“My lady?” Panic streaked through her eyes as she stared up at him. “They want you dead?” A sword’s wrath! “Hide behind the boulder.” She didn’t move. “Now!” With a start, Alesia ran to the large rock near the back of the cave, and he followed. The thrum of hoofbeats halted near the entrance. Sword readied, Colyne tensed. “She is not out here,” a rough English voice grumbled. “Our orders are to find her,” another man snapped. “We have searched for three bloody days now,” a man farther away stated. “She is long gone.” A man close to the entry grunted. “If you want to keep your head, you best pray that we find her.” A horse squealed, another snorted, and leather and mail clanked as the men rode off. The rumble of horses faded. Colyne exhaled a relieved sigh as he stepped from behind the boulder. Whoever the men were, they were nae searching for him. With the threat over, weariness swept him. He needed to rest. He sheathed his blade and turned toward Alesia.
