by Wend Petzler
"Are the horses ready in the orchards?” Eiry asked, taking hold of the bottom end of her bow.
"Yea, Allen and Louie are waiting for you. Be safe. And if you can, watch over Allen. I ... I need him.” Anne tried hard not to cry.
"I swear upon my honor, I will make sure Allen comes home to you and your children. Please cover for me!” She cautiously peered out the backdoor, sweeping the side yard, ensuring no one was about at the early, predawn hour. Covering the distance without noise, she passed through the hidden door. She held back when she saw Louie and Allen arguing, gesturing angrily at each other.
"What the hell are you, two, doing?” she demanded. They went silent. Shaking her head at them, she leapt onto her horse, patting the mare's neck as Angel tossed her head, ready to go.
Louie glared at Allen. “I thought we were heading to Castleton later today? You said nothing to me of a change in plan.” Just as he was about to rant some more, he suddenly snapped, “It's nothing. Let us go, we have a long ride ahead of us.” He spurred his horse into a gallop, riding out ahead of them.
Eiry glanced at Allen who wore a troubled look on his weary features. “Allen, speak your mind,” she ordered, holding her horse from racing off after Louie.
"I don't trust Louie. I think we should move everyone out of Devil's Arse."
Forced to agree with Allen, she gave a small nod. “When we reach the others, speak privately with Tom. Send him back to the caves and begin moving the women and children out. Hide them along the caves toward the coast, away from Peveril Castle. Say not a word to the men who ride with us today. I want it kept a secret until our mission is accomplished. If we are betrayed, the men can honestly say they do not know where our people are hiding, if we are captured. Today, we flush our traitor out."
"It will be done,” he assured Eiry.
Urging Angel to a faster gallop, Eiry easily caught up with Louie, praying her friend hadn't turned them in. Or had he already? What Alice told her about seeing a red-haired man, was it Louie?
An hour later, they reached the meeting place at the border of the looming, mysterious Sherwood Forest. The dark sky high above could be barely seen through the great canopied branches of the mighty trees of Sherwood. It was said the impenetrable forest was haunted, protected by ghosts of the innocent slain and dead heroes of old days. She personally had her doubts about ghosts, more like people responsible for frightening any who entered the heavily treed forest. Her troubled gaze lifted to the towering trees, some were so huge a person could build a small hut amongst the thick, heavy branches.
Over twenty bowmen gathered in the quiet forest, awaiting her orders. Eiry swung off her horse, handing the reins over to a young boy. He and a companion would be responsible for guarding the horses while they held up Prince John, robbing him and his extensive entourage.
"Louie, come with me. We need to scout the area out.” She trotted away from her band, seeking a high spot where they could view the King's Highway below. Her senses were well keened, alert for any signs of a trap or mishap. Their footsteps made no noise on the frozen ground, the thick layer of fallen leaves rustling as if a breeze had passed by.
An odd feeling of being watched kept persisting. Eiry withdrew an arrow and notched it as she tilted her head to the side listening to the unusual stillness of the forest. Seeking the cause for the forest to go quiet unexpectedly, she waited, crouched by a tree, for the culprit to show his face.
Louie noted the frown on her intense features, feeling the growing tension, too. Before he could ask where it was coming from, an arrow impeded its sharp tip by his booted foot, halting them where they crouched. Shadows dropped from the massive trees by way of ropes tied to the branches, landing all around them forming men dressed in leaves and brushes. Eiry stood up very slowly, keeping the tip of her arrow aimed at the ground. The unknown men surrounded her and her men, arrows aimed at them.
Her eyes widened when a giant of a man, sporting a thick, bushy black beard and wild hair to match, stepped from behind a tree. He casually held a long, oak staff in his meaty fists. A lean man in his late twenties took his place beside the giant. The gentle breeze tousled the smaller man's sandy-blonde hair, giving him a roguish debonair. In his right hand, he held a Welsh bow of exceptional quality, and a highly amused smile brightened his boyishly handsome face.
"Well, well, what do we have here—poachers or thieves?” His voice was smooth, clear signs of an education and not the rough dialect of a commoner.
Smiling at his obvious good nature, Eiry removed her arrow and replace it in the quiver. Bracing the tip of her bow in the forest floor, leaning her weight against it, she tilted her head at the strangers. “Well, I believe we have an odd situation here. Two bands of outlaws seeking the same spot? Who would be your target?” she asked politely, watching the way the two men glanced at each other as if silently communicating with one another.
Looking askance at her boldness, the shorter of the pair stepped forward, extending a gloved hand out to her, grinning in approval when she accepted, surprising him by her firm grip.
"You must be the infamous Lady Thief we've been hearing so much about. I am Robin, and the giant bull ox beside me is Little John. I'm just guessing at this point, but you're here to lighten our dear Prince John's pockets as we are intending. What shall we do with such an odd situation?” Pausing, he appeared to suddenly have an idea. “Ahh, I have a delicious idea! I propose we unite and rob Prince John together.” He leaned against his bow as she was doing, watching her reaction when his men urged hers at arrow point to join them. His brown eyes flickered over Louie, then back to her.
Liking the bold thief immensely, Eiry found the situation completely amusing. “Well, as I see it, we have enough men between us to take on Prince John's. Why not unite forces?” She was stunned when Louie protested quite vocally.
"Like hell we are going to share the wealth with these bastards! We were here first, the gold is ours.” Louie glared at the giant man who growled, baring his teeth as he took a menacing step toward him.
"Hold!” Eiry snapped at Louie, furious at his bad manners. “We didn't get into the business of robbing to become greedy or rich! We steal to feed our families and get even with Lord Robert and Prince John. There is more than enough to be taken from John to split evenly between us.” Louie made to argue, clearly trying to undermine her command in front of the newcomers. “Silence!” she ordered, growing even angrier in a situation which needed a clear head. “I am the leader of our band and as so, I give the orders. Abide or leave!"
Glaring at the whispering men around him, Louie cursed under his breath and spun on his heel, leaving her. Before she could say anything, Robin motioned for several of his men to apprehend Louie who started fighting only to be bound tight with leather strips and gagged. Robin shrugged his shoulders at her questioning look.
"We can't allow the boy to go free until our job is complete. Lady Thief, walk with me. We need to have a chat. Little John, watch him.” Robin motioned for Eiry to walk ahead of him, seeking a private word with her. When they were a fair distance away from their men, he spoke honestly to her. “I apologize about your friend, but he has a nasty temper, and it might prove to be a liability in our task of stealing from Prince John."
Eiry was fraught with uncertainty by the way Louie was acting. “Louie is unusually rash today. I know naught what is wrong with him."
Robin drew back in concern. “Have you noticed him acting peculiar of late?"
Swallowing back the lump of fear, she answered, “My man, Allen, thinks we have a traitor in our midst."
"Have you many people hiding?” At her slight nod, he swore under his breath. “Can you move them?"
"Yes, only I do not know where now. If we have a traitor, he knows all of our hiding places."
Contemplating the direness of her situation, Robin motioned for Little John to come to him. “John, can we find room for more people?” At the giant's nod, Robin glanced down at her strained, tens
e face. “I can send some of my men with yours and help relocate your people to a much safer place to hide."
Eiry wearily accepted his help, knowing she was in way over her head. “Thank-you for helping us, especially when you have your own problems. Tom, Allen, I need to speak with you.” She motioned for her men to come to her and whispered, “Take five of our men to help with the evacuation of those in the caves. Big John, here, will show you a safe place to hide them. Get our loved ones to safety!” Her eyes sought out the furious ones of Louie. Was he Robert's spy?
Little John placed a huge paw of a hand on Robin's shoulder. “Watch your back. Lady Thief is not the only one who is in danger,” he warned before following Allen and Tom.
Robin placed his hand on Eiry's slender shoulder comfortingly. “I trust Little John with my very life. He will help your friends to safety. Now, shall we get to business? We have a prince who needs his money bags lightened. On with your hood, Lady Thief, we need to prepare. Prince John is less than a quarter mile from here. We will backtrack along the King's Highway to attack him, if that's all right with you?"
She smiled tremulously, bowing with a fluid sweep of her hand. “Lead away, Robin of the Hood. I hand the reins of leadership over to you in our little adventure."
Surprised she would be so eager to relinquish her role as leader, Robin took a really good look at her. With a shock, he realized she was just a lass. “I consider it an honor if you join us as equals in our adventure. Partners?” He extended his hand to her and she shook it without hesitation. Robin looked at her intently, a flash of recognition made her nervous. “By chance, did you know Sir Thomas Savoy?"
Wary, she replied, “I might have."
Lowering his voice, Robin smiled ever so slightly. “You have your father's eyes. Sir Thomas was a great and honorable man."
Surprised, she asked, “How did you know him?"
"In my misspent youth, he saved my worthless backside from certain death. I never had the chance to repay him for his act of courage. Sir Thomas’ effort was wasted because of my foolish nature. Not long afterward, I followed Richard and ended up in a Saracen prison for two years. A month ago, I returned to England only to find my home burned and my own father dead. Perhaps together, we can find the murderers responsible for our families’ senseless deaths. First, let's go and pick Prince John's pockets clean!” His serious demeanor gave way to a broad grin, his brown eyes shone bright with great humor.
Shaking her head at the man's odd sense of humor, Eiry and her men lowered their dark hoods as Robin's men closed ranks. They prepared to do the craziest thing ever attempted by mere thieves—rob a would-be king.
Loping along a game trail, they headed to a spot in the road where it lengthened in both directions without interruption. Half the archers crossed to the other side and hid behind the massive oak trees. Crouching behind an old, gnarled tree, Eiry waited for Robin's signal. Taking several deep breaths slowly, she felt her rapidly beating heart return to a somewhat normal rate. She concentrated on the sharp sound of many hooves clip-clopping down the hard road. The Prince's procession was taking its time, lulled by the chilly morning and quiet of the dark forest. Drawing back the taunt string of her faithful bow, she held the arrow steady, aiming for the front guard farthest from her.
Robin wanted to avoid killing anyone. Yet, if push came to shove, they were to protect themselves. Amazed by the many heavily laden carts following the dowdy prince, she counted twenty fully armored knights surrounding the prince. The long bows the thieves used could easily penetrate their armor. Today, death was not the goal, gold was.
Prince John, the youngest brother to Richard the Lionheart, rode his horse without a care, apparently confident in the strength of his men. A man of short, stocky build with muddy brown hair and matching eyes, John was a dreary version of his magnificent, golden-haired brother who stood well over six feet tall. Heavy jeweled rings covered his fat fingers, thick gold necklaces, adorned with sparkling jewels, hung around his squat neck. A cloak of expensive fur, inlaid with fine satin, was carelessly thrown over his narrow shoulders as he rode, nearly asleep in the saddle.
A snapped, whizzing sound was the first indication of an arrow let loose before the sharp tip impeded in the shoulder of his captain. Jerking the reins back, Prince John frantically looked around the quiet woods, looking dazed anyone would dare attack him. When Robin's voice called out from the trees, the bastard's fears were confirmed.
"Prince John, please be so kind as to have your men disarm. We wish not to harm any more than we have to."
From her hiding place, Eiry smiled as Prince John glowered at their boldness and could tell he wanted nothing more than to tell the outlaw to go to hell.
Prince John's captain shook his head, holding his wounded shoulder. “Your Highness, do as he says,” the captain ordered, helpless to do anything when a shape whistle echoed loudly and swarms of masked bowmen burst out of the heavily treed forest with arrows aimed at him and his men.
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Chapter Nine
Lucian grounded his teeth in muted fury. After searching the last hour for Eiry, he went to the stable and found her horse was missing, too. Again! Louie was missing as well. Lilia refused to speak with anyone, sitting on the front steps outside the castle, staring at the main gate with a look of dread on her sweet features. Anne tried to comfort the child, but her own children soon joined Lilia, all holding onto each other, fearful about something. Derrick hailed him from the rebuilt wing.
Storming back across the courtyard, Lucian glared at the peasants who dropped their anxious gaze. The men kept their heads down and eyes on their work as they continued on the roof which was nearly finished.
"What?"
"Lucian, something is wrong. I have the feeling everyone is holding their breath, waiting for something to happen."
"I know,” he growled. “We need to find Eiry and Louie. Whatever they are up to involves these people.” Lucian grew desperate to find her. She was in trouble. He knew it deep in his gut. Not bothering to figure out how he knew, only determined to find her and bring her home. With an ominous frown, he realized Allen and Tom were missing, too. Where the hell were his people?
"What do we do? Ride out and search for them or wait until they return?"
Furious by the position he was forced to take, Lucian knew he had to go look for her. “Get the men ready. Full armor! We ride.” He motioned for his squire to aid him with his armor as the gathering knights scrambled to obey Derrick's shouting orders. He was going to throttle Eiry's slender neck when he found her.
Where was she? And why did Lilia look so terrified?
* * * *
Two particular thieves stood apart from the rest as they boldly walked right up to Prince John. At arrow point, they urged him to move his horse away from his knights as several others ran over and kicked the drivers off the carts laden with treasure. Shouting, they slapped the reins against the horses’ backs, urging them into the forest. John stared, speechless, when he realized the shorter one was a woman. John felt he had been drenched with ice water. What Robert De Ferrers told him about a lady thief was true!
"Your highness, how fairs thee on this beautiful day?” The tall outlaw asked politely while the woman kept her bow steady, ready to let loose the deadly-looking arrow aimed at John's heart.
"Better than you! I will find out your identity and have you hanged in front of your peers,” John barked helplessly as another set of thieves proceeded to strip him of the jewelry he wore.
"We shall see, Your Highness.” The tall outlaw bowed with a mocking flair. He turned to leave when his partner stepped forward, drawing the string back further.
"Highness, where did you get the medallion you wear?” the woman demanded.
The thief who was about to take the medallion necklace from around John's neck pulled back and got out of the way as she approached. John clutched the gold, square medallion with a large tear-shaped emerald in the cent
er, afraid.
"Why do you ask?"
Tossing her bow to the one who spoke earlier, Lady Thief headed for him. To the utter amazement of John and his men, not to mention the outlaws, she placed her foot against his horse's side and grabbed a fistful of Prince John's tunic. Physically hauling him straight out of his saddle, she twisted, landing with her knee pressed to his throat as she roughly yanked the necklace from around his neck winning a loud ‘ouch’ from him.
Holding it out in front of his terrified eyes, she snarled with barely restrained rage. “Where did you get it?” she demanded, shrugging off her partner's restraining hand.
"I ... I received it as tribute from one of my loyal subjects,” John whined in fear.
"Sir Thomas Savoy always wore this pendant. It was never found when his and Lady Rowena's bodies were discovered by their servants. Who gave this to you?” she shouted. When he failed to answer, she drew her knife from her boot, holding the sharp blade against his throat.
"Let me go!” Knowing the slip of a girl could easily slit his throat and end his ambitious career to be England's next king, he tried to be brave.
* * * *
Robin gently laid his hand on Eiry's shoulder, urging her up and off the Prince. “You already know who gave it to him. Leave it for another day. We'll extract our revenge at a later time.” When she reluctantly complied, he handed back her bow.
Looking down at the Prince, he shook his head at the pathetic sight. The dumpy man, dressed in bright finery, lay there like an overturned turtle, cringing when Robin leaned closer. “Prince John, I have saved your life today. Be warned, we are not finished with you yet. I plan to have loads of fun at your expense.” He laughed at the red flush creeping up the Prince's bloated face. Whistling sharply, he signaled to the outlaws to melt into Sherwood Forest. “Have a superb day!"