"Lena...please..."

Bill had the horrible feeling he'd just walked in on something private. His foster son's face was taut and unreadable, his blue-grey eyes turned black in the shadow of the stables. His foster-daughter was silent, turned away from them as she so often was of late, her face completely hidden by the sweep of her golden-brown hair. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

Kit turned his face to Bill, nodded once, and turned back. Bill looked at Lena for confirmation, but she didn't move. There was a moment's silence before she answered, very softly; "Of course it is..." her face turned to Kit a fraction, her eyes still hidden from...