<blockquote class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch" data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent">
			Lord Hawksmith,<br/>
<br/>
I hope this letter finds you in the gentlest of ways,<br/>
as I am writing to you in utmost regard to my future.<br/>
<br/>
For sure, that by the time this letter has reached<br/>
your hand, the official declaration of my father,<br/>
Lord Stoikos’, death has reached court, and soon<br/>
I shall be commandeered to present myself to the lords.<br/>
<br/>
Such incident has already been done on my part,<br/>
as the only heir to the whole estate of the Stoikos Family,<br/>
I have already met the king. But alas, the situation now<br/>
has change, and the tides have swayed over to accommodate<br/>
my enemies.<br/>
<br/>
I may be a woman, raised with poised, diligence and<br/>
gentleness, but I am also an heir. I must marry to preserve<br/>
my family, but alas, I have not been to court for years of<br/>
staying in our lands.<br/>
<br/>
May you find it in your graces to aid me in my quest. For<br/>
I fear that if I do not seek the protection of the man my father<br/>
had trusted my future to, sooner than what his last will had<br/>
decreed, I shall find myself amongs the wolves of the ton.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
I hope to receive a reply of my correspondence.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Truly,<br/>
<br/>
Lady Ainara Stoikos
		</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div>
</div>
</blockquote><br/>Ainora folded the last of her written correspondence, and had asked her personal courier to send them off to the men they are meant for. Sitting behind the desk, she contemplated on what course of action Lord Hawksmith might do once reading her plea. He can consider a truce, a betrayal, or maybe… no, she wouldn’t let her mind think of such a possibility anyway. No, it’s either a truce, a betrayal, or ignorance.<br/><br/>She had heard of him, a dashing man, some ladies would say. Ambitious mothers who wants power and title for their daughters tries every tactic available to ensnare the man. But no woman has ever succeeded. Rumors have reached her ear the Hawksmith was keeping a mistress from a foreign land. But of course, she knew better. No one, enters the borders of the kingdom without her father’s knowledge, and to an extent, her. Unless, of course…she let the trail of thought wander from her mind.<br/><br/>By the morrow, a correspondent directly from the king’s court shall be arriving, where the crown is summoning her presence, where she must present herself, within a week’s time, to court. She needed a plan of action, a ripple of events, or perhaps a decree, whatever it takes, because she needed time. More time than the allotted months given to her by her own father.<br/><br/>Then she realized, she could simply do what she does best. With a grin, she rang for her butler, order her gowns, catered to present her at court be packed, as well as her essentials, and a small party to travel to court. Everything must be done before midnight, including the escort horse.<br/><br/>“And all correspondence, shall be delivered to the halfway house,” she told her butler, before he excused himself. “Make sure all traces are burned upon our departure. The pile has been copied and is ready to be burned as well.”<br/><br/><br/>With no delay, she stepped out of her study and to her room, where she found her maids packing all the gowns for court, and her essentials. Not giving them much attention, she went to her bed chamber, where her attire is already being set. Quickly the maids removed her gown and donned her in her traveling attire.<br/><br/><br/>Three hours had passed, and everything was prepared. The carriage was drawn out, all the belongings she needed was placed in trunks. A meal for the road, for her and her small party and a farewell of good blessings from her own staff.<br/><br/><br/>“This last correspondence is for the guard at the castle’s northern tower. Make sure that he alone sees it,” she gave a small folded paper to her butler who bowed and stepped aside. Ainara gave the signal and the horses galloped, the carriage heading to Hillard House, also known as the halfway house, a small manor, two hours’ carriage ride from court.