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SIERA STOOD BY KAYDEN on the steps of the inn, one arm resting on his shoulder, the other holding a tankard of mead. She kissed his cheek while he listened to a merchant in a donkey cart going on about his travels from the grand city of Rigelstaff. It had become Kayden’s practice now to interrogate all the travelers who came through Kolada as if he would discover where Missus Brady’s little girl, Thea, went or Jamie Bolson’s son, Leonard disappeared to—or half a dozen other young children of the village they had been searching for. After Sylvester left, and the villagers raided his manor, taking grain and fresh food stored in his pantry, Kayden found the trap door in the den. Some of the villagers wanted to go into the Neverworld to search for the children, but Kayden forbade them.
“People disappear in there. If your children were still there, the king would have brought them back, but he didn’t.”
He was so worried that someone else might get lost forever, he boarded the trap door up, nailed it shut so that no one would slip into it again, and then he did the same to the den entryway. There was little need to, though, because later that night a mob had formed at the manor, and someone threw a torch onto the porch. More torches were tossed, and soon the entire manor burst in flames. Nothing remained the next morning but a pile of ash and two brick fireplaces.
The stables they dedicated to the township along with what horses still wandered the property. It was evident the baron had his men drive many of the herd across the river to the Casdamian empire the night he left. Lord Sylvester had no more interest in Kolada. He’d be lynched if he ever showed his face in Kolada again!
This man with the donkey cart who just arrived drew Kayden’s interest more than other travelers had, and so the big red-haired man leaned over the railing to hear him better.
“I swear by the ground I stand on I saw them take the king prisoner,” the man was saying.
“Can’t be,” Siera interrupted, laughing. “The king doesn’t get taken just like that.”
“It was him. No one in the empire has hair that glimmers gold like King Barin. I know the king. I once lived in his city. He looked right at me, too. He even swore to the guards to be the king.”
“They arrested him?” Kayden asked.
“Two guards took his arms and hauled him away. Left his missus and the little girl alone.”
“King Barin doesn’t have a missus,” Siera said satisfied she was right, and he was wrong. “He doesn’t have a little girl either. Couldn’t be him.”
The man shrugged. “Well, they were with him. Dark-haired woman with bright blue eyes. The king called her Anna.”
Siera laughed. “Anna?”
“Lady Anna?” Kayden asked. “When was this?”
“I bought my cart in Rigelstaff that day and took the boat downriver that evening. No more than three days ago.”
“Why would King Barin walk into Rigelstaff with just Anna? Where’s his army that went looking for him?” Siera asked.
“I know where his army is,” Kayden mumbled, and he turned away from the man to look at Siera. “Right where I’m going to be.”
“You’re talking nonsense, Kayden.”
“Is that all you need to know?” the man asked, rubbing his donkey’s ears, “’cause I have wares I need to sell before I move on.”
“No more questions,” Kayden told him. “Welcome to our little village.”
Siera was swept away by Kayden’s strong arm, and she laughed as ale splashed out of her cup.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To your father’s.”
“Why?” She pushed his hand away. “Why to Father’s? What are you planning this time?”
“Just what I said. If the king is Moshere’s prisoner, we’ve got to help him.”
“You? What? You’re going to believe that fellow. He couldn’t be talking right. The king doesn’t just walk into some city and get taken.”
Ever since Lord Sylvester’s manor had been pilfered, the villagers had become industrious again, their spirits lighter. More people roamed the streets, the markets, the alehouses. They were talking, gossiping, and spreading rumors like they had years ago. That was all innocent during peaceful times, but today something dark still hovered over their village that most people ignored. Kayden took Siera’s hand and pulled her around a corner, away from meddling ears.
“King Barin went into the Neverworld, Siera, and no one’s seen him since. Except this man. Why wouldn’t the king have traveled to Casdamia? He set out to find the children. He means to stop Sylvester in his tracks and punish him. You and I know the baron was up to no good. Well, the king does too and now he needs help.”
“I thought you hated the king.”
“I did until I met him. He was level with me. With all of us.”
“He left you in prison and brought that mercenary here instead!”
“Only because I refused to promise him we wouldn’t attack. He would have let us out if I had.”
“So, it was your fault you had to walk here?” She grinned, half disgusted with his rebellious ways, and half proud of them.
“It was. Well, we know where he went. And I know where the commander went, too, and look how the king’s army helped us. Most of these people would still be hungry if it weren’t for Commander Neal turning a blind eye to us raiding the baron’s manor. We owe them something, Siera and I mean to pay my debt. It’s time to gather our forces and go ride with them.”
“I don’t want you gone,” she said with a frown. But she knew he was a fighting man who wouldn’t rest until he had an opportunity to stand up for what he believed in.
“I know. But it’s something I feel in my heart needs to be done. We’re all going to have to help if we ever want the children of Kolada back.”
Siera nodded. Ever since Commander Neal invited him to join them, she suspected he’d ride with the king’s army. “Do what you must Kayden. I’ll stay and help my father and Rose take care of things.”
He touched her hair and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”
“I’m proud of you, Kayden,” she said.