"Jaden, come here," Alaric called to Elinora from across the room.

"Yes, Your Grace."

He was standing at the window, reading a document. Elinora approached him but he ignored her.

"I have some business to do in town," he said, continuing to stare at the document.

"All right, I'll continue your work here."

Alaric looked at her, sighed and continued to read the document in his hands.

"You're coming with me, Jaden," he said after sighing.

Elinora couldn't believe what she had just heard. She asked him again, wondering if she hadn't heard correctly.

"Yes," he said, "you're coming with me."

Her heart skipped a beat. She had never been to a town before and she was very excited about it. 

But she couldn't show how happy and excited she was, she had to suppress her feelings, hide them. She had to be professional, she had to act like Edmund.

She went to prepare a carriage and in a few minutes she was waiting for Alaric at the gate of the mansion. He went in, followed by Elinora and Ronnik.

"Well, we can start now," Ronnik called out to the carriage driver and he set off.

The ride was very nice, the road was smooth, and there were many trees and flowers in the landscape. It was spring and although they were in the north some flowers had bloomed. But the cold remained with the sun making small appearances during the day.

Elinora spent her time looking out the window. 

How beautiful nature is in the North. It looks like a painting, she thought and smiled.

For fifteen years she had been shut up in her room, her only escape being the little yard just outside her roon, whenever Edmund came to see her. She would never have imagined then that she would be free to go out whenever she wanted, nor that she would be visiting a town.

Alaric could see her smiling and couldn't get past it. He was confused by his aide's reaction.

"Jaden, have you ever been to the town before?" he finally asked, wanting to find out what made her smile so broadly.

"No, Your Grace," she said, "It's the first time I've ever been out."

"This is strange. Usually the sons of noble families go there for entertainment or to help their fathers in their business."

Elinora began to get nervous. She had to give a convincing answer so the duke wouldn't catch her.

"My father," she answered hesitantly, "rarely went out on business, and I didn't have many friends to go out for fun in town."

She looked at Alaric intently to read if he believed her, but his expression was the same as it had always been.  He simply turned his gaze out the carriage window, as if the conversation was over and he didn't care.

The ride continued in silence for a few minutes. Elinora turned her gaze back to the window, letting nature distract her. She figured she had convinced him so she stopped worrying.

When the carriage stopped at the entrance to the town, Ronnik was the first to get out, followed by Alaric. Elinora, struggling to hide her impatience, got off as well, trying to look as serious as possible.

The town was full of life. Everywhere there were merchants, villagers and children running through the narrow streets. The aroma of fresh bread and spices filled the air, mingled with the sound of voices, the laughter of children running among the passers-by and the clanging of carts on the stone slabs.

Elinora looked around, as if she had entered another world, more alive.

"Don't stand there looking lost, Jaden," Alaric said as he walked ahead of her.

"Yes, Your Grace," Elinora replied quickly, trying to hide her excitement.

They were walking between the narrow streets when Alaric stopped in front of a building. They knocked on the door and a moment later a man dressed in dark clothes and a rugged face opened the door for them.

The man glanced quickly at Alaric and then at Elinora. His eyes lingered on her longer, as if he were processing her thoroughly.

"Your Grace," he said in a deep voice and a small bow, stepping aside for them to pass.

Entering, Elinora shuddered. Though the inside of the house looked normal, with only a little dampness on the walls and a draft coming through one window, the atmosphere was cold and suspicious.

In the background, another man sat at a desk, with an expression that seemed to be anticipating the meeting.