Chapter 4Taden waded through layers of sleep. There was a voice speaking urgently in his ear, and he forced his eyes open and winced at the sunlight.
“Bryce?” he asked, and cleared his throat. The captain nodded and put a hand under his arm when he made the effort to sit up. Taden glanced at the rumpled blankets, and a small pain settled in his heart. Where was Nathaniel?
“What are you doing here?” he asked to hide his dismay. “I thought I told you to go to the Duke.”
“I sent the boys on,” Bryce said. He sat back on his heels, his gray eyes focused on Taden’s face. “I have to applaud the witch. I lost your path by midmorning yesterday—”
“Don’t call him that,” Taden warned.
Bryce shrugged. “As you wish, but there’s not many who can lose me once I’m on their trail. I despaired of findin
