“I’ll pack our things and come find you, and we will go somewhere else, just as we’ve always done,” her mother promised, giving her a tight-lipped smile to assure her all would be well. Then she said no more as the stranger rode up to them in a cloud of dust.

Kella and her mother hastily bowed to him, seeing the crest on his left shoulder. He was either one of Lord Perrin’s men, or Lord Perrin himself, ridden down from his keep on the mountain. Kella carefully averted her eyes from his face and watched as his polished black boots dismounted the horse and stalked toward her.

“Ladies, I don’t want to interrupt your hard work, but I am looking for someone,” the man said. His voice was low and guttural. It sent a chill down Kella’s spine and knotted he...

Please subscribe to keep reading.