What Lies Beyond the Ocean

Chapter 15

There was a sinister silence after Uli said my adoptive mother's name. I sat there, frozen. I could scarcely utter a word, let alone left up a finger. Uli slid the envelope onto the rich chestnut tabletop as the servants began to take away our dishes. 

Alyard got up from his seat and instead sat next to me. I studied those enchanting brown eyes as he wrapped an arm around me. I closed my eyes and took a rapid breath. With trembling fingers, I carefully picked up the envelope and slowly opened up the letter. I felt my face flush into such redness as I looked at Casa's ornate print.

6th day of August 1507

Thank you, Your Royal Majesty, for taking time out of your busy schedule to read this letter. This is not about me but my adoptive daughter, Erline. Erline was originally born in Ferto to Gael and Caoimhe Wallensport. Both Gael and  Caoimhe are inhabitants of Ferto. Gael, you may or may not remember, served as a knight in your army. I originally came from Ferto and grew up with both.

                        As I grew to be an adult, I decided to settle over to the outskirts of Allience in Nilopoia for a better life. At that time, Gael and Caoimhe were not at the healthiest stage of their relationship. Caoimhe pleaded for Gael to stay because they were living in such poor conditions. She also wanted Erline to have him in her life. However, Gael was very insistent on fighting for peace. When  I revealed my embarkment to Nilopoia, they asked me if I could take their daughter with me. Both of them wanted Erline to live in healthier and safer conditions. I was very reluctant as I never had a spouse or kids of my own, so the idea of taking their little one to a foreign country seemed unimaginable. 

Erline always believed that I was her biological mother and that her father went out to war and would never return. I did not want her to know reality. I was afraid that she would run away. I did not want her to be hurt. However, that is all I have done to her by feeding her all of these fabrications.

On the day she turned eighteen and disappeared, she confronted me about my deceptions. In defence, I told her that we were to discuss things later, actually meaning never. After three days have passed, a man named Gery stopped by my shop (a bookstore in Allience). He told me his son, Alfred or something of the sort, and Erline set off to Mileno searching for a "special book"  for the bookstore. I told him that was not the case. Based on the events leading up to Erline's disappearance, I instantly knew that she ran off the find her father. I asked him if he knew where they could be, and he suggested Geafra, the closest city to Allience. 

Long story short, I  found Erline in the dungeon of the Geafran Castle. I told her everything about her parents... except I did not provide her with their names. Inside, I hoped she would see how dangerous this journey truly was and that she would come home with me instead. Of course, she insisted on finding her parents. After a few minutes, I was rushed out by the guards. I was lost. I did not know what to do next. Erline is now a young adult and is free to make her decisions. She's intelligent and responsible and knows what is best for her.

Even though you most likely will not encounter her, I thought I would write a letter just in case. All I wonder is if you know anything about the whereabouts or fates of both Caoimhe. Ask the general, knights, subjects, anyone who may know about their fate.

Sincerely,

Casa Dalais