Chapter 4

"Elise has been holed up with those bandits for days now.

"Maybe she's caught their eye?" Clara said, making sure her words carried to the crowd.

The crowd exploded with gossip.

"Isn't that cheating on her husband?" someone shouted.

"Elise's mom got beaten to death. So maybe it's true..." another whispered.

"If it's true, even if she survives, she should be strung up for it!" someone else yelled.

Clara listened with satisfaction, then turned to Cedric, playing the victim with her best puppy eyes.

"I was just so worried about Elise, I guess I said something I shouldn't have," Clara…