"James? What have you been doing?" Edmund left me sitting on the ground.

He headed straight to a boy standing up on the hill, leaving me at the mercy of this horse, who seemed to be so interested in me. It was breathing hard and two huge dark eyes were watching me. I could tell he had bubbling energy sitting within him ready to be released. His feet were restlessly stumping the ground too close for my comfort. I felt afraid to move. Just like with Edmund, I did not want to spook or anger this animal.

Somehow through the shape of the horse, I got a glimpse of two boys in a distance. This boy - James - was bowing low in front of my master in apology, I thought. Like everybody in this property, he seemed to be wary of Edmund's reaction and paid the most highest respects to him, like to a King of the nation. I could not understand how Edmund being so young could have gotten so much power?

Horse's head came right in front of my face and he inhaled a deep breath as well as sniffed me, it's breath heavily fanning my flustered cheeks like the wind. Then it threw his head up in a playful motion.

I felt two hands grab my form and lift me up to my feet.

"Oh my god. Are you OK? D...did Storm hurt you?"

I turned my head around and saw James looking at me worriedly. He was low on the breath after running down the hill.

"S...storm?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"Yeah, Storm. The horse," he said and reached to get hold of reins again.

James looked a bit older than Edmund - in his early teens. He had dirty blond hair which was messy and blowing in a wind, making its locks look even more out of place. His green eyes gazed gently at raging Storm, who was back in defiant mood. Outfit on his body was in earthly colors, fit for work in fields and out in open. He looked like a person who knows things about horses but strangely could not get a hold of Storm.

"Who it belongs to?" a rather stupid question left my lips. I knew everything here is owned by Edmund and his family, but I wanted to know is a horse for someone particular?

"He...hehe... It belongs to our young Lord Wiltshire. It is his precious black gem. You won't believe, but no one can handle Storm better than he himself." he smiled and tried to pet a horse, who easily avoided James touch.

"How do you like my possession?" Edmund appeared from behind Storm, walking casually and eyeing both of us.

"Uhmm... he helped me... so I guess he is OK," I said unsure.

"I am not talking about James, but about the horse. ... And he has never truly been my possession in any sense. Only you have that privilege of all the humans to take that spot." Edmund was clearly making fun of me.

I could not blame him. I was not the smartest one around.

They both laughed, Edmund lauder than James, not even hiding his amusement.

I felt embarrassment crawl up to my cheeks.

"H...he is scary." I finally said under my nose.

"Scary?" Edmund made a deep scowl.

James laugh broke the silence between us: "Sorry, Lord Wiltshire, but I think you are the only one who has missed that characteristic about your own stallion."

"OK. Enough! Thea? Get to work!"

"What?"

"Take my horse to other pasture."

I was hesitant to even go near his animal, but to lead him and be close? I could see in Edmund's eyes his order was anything, but serious demand. With shaking hands, I reached for the reins from James's arms. I felt so afraid. What if Storm pulled out my arms with its strength?

Edmund started to walk leaving me behind with this wild animal. I could feel Storm's energy within his body. He shook his head a few times pulling on me slightly. I stepped a few feet forward and to my surprise, he followed. I could see his confident stance by my side. Every step Storm took was filled with energy, as he pulled each leg high up. His tail was raised as well and head so high, it was hard for me to hold mine up. I was so tiny by his side.

"See? I knew you can do it." Edmund complimented me.

"Yeah! She has better skill than I do." accompanied James. "Maybe we should switch places? You take my place at stables and I will be Lord's little puppy."

Puppy? Yeah, I forgot. What was I to Edmund? Just a pet...just like he told me himself.

"You don't have the skill to be my 'puppy'. Stay in place, where you belong to."

"My apologies Lord Wiltshire. I did not mean it to sound like that." James quickly blurted out.

"Apology accepted," Edmund said arrogantly, but there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Meanwhile, James gave me a wide smile, behind Edmund's back.

It was warm and welcoming. James really seemed like a nice person.

Strangely I had met more nice people in this household, than in all other places combined.

Maybe life here won't be so harsh as I imagined?