he’s fond of me,” Willow told him. “If he finds my father, I’ll be freed, and he will never see me again.”
Galin turned to Seth. “Is this true?”
“No,” Seth growled, not taking his eyes off her.
“Do you care for this slave?”
The handsome Catcher shrugged his shoulders. “She’s pleasing to look at.” But the truth was plain to see in his eyes. He did care for her.
“Seth,” Galin barked his name, snapping Seth’s attention and his gaze from Willow. “You will find the king yourself. You leave immediately.”
Seth blinked, unable to believe what he was hearing. “What about her?”
“She will have to stay in Drakar’s care until you return.”
“No!” Seth gripped Willow’s arm and pulled her to him. “Galin, please…” He closed his eyes and fought to keep his voice calm, his head clear. “Don’t leave her with Drakar.”
But Galin held his chubby hand up, already shaking his head. “Find the king quickly if you are worried about her. It’s up to you.”
Willow thought she was caught up in a nightmare. All she had wanted was for someone to find her father. She didn’t want to leave Seth and the thought of Drakar made her tremble. “Please…” she began to beg.
“And don’t wear your robes, Seth.” Galin overrode her voice as if she wasn’t there. “The Warriors have declared war on us. We are laying low for a while.”
Willow’s head spun. It was Caleb! He was trying to find her! But how long would it take? How long would she be with Drakar? Her hands shook as she brought them to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. Screaming so loud Caleb would be able to hear her wherever he was.
“I’m sorry Willow.” Seth was speaking to her. He touched her hand and she grabbed his fingers in panic and wouldn’t let go.
“Don’t leave me, Seth!”
The terror she felt rising up in her like bile was reflected in Seth’s eyes. “Try to hide, Willow. Try to—”
“Enough!” Galin roared and then shouted for his men, and while Seth yanked her into his arms, she was snatched away, screaming his name.
“Seth! Seth! Caleb!”
Drakar was delighted to find Willow back in his care, and the moment she was handed over to him, he took her by the hair and dragged her down dark, winding stairs to the sub-basement and into a dark room at the end of a lonely corridor. His thick raspy voice found her in the darkness, his big hands yanked and pulled at her gown. “Though I cannot rape you and risk you becoming pregnant, I will have my own kind of enjoyment with you.”
Desperate and hysterical, she grabbed his face in both hands and pulled his head toward her. Her teeth broke through flesh until she tasted his blood. Then his hand smashed into her temple like a hammer, and she remembered nothing more.
She lie in utter darkness on the cold floor for two days before he came back.
“Help me!” Willow screamed as he came through the door carrying a lantern. It felt as if every bit of life was leaving her through her mouth. “Caleb! Caleb, help me!” she screamed and then closed her eyes.
Caleb bolted upright and looked around his empty tent with madness in his eyes and terror in his racing heart. His body was bathed in a thin layer of sweat. He raked his hand through his hair and closed his eyes. “Please, Father,” he prayed, “please help me find her. In Jesus name.” The prayer was quick, and then he was up, threw his breeches on, and left the tent.
The Warriors were all asleep except for Marcus and Pethar, who were keeping watch in the darkness.
They had been riding the plains for three weeks now, having searched Prandar, Londa, Luris, and even Theshwar, but there was nothing, not a trace of her. The Warriors had killed over a hundred Catchers in Caleb’s war, and not one of them could give him any information about Willow before their throats were cut. Recruiting fifty more men as Warriors in Prandar and Londa had helped Caleb greatly, and more men were joining the Warriors every day. Many were sent to Alare, and to Avalaria to search for Willow, but no news had yet come.
Jonas had caught up with them two weeks ago and married his sister. The ceremony was short, but they were given privacy for their first night together.