Alexander’s footsteps crunched softly against the dirt road, the silver locket bouncing lightly against his chest from the satchel slung across his shoulder.
Halfway to the village, he paused, glancing toward the edge of the forest that bordered the road. The trees stood tall, and a sudden idea struck him.
What if her mother went back there? What if she’s waiting? Or… what if those soldiers found something?
Without much thought, he stepped off the road and into the underbrush. The narrow cut through the forest wasn’t the easiest path, but it offered concealment.
He pulled his tattered cloak tighter around himself. His heart thudded heavily as he moved deeper into the woods, the canopy above blotting out the sunlight in patches.
The closer he got to the area where he’d first encountere
