Chapter 19
Matthew stood behind the widest tree he could find, trying his best to calm himself and keep his ragged breathing from giving him away. A band of cavalry flew by just a few yards ahead of him. They had seemed to come out of nowhere. He’d seen the Gradenian colors out of the corner of his eye and run back to safety just before the horses crested a rise in the forest floor. As their hoofbeats echoed away, he rested his palms on his knees and leaned forward, sucking in air. If he’d been spotted and brought to Castle Graden, he was certain Leopold would have made Philip look like a gracious host.
His stomach rumbled, and his throat was dry. The rations Angel had packed for him were gone, the last of the water finished off earlier that morning. He could do without food a bit longer
