The Devastation (Unexpected Circumstances 7)

This is your only chance to save the life of your child.

Denounce the commoner and take Whitney’s hand.

It was unsigned, but with the seal, it did not have to be. It was obvious who had orchestrated such a thing, and in my hand was the proof.

But I did not care about proof—I only wanted my wife and child safe.

“I was supposed to protect her.”

Parnell took the letter from me and told me of the messenger from Hadebrand who brought it to Sawyer only a few hours ago. I looked up the road and saw the small army of Sawyer as they gathered on horseback with Rylan at their lead.

“Where is the messenger now?”

“Quite dead,” Parnell said. “I did not see any reason to keep him alive—we have the seal as proof.”

I nodded and glanced back down the road. My head swam, and I had to swallow back bile.

“There was nothing you could have done,” Parnell said. “There were at least forty of them, based on the hoofprints. Your guard did not stand a chance.”

“I doubled them.”

“That is still merely a dozen.”

“It was not enough,” I said as I shook my head and looked around at the dead men in the road. I could only repeat my earlier words to Parnell. “I was supposed to protect her.”

“There were too many, King Branford,” Rylan said as he shook his head.

“We must return you to Silverhelm,” Parnell said as his hand again rested atop my shoulder.

“No,” I said. “We head south.”

I did not miss the look Sir Rylan shared with my cousin.

“Sire—” Parnell started, but I cut him off.

“They took her, Parnell.” The reminder was unnecessary. “They took Alexandra. I will not go home until I have brought her back.”

“Who took her?” Rylan said bluntly.

I glared at him.

“Who else would take her?” I asked as I grabbed the letter back from Parnell and shook it in his face. “Are you stupid?”

“No, King Branford,” Rylan replied. “Are you?”

He obviously anticipated my reaction, for he caught my fist in his hands as I swung at him.

“Hear me out!” he yelled, and he used his impressive strength to grip my arms. Parnell drew his sword and tried to step between us, Rylan released his grip on me and took a step away.

“Have you a death wish?” Parnell yelled at him.

“Listen to me!” Rylan cried out. He held out both of his hands to put distance between us as I growled under my breath at him but allowed him to speak. “How is your ability to bring war to Hadebrand different now than it was yesterday? If you go there now with the small rabble we have here, what have you done besides deliver yourself into his hands?”

He gestured with his meaty hand toward the forty men behind him. His words sunk into me as I looked into his dark eyes, shielded with heavy brows. He was right, and I knew he was, but how could I possibly do anything other than go after her?

“My wife…” I said, unable to finish the rest of the sentence as my gut roiled, and I had to swallow hard to stop myself from vomiting again.

“I know,” Rylan replied. “You will go for her, but not now—not like this.”