Governor del Castillo excused himself from the party and entered the courtyard of his palace. The evening breeze rolling in from the ocean did nothing to cool his heat as his eyes searched among the columns and shadows for the object of his desire. A rustle of silk alerted him to a presence in the farthest corner of the courtyard – far away from listeners and curious eyes as he noted approvingly. As he approached she turned her back on him, but with a back likes hers and a dress like that the governor didn’t mind at all. Only a day ago she had arrived from Spain to see for herself the wonders of California as she had told everyone, and everyone had clung to her every word. Such a refined beauty was a rare blossom in the dry heat of the colony and the gem-studded mask she wore added a sense of mystery to her that every man in the ballroom had found most enticing. But it was the governor she had cast glances at the whole evening, and her eyes spoke of mysteries that hid behind her dress and not her mask. Before the night was over del Castillo would plant this Spanish rose in his own garden and show her what wonders the New World had to offer. “How do you like California so far, my dear?” “I seems quite true what my father always said – it is a land of great opportunities for those who are willing to forge their own luck.” “Your father is obviously a very wise and perceptive man.” The governor noticed the cane in her hand for the first time and wondered why it looked so familiar, but the thought was forgotten as soon as she cast a glance and a smile at him over her shoulder. “If your father has ever visited California, perhaps I have met him?” “Oh, you have met him, Senor del Castillo. He was, after all, your predecessor until he met with what we both know was no accident.” She spun around and drew the blade from the cane in a swift confident motion. “My name is Sophia Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” * * * * * I just had to do something with the character and dress textures of Carmelita by renapd that I bought today, and this is what I ended up with. :-)