There was a small, narrow pass between two buildings that would only just let her through. The men should be too large to follow.
Seren ran to the opening and pressed herself against the wall before she inched her way down it. There was an awful smell here, and it was a struggle not to breathe through her nose. Even so, smelly or not, it was infinitely better than the alternative. Better her nose be assaulted than her body.
She heard the men enter the alley behind her and curse.
"Where is she?"
"Merlin will kill us if we don't return with her."
"You and your bright ideas. I swear, Gawain, I should have strangled you at birth." He changed his tone to a high-pitched, mocking one. "We'll just tell her who we are and she'll come with us willingly. No problem." His voice then returned to its deep, accusing tone. "Damn you for the stupidity. I should have left your rank ass in the twentieth century instead of bringing you home."
"I wish you had. I certainly prefer it to this. Not that it matters. What was your bright idea to get her away from Morgen? Huh? You didn't have one at all, did you, Brother Intellect?"
While they argued and berated each other with nonsensical phrases, she continued on her way toward the end.
"There she is!"
She turned her head to see the knights at the opening behind her. They tried to follow and couldn't, so then they pulled back to run around the building.
Seren popped out of the alley, then ran headlong down the narrow, cobblestone street. There were people everywhere, going to market and to businesses. With any luck, the knights would lose sight of her in the crowd.
Or at least she thought so until she rounded a corner and found herself face to face with Gawain again.
How had he gotten here so quickly?
"You can't hide from us, Seren." He took her arm.
Seren twisted away from him and bolted again into the thronging mass. People cursed and pushed at her as she collided with them in her haste. Her heart felt as though it would explode from her fear and panic.
What was she going to do?
Looking behind her to see them still in pursuit, she darted into the street, then skidded to a stop as she heard a horse shrieking.
Seren glanced up to see a large black destrier rearing before her. Its shiny hooves pawed the air as if it wanted nothing more than to pummel her with them. She held her arm up to protect herself and prayed the animal stopped before it savaged her.
The knight spoke to the horse in a language she didn't understand as he brought the beast under control. "Are you trying to kill yourself, woman," he snarled at her.
But the anger on his fair face faded as he looked at her, and his features softened to something less than severe. "Forgive me for my rudeness, good woman. I hope that I didn't frighten you overmuch. It was only the surprise of my horse rearing that caused me to snap."
Seren could only gape at the handsomeness of the man on horseback. His raven black hair fell in waves around the perfect features of his clean-shaven face. Eyes so black that they didn't even appear to have a pupil stared at her with an intensity that left her even more breathless than her run through the streets.
She heard the men behind her curse.
The knight on horseback looked past her to see the men running toward them. "Have you need of assistance, good woman?"
"Aye, my lord," she said breathlessly. "I need to escape them before they catch me."
"Then as a knight and champion, I offer my most humble services to you. Come, and I shall see you home without harm." He extended his hand.
"Nay!" the knight called Gawain shouted as they ran toward her.
Before she could think better of it, Seren placed her hand into his.
The knight pulled her astride his saddle to ride before him, then set his heels to the horse's flanks. They tore through the crowd at a speed that amazed her. It was as if his great black steed had wings.
For the first time since she had arisen that morning, Seren took a deep breath as relief coursed through her.
"Thank you, my lord," she said to the knight holding her. "You have truly saved my life this day. I can never repay you for your kindness."