Taken~
Gaven Buchanan
Dundarien, Aleron
Thickening clouds cast shadows across the courtyard as Gaven sprinted for the garden. A basket of freshly cut lavender leaned precariously from a stone bench, the blooms spilling to the ground. A glint of steel caught his eye. He brushed back the gravel. It was her cutting knife. A smear of blood darkened the blade.
“Captain Royce! Guards!”
Gaven scoured the garden. A few yards away, he found herbs trampled underfoot. He followed the path. Footprints. Her smaller ones, two larger pairs, one soft-soled.
“Rosalee!”
He leaped over the garden wall, shouting out her name. Captain Royce scaled the wall after him, with more guards behind him.
“Spread out. Find a trail.”
Men searched the grass. A flicker of pale yellow pulled Gaven to the stream. He
