Chapter 5

Julian was taken before midnight.

Clara escaped through the cellar with Marcus.

The young corporal had secretly followed Julian for years and refused to abandon him.

They hid in an abandoned mill outside town.

Clara couldn’t stop shaking.

“They’re going to kill him.”

Marcus nodded.

“Probably.”

“Then we get him out.”

Marcus looked at her.

“Miss Vance, the entire Ministry is hunting him.”

“I don’t care.”

“You should.”

Clara turned.

“My father destroyed everything he owned to save Julian.”

Marcus stared.

“How do you know?”

She showed him the letter.

His expression changed.

“Commander knew about this?”

“No.”

“Then why would your father save him?”

“Because Julian was innocent.”

Marcus looked away.

“There is more.”

“What?”

“Commander Cross has spent years investigating his father’s death.”

Clara frowned.

“His father?”

“General Cross died during a supply inspection. Officially, an accident.”

“And unofficially?”

“Poison.”

Clara felt a chill.

“Who killed him?”

“We don’t know.”

Marcus lowered his voice.

“But before he died, General Cross left a message.”

“What message?”

Marcus looked toward the dark road.

“He said the Vance family would eventually uncover the truth.”

Clara suddenly understood.

Her father’s bankruptcy.

Julian’s father’s death.

The military corruption.

Everything connected.

But there was one question.

“Where is my father?”

Marcus hesitated.

“I may know.”

Clara stared at him.

“Tell me.”

“There’s an old fortress north of the border.”

“Fort Ashen?”

Marcus nodded.

“Prisoners are taken there without records.”

Clara’s heart pounded.

“If Gideon is alive—”

“He may be there.”

They prepared to leave.

But before they could, a rider arrived.

A military messenger.

He handed Clara a sealed note.

She opened it.

Only six words were written.

I know where your father is.

No signature.

Marcus read it.

Then his face went pale.

“What?”

Clara looked at him.

“The handwriting.”

“Whose?”

She swallowed.

“Julian’s.”