Chapter 18

Hester’s thoughts wandered to Alexa. She wondered where she was and where she was hiding. Hester doubted that Alexa could have left the city on her own. She had to be hiding in the city and keeping a very low profile. And yet the city had been nothing short of ransacked without her being found. She hoped that resuming her activities would encourage Alexa to return and know that she would be free.

Following her disappearance, it had become known that she had a boyfriend outside the palace. The palace guards had descended on his home like vultures. His parents had been brought to the palace. They were old and frail and pleaded innocence. They did not know where Alexa and their son, Peter, had gone.

When it had become clear that Benedict did not intend to release them, Hester had pleaded with him for their release. She had pledged her life on her belief of their innocence and Benedict had finally agreed to let them go. She had thought Benedict to be a reasonable man but the experience wit