Slowly yet firmly Francesco let the brush glide over his own horse, the decently seized brown stallion with a white bliss and a black mane. Alejo.

Alejo though was not a young horse anymore, Francesco had raised him since he was a foal but now the old boy weren't able to gallop as quick as in his youth.

"You and me both old boy." Francesco sighed as he brushed the horse and the horse let out a small neigh making Francesco smile lightly then he shook his head.

Taking care of his horse felt soothing, it helped him putting his mind at ease. He had a hard time wrapping his head around all the things that had recently happened.

Captains Monstrasios grip on the land itself had been tight and he had been without compromise to enforce the laws.

Monstrasio had been chosen to be send to Fairbanks for one reason and one reason alone. To ensure that no further trouble would come from this land, that no uprise would happen and people who lived here would cause no trouble to the king of Blakeney.
And in that regard… Monstrasio had achieved the goal, when he was in command no one dared to cause the king any trouble. Back then Francesco had in fact sympathized with the Captain and even helped him, Francesco was no stranger to the military as he had been a soldier himself and served the kings army himself, even ranked as high as Lieutenant before he had decided to retire to build his estate. He respected the kings army and respected the soldiers.
Fairbanks was a wild land where the Akapaki had been known to attack each other and most probably would attack the settlers at some point if law and order wasn't restored, it was by no means an easy task the captain and been given, and it made sense to send a man whom was uncompromising.

But he had gone to far, his desire for complete control robbed people of their freedom…

In his naivety, Francesco thought he had the power to do something. He had thought his cry and opinion would matter.

For as long as Francesco had been alive, he had always believed that a man would need to stand up for the things he believed in. That precious things were worth fighting for, and he had gladly fought.

As a young and proud young man he had fought in a way, he had always stood proud and in his young days he had been the centre of perhaps far to many conflicts. But he had taken any beatings that had come with it and only rarely backed down.

That was back then though. Now…. Francesco felt so tired, so used up. His mind had become dull and his body was often aching. Often he could barely even muster any energy to keep his own estate running.

He could only be thankful for all the work Lolita put into keeping everything running, and Francesco couldn't help but feel guilty relying so much on her expertise.
But on the other hand he was relieved, he knew that even if he himself was to be hurt, Lolita was more than capable of running the estate. Francesco had no trouble leaving it all to her, she was more than just capable.

Then there was Angelina. …..

Francesco… He had a difficult time even formulating in his mind what he was thinking. He knew he was happy to have her back.
To see her again warmed his heart and sometimes she came with comments that made him smile and feel quite hopeful.

The last thing Francesco wanted was to ever see her get hurt! He loved both his daughters more than he had ever realized was possible.

Still, his youngest daughter confused him. Had they simply been apart for so long that they had become strangers?
Francesco could not deny he had changed in the years they had been apart, so it was quite understandable she had changed as well. She had become a lady, and well… Francesco had never been a lady quite obviously so what would he know was normal for ladies?

She had grown, this was good. It was a good thing! She had learned how to behave and fit among those with noble blood.

Hopefully one day she would be able to find a husband of good bearing who could provide for her, and she would be a gentle and good house wife… if Francesco had been told that ten years ago he would have been amused.
Still, people grew, people changed. This was better, Angelina would not be in danger in the same way. It was for the better.

Francesco put down the brush before he padded Alejo. "They grow so fast don't they?" he asked. "My kids are both adults how crazy is that?" and he exhaled deeply as he gave the horse a last pad before he walked out of the stables.

Only there he was met by quite a sight as the sergeant had come to visit sitting on his horse and Lolita looked like she was chewing him out.

"Sergeant." Francesco blinked as he walked towards them. "What brings you here?"

"Captains orders quite obviously." Garzia commented. "He says you owe the military some tax compensation. But he'll be glad to overlook it in exchange for some barrels of your Risendo Wine."

"That's our best wine, most of it goes straight to the king." Lolita snapped back. "Beside we don't owe any tax's. I have all the papers if you want to see for yourself."

Garzia smiled amused. "He thought you would said that and wanted me to tell you that due to our military officers being in a pinch the tax has been raised."

"What kind of pinch exactly? What are you lacking?" Lolita asked. "Food? Clothes? Are people getting sick from some sort of plaque? Tell you what, i'll pay for a doctor myself to go check on the soldiers and if they really are sick we'll pay the extra tax's. I need substantial proof that the military is in need of these extra money. And if there is no proof, this demand is illegal and I will file a complaint to the lawyer." she stated.

Garzia chuckled amused as he leaned over his horse lifting up in his hat as to get a better look. "Sir Pulido, your daughter is as sharp as she is beautiful. You must treasure her!"

"I do indeed treasure her." Francesco replied. "And you can tell your Captain what she just said."

"I figured as much, he's not going to be happy." Garzia commented. "Oh well, just following orders." and he exhaled deeply.

Lolita raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms. "Sound like you're having a hard time."

"Let's just say the Captain was not pleased about having to give me that price money." Garzia admitted. "I swear if he could he would tax all of them out of me again. Between you and me he was counting on the Scarlet Fox to disrupt the entire race so he wouldn't have to hand over any money at all."

Lolita rolled her eyes. "Why would she show up? That was so obviously a trap!"

"That's what I told the Captain." Garzia admitted. "But you know him, he wont listen. I will say though sir Pulido I am kind of disappointed you didn't ride." he admitted.

"Are you really?" Francesco asked.

"Yeah!" Garzia grinned. "I keep hearing all these stories about how amazing you are on a horse and with a sword! To ride against a legend like you would have been amazing."

Francesco couldn't help but smile amused then shook his head. He didn't always agree with the sergeant and he could not approve of how the sergeant never questioned orders.
But he didn't entirely dislike him either, a young man full of spirit and vigor ready to take on the whole world and compete with the best for the sake of glory and adventure. Francesco did indeed quite relate to that.
And well, Francesco had done things he would rather forget while serving the military. When you are a soldier you kind of have to distance yourself from the people and just follow orders, if you couldn't trust soldiers to follow simple orders everything would fall apart. Cowardice and treason against your superior would be punished by death in this world, because if you as a soldier is a liability it could cost everyone else their lives.

"Then again maybe a good thing you didn't compete then maybe I wouldn't have won. Those fifteen gold coins." Garzia whistled. "That's three years less I have to work before I can retire!" he grinned.

"Well i'm glad you feel like you got something out of it." Lolita rolled her eyes.

"You still sure I can't offer you a place in a nice house at Blakeney?" Garzia asked in a grin as he leaned over the horse. "Wife of a… maybe a general! And servants waiting you every day?" he asked.

"You don't dream small do you?" Lolita asked. "I'm fine, no thank you." she rolled her eyes.

"Well I guess for you it would be marrying down anyhow, can't blame me for trying though." Garzia grinned as he blinked at her and Lolita groaned annoyed.

Francesco exhaled deeply. "You can tell your Captain that we wont pay him any extra money or any other form of tax before he has given substantial proof that he needs it."

"Roger, that's what I thought." Garzia nodded. "Fair warning, I think that's what he anticipated too. Something is up."

"Thank you for the warning sergeant." Lolita replied. "We'll watch out."

"Great, i'll hate to arrest you. But well, if that is what the Captain asks." Francesco shrugged. "Hey then maybe we can have that sword fight after-all, or a horse race!" he grinned at Francesco. "Fair game of course, who ever looses will do so respectfully."

Lolita however was getting annoyed as she crossed her arms. "Sergeant is this all just some big game to you?" she asked. "You are just as bad at fooling around as the Scarlet fox! Does no one take this seriously?!" she asked.

Garzia smirked amused. "Miss Pulido, you are without a doubt the smartest woman in a hundred kilometers radius, surely you must realise to." he said. "There are battles out there, wars that will be remembered for centuries to come. What happens here though at Fairbanks, is no such war. No one whom dies here will be remembered, there wont be written stories of the brave captain or the brave resistance of this little piece of land. No one will remember because no one cares. Everything that happens here will be but a foot note in the history books. I'm just following orders while I do my job, that's all there is to it." he stated.

And Lolita hissed annoyed as she looked away.

Francesco however didn't look angry, he looked rather sad and that didn't go unnoticed. "You think i'm wrong sir Pulido?" Garzia asked.

"In a way no." Francesco admitted. "In a way you're right, people at Blakeney wont care. The rest of the world wont even know but that's not really the point." he commented as he glanced away. "You sergeant, you think this will all be so easily forgotten ones you go home. You tell yourself this wont matter so you can convince yourself that all this will be but a faint memory ones you are away from here. You believe that the people you hurt wont haunt you in your dreams and you'll be able to bask in your own achievements and glory. It's true, people around you wont care. But that tells nothing of your own feelings. Sometimes it'll feel like you live in a bobble where only you see what others can't, and the things you did in the past. Even if it's really long ago, and at a place really far away. That wont be washed away. It wont matter to others, but it'll matter to you." he stated looking up. "Do what you must sergeant." he then stated.

Out of all the things that had been said, that was the thing that made Garzia hesitated. For a moment he looked at Francesco, then finally he turned his head away as his mouth became a thin line. Then finally he turned back and his eyes now looked genuinely annoyed. "This will not be the last you hear from the Captain, I wouldn't be surprised if either him or I will come again very shortly."

"And you can tell the Captain that he still isn't welcome here." Lolita replied back in a sharp voice.

"He wont be pleased." Garzia commented.

"Then he shouldn't have murdered my mother." Lolita replied angrily then felt a hand on her shoulder and Francesco pulled her back.

"We know our rights." Francesco then said. "I've been loyal to the king for as long as i've been alive and the king knows this, you can remind him of that." he stated.

Garzia nodded. "I see, you wish to do it the hard way. Good, that's what I would expect from the Francesco Pulido I heard stories about." he stated as he turned his horse around. "To be honest, to meet you have been kind of disappointing in most other aspects." he mumbled as he kicked his horse and finally rode off.

Lolita hissed annoyed as she crossed her arms and her face grew red. She mumbled a few things but they weren't to clear.

"Lolita." Francesco exhaled deeply as he turned her around so they faced each other. "You must be careful." he said.

"I know." Lolita muttered as she glanced down then she looked up. "Father don't worry, they have nothing on us! We havn't broken any law at all! Not even the dumb laws the Captain are making."

Francesco smiled lightly then nodded. "Yes, of course you're right." he stated. "Just… Look out wont you?" he asked. "You promised me to take care of yourself and your sister, remember that." he asked. "Your sister is not… what I mean is… erhm." he halted.

"I know what you mean." Lolita fully admitted. "She's doesn't seem to realize what is going on. I suppose that's understandable, with how far away she's been and all. And how long she has been away. I mean, everything changed so much and well erh… erhmm."

Francesco smiled amused. "That I know you'll look out for her is a great relief." he then stated. "Let's head inside, it's almost time for dinner." he commented. "Do you know if your sister will join us today?" he asked.

"No, she's out praying again." Lolita replied. "Well, pray and see if anyone needs a bit of first aid I suppose. From what I heard she's quite the nurse."

"Yes, a few people has commented on that. That's quite something." Francesco nodded. "Correct medical help even if it's only very basic can be life saving, she's saving lives in her own way. That's very good." he stated as they walked in through the front door and then Francesco halted.

For there on the wall, resting on its own mantle hung a sword. A saber with a golden handle, it was a fine piece of craftsmanship, perfectly balanced and when Francesco held it it had always felt like a natural extension of his own body.
Last time he had held it, he had felt strong and sure as he had pointed it at the Captain, he had been ready to fight.

Then the unthinkable had happened… her throat had been cut… He had dropped the sword on the ground and rushed to his wife's side but it had already been to late.

It was a servant whom had brought the sword back to the estate, Francesco hadn't even wanted to look at it. Someone else had cleaned it and put it on the mantle, and now it rested there collecting dust, untouched.

Francesco closed his eyes as he felt the exhaustion he so often felt overwhelm him again.

"Father?" Lolita asked.

"Sorry, I suppose my mind wandered off for a bit there." Francesco replied in a gentle smile.

"That's okay, you must have a lot on your mind." Lolita commented.

"Yes." Francesco nodded. "Yes indeed." he said as he turned his back to the sword and followed Lolita to the dining hall, never even turning around to look at it again.