"Find her."

"Find her."

"Find her!"

Luke's entire twisted in agony as the voice in his head made him gasp awake. His forehead ached so fiercely he cradled it between his clawing fingers. Unshed tears gathered in his eyes as another wave of pain was induced in his head. It was like someone was screaming in his ear only a hundred times louder.

He roared again as another unnatural burst of longing and misery rolled through his body.

"Master Luke!" Elliot banged the door open, wide eyed and scared, his toupee nearly flying off his head.

"Find her, find her," Luke growled with his head between his knees. The elderly companion huddled over the Prince, forcing the shaking body into a heartfelt embrace.

"Calm down, my boy, calm down." Elliot tried to sooth his charge down, feeling just as overwrought. He did not know what magic the woman had done to him but he would do everything in his power to break it.

////

The Royal Stables covered a vast area of the palace land and contained purebreds from all over the world. The horses silently watched the group of curious young men being led through the arched corridors.

"I do not see why our horse riding skills must be tested. Times are changing and we live in the city. We hardly need horses anymore," The snooty looking dandy scoffed.

"You might reconsider this means of employment if you believe you will spend time loitering in the city palace. Prince Luke has many holdings all over the kingdom which he visits regularly all on horse back," The elderly Mister Elliot walked out soundlessly from one shed making the young man being addressed flinch.

Elliot brought out a white horse with hair so silky any woman would be envious off it. It was widely known the Royal family liked to breed this particular shade and used them to lead out carriages for processions. From a distance they were splendid but up close the beast was magnificent.

"Men, I have another task set out for you. I will be assigning different horses to each of you. While horse riding may not be a regular part of your routine, the Prince will require a secretary who is able to keep up with him on his horse rides. It will only be in your disadvantage if you do not use this opportunity to learn this specific task."

Jade was handled a dappled Kladruber. She patted his nose and, in a move she had long learnt from her first horse trainer, she seated herself with ease. Her horse barely shifted under weight showing itself to be a patient sort.

"Show off," Someone coughed but Jade was too amused to care. She had nothing but the skills her father had helped her acquire which she was proud of. She steadily weaved her way through the meandering group, who were still fretting over which horse to choose, and made her way to other wing of the horse stables.

This particular room was high ceiling-ed indoor riding arena. The ground was divided into a couple of training areas but most of the grounds were dedicated to racing horses.

Seeing the arena empty of other riders bar the staff that worked there Jade started exercising the horse in preparation for any future exertion. It would not do to put a horse through duress without stretching it a little. She was busy making it do sharp turns when she found a familiar man brushing a horse near the large doors that were the exit.

"Hellloo," Jade called out and her voice echoed embarrassingly in the room. The man paused and then turned around. She quickly trotted forward hoping she didn't have to shout in that horribly high pitch anymore.

"It's good to see a familiar face," Jade blurted out, feeling like a village buffoon.

"I will agree with the sentiment," The grey eyed man observed her with an intensity that frightened the girl, "I see Elliot is preparing the brood for horse classes."

"He will be if they get out of their stupor and actually climb their horses," She causally crossed her arms trying to keep her tone carefree. What if the man could sense she was not what she claimed to be but her fear was unfounded and the man looked away without comment.

"I would not be surprised. Men in the cities are soft," The man uttered, letting his dark hair cover half his face.

"Oho, as if you aren't a city dweller yourself." Jade trotted her horse in a circle around the long haired man.

"Why, yes, you caught me there but I do travel," The man's mouth quirked showing his amusement, "I could show you around one day."

"As good as that sounds I doubt I'll even get this job. There is so much competition. My landlord might be the carefree sort but I cannot live on his mercy any longer. It is quite intolerable to be in so much debt and on top of that I've managed to lose the only recommendation I had."

"Is that so?" The man replied mysteriously, "I am sure things will turn up."

Jade was prevented from regurgitating everything to the quiet man by a young stable boy who ran towards them. She felt infinitely grateful. "M-master Elliot is waiting for you," He addressed Jade but his eyes were fixed on her companion. He ran away just as swiftly after a quick bow.

"Better go, I shall see you again?" Jade asked hesitantly. She did not want to impose herself on the man but the man nodded instead of giving her a disdainful look as she had expected.

"Mr. Ward, lost again?" Elliot eyed her with a strange tone of voice. He was surrounded by the myriad of men and horses who did not seem to coordinate enough to get anywhere.

"I was giving my horse a run," Jade coughed out huskily as her horse came to a pause with a flurry of dust.

"Go, are you are not required here any longer."

"Have I done something wrong?" The girl's heartbeat reached her ears until it was the only thing she could hear. Was she finally being dismissed for continuously wandering off?

"No," Elliot gave her a very very rare smile, "Your form is perfect. I do not think you require any classes or examination. I have enough on my hands as it is. You may continue practicing in the outer riding arena."

In that moment if Jade had not been atop a horse she would have fallen prostrate on the ground and kissed the man's feet

"Thank you, thank you," She called out breathlessly and with a small bow raced for the large doors that led onto the exit. She had never felt more free in her life.

Outside the skies were clear and the birds chirped down at her. Pushed by her success, Jade raced her horse down the pathway that led into the fenced area. She did a couple of rounds wishing her hair was long so she could enjoy wind flowing through them. On her left was a large sculptured garden and it seemed a large garden party had descended on the green lawn. She was about to leave to give them privacy when someone calling out to her caught her attention.

"Mr. Ward, Mr. Ward." Emma beckoned with large smile near a fenced gate.

Jade trotted over, smiling at her new friend. The girl was sitting all alone on a picnic blanket with a large meal laid out in front of her. She seemed utterly divorced of the crowd. In a distance the crown prince was sitting with a large attendance around him tittering at whatever bland joke he had uttered.

"Another father sanctioned outing?" Jade raised her eyebrow at the obvious disparity. She jumped down from the horse and tied it to the nearby fence.

"I'm afraid so. I almost wish I had not successfully completed my studies Finishing school for the Virtuous, Principled Ladies. All this empty headed socializing is giving me a headache."

"You went there too?" Jade asked immediately. She had never went but had heard much about from her various friends.

"Yes, do you know anyone who attended?"

"I once knew a couple of girls," The tall girl scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. It would have been awkward to have blurted out that she had meant to go there as well.

"Many girls?" Emma cooed with a mischievous smirk, "Very popular with the ladies, eh?"

"Hardly," The auburn haired girl laughed, "And certainly not like Mr. Popular over there."

"Edward is such a brat. His whining is insufferab- Oh, why is he coming here?" The fine haired girl shifted uncomfortably and her neck and face grew splotchy and red.

"Ignore him," Jade had her back to him but her face grew stony at the idea of interacting with the man again. He was truly as insufferable as Emma claimed, "As, I was saying-"

"Ahem," They were interrupted by a shadow falling on them and an annoying cough.

"Yes?" Jade sneered as she turned around. Seeing how much the man's presence discomfited the girl she could not help but feel protective.

"Back again?" The Prince jeered with an unpleasant look on his face.

"Emma, is a dear friend and she wished for my company," The taller girl took the shorter ones hand gently and placed on her arm. The other girl was fiercely radiating embarrassment and did not dare look up.

"I did not think my invitation had the option of bringing in guests," The dark hair man directed this to the younger girl with much contempt.

"She has been graciously offered a place to sit so far away she might as well be on her own. I'm sure our presence will have no effect on the royal guests. Now, if you will excuse us. I have been promised a walk around the garden," Jade bowed lightly and tugged Emma along with her. They shuffled away leaving the Prince glaring at their backs.

"I don't know how you do it," Emma wheezed with still brightly red cheeks, "I dare not say a word."

"And why ever not? He may be a Prince but he is just a man!"

"I know, I know, but my father's entire livelihood depends on him but but I would be lying if that was real excuse. He just unnerves me so much."

"Has he done anything?" The older girl was instantly on edge.

"No, not quite. I spent so many years getting pushed around by him as a child but when I came back from the academy it all changed. Not in his words. He still berates me as always but sometimes when I'm not looking he just stares at me so. Does he hate me quite so much?" The light haired girl asked innocently.

Jade silently stared at the girl who she now recognized as someone incredibly sheltered. There were few reasons why a man would stare at a girl and none of them pleasant. The Prince was in a position of power and Emma was his servant's daughter. History had shown such power imbalance could cause many indignities to girls in that position. Jade vowed to herself that as long as she was in the castle she would do everything in her power to protect anyone who was in the path to such dangers.