"I beg your pardon?"
Iris couldn't believe her ears and almost took her words back. Who did this mage think he was to claim such a thing? He let it look like he knew her better than she knew herself.
Ray realised his mistake and rushed to the desk to stand in front of her, his words pouring from his mouth.
"I mean no offence, my lady. It is not my intention to mock Your Grace in any way. When I read you the other day, I could sense your spirit reacting to my magic. It spoke to me, to say so."
"It spoke to you? You mean my spirit spoke to you without me knowing?"
"Yes, you grace. I mean no, spoke might be the wrong word, communicated maybe," he tried to rectify, but saw in her eyes that it didn't have the desired effect. "I mean… when I read you, I could feel the traits of your soul, who my lady is deep inside."
