I just know…”I took a deep breath, of nothing. I felt a thumping in my chest – a ghostly fake heart. I was so excited. And I began my final and ...ongest journey alone. I started walking. Kept my pace. I walked up the driveway, through the walls of the house. Inside. Searching every room. So far, empty. No one home. I started feeling sad, worried, in the darkness it seemed as if some great bird had flown over and swept away what once lived here, with the shadow of its wing.But wait. Can you feel. Gone was my depression, frustration, along with the resolve I'd built up. When I had gotten back with Rebecca, earning her trust once more, I'd made myself a promise to turn away from those eyes, should they ever return, but it was hopeless - I didn't even remember the desire to fight. All I wanted was to see them forever.Her gloved finger on my lips silenced my attempt at speech. She had opened a bottle and poured two glasses of wine already, using a set of glasses I'd received as a gift years. "But do you want to go somewhere else? Its pretty noisy in here!" Wow, that would be great. But dont you have to stay here at this booth?"She shrugged her shoulders. "Why should I? No one is going to visit. Were not going to sell any of these stupid calendars," she said, waving one around. "And Im getting paid so little for this that I dont really care if they find that Ive walked off. Id be glad if they fired me so I dont have to do this again tomorrow! Just let me get my purse. Besides," she. At worst and She doesn’t help, a couple of weeks.”“Very well.”I clapped my hands. A handmaiden appeared from behind the dais.“Ask Thane Manfred to come to me, please, Edith.” I said.Edith left. Manfred arrived within a couple of minutes. Manfred was Egbert’s brother and one of my uncles. I had expected him to become King after Egbert but although he had been Regent before my election he had told the Witan firmly that he was a soldier, not a King for peace. He would serve when needed but he.