Another week had passed and I was itching to leave the house and help Lachlan in the garden or see what he was doing in the barn, but everyone's warnings to stay inside were creating fear. Finally, I could not take it anymore and I went out the back door. That was exactly when I heard a knock at the front door. Freezing in place, I panicked wondering what to do. What if I go back in and they come inside without waiting for someone to open the door? The stairs were plainly visible to anyone who entered the front door.

"Lachlan!" a man called.

I saw movement by the barn and Lachlan stepped out but he did not see me. "In the barn!" he called. The front door opened and I realized the visitor was going through the small house rather than walking around. I jumped away from the back door and looked for a place to hide. The well was not big enough to hide me, and the nearest tree was too far. I darted around the edge of the house just as the back door opened.

"There you are," the man greeted Lachlan.

"Henry." I peeked around the corner to see them shake hands.

"I had some mail for you, and Mrs. Berry said you were building her a new milking stool. She can't get away from the house so I offered to come out and fetch it."

"It's in the barn," Lachlan nodded his head that way. "Thanks for saving me a trip this week."

"I noticed you've gotten more mail lately."

"Yes, my ma isn't so well these days. Just keeping in touch a little more."

Henry grunted in agreement and began to follow Lachlan to the barn. I moved to go to the front of the house, but as I started to turn the corner, I saw two horses, and one rider. Ducking back around the corner, I prayed the second person had not seen me.

"…brought my boy with me," Henry said from somewhere. I heard their steps getting closer.

"I hope Mrs. Berry is pleased," Lachlan said.

"A milking stool is just a stool, ain't it?" Henry laughed. "Say, how's your crops doing? It's nearly harvest time."

"I don't have much for crops this year. It's been pretty dry."

"Sure has. The king's asking farmers for a second planting this year, if they can do it. They need food for the troops.

"Even this far south?"

"We're more likely to get another harvest in before winter."

I could tell Lachlan was thinking. "Any news?"

"Naw, just rumors. Bunch of the lads are planning to go off to the capital city and enlist for the king. Few others have said there's a chance for a new king, one with blood ties to the former royal family and King Stephen. I don't know nothing about that."

I heard the horses nicker and then Lachlan said, "You and me both, Henry."

"Oh, I forgot! You know the duke of Kerth? I guess his son was given the duchy north of Kerth. I can't never remember the name of it, but it seems that duke was one of them who is against the king."

I forgot to breathe for a second. "What happened to the former duke?" Thank you, Lachlan.

"Don't know. I heard he was one of the leaders of the revolt though. I hope King Stephen takes all their heads."

"I'm sure he'll do something," Lachlan said.

"Well, I best get back. Oh, here's your mail." I peeked around the back of the house again. This time, Lachlan saw me. His eyes got big but he looked back at Henry with a smile.

"Thanks, Henry. I really do appreciate this. Did you say your son was with you?"

"I did."

"I'll walk you through the house and go tell him hello." The back door opened, but I did not move until I heard the front door shut. Then I sneaked through the back as quiet as possible, and peered into the parlor before quietly climbing the stairs. The window in my bedroom was open, so I kept out of sight until I was below it.

"It was good to see you," Lachlan called and I heard the horse hooves as they clopped away. A few minutes later, there was a knock at my door.

"Are they gone?" I said, just above a whisper.

"They are gone." Lachlan came in and I pulled myself up from the floor.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to go outside so bad and of course as soon as I did, someone came and then I was going to sneak in the front but there was someone out front."

"I don't think anyone saw you."

"I am so sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I hate being stuck in this old house too sometimes." He tilted his head, "So then I go out and spend hours in the barn. Wow, I trade one cell for another," he laughed, "anyway, you've got two pieces of mail." He handed me the opened envelopes. "They were both addressed to me, but, you are more popular." He made a pouty face.

"Oh, stop." I hit his arm with the mail. "This one is from your mother. I thought you were tired of talking to her anyway."

"But she's my mother, not yours." He could not keep from giving me his half-smile before turning toward the door. "It's safe to come downstairs if you want."

I followed Lachlan downstairs and sat at the kitchen table to read the letters. The first was indeed from Wini, explaining that she had heard from her son that he was well, but nothing more. She did write there had been battles and rumors of an uprising near Roland's castle, so Cedric's healing skills may have been needed. I felt like she was apologizing for him, which she did not need to do. The rest of the letter was about Lachlan and how I needed to make sure he was not overworking me and he was being a proper host. You may have to tell him to read my previous letters, she wrote at one point, and I laughed out loud.

Picking up the second letter, I saw that Wini had also written a page that folded around the others. She said this letter had arrived at her home, and though she knew the names were false, she read through the letter and decided to send it on to me. I hope you don't think I am trying to pry, dear, but the letter was written from a J. Moore to me, then inside a short note said to send it on to wherever you were staying. I checked it for magic, but I do not find any. Quickly turning to the bulk of the letter, I saw Johnna's script and began to read before finishing Wini's note.

Dear Mr. Moore,

I am writing to you because I have had a new idea for a novel, but before I hash out all the details I wanted to run it by you. You seem to always know where I should add detail or what I should strikethrough. Here is the outline of the story.

A man has overthrown his father and taken his place, but not as king, a lesser title. The father had been a tyrant for many years and the family had fallen apart. Let us name the main character Andrew, the man who took his father's place. Andrew has a sister who disappeared while their father was still the lord of the land. She could have been stolen or murdered or ran away, I have not decided yet. But now that Andrew is the lord, he desperately wants to find his sister, or at least find out what happened to her.

Andrew's father had tried to find her, and Andrew's wife thinks it is a waste of time, but Andrew thinks his sister has a bit of knowledge that would help Andrew in his quest for power. He sends all the people he can afford to search for her, but it is not many, as he is still quelling disputes from his father's supporters. He does however, enlist the help of a powerful sorcerer, who has enchanted an item that the girl once held dear, and with this, the sorcerer is closing in on the location of Andrew's sister.

However, along another storyline are other sorcerers, who know the sister's whereabouts, and why she is no longer at home. They must work to stop Andrew's sorcerer from finding the sister. And they must also warn the sister that she is in danger. These are her allies, but are they ready for battle? What if they are preoccupied with other duties?

That is where I've had some writer's block. You see, I have not decided yet what the sister might know that would benefit Andrew, nor why she would be in danger of her brother finding her. It was the father that was the tyrant. However, perhaps the father had also turned to the sorcerers for help in this matter. See, Mr. Moore, how you make my brainstorming so much better? Perhaps the father was still intending to do his daughter harm, but her brother may be trying to protect her. I'm not sure how that will play out.

Frankly Mr. Moore, I do not have an ending yet, but do you think this story about Andrew would be interesting enough for a novel? Do not write me back now. With the increasing skirmishes, I hate to put people's lives in danger just to deliver mail. Also, the king has designated the roads for the military, and all other travelers must travel off road or only on the road when it is not being used.

I will see you soon enough, as I believe we will both be attending our good friend's wedding. You can tell me what you think when we meet there, and perhaps I will have a better yarn to spin for you in person. Until then, take care my friend.

J.

I read Johnna's letter again and again. I knew she was trying to tell me something, but I was not sure I understood it all. I went back to finish Wini's note. This sounds like a dire warning for us all, but I'm not sure exactly what it means. Perhaps you can enlighten me. I think I shall soon come for a visit. Tell Lachlan, please. He hates when I just appear. And take good care, dear.

That was all. It was a warning. But what was Johnna saying? If I was the sister, who was Andrew? James was dead. Michael was too young. I grabbed the papers and went to find Lachlan. He was not in the house, so I cautiously stuck my head out the back door.

"Lachlan?"

He came to the door of the barn, looked around. "There's no one here, come on out."

I ran from the house to the barn, shoving the papers toward him. "Will you read these? There's a message and I'm trying to figure it out." I waited while he read, looking around the small barn with two horse stalls, plenty of hay, a work bench with tools and a lot of pieces of wood, some identifiable, some that was probably scrap.

Lachlan finished, shuffled through the pages, and scratched his head. "I think you are the sister."

"I got that, but my only living brother isn't quite a year old yet. He could not be a lord. And only a few of us even know he's alive."

"And your other brother died. Are you sure about that?"

"Cedric and I were with him."

Lachlan nodded. "But you had a sister. And she was married."

"Not when I left." I tried to count the weeks I had been gone in my head. "She could be now though. They were waiting for the end of the season."

"So, technically her husband would be your brother-in-law." I frowned and thought. "Did you get along well with him? Your brother-in-law to be?"

"At first, but then he blackmailed me, threatening to kill Michael, and to tell Roland about Cedric." I saw Lachlan's confusion. "I haven't told you much because it's…I was hoping it would all go away."

"Did you hear what Henry said this morning? About the Duke of Kerth's son now being a duke?"

I nodded. "Amber wanted to be Roland's heir, but Michael was in the way. And if I married Roland and had a son, my son would have been the next heir. And Ian used me to get a list of names of those who opposed the king."

"Didn't I tell you I hate politics?"

Rubbing my face with my hands, I turned around, my eyes not seeing what was in front of me as I pondered what had happened. "So, Ian is Andrew and he's looking for me. But why?"

"Uh, your friend did not know." Lachlan waved the pages. "But he's using a sorcerer? And Andrew's father had used a sorcerer?"

"But what sorcerer could he use?"

"Cedric?"

"Roland did not trust magic or magic users. I suppose he could have asked Cedric to look for me, and Cedric would have drawn out the process."

"So, Andrew… or Ian, could still be employing Cedric?"

I gasped. "Ian knew about me and Cedric. He would probably assume that Cedric was not helping Roland. Lachlan!" He stared at me. "What if Ian is holding Cedric as a prisoner or something worse?"

Lachlan grabbed my shoulders and looked in my face. "Listen, Sofia. Do not jump to conclusions ok? Cedric could have been gone long before Ian took charge. Come, sit down." He led me over to a wooden rocking chair that was needing a stain. I did not like how far back I leaned but my sitting seemed to comfort Lachlan. "Give me a minute." He began to read Johnna's message again.

"I think she's saying that someone, a sorcerer, is tracking you. And I get the feeling that Cedric is on his way, but that it will take him longer as he may not have access to roads."

"So that might be what she meant about travel."

"It's a good possibility. Unless you think she is travelling?"

"No. No, she lives at home and not far from the palace. But if a sorcerer is tracking me, I need to leave here."

"And go where?"

"I don't know."

"You can't think of any reason Ian would want to find you? Your friend says it's not necessarily with ill intent."

"I don't know." I shook my head. "Let me think." He stayed silent while I rocked myself. "He was only nice to me when he was trying to court Amber. Then he threatened me and Michael because he wanted the names of Roland's associates, which means he must be aligned with the king. But his parents seemed to stand with Roland when I met them. However, Amber is King Stephan's niece. I don't know anything else that Ian might want to know. He seemed surprised to see my face at the funeral."

"You said the King hates Roland. What about Amber? And who's funeral, why was Andrew, I mean Ian, surprised?"

"Amber was not banished from of the castle with Roland and me. She stayed and was invited back. She said the king offered for her and Ian to be married at the palace, which would have stopped Roland from being able to attend, but then they decided to marry in Kerth." Lachlan was rubbing at his eyes with one hand as if he had a headache. "I'm sorry. I should have just married Roland and not brought anyone else into this mess."

I pushed myself up from the chair. "I can turn myself in. It won't end the war, but perhaps it will-"

"No!" Lachlan turned on me. "I'm sorry for yelling," he quieted his voice and took a breath. "I haven't known you very long, and I have to admit when Ma told me I'd be playing host to a guest, I was not exactly thrilled, but turning yourself in will solve nothing and only create heartache for the people who care about you."

"But-"

"Sofia." His tone told me to stop talking. "We can leave here. I've already told Henry that Ma's not well. I'll have him keep an eye on the place and we can go away for a while."

"No, Lachlan. I have no way to reimburse you and-"

"Will you stop talking?"

I sighed, my shoulders slumping, as I looked at him expectantly.

"I know someone who owes me favor. We'll go there for a short time. I'll run a message for Ma this afternoon and we can leave tomorrow. And who's funeral? You didn't answer me."

"The morning I left we had a funeral for Michael."

"So why would Ian be surprised you were there?"

I looked away. "It was not that I was there, it was… Roland and I argued the day before and he struck me. Ian saw my bruises at the funeral. It wasn't the first time Ian saw bruises, but I don't think he knew Roland could do that."

"And you were going to marry this man?"

"I had no choice! Cedric told me to play along until I could get away! I didn't want to! And things just kept getting more complicated."

"What an idiot!"

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Not you! My stupid brother! He's the idiot."

"Maybe Ian is truly worried about me. He knew I didn't want to marry Roland. I guess it's possible he's a nice guy. But he threated my brother's life."

"We need to err on the side of caution. Let's go back to the house. I'll write a note to Ma. Let me know if you want to include anything and I'll take it to town. You could do some baking this afternoon so we have food for the road."

I nodded and followed him out of the barn and into the house. I started preparing to make bread and Lachlan sat down to write his mother. He startled me when he put his hand on my shoulder. "I'll be as quick as possible. Make something hearty for supper while you're at it. Especially since we missed lunch today."

"I will," I smiled. Lachlan left through the back door and a few minutes later I heard the horse hooves growing fainter as he departed.