(Picture of War)

Cutting through the tall grass like a well sharpened blade the Bay new the right route to take, avoiding any divots or boulders unseen by the untrained eye. It was the product of traveling such a road for so many years.

Sunrise a time for many to be waking, giving War a greater chance of catching the eye of more than a few of his brethren. They had cut through the vast valley and over many others who rivaled it in compare, every shortcut able to be taken was. As the sun began to warm the earth sounds of roosters calling for even the deepest sleepers to awake. Smells of breads wafted through the air catching his nose.

Smoke puffed from river rock chimneys, calls of a rider were given making War’s lips twitch slightly at each ends. A few stay in doorways as he neared while the more outgoing of the bunch ran towards his bay. His eyes scanned over many face, each one more different than the last. But none were what he seeked.

He began to grow concerned when a dark figure graced a doorway, hidden in shadows they refused to come any closer. But War’s eyes could feel theirs upon his. Swinging a leg over the stallion he handed the reins off to a younger male who gently coats the stallion to follow. He chatted slightly with a few men, never taking his eyes off the doorway.

If there was a hope of the figure coming into view it faded as it vanished.

Frowning he caught the eye of Margaret, she signed patting his shoulder before grabbing two fist fulls of her dress.

“Let us talk, in private War” She said walking off without giving him a chance to argue.

Siana had seen him. The man everyone spoke of. He was larger than she remembered, darker, harder and even more interesting than when he had jumped out a window. If she were asked if being closer to him would of made her happy, she’d of lied. Posing to have no interest in War wasn’t what she really wanted to do.

But her mind was made up, she was working towards a goal. With him here she’d have to work harder seeing as how a strong pull to run up to him had nearly rattled the air from her lungs. She could smell him from deep within the doorway, practically taste it too. When he locked eyes with her’s, Siana blessed the shadows for covering up her deep intake of an unsteady breath.

He’d been gone a long time as far as everyone else was concerned. For her it was nothing new, having never known his habits. When he took her, made her into whatever she was now she was all but eight summers old. Now far past that she had little to no idea what her meaning for being here was, other than to amuse the others her age in a game of kick the mongrel.

She scowled at the word shaking her head to toss it away, no point she thought.

Finishing up her sweeping Siana put the horsehair broom against a wall, with beds made, floors swept she huffed rubbing one shoulder with her opposite hand.

His eyes bore into Margaret’s, she had a look that was bringing his patients to a close. She sat across from him, a hand brushed the legs of her dress off before she spoke a word.

“How was your journey?” He scowled at her, this wasn’t the time to be formal.

“Like all the rest, what is going on while I’ve been away?” Giving her a pointed look, War was anything but in the mood for small chit chat. She sighed.

“Honestly your manners…” He growled.

“Yes they grow less and less civil, now speak Margaret” Scrunching her nose she began.

“Everything is as always, the only change is the child you’ve placed here.” War gave her a nod to continue.

“She isn't’....fitting in.”

“What do you mean? Explain” His arms folded over a broad chest making him even more imposing.

Margaret gave another brush of her hand over her dress. “She keeps silent, not a sound emits from her lips. Atticus has told me she’s only shown up for two of her training sessions, always managing to vanish at random times before training.” War’s features hardened.

“What else?” Margaret shrugged.

“She doesn't really hang about. She makes sure her chores are finished and then vanishes. I believe….oh never mind.” She waved a hand tossing it away.

“Speak, what is it you have come to believe?” Looking out a window Margaret gave it a long enough stair to gather her words. She looked back at War.

“I have come to believe she is doing this on purpose. “ He raised a brow “Its as though she’s purposely keeping her distance from any to all of us. Either because of fear, or lack of trust. But she’s clever, very clever actually” She gave an almost proud mother look to war, one he’d never seen her give to just anyone.

“You think she’s doing this on purpose? What reasons beside what you claim would she have?” His mind began to draw up scenarios, anything from the very grand to the dire.

“I wish I could say, but watch her movements and you shall see what I speak.” Margaret replied with a heavy heart.

A bell rang throughout the manor alerting all to a meal that was soon to be ready, Siana listened to the approaching footsteps. They were heading in for breakfast, taking up seats and talking easily to one another. Blowing a breath pasted pursed lips Siana counted, she knew how many there would be, how long it would take to fill the room and where each one sat.

If asked what they liked to eat she could tell you exactly what they preferred and how much they would consume. With plenty of time to study all, Siana could give so many details to their likes and dislikes it was baffling to her sometimes. She knew how many steps it took to walk from one room to another, who to stay away from and who had better senses than others.

Counting out silently to herself Siana gave the members of the house time to get inside before allowing herself to enter as well. Always last in and out, she thought. It had to be that way, she had to make them unaware of her presents as much as possible.

The dining hall was the same as it had been when he left. Two doors one in each corner off the right wall allowed more to gather. Four long tables placed vertically to the main table held blood red cloth down each center. Goblets filled with the appropriate drink for the ages and random breads, fruits and other assortments lay throughout the table.

Seated in the middle of the head table War’s back was to one door, but that didn’t stop any other senses from knowing who was coming and going. When she entered he took note she was the last. Slowly he turned his head to see her, that smell she gave off had only intensified with her aging. Frowning when he couldn’t not lay eyes on her War did another pass over each face.

Concluding she was situated somewhere behind on of the two walls that gave a slight separation to the head table and the rest, he huffed turning back around. Food was brought out, handed to each member seated. Men at the head table joked, while stuffing their mouths with rich meats. War mindlessly ate, far better than the food he was getting on the battlefield yet not destroying a hunger he craved.

Laughter filled the rooms quickly, raising the volume much like a battle. Slowly the mass began to exit the dining hall talking the whole way out, War stayed behind. From what he could tell Siana was still in the room, perhaps because she was the last one in she’d not had a chance to finish her meal. It gave him the perfect opportunity to get her alone.