After a few more hours of roaming around thinking of how I could make John change his mind and moping about how that name will follow me forever, I made my way back to the place we had set up camp. The sun was beginning to rise as I got back, Geoff and the horses were laying together resting and John was sat on a log staring at the dried-out fire pit. He had black bags under his eyes and he looked rather sullen. I walked silently towards where the other horses laid down on the forest floor. Cindy lay down and I lay with my head resting on her side. I turned my back towards John who had watched me silently enter and lay down.

“Where’ve you been all night? eh!” John growled. I turned my head to look at him, his face looked angry but his eyes showed hurt.

“Doesn’t matter. Please just leave me be.” I mumbled turning my head back away from him and closing my eyes. I stroked Cindy’s side as she slept.

“I was really worried Eevee,” John said softly, I hummed in response before drifting off into the land of my dreams. Ignoring whatever John was ranting on about.

I was suddenly woken by a jolt and slowly opened my eyes to see the sky moving above me, it was a bright day, blue sky’s and not a cloud in sight. I sat up quickly as I startled to the realization that I was moving and almost fell off the horse I had been on.

“Whoa there, so ye’ve finally woken up sleepin’ beauty.” Geoff’s voice sounded as he gripped onto me. My back was very close to his chest, had he held me here all morning?

“Uh... what?” I asked rather confused in my sleepy daze.

“What time did yeh get back yesterday? You’ve been sound asleep all mornin’.” Geoff said as he looked down at me with a cheeky grin.

“It was around 5 ish, I don’t know. Why didn’t you just wake me up?” I asked softly as I avoided eye contact with him.

“John told me yer got back late and to leave yeh be. Guess yer would’ve been even more cranky if yeh had been woken.” Geoff chuckled.

I glanced up at him for a moment. He was smiling, he still looked strikingly fearful but he seemed rather handsome with a smile on his face. wait. no. I did not just think that about a pirate. I felt quite awkward being sat so close to him so I thought of a way to get out of the position.

“Uhm, I’m awake now so I can ride on Cindy or Lilly,” I mumbled softly afraid of what he may answer.

“Cindy’s too exhausted to carry you right now, the poor thing has to be pulled along next to John and his horse. And Lilly doesn’t seem to let anyone near her, not even John and he’s great with animals.” Geoff said looking straight ahead at the path we were taking, it was then that I realized that we were both on my father’s horse Toby.

“Let me try, she’ll let me on, she has before now. Here I’ll show you let me down.” I said softly as a ran my hand down Toby’s neck, Toby stopped and Geoff helped me down and I walked to Lilly who seemed to be uncomfortable walking near John and Geoff.

“Heya Lilly, would it be alright if I rode you for a while? Cindy’s way too tired to carry me and I don’t really want to ride on the same horse as these two pirates.” I spoke softly to the shy horse who in reply knelt to let me clamour onto her back.

“Woah! She let yer on! I wasn’t expectin that!” Geoff said astounded.

“Well, I have been taking care of her for the eleven years after my parents went missing. I’ve only ridden her once before when Cindy was badly injured by one of the villagers.” I said softly as I rode Lilly closer to Toby who seemed rather calm in this situation.

“I see. So, they even took it out on your horses.” Geoff spoke sadly as he pets Toby’s neck.

“Ah, yeah, I rode her into town once and back then we went to the stalls and they freaked out and someone used a pitchfork on her leg, and someone burnt her thigh. I never trusted anyone again and I always walked from home after that.” I said softly as I softly put my fingers through Lilly’s mane.

Geoff stayed silent for a while until he spoke in a happier tone.

“Well, yer can ferget about that village. We’re yer family now till yer on the new continent!”

I looked at him slightly stunned. I’d not had a family for 11 years and suddenly this guy that I met yesterday is telling me we’re family even though we aren’t related, I don’t know why but it made me so happy.

“Thanks, it’s nice to know others want me to be in their family,” I said with a small smile as I looked down at Lilly.

“Oi, you two stop flirting and get a move on. It’s going to get dark soon and those armoured idiots might find us at this pace!” John yelled from behind us.

I turned and glared at him slightly, before making Lilly walk at a faster pace. Geoff made Toby walk slightly faster so he was going the same pace as her.

“He’s just grumpy cause yer won’t talk to ’im,” Geoff said softly,

“Don’t care. He could be a little nicer about not liking my life decisions. Not like he should have any say in the matter.” I grumbled back not looking anywhere but where I was going.

“What happened yer seemed to be in a happy mood a few moments ago, does his opinion really bother yer that much?” Geoff looked at me with and awkward look, knowing he didn’t exactly want to talk about it I stayed silent until I heard the clanking of metal on the side of us.

“Geoff, I hear them. The guards. Stay quiet and stop the horses. Cindy’s too exhausted to make a run for it so you two are going to have to disguise yourselves as merchants and I’ll create a diversion.” I whispered towards Geoff.

I stopped my horse and John looked like he was about to yell when I turned my head to shush him. He rode his horse towards us and I told him my plan which he, of course, objected to.

“We don’t have time to argue. Will you just listen to me for once?!” I growled at him.

“I have a better plan. You and Geoff disguise as relatives while I make a run for it that direction. That way they chase me and the horse we stole and think I’m still the captain.” John said still not liking my idea. We both looked to Geoff for his decision.

“We’re goin’ with Johns idea. He knows how to get out of binds and loose them. We can’t expect ye to do the same. Yer being my relative. Yer my... uh. John, what will she be to me?” Geoff said looking towards John, I crossed my arms in a huff but I understand where he was coming from, John knew the way out here, I, unfortunately, didn’t.

“Daughter. she’ll be your daughter.” John sighed, he then handed Cindy over to me.

“Fine, fine, but I need to make it look like we are. Hand me that bag.” I said pointing to the bag I had the day I had been taken.

John looked at me confused but handed me the bag anyway. It was quite a large satchel that fit a few clothes in. I used them as disguises myself as some of the shop owners wouldn’t allow me to enter their shops.

I pulled out a few pieces of clothing and a few other things and held them out to Geoff.

“Put on this cloak and fake beard,” I said with not much emotion in my tone.

“Uhm...why?” Geoff asked tilting his head.

“Don’t question it just do it and don’t speak if they come to us alright?” I said as I put on my own cloak.

“What’s this beard this made of anyway?” Geoff mumbled as he put it on his face hesitantly.

“What did I just say about questioning it?” I grumbled.

With a sigh, I looked at Geoff who looked quite a lot older with the dark beard and the cloak over him.

“Okay, John go hide in those trees. And make sure you're quiet.” I said as Geoff and I were in our disguise.

John rolled his eyes but nodded anyway and walked off. Cindy looked like she could just collapse and sleep at any moment. Geoff looked down to me as if going to ask a question.

“If you’re going to ask why I have a fake beard and cloaks and stuff I’ll explain later. Just don’t speak and keep your head down and your hair covered.” I said not looking his direction.

“Sure thing.” was all Geoff answered before we began walking the horses.

It didn’t take long before the soldiers saw us and stopped us, they looked tired, hungry and pitiful.

“Hey, you there! Halt!” The one in front yelled.

We had already halted our horses, I resisted the urge to say something sarcastic back. They rode up to us with an air of pride which looked amusing considering how battered and broken they actually looked.

“What is your business going towards the capital?” A tall masculine man with bushy side burns asked as he made himself look big and intimidating.

“I’m taking my blind uncle to the capital so it will be easier to find a career for him. He looked after me when my merchant parents died at sea by the hands of those dirty pirates.” I spoke with sorrow and hatred in my voice as I kept my head down just enough so they couldn’t see my eyes but I could see them.

“Oh, you poor young lass. You're so kind to do that for your dear uncle. He must be proud of such a kind soul that he raised,” The man said looking at me with a lear. I tried hard to keep my head down and not gag at him.

“Thank you, sir, I do hope that my uncle is proud of me. He taught me everything I know and helped me learn self-defence just encase bandits attack,” I said going to grab Geoff’s reins.

“Why’d you let go of his reins?” The guard asked with suspicion clouding his eyes.

“Oh, you startled me when you called to us. It’s a good thing Toby knows to stay where he is when I don’t have the reins.” I said cheerfully. Cindy let out an exhausted whinny.

“That’s a smart horse you’ve got there. And an exhausted one to the other side.” He spoke in a sweet tone,

“Ah, I went on a ride around our camp as I couldn’t settle. Cindy here was restless all night and didn’t sleep much, I would usually be riding her but she’s too tired to carry me so I’m leading her while on Lily.” I said softly patting Lilly gently on the neck,

“Well, they are beautiful horses, much like their owner. My name is Dan, I was lucky to stop a beauty like you miss?” Dan asked wanting my name, I had to make one quickly as I hadn’t planned on talking to them this long.

“Eveline. It was a pleasure Sir Dan, I’m terribly sorry to cut this sh-” I was in the middle of trying to make an excuse to leave when a sound came from behind the bushes in front of us,

We stood staring in the direction it came from for a few moments until a dark figure on a dark horse came sprinting across the road towards the forest on the other side. The group of guards stayed silent for a moment before a loud curse was heard and they shot off in that direction leaving me and Geoff stood in supposed confusion.

"Will he be alright?" I asked softly as the last guard was out of sight.

"'Course he will. He's gotta be 'cause he's the only good tactician," Geoff said before pulling off the scratchy beard and cloak,

I took my hood down though kept the cloak on as it was warm on me, I tucked Geoff's beard and cloak in my satchel and we began off again.