Sylvia had ventured into town, something of a weekly constitutional after Beata had been settled down for her evening and the boys were in bed. The inn had been calm upon her arrival there, and so she lingered to let memories splash upon her thoughts. The tender on duty was familiar by name and face, but not one that would ask nor need to hear of her troubles. Voices of the growing patronage rose and fell and their exchanges painted details of shadowy remembrances.

The smile, though, a secret one flickered across her mouth from time to time when she thought upon the news of the day. That news, the surprising conflagration of the DCH offices, made it no surprise Ewan was out and about town as well. He had approached her where she had taken seat at a table of the inn, and crouched down to make sure she heard the news. A flicker of light had caught on the amulet and brought its meaning and the memory to her attention. Such a harmless comment upon the jewelsmith that crafted the amulets and the musician, Sianna that had brought Johnny?s skill to Ewan?s attention, that Sylvia had no knowledge it would draw the attention of a stranger to her table.

Sylvia had tended bar at an inn with frequency years ago, and speaking with strangers was not uncommon even now in her homeland, but something about the intensity of the man and the directness of his purpose to know of Sianna had drawn up concern. The further revelation of his name and the possible relation to Sianna collapsed that concern like the removal of a corner stone from a teetering ruin. She knew little of Sianna than her features and her talents. But an element of that caution remained and had Sylvia thinking of Ewan. Ewan would know more and better if this man was a concern, or even if the possibility he could be Sianna?s brother were a truth.

Honest in her dealings, she asked to share the note with her Master of Arms, and the man, Hudson, had agreed. Sylvia walked homeward, the hours spent in the inn and walking north to the manor had eaten up the hours Beata would not need her. Ewan would not be at Yearling Brook, and so she would need to see him on the morrow to share the story of Hudson Fraiser and leave it to his keeping.

After tending to her infant daughter, little Beata curled up for a night?s sleep, Sylvia went to her own bed knowing sleep would be long in coming as it had been since Kieran?s death. She wondered at why she wanted to trust this stranger so well, when all past experiences cried for caution and skepticism. Perhaps it was the hope in his eyes. Perhaps she wanted to know of something good in the world.

The shop had been established long enough now that Johnny had settled into a comfortable routine. Mornings at the Silver Lark, selling the statues and jewelry that weren?t custom-ordered. Afternoons (and sometimes evenings, when the crafting caught him up) in his studio, working on custom pieces or more ordinary items to replenish what had been sold. This had the side benefit of taking him out of the building during the lessons Sianna gave in her section of the shop. Much as he loved Sianna?s music, the lessons could sometimes be downright painful to hear, even with his tin ear.

This morning had been much like any other, though Juli had stopped by to sweep up Sianna for some shopping. The shop seemed emptier than usual without Sianna?s clear voice lilting out some melody as she worked. Patrons seemed to sense the same thing, and there had been no customers in to break up the hours.

?Well?n, looks like time ta give up th? ghost, fin? somethin? ta eat, an? get some work done.? It was a mark of how quiet it had been that the mumbled words seemed to echo in the empty shop. Noon bells had rung just a short time before, and Johnny?s stomach rumbled an agreement to his comment. ?An? bad enough I?m talkin? ta m?self withou? m? stomach answerin? back.?

He was locking the display cases while he spoke to himself, making sure that the scattered statues and figurines were covered against dust. Sianna and Juli still hadn?t returned from their shopping expedition. That meant locking the shop and scrounging up a sandwich in the house before he headed to the studio. And so it was that when Ewan arrived at the shop, Johnny was just locking the front door.

Emerald eyes lit with genuine pleasure to see the other man, and his open smile spread. ?Ewan! Good ta see ya, bro. Hope yer still likin? those amulets I did fer ya an? yer wife. If?n yer here on more business, I can open th? shop back up, ?r yer welcome ta join me fer a sandwich in th? kitchen. If?n ya were lookin? fer Si, Juli came by an? abducted her earlier, an? they ain? back yet. An? yer still welcome ta join me fer a sandwich while ya wait.? With another easy smile, Johnny jerked his head sideways towards the main portion of the house in invitation.

The deepening furrow in Johnny?s brow marked his concern as Ewan elaborated on his errand. He had waved off the apology for the interruption even as he led the way through the body of the house ? saying it was important was an understatement, and well worth delaying a meal for. Finally he turned and leaned back against a counter, crossing his arms over his chest, and nodded for Ewan to make himself at home.

?Huh. Here?s th? thing, bro. I know tha? Si?s go? brothers, an? misses ?em somethin? fierce. So if th? guy?s really her brother, tha?s a bit?a happy news. But she an? I talked abou? it a coupl?a times, an? she seemed pretty sure tha? they wouldn? be able ta figger out where she got moved ta Rhy?din from her country. Worried abou? it, tha? they?d think she was dead.? Johnny heaved a sigh, and raked his fingers back through his hair.

?Jus? don? know, Ewan. Like ya say, pro?lly best ta leave th? decision abou? it bein? a good thing ?r not ta her. Any luck, she an? Juli?ll be back in a bit. They weren? talkin? like it was goin? ta be tha? long a trip, I ?spected ?em back before now.? Johnny offered Ewan a crooked smile. The kitchen was warm and cheery, sunlight pouring through the windows. It was an incongruous environment for the serious tone of their discussion.

Still, in many ways Johnny was the eternal optimist. He was concerned about the stranger, but not particularly suspicious. If anything, he was more worried about Sianna?s reaction if it was her brother ? or her disappointment, if it wasn?t. Until she returned, there was nothing to do about it but wait, and so he turned to begin putting together a pair of sandwiches ? one for himself, and one for Ewan. ?So there anythin? ya don? wan? on yer sandwich, bro??

?Well?n, there?s a reason I?m makin? sandwiches, ain? there? I can? even seem ta boil water reliable withou? burnin? it. So yer pro?lly ahead ?a me on th? cookin? end ?a things. Glasses ?r in th? cupboard over there.? Of course, since Johnny was neatly stacking meat and vegetables onto thick slices of bread with his back to the room and hadn?t bothered to indicate which cupboard he meant, and there were several cupboards around the kitchen, that wasn?t the most helpful direction. He just assumed that Ewan would figure it out after a bit of searching.

?If?n ya wan? ta grab some cider from th? icebox, ?s aroun? th? corner. It?ll go with th? beef.? Butter slathered onto the inside of the top slices, he put together the sandwiches and picked up the knife again to slice the sandwiches into more reasonable halves. Quick motions, all of them, and he deposited the finished sandwiches onto plates and turned back around. Two long strides took him across the kitchen to the table, and he slid the plates down carefully.

One chair was swung out and turned backwards, and Johnny straddled the seat, folding his arms along the chair back, and then frowned in sudden thought. ?Ya know, it?s been somethin? like four ?r five years since Si was back with her family, from wha? she said. Wonder why ?s taken so long ta look fer her. Ya know anythin? more abou? th? guy, Ewan? Jus? tha? he left tha? note?? A furrow creased his expression as he thought more about the situation. ?Ya know any way ta fin? ou? more abou? him??

Chin propped against one the folded arms, Johnny chewed on his lip, the silver film over his eyes flashing down and then retracting repeatedly. He didn?t even seem to notice the altered states of seeing, in his distraction. ?I ain? no good at tha? bein? suspicious thing, bu? this?s kinda weird, ya know? Still wan? ta see wha? Sianna thinks, bu? I jus? don? know, Ewan. I ain? no good at fightin? ?r nothin? if?n th? guy ain? wha? he seems like.? The sandwiches were forgotten on the table, for the moment.

The girls' laughter echoed in the late afternoon air with a harmonic lilt. Their shopping had been profitable and what had not been brought home had either been placed on order with various shops or scouted for future excursions.

Johnny turned toward the sound of the laughter, his reply to Ewan cut short by the sound of the women returning, and a relieved smile crossed his face. "There, an' we ain' goin' ta hav'ta worry abou' it much longer. Si'll know if'n th' guy's a fraud 'r someone ta worry abou'." The sunlight seemed to regain its warmth in the room, and much of Johnny's concern was eased - he didn't have the nature for brooding, and it always sat unnaturally.

Ewan turned to the sound of the ladies as well, but his face kept its usual stoic expression. He shared an agreeing nod with Johnny. Julianne was the first to enter the house, holding the heavy-planked door with her foot so that Sianna could cross as well, packages being placed to the countertops in eager relief of sore limbs and strained fingers. He rose as the ladies began to enter out of courtesy as well as to lend a hand if need be with their parcels.

Along with Ewan, Johnny stood to relieve the girls of some of the packages, grinning. "Y'all buy ou' th' market?"

"Not very likely with the way your intended bargains and picks, brother dear. Ya would've thought the vendors were paying her ta select their goods." Julianne flashed a broad smile to her sister-to-be.

"What? Can ye blame a lass for being frugal..." Sianna's self-defense faded away as she spied the guest. "Ewan! How are ye, lad? How's yer lovely bride?"

"Yeah, Si's good at all tha' - better'n I am. 'S why she sets th' pricin' in th' shop. I locked up, by th' way, m'love." Johnny interjected before he filled his arms with parcels. He piled the packages he had gathered carefully to one side of the counter and returned to his seat and untouched sandwich.

Ewan's smile warms at the greeting, "I am well, Sianna, thank you. And Storm is well, too." He examined the tower of packages and grinned, "You do have a skill at making deals it would seem. I shall take care when bargaining ."

"Aye? And what will ye need to bargain wi' me about, laddie?" Bouncing on her toes a bit, feeling a bit dwarfish by the towering forms of family and friend. "Or are ye saying that ye wish to borrow my bargaining skills when ye have need tae acquire something?"

"I have no need to bargain right now, though, I did come calling with a purpose." He looked to Johnny, knowing the fellow would have a better idea how to start the conversation.

Moving across the room to free the extra chairs from a tidy corner, Sianna offers one to Julianne before moving to the icebox to select something cool to drink. "Ye did? I take it is a happy purpose."

Johnny grimaced a bit, shifting from side to side - almost as much at a loss as Ewan. "Tha's up ta ya, really."

A smile brimming with gratitude was offered Sianna's way before Juli rested to the provided seat, stretching her long legs but wary eyes glancing back and forth between the two men.

"I know ya told me about yer bros, righ'? An' tha' it wasn' too likely tha' they'd be able ta fin' ya?"

Her voice came from the depths of the icebox. "What do ye mean it's up tae...." One thought discarded for the next as she selected two bottles of apple cider. "Johnny Smith, ye ken verra well what I've told ye about my brothers. Why?"

Ewan took a step back and reclaimed his seat, allowing the couple to work their way to the matter without his looming there like a harbinger. The air seemed to crackle with an electric current of anticipation.

Johnny chewed on his lower lip for a few moments, looking for a way to bring this up without too much shock. "Well'n... Ah. There's this guy tha's lookin' fer ya, I guess. Ewan tol' me abou' him. An'. Ah. There's a note?"

Julianne's eyes widened at such a revelation. The Smith arrival had been a planned one, and had been difficult enough. An unexpected reunion? The hair at the nape of her neck bristled.

Brilliant blue eyes scanned from Ewan to Johnny and then back again. "What man? What note?" Sianna stood statue still.

A nod to the word of the note, and Ewan lifted that note from the small pouch on his belt and offered it out to Sianna. "He approached Sylvia at the inn overhearing some conversation she and I had shared of the wedding and those who had taken part. He spoke of seeking his sister, Sianna, and gave over this note to her keeping. She in turn passed it to me for you."

Sianna's fingers trembled as she held out her hand for the slip of paper. Squaring her shoulders, her resolve steeled for a moment, the contents were read silently.

Ewan studied her to be aware of any physical cues to the contents of the letter and its meaning for her.

Her mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water gasping for air. And before anyone could register the fact, she fainted dead away.

Johnny was watching her anxiously as she read the note, and that faint had him lunging to catch her. "Si!?"

"Swords and arrows!" Ewan rose swift to his feet and moved to wet a cloth. He returned in few paces to offer the cloth to Johnny.

He knelt on the floor, holding up Sianna in a half-sitting position, and his face was dead white as he took the cloth from Ewan, to place it on her forehead. "Si? Love?"

Ewan looked to Julianne, "Do you have any smelling salts here?" Not sure it was necessary, but as pale as Johnny was looking, there may be two fainted away soon.

Just as startled, Julianne had rushed for a parcel of juniper berries. It would the closest thing to smelling salts available. Pinching a few of the pungent berries, she wrapped them in her hankerchief before handing them to Johnny.

Sianna's eyelids fluttered, her return to cognizance slow. The shock was enormous.

His hands full with Sianna and the cloth, Johnny looked up at Juli and Ewan helplessly and rather baffled. "I din' expect anythin' like tha'."

In order to give the lady some room Ewan stepped back again, but kept careful watch of her as well as Johnny. "I doubt any could have expected that exactly."

When Sianna began to wake, Johnny turned his attention back to her with a frown of concern. "Si? Ya righ', love?"

Sianna groaned low, a hand going to her head in an effort to stop the room from swimming. "Verra woozy."

Bending low, Julianne scooped up the note and scanned its contents. It was simply written, but powerful indeed. Quietly questioning no one in particular. "Do ya think it really is her brother? Perhaps she recognized the handwriting."

Ewan leaned against the counter, still observing. "I would hazzard a guess it is, for I think skepticism or doubt would not have effected her so."

"Yeah, I'm not s'prised. Ya sit still fer a bit, huh? I ain' never seen ya pass ou' like tha' b'fore." Johnny smoothed her hair back from her face, then frowned up at Juli and Ewan. "I 'spect yer righ' abou' th' guy bein' her bro. Now I'm jus' wonderin' if'n he knew wha' her reaction'd be."

"Think you he wished her to faint? Not very brotherly act. " Ewan spoke with some skepticism of his own. "Sianna, think you could drink some water?"

Resisting the urge to slip into twin-speak, Julianne piped up. "That's doubtful. Read it for yourself. It's not as if he had th' intention of causing trouble. It's five lines at best."

The prostrate half-sitting form nodded slowly. "Just a wee sip. I'm afraid I'm no' feelin' verra well at th' moment, Ewan dear."

"Unfortunately, that is quite apparent." But Ewan returned to the previous cupboard to claim a new glass and fill it with water. This he also gave to Johnny to assist Sianna in the drinking of it.

Johnny reached up to take the note from Juli, then aborted the motion to take the help in giving Sianna the water. "If'n y'all think so. I jus' ain' tha' happy abou' it, whether he meant ta give her a shock'r not." Protective might be a slight understatement, here.

While Si took meager sips, Julianne found her voice again. "And have ya never given someone a shock without meaning to?"

"At this moment, I would suggest we refrain from passing judgement on the man until Sianna can direct us more surely."

"He's a good lad...." Her voice quieted with buried hope. "I can hardly believe it's possible...."

Ewan returned to his seat and watched Sianna regain sense of her surroundings and events.

He brushed back Sianna's hair again, passing over her comment for the moment. "Ya wan' ta move ta a chair, m'own, 'r stay here fer a bit longer?"

"I think I need tae go lay down..." It seemed as if her entire body was nothing more than a limp rag, every ounce of strength sapped from her with such a revelation.

He nodded at that, then looked over at Juli and Ewan quickly. "One'a ya hold her fer a moment while I get up, an' I'll take her up ta bed."

Ewan was quick to move and assist as instructed.

Johnny stood and then carefully took Sianna back from Ewan, cradling her in his arms. "Thanks fer th' help, bro. 'Preciate ya stickin' aroun'."

Realizing that the boys have things under control, Julianne made quick work of putting all the packages away neatly so as not to leave a mess. "I'll start a pot of soup ta the hearth so there will be something for dinner."

"Thank ye both... for everything." Sianna smiled softly, her head nestled against the curve of Johnny's shoulder.

Ewan offered a bow of his head to her and a reassuring smile.

"Takya, Juls." Just a minor slip to twin-speak before he nodded to Ewan. "An' I'll talk over tha' offer ya made earlier, righ'? Migh' still take ya up on it, if'n ya don' mind."

"Of course," Ewan nodded once again.

If she would have had the strength, she would have arched her brow and followed their cryptic conversation further, but it was beyond her, and Sianna was more than ready to rest.

Johnny re-settled Sianna against his chest and then turned to take her out of the kitchen and upstairs, with a final nod to Ewan and Juli.