Nothing fell out.
Confusion washed over him. Where was the parchment? Sage’s warm brown eyes were unreadable, her expression guarded. She was hiding something. When had she moved the parchment?
“You are not hiding anything in your boots,” Christian’s father mused.
Sage put her boots on.
“There is still your armor,” he added.
Dread filled Marcus. He wouldn’t let them search Sage, and Marcus was certain Christian and Landyn wouldn’t allow them to touch Willow and Raven. His fingers twitched over the pommel of his weapon.
Christian stepped protectively before Willow. “No, Father,” he commanded.
Lord Sterling dipped his head, his lips curling into a grin. “Then give me what I want.”
“We gave you the book!”
Lord Sterling’s lips thinned in anger. “I want to know what you know. I want the book with the directions you are following.”
“We don’t have any other book,” Christian insisted through clenched teeth.
“I’ll need proof,” he said, glancing over Christian’s shoulder at Willow.
Christian’s upper lip pulled back to reveal his teeth, and he shook his head. “No,” he spat out.
His father’s nostrils flared, and his eyes narrowed. He made a small gesture with his fingers, and two guards advanced. “I want that book,” his father said menacingly.
Christian pulled his sword from its sheath, and the air hummed with a chorus of metal as the guards surrounding them drew their swords in unison.
Marcus moved first, his blade flashing in the dim light as he swiped the first soldier’s sword aside. He was faced with three more blades and more guards advancing.
Sage jumped from her seat, holding her hands out imploringly. “Wait!” she shouted, her voice quivering with desperation.
Marcus trembled with anticipation, his muscles quaking with the strain of holding himself back. His gaze settled on Sage. The room was filled with a suffocating tension that threatened to burst out of control. He knew they would fight, but they were outnumbered. Still, he faced his deadly adversaries with fierce courage and a single goal—to take as many of them out before they took him down.
“Here,” Sage said, pulling the parchment from her sleeve and shoving it toward him.
Marcus’s mouth dropped in disbelief.
“No,” Willow whispered loud enough for all to hear.
Sage’s hand trembled as she held the parchment out.
Marcus’s heart ached. He knew what this cost her. “Sage,” he pleaded.
She shook her head and stepped forward, clutching the parchment firmly in her hand.
Lord Sterling hungrily reached for it.
Sage pulled it out of his reach. “You can have it once we are all mounted and ready to leave.”
Lord Sterling’s cold eyes swept her shrewdly. “I will look over the writings before you mount. You shall be the last one to leave.”
“No,” Marcus ordered and surged forward.
Two guards raised their swords, the tips pointing toward him, and he came to a halt.
“He’s not to be trusted,” Christian warned.
