As gulls flew over the sparkling turquoise ocean, a black haired youth in a brown tunic and trousers leaned against the side of a ship,watching some dolphins that were playing near the vessel. The ship’s owner, a merchant named Samuel Potter, stood nearby. He was a massive man, strong as an ox, with fiery red hair and a welcoming grin on his face. His large hands were callused with labor, and his emerald green eyes sparkled.

While a gentle breeze ruffled the teen's short, choppy hair, the ship plowed through the waves, and salty spray sprinkled the deck. There!The merchant was gazing at her again! Would he see through her ploy?All the young woman could do was trust God to protect her. Sighing, Hadassah returned to her sweeping. Could it have been only a few days ago that she had been a carefree girl with not a thing to worry about? Her mind returned to that dreadful day.

The sun had risen dazzling and cheery, laughing down at the vast meadows as enchanting flowers opened to drink up the morning light. A few pleasant huts dotted the landscape. The one on the far right was where everything had begun.

Hadassah had jumped out of bed, fresh and eager to take on the day. The smell of fish frying and fresh fruit drifted from the kitchen where her mother, Ruth, was preparing breakfast. Hadassah dressed hastily in her favorite blue cotton dress with her leather belt and boots. She added her knife onto her belt and fastened her elegant locket around her neck. Hadassah then crossed the corridor and stepped outside to assess the weather. She breathed in the fresh morning air; it was going to be a beautiful day.

Hadassah enjoyed life with her loving mother and handsome older brother,Eleazar. Her father was a mystery, and her mother never spoke of him.Since she had never met him, Hadassah had no reason to miss him.Stepping back inside, she began setting the table as her mother added the finishing touches to their meal. Whistling a cheery tune, Eleazar joined them, full milk pails in hand from the morning milking. He greeted his sister fondly and said grace as they all sat down to eat.

After chores, Hadassah set off to take advantage of the wild berry season.“The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and the sky is a lovely shade of blue,” she sighed contently. Sometime later, her bucket now full of mouthwatering, juicy berries, Hadassah decided to head home. The sun was now directly overhead, and she was worried she would be late for lunch. On the way back home she began day-dreaming of surprising her brother with a delicious pie when he returned from working in the garden later that evening.

As she approached their hut, she noticed a parchment nailed to the door. Curious, she proceeded to read it and was shocked by what it said:

Missing! Any information regarding Hadassah Cypress will be rewarded accordingly! Up to 20 silver pieces

It had a sketch of her, and in the bottom right corner the seal of Lord Colten, the ruler of the Isles of Arvad! Hadassah gasped, rooted to the spot. “What's going on? This must be a mistake. I haven't been gone that long,have I?” she wondered. At once, she burst into the house,announcing her arrival as guilt stabbed her for worrying her mother so.