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wanting the prestige of a local guide more than they wanted direction。
His eyes locked on something。 There was movement。 Unsure what it had been； he stared hard at the spot on the far side of the lake。 When he saw it again； on the path； where it passed behind a thin veil of trees； there was no doubt； it was a person。 Maybe it was his friend Chase。 Who else but a boundary warden would be wandering around up here？
He hopped down off the rock； tossing the twigs aside； and took a few steps forward。 The figure followed the path into the open； at the edge of the lake。 It wasn't Chase； it was a woman； a woman in a dress。 What woman would be walking around this far out in the Ven Forest； in a dress？ Richard watched her making her way along the lakeshore； disappearing and reappearing with the path。 She didn't seem to be in a hurry； but she wasn't strolling slowly either。 Rather； she moved at the measured pace of an experienced traveler。 That made sense； no one lived anywhere near Trunt Lake。
Other movement snatched his attention。 Richard's eyes searched the shade and shadows。 Behind her； there were others。 Three； no； four men； in hooded forest cloaks； following her； but hanging back some distance。 They moved with stealth； from tree to rock to tree。 Looking。 Waiting。 Moving。 Richard straightened； his eyes wide； his attention riveted。
They were stalking her。
He knew immediately： this was the third child of trouble
CHAPTER 2
AT FIRST； RICHARD STOOD frozen； not knowing what to do。 He couldn't be sure the four men really were stalking the woman； at least not until it was too late。 What business was it of his anyway？ And besides； he didn't even have his knife with him。 What chance did one man with no weapon have against four？ He watched the woman making her way along the path。 He watched the men follow。
What chance did the woman have？
He crouched； muscles tight and hard。 His heart raced as he tried to think of what he could do。 The morning sun was hot on his face； his breathing was shallow。 Richard knew there was a small cutoff from Hawkers Trail somewhere ahead of the woman。 Hurriedly； he tried to remember exactly where。 The main fork to her left continued around the lake and up the hill to his left； to where he stood and watched。 If she stayed on the main trail he could wait for her； then tell her about the men。 Then what？ Besides； that was too long。 The men would be on her before then。 An idea began to take shape。 He sprang up and started running down the trail
If he could reach her before the men caught her； and before the cutoff； he could take her up the right fork。 That trail led up out of the trees onto open ledges； away from the boundary； and toward the town of Hartland； toward help。 If they were quick； he could hide their tracks。 The men wouldn't know that the two of them had taken the side trail。 They would think she was still on the main trail； at least for a while； long enough to fool them and lead her to safety。
Still winded from the earlier run； Richard panted in labored breaths； running down the trail as fast as he could go。 The path had quickly turned back in to the trees； so at least he didn't have to worry about the men being able to see him。 Shafts of sunlight flashed by as he raced along。 Old pine trees lined the path； leaving a soft mat of needles to cushion his footfalls。
After a time； driving himself headlong down the path； he started looking for the side trail。 He couldn't be sure how far he had gone； the forest offered no view for a fix； and he didn't remember exactly where the cutoff was。 It was small and would be easy to miss。 With every bend bringing new hope that this would be the place he found the cutoff； he pushed himself on。 He tried to think of what he would say to the woman when he finally reached her。 His mind raced as fast as his legs。 She might think he was with her pursuers； or be frightened by him； or not believe him。 He wouldn't have much time to convince her to go with him； that he wanted to help。
ing over the top of a small rise； he looked anew for the fork； but didn't see it and kept running。 Now his breath came in ragged gasps。 He knew that if he didn't reach the split before she did； they would be trapped； and their only options would be to outrun the men； or to fight。 He was too winded for either。 That thought drove him on harder。 Sweat ran down his back； making his shirt stick to his skin。 The coolness of the morning had turned to choking heat； though he knew it was only his exertion that made it seem that way。 The forest passed in a blur to each side as he ran。
Just before a sharp bend to the right； he came at last to the cutoff； almost missing it。 He made a quick search for tracks to if she had been there and taken the small path。 There were none。 Relief washed over him。 He dropped to his knees and sat back on his heels in exhaustion； trying to catch his breath。 The first part had worked。 He had beaten her here。 Now he had to make her believe him before it was too late。
Holding his right hand over a painful stitch in his side and still trying to catch his breath； he started to worry that he was going to look silly。 What if it was just a girl and her brothers playing a game？ He would be the fool。 Everyone but him would have a good laugh。
He looked down at the bite on the back of his hand。…It was red and throbbed painfully。 He remembered the thing in the sky。 He thought about the way she had been walking； with a sense of purpose； not like a child at play。 It was a woman； not a girl。 He remembered the cold fear he had felt when he saw the four men。 Four men warily shadowing a woman： the third strange thing to happen this morning。 The third child of trouble。 No…he shook his head…this was no game； he knew what he had seen。 It was no game。 They were stalking her。
Richard came partway to his feet。 Waves of heat rolled from his body。 Bent over at the waist with his hands braced on his knees； he took a few deep breaths before straightening to his full height。
His eyes fell on the young woman as she came around the bend in front of him。 His breath caught for an instant。 Her brown h