Fernanda told Javier everything about her meeting with Lance earlier that afternoon, as he lay on the sofa, smoking.

"I asked el Negro to find out as much as he could about him."

"I don't think there's much to find out. But then, I could be wrong. And suppose he finds something you don't like?"

"Like…?"

"I don't know. If we have no idea where he comes from, anything's possible. Let's see…he could be married, and have left his wife and kids, he could be…a criminal, running from the law. His friends, too. His friends could be…his brothers, or slaves…the possibilities are endless, you know."

"Just why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I know for a fact that you are starting to like him."

"El Negro has already found out most of what I wanted to know, anyway. He's not married, it looks like he and his friends, with whom he lives with, arrived on a pirate ship. They haven't a cent with them. They live in one of those parts of the city that we aren't allowed to go. At least not me. I don't really see why, but…I want to do something."she said, suddenly. "I want to give him a horse. The finest horse of them all, except for mine, of course."

"Fer, um, I've seen that guy riding on a horse so fine, that it only needs to talk."

"But that's Fernando's, not his."she said. "I want to get him his own horse."

"You're a girl. He's a guy. Since when does a girl give a guy a gift?"

"Since now. I'm going to find the finest horse we have and give it to him."

Fernanda spent all the next day, looking at all the horses her family owned. Thousands, it seemed, trying to figure out which one he would like most. When she finally selected one, she gave orders for it to be taken to the captain's.

"What do you think?"she asked Javier.

"Well, he's impressive, that's for sure."he answered. "At least, for as long as he can keep it. A horse like that, in that part of town, isn't going to last very long. He'll certainly be stolen, or something."

"Nonsense."

"And how do you plan on getting it to him?"

"Simply by having someone take the horse to Fernando's. That's all."

"Oh, boy."

"After this, I'd like you to do something for me."

"First, I'd have to know what the thing is, wouldn't I?"

"You're going to talk to him. You have to help me. You see, lo quiero para mi."

"I've noticed. But why me? Shouldn't my dad be the one to do that."

"You're just as good. Besides, you and I both know that my uncle would never do that. Not unless my Tia Petra authorizes it. And we both know that she most definitely won't. Please."

Javier looked at his cousin. He knew just how headstrong and stubborn she was, and how dangerous she could be when she didn't have her own way. She was willing to go to any means to get it, no matter what. And he had never denied to help her with anything, when it was within his reach.

"It's just that…this seems a little…I don't know. I mean, you could have any of the men in this town. I thought you had your eye on Fernando Ortiz."

"I did, but now I've changed my mind. Besides, Fernando will never marry me."

"Fine. I'll go."

Fernanda hugged him.

"For me?"

Lance couldn't believe that anyone could possibly send something for him. He didn't know anyone. Oh, well, perhaps the Captain wanted to thank him, or give him some reward for his good work, or something. It seemed that was the only explanation. When he went out, there stood a man in an elegant uniform, with a horse.

"Oh, my."he said. "Who's that for?"

"It's for someone who goes by the name Lance Alvers. He's in charge of the Captain's horses."

"You…you've got the wrong information. That can't be for me."

"Is your name Lance Alvers?"

"Yes."

"Do you look after the horses for Capitan Ortiz?"

"Um, yeah, I do."

"It's for you."

"But who would think to send me such a…gift."

"Los Condes de Aragon. Specifically, la hermana menor del the only thing he could say, looking at the animal.

"Where did you get a horse?"asked Pietro. "We barely have enough to feed us, and now you've got an animal, also."

"It's not just any horse. Don't you see? It must be worth thousands!"

"We can probably get good money for it!"exclaimed Pietro.

"Of course not!"said Lance. "It was a gift. Someone send me a horse as a gift. And a very nice one, too."

"Who would send you anything?"asked Toad.

"Well, he said it was from the count's youngest sister. I met her a few days ago. An unusual person, but…and now she's send me this. There's no way I can sell or get rid of a gift from a count's sister! Don't you see? It's an honor."

"Why would a girl you've only met once send you anything?"

"I suppose…she wanted to do something nice for someone, and she chose me, and she decided a horse."

The next afternoon, Javier went to where, according to Roque, these guys lived.

"This place is a total dump."he said, dismounting his horse, and looking around.

One of his servants went to knock on the door. Toad answered it.

"Uh, yeah?"

"Su sria. hijo del Conde de Aragon, Francisco Javier Manuel Adolfo Medina y Arellano here, and he wishes to speak to talk to Lance Alvers."said the man at the door.

"What?"

He began to repeat.

"I heard you the first time. Uh, just a sec."he was about to close the door, but the man stopped him. "Uh…why don't you come in, and I'll go get him for you."he decided, instead.

They led Javier in.

"Just a sec. Uh, Lance, you have guests."he told him.

"Who?"

"I don't know. Some really fancy people. Or person. The rest seem to work for him."

This probably won't take too long, where could he be? The place is pretty small. Not many places he could be, he thought to himself.

"I'm Lance Alvers."

Javier introduced himself.

"My aunt wanted me to come and speak to you on her behalf."he said.

"Your aunt?"

"You've met her."

"Oh. I didn't know she had a nephew your age."

"Oh, well…you know, these things happen. I know that it should be my father here, but, as we're closer in age, she asked me. I know it should be the other way around, but, she insisted. You should know, that you have my permission to court her."

"I never wanted to court anyone."

"Well, she seems pretty interested in you, so…I would think about it. For right now, I'd like for you to work at the palace. She begged me for that, too. You'd get a much higher salary, trust me. And from the looks of it, you certainly need it. I mean, you don't want to keep living like this for the rest of your life, do you?"

"No, of course not."

"Then what do you say?"

"Well, fine, I'll work for you. It sounds good."

"You could live at the palace, like all the workers there."

"What about my friends?"

"We could find them something to do, also."

"Then…we'll take it."