Mustn't panic. It had been only a few minutes.
Relief poured through her as she caught sight of Layla, Haroun, and Antonio tearing out of the glade.
She could see no one pursuing them. Perhaps it was all a mistake. Perhaps it was not Nasim.
And perhaps it was.
She put spurs to the horse.
The wood was just ahead.
Then it was here, around her. Darkness. Shadows. The thick canopy of branches overhead. Safety.
"Off the horse." Layla reined in beside her and jumped down. "Give your horse a slap to set him running and hide in the underbrush. He's coming."
"Nasim?" Her gaze flew to the road. Riders thundered toward the wood, and in the lead were Balkir and Nasim.
She slipped from the saddle and gave her horse a sharp slap. The horse plunged forward into the brush.
Antonio and Haroun had reined in, and Antonio jumped off his horse. Haroun still sat his horse, looking behind him.
"For God's sake, hurry, Haroun," Selene called frantically as she plunged into the shrubbery.
"They're too close." His face was tight with fear. "They'll find you. I have to--"
He kicked his horse into a run.
Her eyes widened in horror. "Haroun!"
Layla covered Selene's mouth as she jerked her down on the ground.
The riders were upon them.
Dust. Thunder. The crash of branches.
Selene could see the hooves fly by only feet from where they lay.
"There! Ahead!" Balkir's voice. "The boy!"
Earth churned as the riders passed the shrubbery where they were hidden.
Layla's hand slid away from Selene's mouth.
"They'll kill him." Her agonized gaze searched the darkness where the riders had disappeared. "They'll catch him."
"We can't stay here." Layla stood up and jerked her to her feet. "They'll be back. We have to find a hiding place." She turned to Antonio. "Go on ahead. Head south. Find a cave. Even a tree we can climb. Anything out of sight."
Antonio nodded and faded into the bushes.
"Come on." Layla took her arm. "We have to get away from here."
"We have to help Haroun. They'll kill him."
"We can't help him. He has to help himself. He may escape. Anyway, we couldn't catch up with them on foot. Even if we did, we couldn't stop them. We're outnumbered."
"We have to try. You know they'll kill him if they catch him."
"Of course they'll kill him." Layla's voice was lash-sharp. "Don't be stupid. They'll kill us all if given an opportunity. Or maybe they won't kill you but will use you and the child to get to Kadar and Tarik. Do you want to give us all up to Nasim to try to save a man who can't be saved?"
