“I have information you will be interested in,” he sniveled.
“I won’t believe it, so don’t bother.”
“Your father’s dead.”
Shock speared through her, followed quickly by anger. He would say anything to startle her. “You’re a sniveling liar as well as a coward,” Willow snarled. She gritted her teeth. She didn’t believe him. “You wouldn’t have the courage to kill my father.”
He grinned. “As much as I would have liked to, I didn’t kill him.”
Willow told herself again she didn’t believe him. He never told the truth. And he hated her family. Still, doubt crept into her mind. She hadn’t seen her father in days, almost a week. “You’re a liar!”
“Not about this. It gives me too much joy to be the one to inform you.” His smile was ugly and self-righteous. “That’s how I know your family is not with you.”
The door opened, and Christian entered. He paused, scanning the men, and his gaze finally rested on Willow. “What’s going on?”
“It doesn’t involve you,” Verm said, his nose twitching.
Willow’s heart pounded. “I don’t believe you,” she stated.
Verm licked his lips. “You never will, but what you could lick my ballocks.”
The blow happened quickly, connecting with Verm’s jaw, sending him toppling to the floor.
Verm’s friends moved forward to help him, but Christian drew his sword, and they hesitated.
Christian stood over Verm, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide and furious.
The farmer that owned the inn, William, hurried from the backroom, waving his hands and shouting, “Out! No fighting.” His hair was graying and reflected the red of the fire in the hearth.
Christian snarled and bent over Verm. “If you talk to her like that again, I will kill you.”
“Out!” William called again, motioning to the door with wild waves of his hands.
Verm rolled away from Christian and scurried to his feet. He retreated to his men. “Fine,” he said. “We’re going.” He sneered at Willow. “I’ll see you again, I’m sure.”
Willow watched him leave with dread bubbling inside her. He couldn’t be telling the truth. He had only said it to hurt her.
“Willow,” Christian called, drawing her attention.
“Willow,” William said, closing the door behind the men and approaching her. “Are you well? Did they harm you?”
She glanced at Christian for comfort before turning to William. Her emotions whirled. Uncertainty about her father warred with the happiness of seeing William and his family. She blinked. “I’m sorry,” she said to William.
“Who was that?” Christian demanded.
“A horrible man,” she answered. She was glad Christian was there. Anxiety tightened her stomach into a knot.
“Agnes!” William summoned. “Bring ale!”
Willow nodded her gratitude to William. She had to discover if her father was alive from someone she trusted. And Sage. Where was she? Willow put a hand to her forehead as her world spun. Tears rose in her eyes. And then, another thought froze everything. Where was Raven?
Christian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Willow looked at William. “Have you seen my family?”
William’s eyebrows lifted. “Actually, yes. Sage was here.”
