He dragged her toward the boulders.
Hooves pounding.
Close. Too close.
They darted across the plateau.
But the sound of hooves wasn't behind them any longer.
It was ahead, then all around them.
Vaden.
Relief poured through her.
Kadar jerked her to one side as the stream of riders thundered past him toward the oncoming horde of assassins.
"Get behind the boulders," Kadar said curtly. "You don't want to see this."
She was already seeing it. She shuddered as she saw Vaden's sword decapitate one of the leaders in the charge. She hurriedly looked away and let Kadar lead her toward the boulders where she had hidden and waited.
Death there too.
Balkir.
Kadar dragged her behind the boulders.
She leaned back against the rock and closed her eyes.
"Are you satisfied?" Kadar asked roughly. "He almost killed you."
No one knew that better than she. She had been terrified on that frantic run to the edge of the cliff. She whispered, "I started this. It was my responsibility. He was mine."
"And you couldn't leave it to me."
"No."
"How did you get here? Did you follow me?"
She shook her head. "If the assassins couldn't follow you without you knowing, I knew I couldn't. You told me where you thought Nasim would set up camp. I was here before you and saw you hide the chest."
"But your horse was still staked out when I left."
"Vaden gave me one of his horses."
"Vaden." He muttered a curse. "And what if one of Nasim's guards had seen you?"
"I was careful. They didn't."
Kadar swore beneath his breath. "You don't know how lucky you--"
Her eyes opened. "I was careful, not lucky," she said fiercely. "Now stop yelling at me. Do you think I wanted to do it? Was I to leave it all to you? You didn't even have a weapon."
"There are many ways to kill without a sword. I would have been able to do it."
"I couldn't take the chance. I wasn't going to lose you too. Though now I wonder why I cared. You're a fool, and you have no more understanding than--" She was suddenly in his arms, her face buried in his chest. "Let me go."
"No." His voice was muffled. "Never again. You scared me out of my senses. Now be quiet and try to stop shaking."
