Cold. Logan was engulfed in the icy hold of the ocean's waters. He cracked his eyes open halfway to see the pitch black smoke rising against the towering flames. The screams of his villagers were muffled in his ears by the waves. Logan's world went dark within seconds.

The young man couldn't hear the shouts or feel the hands pulling him up out of the water. A distant feminine voice barked commands to others as Logan faded in and out of conciouness. When he opened his eyes again, he stared up at a wooden ceiling.

His muscles throbbed and his skin screamed in pain from the burns he'd sustained. As he laid there, he could feel a sensation akin to swaying. He was on a boat. No, a large ship. Suddenly remembering the village of Arden being engulfed in flames, Logan shot up in from the bed he was resting in. "Slow down there, young man!" Logan jumped when someone spoke to him. He hadn't even noticed the woman that was sitting in the corner until she yelled at him.He watched with wide eyes as she stood up from her seat and came to his side to stand over him.

She was a middle-aged woman in her 40s with dark red curls tied up on her head. She was of an average height with broad shoulders and bright turqoise eyes that pierced Logan's very soul. The woman learned down to be eye level with him before speaking again.

" Do you have a name? I'd rather not call you 'kid' all the time." Her voice was curt when addressing him, but not uncaring. "... My name is Logan." His voice came out horse from the precious smoke inhalation. The woman nodded. "Mine is Aileen." It was almost difficult to understand her due to a thick Scottish accent she had. "Wait here," Aileen insteucted him in a way that left no room for protest.

The red-headed woman made strides towards the door to the room with purpose in each step. She cracked open the door to step outside, shutting it behind her.

Logan's heart dropped to his stomach in dread. The anxiety of not knowing if anyone else survived was eating away at him like termites. His foster father had thrown him into the waves from the docks as the flames engulfed everything in it's path. Logan was out checking his rabbit traps when it all happend. It was when he was headed home that he saw the smoke in the sky followed by the roaring fire.

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There was no possible way this happened from natural causes. The climate of the Irish coast was too moist and it was the middle of spring, not summer. It was unlikely that this was an accident. The people were always quick to out it out whenever an accident did happen. When Logan ran home, he could hear most of the screams coming from inside the church. The more he thought about the details, the more the fire appeared to be the work of arson.

The sound of the door opening interrupted his thoughts. Logan turned his head to see who was entering. His brown eyes landed on a different woman from the one before. She was young, appearing to be about his age. She had a round face with a small stature; as if to emphasize her youth. The thing that caught his attention next was her eyes. She had large, steely grey eyes framed by dark eyelashes. This woman appeared to be young and girlish, and yet she carried herself with confidence rivaling that of nobility. Then it dawned on him. He'd seen her before a few times in the village.

Sailors would occasionally stop at Arden to rest and resupply before moving on. He never knew her by name. But she always came into his foster mother's bakery to buy her sota bread.

"It is a relief to see that you are doing well. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the this vessel's captain, Eris. Aileen has told me your name is Logan, yes?" She spoke to him in a soft tone. "Yes, that's right," he answered her with vigor. "Under different circumstances, I would say it's a pleasure to make your aquaintence." The young woman, Eris, came to stand next to the bed. "May I sit?" Logan nodded and she say down beside him. " I need to go back home," he stated his thoughts plainly. "Allow me to explain myself. I'm certain you have questions. My company and I were in search of a harbor to dock at for the night when we saw your home on fire," her eyes softened as abe recalled her side of the story, " We spotted you in the water and we pulled you on board. You nearly drowned."

Logan was beginning to find his frustration more difficult to conceal as each moment passed. " I'm grateful for you saving my life. But I need to get back to my family." Eris pursed her lips, glancing down to the wooden floor. " I didn't think you would take my word for it, so I have the ship anchored down. Come with me to the deck. I'll take you back home to show you." Eris stood up, offering Logan her hand to help him. He accepted the gesture and stood up with her help. "Follow me. But I must warn you that you won't like what you see."