In the large room where the naphtha lamp was the light, Lord Asriel stood and glared at the younger woman. Who was sitting down, equally annoyed. The great big snow leopard sat in her ordinary position of the sphinx.
"How could you Asriel?" The woman had tears in her eyes not just from sadness but from anger as well.
"How could I Marisa? You slept with Boreal! I maybe ten years older than you, But for hells sake he is thirty years older than you!" Lord Asriel spat. Stelmaria made a quiet growl at the mention of Boreal's name.
"You slept with a woman who is in her hundred years of age!" Maisa said sombrely. The monkey made a sound of distress and sadness.
"Well whatever we did. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known"
Marisa stopped from messing with her hair and now looked at the man. He stared at her back. He was indeed the most handsome man she had ever seen. Their daemons were know starring at one another.
Marisa was the one to break the silence in the room.
"Oh Asriel what have we done? What about Lyra?"
"I do not want to talk about her. Marisa I love you."
"Asriel I love you" Marisa was now full of emotion. Tears sprang from her eyes. Lord Asriel seeing this went towards her and bent down and kissed her gently while stroking through her hair. Lord Asriel picked her up and went towards the bed with her. For it was a matter of love and urgency. For they both knew this would be their last time together. The snow leopard was now on top of the monkey.
King Ogunwe saw the whole thing and as he thought before that the Lady Coulter would tempt Lord Asriel. But what he saw was different not temptation, but the urgency of love.