Entering the town, she swung off Carina and dropped to the ground. One of the gate guards nodded and she grabbed her saddle packs.

"Need any help?"

She shook her head with a smirk and pulled out the list. Glancing over the contents, she made her way to the food quarter and started buying the required items. As the bags grew heavy, she felt the storm cooling off the air temperature. Glancing up at the sky, she watched it grow gray and finished her shopping. She walked back to the gate and secured the saddle packs on Carina.

The mare shifted uneasy and she stroked Carina's face.

"We're leaving."

She rubbed the black ear and heard some loud voices. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw three burly looking men step out of the tavern and head toward the pier. One guy stopped at an alley and a twisted smile captured his face. He yanked a boy out from hiding and her eyes narrowed.

"Best get going Miss. The storm is ready to break loose."

She glanced back at the guard and spotted a man walking toward them. Quietly she pulled the man aside and he looked up at her a bit surprised.

"Can I help you?"

"I need you to take these packs back to Oric."

The man looked up at Carina and shuddered. She fixed him with a stern blue gaze and the man slowly nodded.

"If she throws me it will be you who pays my hospital bills."

"She won't."

Eve helped the man into the saddle and looked Carina in the eye.

"Get him there safely and quick."

The mare snorted and she patted the black neck. Carina took off and she waited for the two to disappear up the hill. Frowning, she spun on her heel and felt the cold hand catch her elbow.

"I wouldn't get involved with them, Miss."

"That boy needs help."

The man shook his head and said "No one messes with those men except for the Lord himself. They're hard men."

She jerked her arm free and said "I'll be fine."

Quietly she toward the pier and heard the men laughing.

"Let me go!"

"Not until we've got what you took from us, Boy."

She stood among a crowd growing around the show and watched the man shake the boy upside down. He tried prying his leg free but was knocked upside the head. Her hand curled into a fist and she heard a low rumble spread through the clouds.

"I don't have anything!"

"This boy is good but not good enough."

One guy leaned closer to him and asked "How about a swim to clear that dusty head of yours?"

"No!"

Eve glanced to the side and found the little red head girl approaching. The last man knocked her to the ground and she pushed her way to the front of the crowd.

"Put him down."

The captive looked at her and asked "What's this?"

The boy squirmed as the man swung him out over the ocean and threatened to drop him.

"Stay out of this lady."

Her blue eyes narrowed and the man saw the spark of lightning. He chuckled and tossed the boy into the raging ocean. The scream didn't last long before he was pulled under and she heard the girl screaming.

"Help!"

Her fist tightened and one guy picked up the girl. She cried in his hold and the sound grated in Eve's ears.

"These two are just common thieves. We're teaching them a lesson."

She knocked the man's hand off the child and the girl fell into her arms. Stepping back, she lowered the child to her feet and knelt down.

"Get the doctor and meet me down at the beach."

She nodded and hurried into the crowd. The men stared at her with scowls and she watched them circle around her. Hooves echoed in the air and she saw Carina racing straight at them. The mare scattered the crowd but was pulled down by Solomon's rider. She ignored the man's presence and ran to the pier rail.

Jumping on top, she dove into the water and felt the ocean rejoice in her return. Music filled her ears but she focused on locating the boy. She found him slowly sinking and wrapped her arms around his waist. Kicking her way back to the surface, she broke free beneath the pier and held her hand to his mouth. She could hear a faint heart beat and placed one hand on his chest.

Power spread from her into the boy and he gasped. She covered his mouth again and swam along the supports to the beach. Fighting the tossing waves, she waded onto the soaked beach and held the boy in her arms. He opened his eyes long enough to meet her blue gaze and drifted back into sleep. Her legs shook beneath her and the rain drops started to fall.

"Princess!"

Looking up, she saw the young girl running for her with the doctor not far behind. The man caught his knees when they were reached and caught his breath.

"Very brave thing you did for him."

She handed the boy over to the doctor and asked "Can you keep him over night?"

The man wrapped the boy in a blanket and shook his head.

"There is no room in my place and the orphanage is so run down it would kill him. He needs somewhere warm and dry."

The girl caught her hand and she looked down at her.

"Please save Trevor."

She nodded slowly and ran her hand through the wet red hair.

"Bring him to the castle."

Looking up at the dark voice, she met the dark brown gaze and felt relief sweep through her. Carina stood silently beside Solomon and she took a deep breath. The doctor looked up at the man and nodded.

"You'll have to hurry if you want to keep this one from pneumonia."

He nodded and Eve picked up the sister. She handed her to the man and he took the girl without a word. Silently she swung herself up into the saddle and the doctor approached her.

"Ride fast."

She took Trever's cold body in her arms and wrapped the reins around her hand. Carina looked back at her and she nodded. The mare twitched her ears and they took off. They raced through the town and felt the storm cut loose. Rain poured down on them and she held Trevor closer to her.

The racing hooves drowned out the thunder above and she glanced at her riding partner. She found him holding the child in his saddle close enough to keep the worst of the weather off her. Carina climbed to the top of the valley and raced through the hillside. They reached the gravel path and the hooves clattered in the night. She pulled Carina to a stop in the courtyard and watched the doors open.

Leon and Abigail raced outside as she slid to the ground. The butler took the boy and hurried back inside.

Abigail took the girl from Johnathan and asked "What happened?"

He guided her to the doors and said "See to the boy. We will explain later."

Eve watched the woman disappear inside with the girl and walked Carina back to the stable. The mare tossed the water from her soaked head when they reached the warm shelter. William hopped off his perch and met her at the stall door. He opened it and she walked Carina inside her stall. The mare stood shivering and soaked.

"I'll get you some blankets to dry her off."

She unfastened the bridle and hung it on the door. Quietly she removed the saddle and left it with the bridle. Carina nudged her wet face and she found herself shivering as well. She ignored it and began rubbing the mare's wet body down. William returned with blankets and she took them.

"Help dry Solomon when he arrives."

The boy took off down the aisle once more and she threw the blankets over the mare. Silently she rubbed the water off the coat and warmed the large horse. She saw Solomon enter the stable and his rider lead him into his stall. The stallion was almost as soaked as Carina and herself. Carina nudged her face and she looked back at her.

"Thank you."

The mare snorted and she ran her fingers over the soft nose. She gathered the wet tack and left the stall. Returning to William, she found him waiting with clean towels and handed over the load. He quickly rubbed the leather dry and hung it up.

"Where is Tanner?"

"He's inside. Oric collected him just before the storm cut loose."

"Thank goodness."

Taking a deep breath, she looked outside and found the rain pouring in sheets. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to step outside and head back to the castle.