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Page 422

| Tobias's bedroom. The door was ajar. She could see inside to his crib. It was empty! |

| "No!" she screamed, brushing past Crispin. "He can't be gone! Crispin, you were supposed to be on guard outside his door! Tell me he's all right. Oh, Crispin, tell me Tobias is all right." |

| Ashton jumped from the bed and jerked on his breeches. He ran from the room and caught up with Sasha as she entered Tobias's bedroom. They clutched feverishly at one another when it became evident that the child was gone. |

| "I'm sorry," Crispin said, holding his pounding head as he came teetering into the room. "I didn't even hear anyone approach. I was hit from behind. I imagine I fared better than the others who were on guard outsidethey were knifed." |

| Ashton gazed blankly down into the empty crib, then drew Sasha into his arms and comforted her as she cried. |

| "I don't even know how long I was unconscious," Crispin said dejectedly. "Ashton? Sasha? What can I say but that I'm sorry?" |

| Ashton looked over Sasha's shoulder at Crispin. "How are you?" he asked, his voice breaking. "Are you going to be all right? It looks like you've got a nasty head wound." |

| "Pounding like hell, but I'll survive," Crispin grumbled. "I'm sure as hell well enough to ride with you to go after Tobias." |

| Sasha jerked away from Ashton. "I'm going with you," she cried. She straightened her shoulders and wiped the tears from her eyes. "And don't try to stop me, Ashton. Nothing would keep me from going after my son." |

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