“Who?”
There was another page.
If I do not return, trust the man with the scar.
She looked at Cole.
He touched his jaw.
“The scar?”
“Yes.”
“Your father trusted me?”
“Apparently.”
Eli looked away.
Hannah noticed.
“What?”
Eli said nothing.
“What do you know?”
He finally spoke.
“Samuel believed your mother was going to be killed.”
“By whom?”
“He never knew.”
“Then who was following them?”
Eli hesitated.
“Someone inside the Circle.”
Hannah turned the page.
Another sentence had been written later.
If you ever discover that I survived, do not come looking for me.
Hannah closed her eyes.
“Why would he write that?”
Cole answered:
“Because he knew you would.”
She smiled sadly.
“He was right.”
Outside, a horse approached.
Hannah grabbed her rifle.
A man dismounted.
It was the stranger from Saint Agnes.
He raised his hands.
“I came alone.”
Cole aimed.
“Talk.”
The man looked at Hannah.
“Your father is alive.”
Hannah stepped forward.
“Where?”
“Three days from here.”
“Why hasn't he come back?”
“He can't.”
“Why?”
“He's being watched.”
“By whom?”
“The true Circle.”
Hannah's grip tightened.
“Who are they?”
The man answered:
“People your father trusted.”
Eli whispered:
“Samuel.”
The stranger nodded.
“They have him.”
Hannah's eyes hardened.
“Then we go.”
The Road Back
They rode through the night.
The stranger led them.
Cole stayed beside Hannah.
Eli followed.
The mountains grew darker.
At dawn, they reached a valley hidden between cliffs.
A large stone house stood there.
Armed men guarded it.
Hannah stared.
“That's where he is?”
“Yes.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you helping us?”
The stranger looked at her.
“Because Samuel saved my life.”
Hannah nodded.
They waited until night.
Then they entered through an underground passage.
Inside the house, they found rooms filled with documents.
The true Circle.
Not the men who wore the brand.
The men who had never needed one.
Judges.
Bankers.
Land agents.
Officials.
Men who controlled property without appearing in records.
Samuel had discovered them.
They had imprisoned him.
Hannah found him in a locked room.
He was older.
Thin.
Gray-haired.
But alive.
He looked up.
“Hannah.”
She stood frozen.
Then she ran.
He held her.
She cried against his chest.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“You let me mourn you.”
“I had to.”
“No.”
She stepped back.
“You chose.”
Samuel looked at her.
“Yes.”
“You chose to disappear.”
“Yes.”
“You chose to let me suffer.”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“You were wrong.”
“I know.”
Hannah stared at him.