

"Fine."

Oric shot Eve a triumphant look and asked "Are you taking Solomon or the wagon today?"

His scowl deepened as he continued facing the door and Oric winked down at the blonde woman. He knew he was pushing his luck with the man but he also knew Johnathan would see this as part of his responsibilities, which was true.

Silently the man looked back at them with a passive look on his face and asked "Can you ride?"

She studied the guarded look and knew this was not the best way to earn his confidence. She just didn't know how to get close enough to help him without using everyone he knows against him.

"I'm a quick study."

His eyes narrowed briefly and she watched him leave the room. As she watched the door shut, she noticed his footsteps were silent and glanced back at Oric.

"Maybe that was a little too much of a push too early."

She caught his big arm in comfort and said "I think you did the right thing."

The man nodded slowly and began putting the food away. They cleaned up the kitchen and Oric looked back at her.

"Have you seen the stable yet?"

She put a towel away and said "I haven't had the pleasure."

He smirked and said "I'll lead you down there while our guide gets ready. He'll have other items to attend to while we're in town."

She nodded without a sound and followed the cook out of the room. They walked through the quiet hall and Leon met them at the door.

The butler smiled and asked "Off to the valley again?"

Oric nodded and said "Giving this lady a tour while we're there."

"Is the Lord joining your company?"

"Took a little pushing but he did sign on for the job."

Leon chuckled and turned to Eve. He winked at her and she caught the message. Oric led her outside and down the old gravel path. They left the circle drive and passed through a gate of bronze. Lions rested on each side of them and she could almost sense their presence.

Quietly they walked along the gravel path and she found old gardens off in different directions.

"No one really spends any time outdoors these days besides the Lord himself."

"He likes his privacy."

The man nodded and said "I'm afraid he feels caged when he has to attend to his duties."

She held back the sigh of understanding and saw a giant stable come into view. They walked silently up to the door and the young stable boy ran out to meet them. He smiled at Oric but his eyes lingered on Eve.

"You the visitor?"

She smiled and said "I am."

He flashed a charming smile and said "My name is William. I'm the best stable boy you'll find in all the region."

"William..."

Oric caught the boy's shoulder and asked "Do you have some horses we can use?"

The boy smiled and said "Old Tempest is ready for you."

Slowly William looked back at Even and asked "Have you ridden before?"

"Not in a long time."

He smiled and said "Well, good luck to you. Most of these beasts are so temperamental it takes a while to find one that will allow you near them."

"Well show me what you have."

He smiled again and caught her hand. The small grip was hard from his few years as the stable boy but she found it just as comforting as her own brother's. Oric led them into the stable and stopped at Tempest's stall. The bay mare came up to him and he rubbed her face.

Quietly Eve ran her eyes over the stock of animals and spotted a black mare watching her. The eyes were dark brown and she seemed to be daring her.

"Who's that lovely mare at the end?"

William looked down at the horse and sighed "That's Carina."

"She's lovely."

He shook his head and said "Don't let that good proportion fool you. She's got the devil in her."

She laughed and left William's side. He tried to call her back but she slowly approached the stall. Carina held her gaze and kicked her front leg. Coming to a stop in front of the stall, she looked into the deep brown eyes and saw what was really lying there.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

Carina twitched one black ear and snorted. Slowly she lowered her magnificent head to Eve's level.

She lifted her hand to the soft nose and whispered "SHUUNKAâ WAKANâ HO."

Carina's ears lifted and she slowly pressed her soft nose into the extended hand. Slowly the mare lowered her head and Eve ran her fingers along her face, rubbing her fingers over a small white patch between the two brown eyes.

"I don't believe it. How'd you do that, Eve?"

She looked over her shoulder and found the two watching her in complete amazement. She smiled and looked at William.

"Does she have any tack I can use?"

He hurried over to the tack wall and brought her a saddle and bridle. Carina studied the items and she slowly opened the stall. The mare sidestepped as she entered the small box and approached her.

"Easy girl."

Slowly the mare focused on her face and not on the saddle she slid onto her black back. She began a soft hum that her mother use to sing to her when she was little. Carina's eyes followed her movements and she met the questioning gaze. She lifted the bridle over the mare's face and gently tightened it. Catching the bridle, she led Carina from her stall and walked her past the two watchers.

William helped Oric get Tempest ready and they joined her outside. She stood rubbing Carina's neck and looked back at them.

Oric smirked and said "You'll have to show me how you did that."

He swung himself up into the saddle and William approached her.

"Do you need a lift up?"

She smiled and said "I think I can manage."

He nodded and she pulled herself up into the saddle. Carina moved underneath her and she patted the mare's neck. Oric brought Tempest up beside them and she met his gaze.

"Want to break her in before we go?"

She smiled and said "We're fine."

He laughed and they watched William disappear into the stable. He reappeared minutes later leading out Solomon. The stallion snorted as he came to a stop and his ears flicked up. Eve watched him gaze down the path and saw the Lord approaching. He had on a black shirt with dark tan pants tucked inside his black boots.

Silently their eyes met and she saw the brief frown tug at his mouth. Keeping her annoyance inward, she watched him approach Solomon and run his hand over the stallion's face.

"Has he been fed today?"

William smiled broadly and puffed out his chest. She fought hard to keep the laugh inside but earned a stern glance from the man.

"Good job."

The boy's smile widened with glee and she watched the man quietly swing himself up into the saddle. Every movement by him was silent and she felt his eyes settle back on her. He didn't know how she managed to get on that mare but he wasn't going to stop her from breaking her neck.

"You sure you want to come?"

She flashed him a look of her own and he glanced down at William.

"Make sure his stall is ready for him and then go home."

William bowed and said "Thank you, my Lord."

Silently the man dug his knees into Solomon's sides and the stallion trotted down the path. He glanced back at the two stragglers as they put distance between them and the castle and found them caught up in conversation. He checked her balance and found it perfect for a beginner. His eyes narrowed and he looked toward the valley. If riding an uncontrollable mare spoke anything of her, he knew she was going to be more trouble than the entire situation surrounding his cousin.