Chapter 54: The Cottage, Part 1

"Tell me you did not go where I think you went," Colin chided Seth. Riding one of Colin's horses, Seth neared the little stone cottage in the clearing. Colin was standing on the porch as the morning light sleepily began to make its presence known. Morning dew glistened on the wildflowers dotting the field. "Please tell me that you did not go to the castle for Briana!"

The look on Seth's face gave him away. All the way back from the castle, he had replayed his argument with Briana over and again in his head. Seth realized that he had been an idiot. He was just hurt that Briana didn't want to go with him. Deep down, he understood her reasoning, and he supposed that she was right, but that didn't make it any easier for him to leave her behind. It killed him to have to leave her in the clutches of that madman.

"Yes," Seth began, dismounting the sorrel colored horse with the black mane and tail, letting its head drop to the ground to momentarily graze. "I went to the castle."