(A/N: fun fact- Purdan, the name I used for the prison, is the Welsh word for purgatory. A lot of names used have some significant meaning. Taika, for example, is a Finnish name meaning spell or magic. Sebara (or Sebros) is an old Celtic root word from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar meaning phantom, magical being. Mystica Prata is just Mystic Meadows in Latin. And Cyning is from the Old English word for king.

As to Cedric's 'power and rank'... just wait and see.

I own nothing!)

A few days prior

"Excuse me, My Lady. There is a messenger here. He has a message he will only deliver directly to you or His Lordship. He would prefer to give it to His Lordship but he is off on estate matters today."

The lady raised her eyebrow. She stood up and walked down to the entryway where a young man stood.

"Lady Hexley?"

Lady Hexley nodded. "What is the message?"

"I come from Constable Miles in Dunwittie. He said the criminal Lord Hexley wanted imprisoned in Purdan Prison just arrived there a few days ago. Apparently, the prisoner was still suffering strongly from the injuries inflicted before he was shipped out."

Lady Hexley nodded solemnly. "Of course. You said Dunwittie?"

The messenger nodded. "Yes, My Lady."

Lady Hexley gave a small smile. "Thank you for letting me know."

The messenger nodded in acknowledgment and left. As he did, Lady Hexley grinned. Despite the message being for 'His Lordship', she was not passing it on. It had been several years since her husband had been remotely near Dunwittie.

"Oh Ceddykins, what are you up to?"

oOo

A week later, Sofia was about to go riding and see Cedric. With each passing day, her curiosity about his mysterious past burned brighter.

Sofia glanced at her riding clothes. She still wasn't wearing a proper habit to go riding but Cedric wasn't bothered by it in the least bit. In fact, he found her aversion to doing things the proper and expected way rather amusing.

Nodding her approval to herself, Sofia left her room and began walking down the corridors to the stables. She turned a corner and ran straight into Roland who was reading a letter. The letter went floating to the ground as the distracted mayor's grip loosened.

"Oof! Sorry Dad. This corner is vicious."

"No need to apologize, Sofia. I was rather distracted."

Sofia nodded and bent down to pick up the letter. As she held the letter out, she noticed the word Hexley written on it.

Where have I heard that word?

"It must be a very important letter."

Roland nodded. "It's from someone very important in Mystica Prata."

Sofia felt her stomach start to twist. She couldn't put her finger on it but she felt like she was missing something. Despite her apprehension, she decided to prod a bit further.

"That's a long way from here," Sofia said. "And this is a small village. I'm a bit surprised someone very important from so far away would write."

"Lady Hexley has her purposes. She's searching for her son. There was a falling out between him and Lord Hexley five years ago when he blamed his son for something he didn't do."

"And she thinks you can help somehow?" Sofia looked even more perplexed.

"She received a hint that he is here in Cantare Valley, most likely in Dunwittie. She wants to know if I've seen or heard anything or if there is someone I would recommend to help her with her search. She claims she isn't going to trust just anyone."

"I hope you can refer her to someone who will be able to help her find him. I can't even imagine how she feels. She must be so worried about him."

Roland nodded. "Lady Hexley is very anxious for any news about young Lord Sebara."

Wait! Mystica Prata? Hexley? Lord Sebara? No way.

Sofia felt her stomach twist further. She wanted to hope that Lord Sebara was not who she thought he was, but something in her seemed to know that it was a false hope. He had mentioned returning to Hexley after all. And claimed it was just sleep and illness talking.

"Well," Sofia said, "I'll let you respond to that letter and I'll get to the stables. I quite enjoy my rides."

Roland nodded. "I know you enjoy riding. Ride safely."

Sofia nodded before hurrying the rest of the way to the stables, tears of anger and shock filling her eyes. As soon as Minimus was saddled up, she nudged him into a quick trot.

Minutes later, Sofia arrived to the lonely cabin she had become very familiar with. Cedric came out from the cabin, obviously hearing the light horse's gallop. He looked like he had been about to greet his visitor but the greeting died on his lips when he saw Sofia's tear stained cheeks.

"Sofia, you've been crying. Is something wrong?"

Sofia stayed quiet, not wanting to confirm what she was certain she already knew. Cedric took Minimus' reins, holding the skittish horse steady. Sofia dismounted but continued to be unusually quiet.

"Sofia?" Cedric gently caressed her cheek.

"Are you Lord Sebara? Son of Lord and Lady Hexley?"

Cedric's breath caught in his throat. He withdrew his hand from Sofia's cheek.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Are you Lord Sebara?" Sofia's voice was filled with irritation. "Are you originally from Mystica Prata?"

Cedric's head hung low. "I am. My parents are the Marquess and Marchioness at Hexley Hall."

Sofia blinked back some tears. "Why didn't you tell me that? Why would you keep such an important detail about yourself a secret? And you mentioned Hexley Hall once. But you said not to take it seriously because you had been sick and asleep. You lied."

"Here's the question, Little Girl-"

"No!" Sofia exclaimed. "You're not allowed to call me that right now."

"Fine, Miss Sofia. Your father is the most influential man in Dunwittie and the surrounding villages. How do you not know of the people of the nobility? If you had, you would've known from the beginning who I am."

Sofia recoiled a bit at the question. "It never interested me much and I don't meet nobles very often so it didn't seem that important to keep track of them. More importantly, Lord Sebara, why didn't you tell me who you are? No doubt you knew I didn't know."

"Get banished from your own family over something you didn't do. See if you like talking about them then. Especially to someone who has the loving family you always wanted."

Sofia flinched at the words.

"I'm sorry you didn't have a great family life but that doesn't mean you should be keeping such an important detail secret like that. You're my friend, at least I thought you were. And friends should be able to talk to each other, even about the difficult things."

Sofia took Minimus's reins from Cedric. She mounted and quickly galloped off, leaving the young lord to stare after her.

Merlin's mushrooms! How did this happen?