his emerald eyes at her. “Go get another plate, Willow. I won’t have you die so he could live.”
She smiled at him and prepared another dish before Seth led her back to her room. When they reached Martin’s door, Seth unlocked it and let Willow hand the plate of food to her friend. Martin smiled a wide, toothless grin when he saw her through his cloudy gaze.
“Hello, Martin,” she whispered and touched his thin, wrinkled hand as he took the plate. When Martin realized it was food, his eyes opened wide and then filled with tears. “Thank you, Willow flower. Thank you.”
“Thank Yahweh who provided, Martin,” she gently corrected.
“Come on.” Seth bent close to Willow’s ear, pulled her back gently, and locked the door to Martin’s room once again.
“Thank you for saving me from Drakar,” Willow said while he chained her ankle and she bit into a drumstick.
He turned his head from locking the shackle and smiled at her. “You’re welcome.” He sat on the floor next to her and watched her eat. “How is it?”
“Delicious!” Martin exclaimed from the other side of the wall. Seth threw his head back and laughed and Willow smiled, shaking hers at the wall. When she licked her fingers, she felt Seth’s eyes staring at her. She wiped the rest of the chicken drippings on her skirts.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” he offered quietly.
“No. I’m tired.”
Nodding, he rose to his feet. “Goodnight then.” His voice was low, and he started for the door. “Enjoy the rest of your food, Martin,” he called out cheerfully as he left.
Later, Willow rested her head on her pillow and smiled when Martin began to sing. She listened to his off-key tune thinking how beautiful it sounded. It made her think of angels. One in particular.
Chapter 27
Hope. It was as elusive as the sweet scent of wheat drifting on the wind. Willow grasped at its fragile tethers like one clutching at reeds to save them from drowning.
A week had passed by maddeningly slow. There was no word from her father, though Seth assured her that they were looking for him. Her hands were raw and so were her knees from scrubbing floors every night in the dining room. But Seth was always there, keeping an eye on her.
She tried to tell him about Caleb one night while he walked her back to her cell, but he grew angry and shouted at her, telling her he didn’t want to hear about the man she loved.
“You can’t keep me here forever.” She began to cry. She had cried so much her eyelids were raw.
He sighed and turned his back to her. “Stop it.”
“I can’t! I want to go home!” She covered her face in her hands and sobbed.
“Well, you can’t,” Seth snapped coldly. “I can’t find the king, and I can’t help you until I do.”
Willow lifted her face and glared at him, wanting to accuse him of lying. But she had a better idea. “I want to see Galin then.”
He didn’t answer her, but instead continued walking. She shouted at his back. “Do you hear me. Seth? I want to see Galin or I’ll never speak to you again! I want—”
“All right!” He spun on his heel to face her and threw up his hands in surrender. “All right. Tomorrow.” He stared at her for a moment, then turned and unlocked her door to put her inside.
Seth kept his word, and the next morning took her to see the leader of the Catchers. When he saw her, Galin offered her a hard glare through narrow, beady eyes.
“Your wounds are almost healed.” He glanced at Seth. “Prepare her to be sold.”
Willow opened her mouth to protest, but Seth cut her off quickly. “Galin, we haven’t yet found out if she’s the king’s daughter.”
“Well, what’s taking so long? Didn’t you dispatch someone to Beldar to advise him?”
“Yes, but…”
“No,” Willow interrupted. “I don’t think he did.”
“What did you say?” Galin clenched his fat hands into fists while Seth stared at her in stunned disbelief.
Swallowing hard enough so that the sound echoed off the cavernous walls, Willow squared her shoulders and stared the leader straight in the eye. “I don’t think Seth sent anyone to find my father. I don’t think he has even tried.”
“Willow…” Seth’s voice shook with anger, but he didn’t try to defend himself to Galin.
“Why wouldn’t he?” The leader stared at her not knowing whether he should strike her or listen to what she had to say.