Page 145 of Sword & Sacrifice

“What is this companion’s name?”

“Valerian Sommers.”

The constable’s quill scratched over the paper, drawing a large line through his notes. He looked at Emmaline oddly. “What did you say your name was again?”

Sighing in exasperation, she said, “Emmaline. That’s not important! My mother helped me escape, but she and Penn are still trapped in Causley Estate with Niall and Al—Valerian.” She grabbed the constable’s hands. “Please, you have to help them!”

He frowned. “So, you claim that two mages are holding your companions hostage at Causley Estate.”

“Yes!”

“Where was the lord while all this occurred?”

“I-I don’t know. We ate dinner together last night. I haven’t seen him since.”

Constable Gordon pursed his lips with a long, drawn out, “Mmhmm.” Then he patted Emmaline’s hand and asked, “Are you sure this wasn’t a nightmare?”

“I wasn’t dreaming!”

“She came in from the storm,” the innkeeper offered. “The room she and her mother rented is empty, no one’s slept in it all night. Both of their horses are still here.” He hesitated, his eyes flicking between Emmaline and the constable. “You should at least investigate.”

Constable Gordon pulled his hands away from Emmaline and rubbed his temples. “Lord Edgar is an upstanding citizen of our community. Not to mention, he pays my salary. I can’t simply march up to his estate and ask if he’s harboring a traitor and two hostages.”

“Lord Edgar himself might be in danger,” Emmaline argued.

He wavered for a moment before asking, “Do you believe he’s being held hostage in his own home?”

She nodded vigorously, hoping the poor man was only a hostage and not dead.

“Let’s say you’re telling the truth.”

I am telling the truth! Emmaline pressed her lips together to hold the protest inside.

“I’m not equipped to face a mage alone. It will take a few hours for me to gather a party of volunteers and—”

“So you’ll help me?”

“I will investigate,” he corrected. “What I find will determine our next steps.”

“Oh, thank you.” She wanted to throw her arms around him but settled for hugging herself tightly. Mama, Penn, we’re coming to save you.

Emmaline paced the inn’s dining room as she waited for an update from Constable Gordon. He’d invited her to wait in his office instead, but she had declined. If her mother escaped Alistair on her own, she might return to the inn to look for Emmaline or at least to fetch her horse.

“Miss Orestes?”

Emmaline’s head whipped toward the voice. The constable stood in the inn’s doorway, his uniform properly arranged, his shirt tucked in, and his bedhead tamed. He hardly resembled the rattled, exhausted man who had woken up at dawn to speak with her.

“I’ve gathered twenty men to join my hunt for the traitor. I encourage you, again, to wait in my office until we return.”

“No,” she said, raising her chin as she strode toward him. “I’m coming with you.”

He grimaced. “Ma’am, I appreciate your concern for your mother, but I can’t have an untrained civilian—”

“I’m a medic,” she said, leaving out the ‘in training’ part. “If someone is injured, its better if I’m on the scene.”

He hesitated, looking her up and down. “If you’re a medic, shouldn’t you have supplies?”

“My medical bag was, unfortunately, left at the estate. I need to recover it.”