Chapter ONE - Weebly

position. His head spun a bit, but less than he had
feared it might. Still, his body ached as it hadn’t since
his days laboring on the plantation; he wondered if
Yellow-hair and his friends had broken a few of his
ribs.
“Sephira Pryce was here,” Ethan said. “She and her
men were waiting for me.” He glanced at Henry. “You
didn’t hear them earlier?”
Henry looked hurt. “O’ course I didn’t. Ya think I’d
let ya come up, knowin’ they was here?
Ethan shook his head. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry,
Henry.”
The cooper’s face colored. “I did hear some
commotion and … well, I was afraid to come up. But
then I heard them leave. That was all I heard, though. I
swear it.”
“I believe you. And it’s probably best that you
waited. There’s no telling what they might have done to
you.”
“She was really here, eh?” the old man said, gazing
wistfully at the door, as if he might still catch a glimpse
of Sephira and her men. “Th’ Empress herself?”