I ran. My legs ached, telling me to stop. But fear covered my skin in cold sweat and created a knot I couldn’t untangle in my throat. It carried me through the woods, letting me to ignore the sting of branches scraping at my arms, allowing me to jump over roots and boulders and not fall face-first on the floor. The setting sun’s red light struggled more and more to make its way through the green foliage above me. I could hear gallops and shouts far behind. Getting closer. “Go to the right. She went that way.” The words were stuck in my head, pushing me forward. My sprint continued for so long that I didn’t even stop to think about how much time it’d been. The thought would’ve tired me more. Once my legs faltered and my knees shook, I decided I need to stop—of only for a minute. Hiding behind the thick trunk of a tree, I heaved, catching my breath. I listened attentively. The woods were almost silent now. There were no signs of the guards and their horses. Perhaps they had given up. I leaned over, hands on my knees as I caught my breath. Continuing my path, I picked up a new pace, walking fast but not running. The sky was turning darker with each minute that went by. The whisper of the soft wind through the tree leaves made the hair on the back of my neck rise. I was late—and I was alone in the middle of the woods. I’d heard too many stories about wild animals in here. And I had left my dagger at home. A stupid move, considering I’d gone off to steal at the market. Guards swarmed the place.