PROLOGUE — THE CAPTAIN
I hear the pounding of hooves behind me.
I turn too late.
A horse is already bearing down on me. I dodge at the last second, but three riders cut off every escape route.
I clutch my side. The pain reminds me I haven’t fully recovered yet.
Their faces are covered. Even so, I recognise the captain at once by his broad, heavy build.
I reach for an arrow, but a whip lashes across my arm. The pain forces me to stop.
One of the riders dismounts, grabs me and twists my arm behind my back. I drop to my knees, unable to break free.
The captain looms over me.
His fist catches me square in the face. White flashes explode across my vision. For a moment, everything goes black. When I open my eyes again, the world is spinning, and my eye is already swelling.
“Stay away from Rossana. She belongs to me now.”
I try to get back to my feet, but he’s not finished.
“If I see you together again, you’ll regret it. And so will your family. A barn can go up in flames. A brother can die in an accident. All it takes is a word from me.”
Two kicks to the ribs knock the breath out of me.
I lie curled up in the dust. Every breath feels like a knife twisting in my side.
The riders ride off.
“What the hell do you want?” I shout when I finally manage to catch my breath.
No one answers.
I drag myself to a tree and slump against the trunk, spitting blood and clutching my side.
“I haven’t seen her in ages,” I whisper.
The woods fall silent again.
