Perfect timing

Ivar breathed in the fresh air of the riverside that marked the entrance to the County of Valverde. The children of Vallas called it winter, they said it was cold. That was because they had no idea what true winter was like. He’d been born in the deadliest freeze, one that took the last remnants of magic in Raeden and also took his parents’ lives.

This, the rain and cold winds in Vallas was just earth trying to find balance after a millennium without its heart. Or perhaps it was another sign that he was running out of time to find it.

In her letter, Saray assured him that this woman, the daughter of the Earl, was the key to find what he was looking for. His sister was never wrong when it came to her dreams.

The carriage stopped.

“Aghh!” Someone outside screamed, and the sound of a blade whistling and cutting through flesh got his attention.

“What is it?” He was bored, so he looked outside the window and caught a glimpse of the guards fighting off some crocodiles that surrounded their group.

Such a waste of time. Besides, those little things shouldn’t be hibernating now?

Well, since it was like this he might as well help his servants. He jumped out of the carriage, and as soon as the wild little things sensed his presence, they retreated to the river.

“See, animals are still smarter than humans.” They always sensed who the biggest danger was.

However, his grey boots were dirty with the blood of one of the animals that the guards had killed. This wouldn’t do, he should give the best impression to the Earl’s family once he arrived. Humans were always more cooperative when they felt comfortable.

Ivar didn’t mingle with the nobles of Vallas, but he still knew what they said about him through his mother and Miros, mostly.

Ten years ago, he’d been willing to play his part as the ‘heir’ of the Grand Duchess and married the daughter of Duke Giorgio who’d been pestering him for ages. It was also because he suspected the Giorgio family was involved with the most recent theft of the missing item, so having a l**k to them would make it easier to investigate without killing anyone.

Who knew the woman would end up dying anyway? 

To this day, Ivar could not remember the face of his late wife, and yet that troublesome event was the reason why many feared him, something that suited him just fine until now. However, it could prove to be a difficulty if he was going to ask for the hand of a young lady. 

“I guess I’ll stop to buy another pair of boots before knocking at her door.”

***

Saray’s talk was always all about fate. “Your destiny is waiting for you there, at the manor of Earl Valverde,” she wrote.

She’d then gone on to mention a marriage, and Ivar did not question it. If she’d been older and capable of speaking a decade ago, he wouldn’t have wasted his time with the Giorgio family at all. And if the little girl said this was the path to follow… well, he’d do whatever it took to achieve his one goal.

The first sign he got that the child was right was at the doors of the shoe store. The girl’s head bumped into his chest, and she’d immediately stopped, lifting her head to look at her. As he got to see her eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

Emerald eyes.

Why did she have emerald eyes?

‘It can’t be…’

His eyes gleamed for a second, but he did not act on his impulses. She was not one of his own.

‘I’m the last of my kind.’

“I’m sorry," he apologized, stepping aside, "go ahead first, please.”

She walked into the shop, and he inhaled the sweet scent she exuded. The girl was human, but there was no way this was a coincidence.

“Jean, find out the identity of the lady in that store.” He pointed out the location. “As soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The whole afternoon, as he toured the town and its surroundings, he kept thinking about those eyes and what it might mean to his quest. People around this region must have been in touch with the Heart… but how? When?

It didn’t make sense, if someone had been using the Heart in this area, it wouldn’t be crumbling this way. The very soil under his feet had lost life. Ivar remembered that Earl Valverde was also one of the few noblemen refusing to accept the sorcerers’ help, which was also the reason for this secret inspection. His mother doubted the Earl was an obedient or loyal subject. She’d been right.

Of course, no one here was really loyal, they were just a bunch of coward and weak people who, in his opinion, deserved everything that fell upon them in recent years. But a deal was a deal, and Ivar was taught from a young age to take his oaths seriously. He wouldn’t have lived past his childhood if it weren’t for his adoptive mother’s family, back then he’d vowed to help Raisa’s family to get their revenge until it was time for him to get his.

At the moment, he was an heir to House Alba, the son of the Grand Duchess Raisa, the eldest brother of Miros and Saray. His nature wouldn’t let him forget that his purpose in life wasn’t complete yet, but he couldn’t deny there was some attachment to those humans who took him in.

“I’ll have a talk with lord Valverde once we reach his home.” He hissed after seeing the state of all the public buildings. Even the road that took him back to the inn where he had his people staying was in poor condition, and wasn’t it one of the main roads of the town?

He’d find some time to discuss this with Valverde as well. After all, it was getting dark and he should prepare to visit his future in-laws.

Jean came into the inn’s room where Ivar was finishing writing his report to his mother and bowed to him.

“Your Excellency, I’ve found out the lady’s identity.”

“So? Who is she?”

What was her connection to the Heart?

What was her connection to him?

“The lady is the young miss Elena, from the house of Earl Valverde.” The secretary’s shoulders trembled, afraid of revealing some information that would piss off his young master. “Marquis Doria has arrived at the Count’s manor today, and it’s rumored that his intention is to ask for Miss Valverde’s hand in marriage.”

Ivar laughed. What were the odds? He came looking for her, and even before getting to know her, she had already proved Saray’s prediction wasn’t wrong.

“Is that so? Tell the servants to prepare me a bath. I believe we can still make it for dinner.”

It might have been a good idea to send a letter first, but after so many years some of these customs were still foreign to him. Anyway, if there wasn’t an agreement between the Marquis and the Earl, there shouldn’t be a problem. Even if there was an agreement, Ivar would just steal the girl.

After all, she was meant to be his.