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to conceive of how the men could have gotten ahead of them。
Richard and the woman spun； prepared to run。 From the rock above； two ropes dropped down。 The other two men plummeted to the path； landing on their feet with heavy thuds； blocking any retreat。 They were as big as the first two。 Buckles and leather straps beneath their cloaks held an arsenal of weapons that glinted in the sunlight。
Richard wheeled back to the first two。 They calmly pushed their hoods back。 Each had thick blond hair and a thick neck； their faces were rugged； handsome。
〃You may pass； boy。 Our business is with the girl。〃 The man's voice was deep； almost friendly。 Nonetheless； the threat was as sharp as a blade。 He removed his leather gloves and tucked them in his belt as he spoke； not bothering to look at Richard。 He obviously didn't consider Richard an obstacle。 He appeared to be the one in charge； as the other three waited silently while he spoke。
Richard had never been in a situation like this before。 He never allowed himself to lose his temper； and could usually turn scowls to smiles with his easy manner。 If talk didn't work； he was quick enough and strong enough to stop threats before anyone was hurt； and if need be he would simply walk away。 He knew these men weren't interested in talking； and they clearly weren't afraid of him。 He wished he could walk away now。
Richard glanced to her green eyes and saw the visage of a proud woman beseeching his help。
He leaned closer； and kept his voice low； but firm。 〃I won't leave you。〃 Relief washed over her face。
She gave a slight nod as she settled her hand lightly on his forearm。 〃Keep between them； don't let them all e at me at once；〃 she whispered。 〃And be sure you aren't touching me when they e。〃 Her hand tightened on his arm and her eyes held his； waiting for confirmation that he understood her instructions。 He nodded his agreement。 〃May the good spirits be with us；〃 she said。 She let her hands drop to her sides； turning to the two behind them； her face dead calm； devoid of emotion。
〃Be on your way； boy。〃 The leader's voice was harder。 His fierce blue eyes glared。 He gritted his teeth。 〃Last time offered。〃 。 j'
Richard swallowed hard。
He tried to sound sure of himself。 〃We will both be passing。〃 He heart felt as if it were ing up into his throat。
〃Not this day；〃 the leader said with finality。 He pulled free a wicked…looking curved knife。
The man to his side pulled a short sword clear of the scabbard 。 strapped across his back。 With a depraved grin； he drew it across the inside of his muscled forearm； staining the blade red。 From behind； Richard could hear the ring of steel being drawn。 He was paralyzed with fear。 This was all happening too fast。 They had no chance。 None。
For a brief moment no one moved。 Richard flinched when the four gave the howling battle cries of men prepared to die in mortal bat。 They charged in a frightening rush。 The one with the short sword swung it high； ing at Richard。 He could hear one of the men behind him grab the woman as the man with the sword raced toward him。
And then； just before the man reached him； there was a hard impact to the air； like a clap of thunder with no sound。 The violence of it made every joint in his body cry out in sharp pain。 Dust lifted around them； spreading outward in a ring。
The man with the sword felt the pain of it； too； and for an instant his attention was diverted past Richard； to the woman。 As he came crashing forward； Richard fell back against the wall and with both feet hit the man square in the chest as hard as he could。 It knocked him clear of the path； into midair。 The man's eyes went wide in surprise as he dropped backward to the rocks below； the sword still held over his head in both hands。
To Richard's shock； he saw one of the other two men from behind him falling through space； too； his chest ripped and bloody。 Before Richard could give it a thought； the leader with the curved knife charged past； intent on the woman。 He hammered the heel of his free hand into the center of Richard's chest。 The jolt knocked the wind out of him and flung him hard against the wall； smacking his head against the rock。 As he fought to remain conscious； his only thought was that he had to stop the man from getting to her。
Summoning strength he didn't know he。 had； Richard snatched the leader by his husky wrist and spun him around。 The knife came around in an arc toward him。 The blade flashed in the sunlight。 There was a savage hunger in the man's blue eyes。 Richard had never been so afraid in his life。
In that instant he knew he was about to die。
Seemingly from out of nowhere； the last man； with a short sword covered in gore； smashed into the leader； driving his sword through the other's gut； slamming the wind out of him。 The collision was so fierce it carried both over the side of the cliff。 All the way down the last man howled in a cry of rage that ended only when they met the boulders below。
Richard stood stunned； staring over the edge。 Reluctantly he turned to the woman； afraid to look； terrified he would see her gashed open and lifeless。 Instead； she was sitting on the ground； leaning against the cliff wall； looking drained but unhurt。 Her face had a faraway look。 It was all over so fast he couldn't understand what had happened or how。 Richard and the woman were alone in the sudden silence。
He slumped down beside her on rock warm from the sun。 He had a powerful headache from having his head whacked on the wall。 Richard could see she was all right； so he didn't ask。 He felt too overwhelmed to talk and could sense the same in her。 She noticed blood on the back of her hand and wiped it off on the wall； adding it to the red splatters already there。 Richard thought he might throw up。
He couldn't believe they were alive。 It didn't seem possible。 What was the thunder without sound？ And the pain he felt when it had happened？ He had never felt anything like it before。 He shuddered recalling it。 Whatever it was； she had something to do with it； and it had saved his life。 Something unearthly had occurred； and he wasn't at all sure he wanted to know what it was。
She leaned her head back against the rock； rolling it to the side； toward him。 〃I don't even know your name。 I wanted to ask before； but I was afraid to talk。〃 She vaguely indicated the dropoff。 〃I was so frightened of them 。。。。 I didn't want them to find us。〃
He thought maybe she was about to cry and looked over at her。 She wasn't； but he felt that he might。 He nodded his understanding of what she said about the men。
〃My name is Richard Cypher。〃
Her green eyes studied his as he looked at her。 The light breeze carried wisps of hair across her face。
She smiled。 〃There are not many who would have stood with me。〃 He found her voice as attractive as the rest of her。 It matched the spark of intelligence in her eyes。 It almost took his breath away。 〃You are a very rare person； Richard Cypher。〃
To his intense displeasure Richard felt his face flush。 She looked away； pulling the strands of hair off her face； and pretended not t