“Run, Sophia. Don’t come back,” he said. Then he slapped his horse’s rump, and the horse took off, heading north, heading toward safety, but leaving Caspian behind.
“Caspian,” she called out as the horse continued to run, and she did her best to hold on.
How…what…she couldn’t leave him.
Tears filled her eyes as she did her best to stay on the horse.
How was she supposed to leave him behind?
She turned, and in the darkness, she could barely make out Caspian’s form as he pulled his blade from its sheath and prepared to fight. “Don’t stop,” he called out after her. “Keep going.”
Sophia tried to stop the horse.
She didn’t…how could she…she couldn’t breathe.
How dare he try to sacrifice himself for her?
She couldn’t see anything as the horse ran headlong into the darkness, with only the light of the moon filtering through the leaves. Somehow she lost the reins and she clutched the horse’s mane, holding tight. She couldn’t even see the reins through her tears.
Her heart broke as they ran through the woods alone.
All she could do was hang on, and pray that Caspian had help coming, and that it wouldn’t be too late.
Chapter eighteen
Caspian
Caspiangrippedhisswordas the first guard descended on him.
He prayed that Sophia would keep going.
He couldn’t win against six men. His only hope was to use the forest to distract them and keep them all from attacking him at the same time. And maybe, just maybe, buy her enough time to get away.
Hopefully his brother was on his way and would find her and save her.
Even if he hadn’t been in love with her, as a Royal Guard of Galamere, it was his duty and honor to fight for those in need in his country.
Rescuing Sophia seemed a fitting way to live out that duty, even if it was the last mission he would complete.
The first guard came at him with his sword drawn and Caspian threw himself into the fighting.
Every block, every blow, every moment that passed was another moment for Sophia to get farther away.
As the second and third guard descended upon him, he put his back to a tree, using it to protect his most vulnerable point, and did his best to fend them off.
Even as a sword caught his arm and sliced through his shirt, he knew that he was buying Sophia time to get away and to find help.
Would it be enough time? Did she make it away? Was she even able to stay on the horse? Had she ever ridden before?
He should have asked her. He should have invited her on a ride. He should have spent more time properly wooing her.
He should have treasured every moment they spent together.
Now, it was probably too late.
When the other three guards didn’t appear, his heart sank.
Were they chasing her down?
