AURORA

VII

JUNE 1511

THE OLD WORLD

LADY ADALYNN IRWIN

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Marissa's pale body lying back at home filled my mind and I clenched my jaw. The Irish estate I stood in hopefully contained some sort of clue to where her beloved was. I watched the guard who had escorted me within leave the corridor to go find the Lady of the estate.

The moment he left, I briskly walked through the hall, looking for the man. He was from this family; I was sure of that from everything Marissa had told me. It was also proving easier than I thought, as I looked at the paintings. The family had a history for black-haired people but according to Marissa, her beloved was blond. I was skidding across the hallway, thankful that no one was present to find me in such a frantic state.

"Lady Adalynn," A voice said. I turned nearly falling over in surprise.

"Yes," I responded, collecting myself and my beating heart. I arranged the wisp of hair that had fallen out of my braid.

"The lady of the house will meet you soon."

"Splendid," I smiled, that was horrible, I had so much to do, I couldn't go through chivalry right now. The maid curtsied then left the hallway and I resumed my position of madness.

The painting in front me, thankfully consisted of the first blonde-haired women and a male. I stepped to the right and a full image of a him stared down at me. There was nothing, remotely soft about him. All sharp edges. A shot of dread filled me, and I removed it, forcing myself to be hopeful of his character.

"He is handsome, is he not," a voice asked. I froze, staring at the picture before casually turning around. I smiled.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Adalynn," the lady said.

"Lady Sacheverral, I presume," I said carefully.

"Yes," she replied.

"A pleasure to meet you."

"So, in what condition do I receive the pleasure of meeting the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk," she asked.

"I am here for business," I replied solemnly.

"Here in Ireland," she asked. She was devastatingly beautiful, her pink-gold hair twisted into an elegant cofire. I gave her a quick all-over, deciding whether I should divulge her in my intentions.

"I am here to find a certain man," I said seeing no point in lying.

"Ahh, for a sister or friend," she said, then looked at the paintings I was looking at, "Have you found him yet, I could help." Her face softened as she understood I wasn't here for political reasons. I looked back at the frame I had just seen. He was the person I was looking for; I knew it was.

"Yes," I said, "I have found him." She trailed my gaze and then she sighed.

"My son," she asked, sounding a mixture of happy and sad. I swirled around to stare at her.

"That is your son," I asked, "I apologise for my fervent tone."

"I hadn't taken it to heart, my Lady," she said.

"Is here as of now," I asked hoping, my journey had ended.

"Unfortunately, not, he does not live with me." Lady Sacheverral said with a sad smile. I sensed a sad past as she glanced back at his portrait.

"I had him when I was young, before I was married to my beloved," she said, "My husband is not an understanding man, they do not get on well." She smiled sadly and looked at the painting of a women with her son.

"That is my sister, she looked after him for years, he considers her mother rather than me, I guess it is what I deserve." I stared at her, it was indeed sad, but it wasn't my business to know this.

"I only ask for he is the beloved of my friend, but what has detained him, it is not the season yet," I asked diverting her from any more background information.

"I know, I often wonder the same, he and I have little in terms of relationship. He is knighted and is under pension to carry out the terms of his pact," she said, a sort of sad smile adorning her face.

"Where is he as of now," I asked and then turned back to the portrait, trying to find a semblance of age on his face.

"He is Ireland itself, closer to the borders right now, that is the most relevant of information I know."

"Is he fighting for the king," I asked, confused.

"Yes." She offered no more information.

"If it does not offend you, my lady, how old may he be."

"He has turned twenty-two," she said. I bit my lip.

"Isn't he too young to be knighted," I asked, knowing the rules of the law quite thoroughly.

"I do not know; I have never wondered."

I nodded, twisting the hilt of my sword in its case.

"If I went to him, would he listen, is he a romantic," I asked. I was not in the mood to convince heartless men. Marissa especially deserved so much more than a moody man. She needed energy and a man who would be able to give her that.

"I have no knowledge, like I said, I do not know him." I watched the Lady, my focus switching from her to the portrait of her son. In that moment, I made up my mind.

I did not care that he was in the middle of full-blown battle or if he was on the other side of the world. I would find him and bring him to heel. He would be on the floor, begging to return with me to find his beloved. I turned my gaze to her.

"I need everything, that will help me to find him and I need it now."

I smiled at the playback of the past, he had come home now, and he was married to my best friend and they were happy. That is all that mattered. With my connection, I showed the past to Marissa. The past she would never remember if I hadn't shown her.

OOMPA LOOMPA