Chapter 4

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Sarah entered Isaac's room and stood by the door..hands clasped behind her back. she trembled slightly at the intense hatred in his eyes as he looked towards her.

"what? No more titled greetings and bows again" he jeered

Sarah choosed to remain silent

When she didn't speak he continued "there is something i am expecting. Since i don't want it delivered at the palace you would go to town and get it for me"

Sarah looked at him stiffly. What game was he playing? He knew she had never been outside the palace and didn't know the way to town but he still choose to send her. Something was off and she could sense it.

"can i take one of the guards with me?"

"no you are to go alone" he gave something to her "this is the man you are to meet. Under it Is the address. Leave immediately" he turned away from her continuing with whatever he was doing.

Sarah stepped out of the room and stared at the paper in her hands. Her first thought was to find Daniel. It was surprising the extent to which she had come to trust him this last few days.

She entered after she heard him ask her to "Daniel..."

"what's wrong" seeing her worried state he came to hold her hand

Sarah's mind distantly registered the effect of his touch but there was no time to dwell on it "Isaac sent me out of the palace alone to get a delivery for him" she looked up at him "i didn't think it normal"

"you are right. Its not normal. Especially since he knows you rarely leave the palace" he stopped as if contemplating something

"i would send one of my trusted men with you. He will trail you from a distance and report to me if anything goes wrong" he squeezed her hand "i would have gone with you. But i don't want Isaac hatred for you to intensify when he sees us together okay?"

Sarah nodded. She needed to hug him to at least ease the fear in her heart. Not giving it a second thought, she wrapped her arms around him placing her head on his chest in an attempt to draw comfort from him.

Daniel was shocked for a second before allowing his ever willing hands to go around her shoulders, holding her in a comforting hug

"you are safe" he whispered into her hair

He reluctantly stepped away so she could go "i will be waiting here for you"

A sense of dread washed over Daniel and no matter how many times he reassured himself of her safety he couldn't shake off the feeling. His first priority was to make sure she was safe. He didn't want to lose her.

He called Mark...one of his strongest men and gave clear instructions to him " if you suspect anything...report back immediately"

"yes your highness" Mark answered a look of determination on his face

As soon as he left Daniel began pacing the length of his room. He was too agitated to sit still. He was worried about Sarah. What if something happened and Mark didn't get to him fast enough? Damn Isaac... he should have just gone with her at once. He instructed his servant to saddle the best horse in the palace for him...just in case he needed it

After about an hour or so...what seemed like forever to Daniel, Mark rushed into his room panting.

"she was captured...by two burly men. With scars on their faces"

"what?" Daniel yelled

"i followed them long enough to know which route they took before hurrying down here. They followed the narrow path leading to the outskirts of the village. The path that is rarely used..."

Daniel didn't even wait for Mark to finish before he hurried out of the room with just one mission -to find Sarah-

Once outside the palace gates, he kicked the horse into a run "faster" he yelled at the horse who picked up speed as though it understood the frantic state of its rider

Daniel raced through the village until he got to the path they had followed. Since they path was not in use often, it was easy to see the imprint of their feet on the ground. Seeing that they were on foot gave him a little hope. -if he just went a little faster, he would catch up with them in no time- he reassured himself.

After a while he could make out the blurry figures of some people in the distance. Hope swelled in chest.

When he got closer, he saw two battered looking men struggling with Sarah. Pure rage overtook him

By the time the men noticed someone behind them, it was already too late and they couldn't outrun a horse. So they dropped Sarah by the side and drew out their swords

"Sarah take the horse and look for somewhere safe to hide" he told her not taking his eyes off the men in front of him

Sarah too frightened to speak hurriedly grabbed the reins of the horse and ran off.

Daniel drew out his two swords and clashed them with both men at the same time. The sound reached Sarah where she was bent down on the grass and she shook in fear.

She had seen Daniel fight before and was sure of his skill but she didn't know whether her captors were equally skilled...if they were... She didn't want to complete that thought.

Soon the sound of clashing swords stopped much to Sarah's relief. She listened carefully before stepping out of her hiding spot.

The sight that greeted her when she walked out to the pathway sent her into a panicky state. On the floor lying beside each other were the two men that captured her. Some feet further away from them was Daniel's still body.

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