The Vengeful Robin

by Erica Andrews

  She lifted her hand and rested it on my shoulder. Her small caress warmed my skin through the fabric of my clothes, but her small bow lips continued to turn down. “Did everything go okay, Smite?”

  I nodded, swallowing down unexpected emotion before gesturing the girls forward. They emerged from behind me, offering gentle but brittle smiles.

  “Yeah, everything went fine.” I drew her hand from my shoulder, the feel of it distracting me from what I wanted to tell her, but I wasn’t prepared for the sensation of her hand in mine. So small compared to mine, but still calloused from the hours of training and war. Sometimes I forgot this woman was actually a deadly force in battle. And that we were more alike than I’m sure she was comfortable remembering.

  Letting go of her hand, I glanced at her companion before focusing back on her. “Robin, I think we have a problem.”

  Her pink lips flattened as she studied me. “What problem?”

  Before I could answer, the man laughed. “You’re paranoid. We’ve made sure everything flows smoothly on our end.” His eyes narrowed, and I realized this man didn’t like me—or probably anything my job symbolized. His mind was made up before he met me. With a cruel smile, he continued to speak. “Unless you’ve been haphazard on your end. Have you, boy? Have you allowed what we’ve worked so hard for to fall apart because you’ve gotten messy?”

  His voice rose with each word, and I fought not to snap back at his pompous ass, but he wouldn’t admit he was acting out because of Robin, anyway. Oh, I didn’t have concrete proof, but women were the reason most men did anything. And Robin… well, I could understand any man trying to impress her.

  “Enough.” Robin’s brisk, no-nonsense voice broke through my stare down with the dark-haired man in front of me. “Smite, why do you think there’s a problem?”

  I smoothed my hand across my stomach in a nervous gesture. I didn’t know whether she’d believe me. As I collected my thoughts, I caught Robin darting her gaze away from the movement of my hand and the way it had hitched up my shirt a little.

  Maybe my feelings were reciprocated. Still, that line of thought wasn’t for now. I glanced at her companion. Any affection I had for Robin, or vice versa, would keep. After all, I was the wolf. Stealthy—and I could bide my time.

  “The last few times I’ve delivered girls to you, it’s been quiet at the castle. Too quiet. Too easy.” I stared into her green eyes, trying to convey how sure I was of this instinct that something wasn’t right. It’d saved me more than once in battle… but not from a woman I’d loved and lost. I grimaced as old pain echoed through me before I returned my thoughts to the present. “Robin, you and I both know guards always surround the entryways, and the last few times, no one has stopped me from leaving. No one.”

  I dropped my hand from my stomach and reached for hers again. “I’m not worried about myself. I know the risk of helping you, but I don’t want you to get caught again. You are what matters. We need you to take back the throne.”

  She flinched at the mention of the throne, and I gentled my tone. These were important words. “I know you want vengeance because of what happened to you and your family, but after you take King John down, then what? Can you honestly tell me you haven't thought about what will happen?”

  She closed her eyes and blew out a small breath, then whispered, “I’ve thought about it. And I want to take the crown back, believe me, I do. But the longer it takes, the more I question if I should.”

  With those words and a hard pull of her arm, she ripped away from me and stepped back. “I’m not a princess, Smite. I was a soldier. I am a soldier and if my supporters knew what they were getting, they wouldn’t want me as their queen.”

  I attempted to move closer to her again, but the mystery man stepped forward and blocked my path. His eyes were hard, and I knew no matter what I said, he wouldn’t let me pass.

  So, I spoke louder but kept eye contact with the stranger. “Robin, I think you’re both. And I think, when you decide to take the crown permanently, no one would hesitate to follow you… least of all me. And as for the issues I think are coming, well… I can keep a lookout for you. Put my ear to the ground. While I listen, please be careful. Like I said, you matter, Robin. So please be careful.”

  At my words, the man in front of me seemed to lose some of the hostility in his face and nodded. “I'll take care of her.”

  I nodded to him in return and turned to head back to the castle. I only hoped my warning was heeded and no one, especially Robin, would be hurt.

  The moon had fully risen by the time I made it to the castle. I was almost certain the man who’d accompanied Robin wasn’t going to take what I said seriously, but perhaps Robin would. Just in case they didn’t, though, I’d taken the long way back to the castle. A little bit more difficult for me, but if it kept Robin safe, I could deal with aching feet.

  And that’s what they were. Sore. As I trudged up the servants’ stairs, I fought a grimace at the thought of the hard training planned for tomorrow.

  I huffed out a breath as I reached the top floor of the soldiers’ quarters and cast a quick glance about for anyone who might notice me. This was actually the hardest part of sneaking out. Every soldier lived in this wing of the castle and being seen going out when one shouldn’t be was explainable… but being seen coming in... The last thing I wanted was to get caught.

  I crept across the stone floors, listening for voices or movement. But it was silent. The soldiers who worked the night shift had been at their new positions for some hours, while the ones who worked during the day were in their beds—or at least in someone’s bed.

  Almost to my room, I picked up my pace, ready for even my hard mattress so I could catch some sleep for a little while until they forced me up for the torture of duty.

  The door creaked as I opened and quickly shut it behind me. With a sigh of relief, I leaned my forehead against the cool wood for a moment. I kept my eyes closed, enjoying the peace and solitude.

  A nasal voice spoke from inside my room. “Hello, Smite. Fancy meeting you here.”

  I jolted, then slowly turned and opened my eyes. I knew that voice.

  The general, in all his elegance and ill-gotten military finery, sat on my bed. Two familiar soldiers stood behind him, hands on their swords. Gage and Trice.

  As I pressed my back to the door, the general pushed himself off my bedding, and I took amusement in the difficulty he had. He approached. This close, I smelled the meal he’d eaten earlier and the sweat from his exertion of ascending the stairs.

  “Smite, where have you been, boy? We came to see you earlier, but you were gone.”

  Not blinking, I answered truthfully. “Out on an errand of utmost importance.”

  He tapped his finger under his chin, drawing attention to the food crumbs that still littered his beard. “Out? Out on an errand you say. Could you have been out when those girls went missing?” He pulled back, his eyes wide as he stared at me. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

  I narrowed my eyes as the soldiers moved closer to me. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  The perfect look of shock fell from his face at my answer, and he smiled and signaled the men to stand on each side of me. “Oh, I think you do.”

  One of the soldiers pulled out an electromagnetic cuff, then grabbed my hands and pushed them behind my back before turning me to the door and yanking me away from it.

  The general moved forward and opened the door. “And Smite? I’m going to find out what you know about a certain little birdie… You like birds, right? Perhaps you have a fondness for the robin?” He smiled broadly. “Chirp, chirp.”

  Following a clink of the cuffs, the soldiers ushered me out of my room. I clamped down on the panic that hollowed my chest. Robin wouldn’t know what had happened. But she was smart enough to figure it out… if she had the time and the clues to follow. I just hoped she managed it.

  3

  Smite


  * * *

  “Bring him in here, boys!”

  My legs hung limp as I was dragged to the dungeon. The coldness of the underground prison crept into my skin, freezing me to my core. My feet slapped against each step as the guards took their time walking down the steep stairs.

  “He’s heavier than he looks.” Gage, the new recruit I’d only spoken to a handful of times, breathed heavily as he pushed my body up.

  “Just keep going,” Trice grunted.

  I peered through my one eye that had not fully swollen shut, and glimpsed the general. I could still make out his starched uniform without an ounce of dirt and it angered me.

  I couldn't believe the bastard had fooled me into thinking he had our best interests at heart when King Richard had been on the throne. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, he’d bided his time, preferring to lurk in the shadows with Prince John, then finally shown his true colors when his king took the throne. He’d fooled everyone. Soldiers and recruits had followed him onto the battlefield without question. No one questioned the general—not in the military. We just took orders and believed he was loyal to the king. Loyal to us.

  Even Robin had been taken in by him.

  But as I stared at him, I couldn’t see how we’d been fooled for so long. Now, every smear of his character showed plainly for all to see.

  Ever since that moment in the dungeon with Robin, I’d known whose side I was on. At least now Robin and I saw the light. We refused to be sheep, led to slaughter by a corrupt government.

  I just wished we weren’t the only ones. Escaping my current predicament would be so much easier.

  The moans of fellow prisoners followed me as Gage and Trice dragged me deeper into the labyrinth of darkened stone and cement walls. The cries echoed, begging for help, for mercy, and I steeled myself against them so my jailers couldn't tell how much the screams affected me. Because without a doubt, I’d soon be crying out right along with them.

  The general had his guards hold me, facing him, before sneering, “Smite, you used to be such a good soldier… Where did I go wrong?”

  I looked up, the strain hurting my neck, but I refused to show him I was scared and instead smiled through my bloody, cracked lips. “I guess when you started taking young, vulnerable girls as payment.”

  The blow ricocheted off my cheek, and my head snapped to the side.

  “Hang him up like a strung turkey, boys. He can take Robin's cage.” As he smiled, creases appeared around his jowls as they gathered together. “We left it open in case we got her back, but I think he’ll do, don’t you?”

  Gage and Trice didn't answer and instead tightened their hold on my arms as they dragged me down the hallway to the cage where I first met Robin. Memories of that day pressed on my mind.

  She’d been beautiful. Even tied up, beaten, and dirty, she had a strength that called to me.

  If she could survive what they did to her, then I could, too.

  Only the creak of the bars alerted me that we’d arrived at my home away from home.

  In the cell, Gage and Trice lifted my arms to new restraints. The cold metal encircled my wrists then snapped closed with a harsh clink, before the old cuffs fell away and onto the floor. At that point, any chance I’d believed I had of getting myself out of this strongly diminished.

  Sweat beaded on my brow, then dripped into the one eye that had yet to completely shut. I offered up a silent prayer of thanks for the old king’s mysterious treatment. Because of it, perhaps I had a snowball’s chance at surviving long enough to be rescued… although the treatment had a downside where torture was involved. Guards could be crueler, harsher, safe in the knowledge I’d live and heal for them to assault all over again in the next few days. That, plus a lack of food and water, would surely put to the test just how much I could take.

  The general smiled, his mustache twitching. “Well, isn't this funny, Smite? Where our once beautiful Robin was broken, so shall you be.” He pulled at the wiry facial hair, looking in deep thought. “I believe you’d call this cosmic alignment?”

  I spat at his feet. “I call this bullshit. You and all this is utter bullshit.”

  A boot to my back forced a groan from my lips, and I hated that smile on the general’s face at my pain.

  Even if I died here, I hoped Robin gave him what was coming. My only regret would be not being there to see it. To help her.

  “Now, Smite, that's not nice. But I'm sure you’re in pain. My soldiers were possibly a little rough with you.”

  A little? Once we’d left my quarters and passed the eyes of the common people, servants, and recruits, my punishment had started in earnest. All while the general looked on.

  Smiling.

  Hands behind his back, he paced to and fro in my cell, seemingly calm. But it was an act. No one crossed the general and got away with it. I’d seen far too many prisoners of war get thrown behind these bars and never come out. The only reason I was even still here was because he needed something, or someone.

  Robin.

  I smiled, trying to ignore the pain that thrummed through my body, and focused on the man in front of me. “You think I don't know what you want? King John”—I couldn't help sneering the word ‘king’— “wants to know where Robin is, but I'm not telling you anything.”

  His hands dropped, and his pudgy fists clenched at his sides. “For such a smart boy, you are so very stupid. This could all be over if you just gave her up.”

  “Now who's the one being stupid?” I smiled wider and prepared myself for what would come next.

  “Gage.”

  Another boot to my back jarred me forward, and I couldn’t stop the cough it forced from me as my body swung from the strength of Gage’s kick.

  The chain jerked my arms to the point of pulling them out of their sockets as my brain rattled in my head until I came to a complete stop and simply stared at the man who’d caused all my torment.

  Breathing harshly, I tried to keep my face smooth to show no evidence of the pain that wound through my entire body. The throbs beat in time to the sound of my heartbeat rushing through my ears.

  Weakness wasn’t an option. Evil could smell fear, and I was staring it in the face.

  “Smite, this could go on for hours and well… I know it might take a while…” He tugged at his too-tight uniform, the buttons threatening to pop. “But eventually with no food and no water, your ability to heal will falter.” He eyed me as if he believed something in his gaze would be meaningful as he opened the cell door and left me inside with his helpers.

  “Do you really want to chance what will happen to you if you won’t talk… all for a girl?”

  I closed my one good eye and imagined Robin and how, not that long ago, she was in my position. And though she had scars, and they were deep, she was healing…

  If she could heal, then maybe I had that same chance.

  After opening my eye, I stared at the man in front of me, prepared for the consequences my answer would draw. “Go fuck yourself, Leslie.”

  His face turned red at my words, and I loved that I was able—even cuffed—to affect him. But my amusement was short lived as the pummeling of his fists brought hell down onto my body.

  But through the pain, I pictured Robin.

  4

  Robin

  * * *

  "Something’s wrong," I started to yell, but the words lodged in my throat as I ran inside Jon's tent.

  Ava, a girl I’d seen around the small camp with different men, stood by Jon's bed, her arm trailing slowly up and down his in wanton strokes. With his back to me as he pulled different things from the chest at the end of his bed, Jon didn't observe the cruel smile that transformed her face.

  But I did, and my heart cracked.

  Was he really taking someone to his bed? Didn’t he care I was right here to see it?

  And if he didn't, what did that say about us?

  Her fingers walked up his arm before grazing the hair resting on his shoulder
, and I silently reminded myself he wasn’t mine.

  This was what I’d wanted.

  What we both wanted.

  Even if he was mine, I wouldn’t be able to do the things she could. Holding me at night now meant listening to my cries when I woke from my nightmares. Touching me too fast meant preparing for the hurt of me jerking away. Even now, I still flinched at the simplest of touches.

  I was broken.

  When I first arrived at the camp, before everything between us went to hell, I used to wonder if it would be so bad to allow him the comfort of another woman when my body and mind were still fractured.

  The crack in my heart said yes. So, I left him until I could maybe glue myself back together.

  But even glued together, I’d never be like her.

  Ava was every man’s dream. Beautiful with soft, satin skin, her pale-yellow dress clung to her petite frame in all the right ways. I stood tall and lean-built for war, not the loving of a man. She was someone a man fought for. I was someone who fought at their side.

  Ava winked at me as she skimmed his arm again before he turned, a smile on his face.

  Jon was a charismatic person who had the ability to make someone feel like they were his entire world. My stomach soured at the thought of him wasting it on someone like her. Someone cruel and manipulative.

  I straightened my shoulders, pushing further thoughts of her out of my mind. I had to remember it was none of my business how many women or how many times. Even if my heart didn't get the memo, at least my head did.

  Still, something must have shown on my face because Jon's smile faded, and he seemed to finally notice Ava’s hand as he brushed it from his arm. "Robin, what is it?"

  I cleared my throat of the emotions clogging it. Now wasn’t the time to deal with petty girl issues. My problems could wait. At least, I hoped they could. "It's Smite. Something’s going on, Jon. I don’t know… but… I feel it. Smite warned me, and now I think something has happened to him."