Chapter 78

Ryder's POV

I placed my foot squarely on the stirrup and careful dismounted from my horse with a small grunt. After landing on the ground, I adjusted my coat, making sure to smoothen whatever wrinkle the ride through the town had caused.

"Stay here and watch the horses" I said to the guards that had followed me and they nodded squarely in response to my orders. I turned from them and walked over to the door of Elders Vermont's house. Taking a deep breath, I knocked twice on the wooden door.

Not too long after the knock, I heard the sound of footsteps slowly approach the door. "Who is it?" the person behind the door asked. From the tone of the voice, it sounded like a woman. Since when did Elder Vermont start letting women come into his home? Did he really miss his wife that much?

"It's King Ryder," I answered after I suddenly realized that I had not given an answer. I heard a loud crack from behind the door after I had given this answer and I knew immediately that the lady was openi