Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
The realization struck with such force that Feena nearly lost her footing. Then she turned and ran as best she could.
“THE KING!” she screamed as she stumbled through the snow. “FETCH THE KING!”
Chapter Nine
The Great Hall
The Forest
Feena stumbled through the castle doors, breathless and near collapsing.
“King Dravic,” she gasped at the startled guards. “I need the king. Now!”
One guard hurried off while the other reached to steady her, but Feena waved him away. She had wasted too much time already. Every moment that passed carried Adira farther away.
Dravic was still in the council chamber with Tavish when the door flew open and a guard entered without waiting to be summoned.
The interruption alone had Dravic turning sharply.
“My king, Feena has returned to the castle. She demands to see you.”
Dravic’s brow narrowed. “Where is Adira?”
The guard hesitated.
Something cold settled in Dravic’s gut. “Where is she?”
“I do not know, my king.”
Dravic was out the door before Tavish could say a word.
He found Feena in the entrance hall, her cloak hanging crooked from her shoulders, the hem of her dress wet from snow and her face pale with fear.
Dravic stopped and stared at her. She was alone, and his heart suddenly pounded in his chest as he crossed the distance between them.
“Where is Adira?” he demanded.
Feena’s eyes filled with tears. “They took her.”
Briefly, Dravic felt as if his heart stopped beating, then it thundered against his chest.
Tavish had followed and stopped several feet behind him.
“Who took her?” Dravic demanded again, only this time all could hear the fury in his words.
“I do not know. There were four men. They were waiting in the forest and—”
“The forest?” His voice hardened. “Why were you in the forest?”
Feena gripped her hands to stop them from trembling.
Dravic stepped closer and gave Feena no time to respond. “I ordered you to remain in the cottage with her.”
“Aye, but Adira—”
“You disobeyed me.”
“She would have gone without me!”
Dravic glared at her.
Feena struggled against her fear of the king and her fear for Adira. “Something drew her there. I tried to stop her, but she was determined. I have never seen her so determined.”
“What direction did they take her?” Dravic snapped, his anger mounting.
“I do not know. Deeper into the forest from what I saw. They used something to make her sleep and carried her away.”
Dravic turned sharply to Tavish.
“READY MY HORSE AND WARRIORS!” His roar filled the Great Hall.
Warriors moved at once.
“Dravic,” Tavish said, “It could be a trap. More men may be lying in wait. Let your warriors go and find her.”
The fury in Dravic’s eyes had Tavish taking a step back.
“Men dared to boldly take what belonged to the king and you expect me to sit in the castle and do nothing?”
“Nay, my king,” Tavish said with a bow of his head. “I but ask you to consider what you may be riding into… a trap. Men paid to see you dead.”
Dravic remained silent in thought for a moment before he shook his head. “What would make someone think that the king would put himself in danger to go after a woman who is deaf and cannot speak?”
Feena gasped, her eyes turning wide. “Are you suggesting those men meant to abduct Adira?”
Tavish looked skeptical. “That seems unlikely. What could they ever want from her?”
Dravic caught a sudden spark of light in Feena’s eyes and once again demanded, “What is it?”
“It may be nothing—”
“Tell me,” Dravic snapped, impatient to know.
“When Adira arrived at my door, the only possession she had with her was a piece of what I assumed was jewelry or an amulet of some kind. But it was missing a piece. Adira showed me that missing piece today. It had strange etchings on it and fit perfectly with the piece she had.”
“Where did she get it?” Tavish asked.
“If I understood her correctly, Bria gave it to her,” Feena said.
Tavish looked puzzled. “How would anyone know Adira had the necklace?”
“You are wasting time.”
The three looked up to see Fiora flitting just above them.
“How did you get in here?” Tavish asked, shaking his head.
“I have no time for foolish questions,” Fiora said, dismissing Tavish with the wave of her small hand. “You waste time chatting when you need to be searching. I can help you find Adira.”
“She is right,” Dravic said. “Why and who abducted Adira can be determined later. Right now, I need to find her before she is harmed—”
“Or lost to us forever,” Fiora said, worry straining her small brow.
Her words struck Dravic like a hard blow. The thought that he would never see Adira again felt as if his heart had been wrenched from his chest, while the thought of the harm that might be done to her sent a raging anger through him.
“No one takes what belongs to the king,” Dravic said with a calm force that frightened more than a show of anger. Then lower, so no one could hear, he murmured, “Takes what is mine and mine alone.”