Eliadoriss went to her bedchamber and change herself from night shift to proper garments which would not shame her. Her house was a mess and her heart… Her heart was in rubbles. Life never went according to one’s plans, she knew, but this? A disaster, that was how she saw it and what she kept repeating. In front of her mirror, she fastened her houppelande at the waist with a belt, needing to see herself. She really only needed the mirror for brushing her hair, yet she sought into her own reflection a reminder of who she was. How could they have brought to the minister of finance’s spouse such vandalism and…

-“Soren…”

She washed her face, added perfume, made herself entirely presentable. Then took a cloak which would keep her dry. Before leaving the room, she glanced over her shoulder at the bed. The blanket and pillows were still neatly arranged. She had not tried to sleep in, not even wanted to fake like her guests who had slept a few nights upstairs, preferring to play the role of the worried spouse. Or had she been genuinely? When had she started to feign worry for Soren in his absence, which she knew all too well the reason why? She closed her eyes and felt the shivering tunnel through which came and went the air she was breathing.

Her plans? She was to go and hope none would molest her in the night; she was to go and arrive in front of Alvindraft’s gate; she was to confront him. In fact, she was so out of her mind that she was calm like a dove only to save all her energy for her outburst.