Mistress Ilena looked over her list of things one last time before she called for one of her kitchen pages. "Now here is the list complete and the prices you should expect at Market. Do not talk to anyone you do not have to. Keep your wits about you, and I had better have some coin coming back to me in the end." A sharp nod and stern look all the while she talked. A basket shoved at the young page as they came to the back door. "Now off with you." But Mistress Ilena then spared a smile, "And get yourself a lemondrop while you're about it."

So it was that a young girl, a kitchen page by the look of the basket over her arm and the bits of brown hair that fell free from the kerchief over her hair stepped through the open gates and stopped short at the woman she saw there. "Oh, ye gave me such a start, ma'am. If ye have business and such up 't the manor, you can be going on in. If the guards think ye be a threat, ye willnae be getting far."

Sure enough, the clatter and noise of the soldiers and recruits practing in the yard in front of the barracks to the left of the main manor building could be heard as the day's drills began. The girl walked briskly on to go about her task and the excitement she always felt in going into that strange town.

"Keep that crate steady or we'll have grain all over the yard, ya lubbers," Gaerwyn scowled then looked over his shoulder to the recruits drilling with the soldiers. He strode to lean hands against the barrier to observe, but it was the sight of the approaching guest that caught his sea-sharp eyes. A clench of his stomach, the face he would not forget no matter the lack of light upon seeing it first.

A seaman's gait, strong and rolling like that earth might move beneath him, he walked towards her taking, "What business do you have here?"

His call brought the attention of the other soldiers, now very aware of the stranger and if Captain Caisson greeted the stranger with such brusque manner, then they should take note of danger. Fulcras, the soldier instructing the drilling that morning, sent one recruit to the manor house and the other to the barracks. Gaerwyn. noted the movements, but kept his attention to the woman as he approached and stood but a yard from her.

?Master Corinsson has been sent for, miss.? Fulcras gave a kinder look than she was probably getting from Gaerwyn at this time. ?He should be along in a moment, if you please to wait.?

And so Fulcras had, for the recruit went to hammering upon Ewan?s door rousing him sharply from his sleep, ?Master Corinsson, Master Fulcras has sent for you. A stranger is here.?

Ewan moved quickly to tug on his pants and boots and jerk on a tunic, the leather vest and brigantine could wait. As he strapped on the belt that had his two long swords, he called, ?I am coming.? And he dashed through the harshly opened door past the flustered recruit who hastened to catch up to his strides out of the barracks.

He quickly assessed the field before him: his cousin glowering, the men and women of the practice field tensely watching, and Storm standing there. He hung his head, and pushed the recruit on the shoulder, ?Get back to practice.? He walked more slowly, his rolling gait slowed as he smiled to Storm, though he yelled at the field of guards and recruits, ?All of you get back to your training. There?s no trouble here.? As he came up behind Gaerwyn, ?Not yet, at least, and I am certain Her Excellency standing at the window would prefer it if it stayed that way, Gaerwyn.?

His cousin looked to the window where the shape of the named lady stood with arms crossed and resting on the slight bulge of a five month along pregnancy. Gaerwyn seemed to think better of confronting Storm now and turned back to watch the practice.

Ewan stepped over to Storm and whispered, ?Well, you make quite an entrance, don?t you?? He looked to the box, then to her, ?I thought you came to see the horses. I didn?t know your friends made horse blankets.? He teased as he motioned towards a path that lead around the side of the barracks to the stables.

He ran fingers through his hair to get it in order from just being woken. "We do not have many visitors here, but it is merely precaution in these times." He matched her stride as they walked, his hands clasped behind his back. "I am sorry you felt uncomfortable."

The path was kept from being terribly muddy by extensive use of gravel, and it sank and crunched rock against rock as they went to the stables. No horses could be seen in the paddock to the left of the stables. Her need to protect the box unnecessary, but he laughs lightly all the same, "Have no fear. If I am not to have it yet, then so be it. I will not spoil whatever you have in store."

The doors were open and the smell of horseflesh and the warm musty odor of hay swept by them with the breezes that slipped into the stables from the open entries on either side of the building. Of the twelve stalls, only four aquiline heads came to see who the visitors were. Two were obviously very tall for horses, the other somewhat middling, and the fourth could barely get its head on the top of its gate. "Well, it seems Zesperis and Spirit, as well as Navi and Leaf have given leave to greet you." He smiled and moved to a lovely liver chestnut mare, standing tall and eager to give him a nudge of affection against his shoulder.

A broad smile, "This is Zesperis, and she is my horse." He ran his hand down the strong neck and under the round of the powerful jaw. He felt Storm step towards the other stable, and he turned but did not stop his caress of the warm coat of his horse. "I see Leaf has gotten your attention. He's an Eriskay pony that we bought here." The little pony was grey to coat and stood little more than twelve hands, but he had a hearty look to him. "He is a good little worker, but more of a pet than a horse. Only young Lord Cian can ride him when he visits."

Ewan was amused and not surprised Storm had moved to meet Leaf first. He was encouragebly friendly with an almost large dog like demeanor that came through those eyes. "I think he is hoping you have a treat for him," Ewan grinned with a final pat to Zesperis's neck before he moved to a bucket and drew out a carrot to offer out to Storm, "Here, give him this."

Ewan crossed his arms and leaned against a post as he watched Storm interact with Leaf via the pony's favorite method of communication -- food. He gave a pat to Navi and checked on Spirit so that neither of the horses would feel left out of the attention. Ewan gave them more personality than they might have, but he counted on each of them in their different ways.

As he looked to see if Spirit was still chewing the wood of his stall, he answered Storm, "Of course, but me careful to keep your hand flat as you get to the end of the carrot. Zesperis is not as gentle as Leaf when it comes to deciding if it is a carrot or your finger she is about to bite off. And I've never given them crunchy water, but I suspect grass does not taste much different." There was a teasing light to his green eyes even if they were red rimmed from lack of sleep.

He was pleased to see her here. Of his friends who had always said they would come and visit, she had been the only one. Therefore, he was not about to let sleep interfere with the visit. "So, now you have touched a horse and live to tell the tale. I hope you are not underwhelmed. They are, afterall, just another animal."

Zesperis was not the only one that whickered as if they understood and took offense at being labeled "just another animal." Four more equine heads peaked out over the stalls. Two with heads like large horse shaped boulders that would match the massive bodies of the Belgian draft horses who stood in twin at seventeen and half hands each. They were gentle giants and they were not to be called "just another animal."

He managed a mock sense of shock, "I would never imply that you eat grass; however, now that you mention it..." but he just gave a half smile as he started to wander the stalls and check on each horse as he went. He gave affection to each in kind with a rub to a cheek or a neck. "If you plan on stealing one and taking it south, you had best make it Navi. She has the docile temperment, old girl she is."

He had looked back to Storm and in that moment Paxus decided to explore Ewan's hair with his mouth. Ewan whacked at the great Belgian's jaw and snarled, "It isn't edible, you big goat." The man and horse shared a look of disgust with each other that Paxus gave up first and turned right around to where his feed bag hung. "That's right, oats, not hair." It looked as though the big boy had enough to eat, so Ewan walked on, adding food where it looked to be needed and checking the horses.

"Zesperis is a picky girl, so if she likes you, that's saying something," he called as he stepped into Navi's stall and took down the lead rope, made a loop with quick expertise, and set it about her neck. "Come on, lovey," he cooed to the horse, who seemed to need little prodding as she followed him out of her stall. "Let's get you out in the paddock and some exercise."

As he passed by Storm he smiled, "Might want to set down the package on the table in that corner there," his head gave a nod in the direction he spoke, "and you can come see Navi free roaming, if she does not take to eating the fresh sprigs of grass." He continued to lead Navi out of the stables to the paddock, whether Storm followed or not.

He lead Navi into the paddock and closed the gate firmly behind him before he drew off the lead rope. Navi took her time walking the large circle of mostly mud and dying grass from winter, but a few sprigs came up and a fresh spray of hay was against a far post of the paddock. It was a comfortable place for the horses to laze away, with a tree reaching its branches over the side of the northern fencing. Buds of fresh greenery tickled at his sight when he watched the branches stir in the light breeze.

Ewan strode to the fenced edge near Storm and turned to lean back against the wood. He watched Navi move toward the hay, and then he cast a sidelong glance to Storm, "Anything else you wish to see or anyone you wish to meet while you're visiting?" Then a cheeky grin when he turned his gaze back to Navi, "Or maybe you would like to tell me what the secret package is all about."

"Oh, aye, there are many others to meet and see," he offered soberly, but there was a teasing light to green eyes when he glanced her way.

The sun of this day had made its way through the clouds by now and he raised his face to its warmth. Eyes closed and soaking the light into him, as it helped to soothe a mind always turning, sorting through thoughts, and setting aside the eager troublesome events that continued to plague his good intentions.

"Ah, so I am required to wait until upon the ship to open. As you will." He nodded, and he would keep to the requirement as he would any command given to him. A willpower that was sometimes very strong, particularly in such sitiuations.

A kitchen page rushed up to the fence and sputtered out, "Master Corinsson, Mistress Ilena wishes to know if your guest is staying for luncheon, and Baroness Sylvia requires you speak with her."

Ewan moved to step between the slats of the fence as he responded, "Let the Baroness know I am on my way, but as to my guest staying for lunch, that I do not know." He stood up straight once again and looked to Storm, "Are you staying to dine with the people of Yearling Brook manor?"