Arrow To The Heart (De Bron Saga) (30 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It was dark and silent in the prison cell.  The only noise was the scurrying of the rats. That and the drip, drip of water from the outside wall that made it cold and damp. The stale odor of rotting hay assailed Rowena's nose as she sat hunched in the corner.  She looked about her at the cracked stone walls in disgust.  "John's hospitality," she grumbled, shivering.  Hearing the trod of footsteps she stiffened.

"Gallows bait, that one. Said to be Robin Hood himself."

Looking through the tiny grille of the mammoth door, she could see the shadow of two men.  The guard and the jailor no doubt, talking about her fate. In that moment she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  She wanted to be free again, to roam the forests, to put her arms around her lover.  For just a moment her courage faltered.  What foolishness had made her go through with this scheme. Why had she traded her freedom for Robin Hood's.  Why had she made herself a martyr?

"Because I had to!"  It was the only way to save Robin Hood, the only hope to see that Richard was put back upon the throne.  But oh, now that it was done it seemed a hefty price to pay.

"Kendrick!" Her need to be with him right now was nearly an obsession.  Escape.  She had to get out.  Rising to her feet she walked around and around, prodding and poking at the stone, pulling at the grate.  Alas, John's prison was well built, thus she sat back down again.

Time moved  slowly.  Because Rowena wasn't used to being confined, the walls seemed to be closing in on her.  She jumped at the creak of the door.  Turning she saw the burly guard grinning at her from the doorway.  "Here's your dinner, outlaw," he said, thrusting a piece of dry bread and mug of water at her.  "Eat heartily."  His eyes were filled with mocking, his voice taunting.  "A meal fit for a king, eh archer.  king of archers."  Laughter boomed through the room.

The water was slimy, clouded with a greasy film.  Though Rowena was thirsty she poured the contents upon the stone floor.  She was hungry too, but not so hungry that she would eat moldy bread.  In disgust she handed it back to him, her manner haughty.  "Please, take this away."

"Please, is it?"  He clucked his tongue.  "My, aren't outlaws polite."  Angrily he threw the bread upon the ground and Rowena watched as a rat ran to it, gobbling up the morsel as if it were a feast.  The guard guffawed.  "Your companion here is not so fussy about his fare as you, but then he is not a king."

"Not a king, but if you look closely that rat resembles he who rules in the king's place."  She turned her back.

"You dare talk so of the Prince?"  There was a moment of silence, then he walked back towards the door, opened it, slammed it shut and locked it again.  "Well, before too long you will be begging for what you just refused."

"Beg?  Never!" 

The air from a crack in the wall chilled Rowena and she wrapped her arms around her body in an effort to keep warm.  It was a losing battle.  She shivered, her teeth chattering.  Again she longed to have Kendrick's strong arms enfolding her.  Was he safe? She imagined him sitting before the camp fire plotting ways to save her.   Well, she had a few schemes up her own sleeve.

Rowena smiled and that smile erupted into a laugh as she remembered the time the outlaws had ambushed Prince John.  Of course.  That was it!  But she would need help.  Who?  "Lankless."  The jester's name popped into her mind.  He had told her that he would help her if she needed him.  Most certainly she needed him now. 

Kendrick's accommodations were not any better than Rowena's.  He also lay in a small, dirty prison cell.  His hands were  bound behind him, so tightly that he had to keep moving his fingers to keep his blood circulating.   One leg was shackled and kept him chained to the wall.  He was bruised, battered and bloody.  The bastards!  They had enjoyed every minute of abusing him, taking great delight all the while in reminding him that in three day's time he was going to hang. The cold chill of fear coiled through him at the thought.  He had no doubt that Prince John would do as he threatened.

"A fine ending," he mumbled, "to dangle from a rope."  And Rowena?  There again his jailors had been cruel, refusing to tell him anything about his "companion", who they insisted was Robin Hood. 

Kendrick had insisted just as strongly that it was a woman they held and not the outlaw leader, but again had received laughter in response to his declarations.  "We can hang a woman from a rope the same as a man," one
of the guards had said.  Kendrick was tormented by that threat now.  What was going to happen to Rowena?

"So, one of Robin Hood's men you be."  A whisper in the darkness sounded raspy, gruff.  Squinting, Kendrick assessed his jail mate, a gray-bearded old man who was sprawled near him.  Muttering to himself from time to time, he seemed to be somewhat content drinking the ale one of the guards had given him.

"One of Robin's outlaws and his friend," Kendrick answered, straining the chain on his leg as he tried to move closer to the man.

"Me too."  The old man scratched at his head. 

"You too what?"  The jail was brimming with vermin.  Kendrick felt suddenly crawly.  His own skin seemed to prick at the thought of the bugs and he was bothered that had he the need to scratch, it would be impossible.  It would drive a man mad.

"I be an outlaw.  Was before Robin Hood was even born."  Finishing the ale, the old
man wiped his mouth and Kendrick found himself envious of the man's lack of shackles.

"An outlaw."  Kendrick doubted it.  Obviously the man was in a drunken fantasy.   Or perhaps he had been an outlaw once.  Certainly they roamed about
England in huge numbers, Robin's band being only one of many but by all odds the most famous.

"Not only an outlaw.  I was the smartest this land has ever seen."  For a moment the old man was lost in reminiscing.  "Roamed with a bow, I did. Hiding in the forest.  Ah, but we had such adventures."

"I've no doubt but that you did."  Maybe so, maybe not.  Kendrick would not argue it.  If the man wanted to imagine he was the King of England what harm would it do?  At least he seemed harmless.

"Helping prisoners escape is my specialty....."

Kendrick started to laugh at that.  If that was true then what was the man doing here?  He didn't have time to ask. The cell was suddenly flooded with light.  A big hulking guard strode into the room.  Thrusting the torch in front of Kendrick's eyes he gave a grunt.

"Looks like you are
still safely secured."

The sudden light  blinded Kendrick.  He closed his eyes to escape the flickering glare.  "How could you think otherwise?"

"It was feared you might escape."  He looked over at the old man as if to say he had worried that the old man might have given Kendrick aid.  His concern caused Kendrick to look anew at his gray-bearded cell mate.  Maybe the man wasn't as befuddled as he appeared.

"Well, as you can see I, didn't."  But perhaps there was a chance.  That hope was dashed as the guard motioned with his torch for the old man to follow him.

"You.  Come with me.  Just in case you have any ideas."

"Don't want to."  The old man was stubborn.  Belying his frailty he struggled with the guard, giving nearly as good as he received.  In the end, however, he was subdued.

"I have my orders, old man."  Pulled and pushed along, the old man was soon beyond the door.

"BiGod!"  As the door slammed shut and the key was turned in the lock, Kendrick had never felt more alone in his life.  The brief hope he had of getting free was dashed.  Destroyed.

Was he going to die?  No, somehow he could not imagine his own death.  The thought of never holding Rowena in his arms again was just too devastating, thus he forced himself to calm.  Somehow, someway, despite all the odds he was going to get away.  It was just a matter of time.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Rowena listened to the thump, thump, thump of the rain as it fell from the ceiling above to the stone floor. That and the high pitched shrieks of the rats as they scurried about in the night made it impossible for her to sleep. She hated being locked up.  Hated it more than anything.  She was caged like some animal and there didn't seem to be anything she could do about it. The dungeon  had been built to keep prisoners in. And all the while the ghostly clang of closing gates, the rattle of keys and heavy trod of footsteps were constant reminders of the lack of privacy she had.

"Well, well, well.  And how be our king of the archers?" asked the guard from the door, peering through the grille.  All through the night he had made it a point to goad her with jeers and sarcasm. Now he seemed to be at it again.

"Go away!"  She sat up.   "I already told you I'm not hungry or thirsty.  At least for the fare you offer." 

"Is this more to your liking?"  He dangled a leg of mutton through the opening in the grille, laughing as she got to her feet and tried to grasp it just as he pulled it away. "Ah, no. I'm sure it is undercooked. Not at all up to your fine tastes."

Angry with herself for allowing her gnawing, hungry stomach to rule her head, Rowena sat back down. "As you say." Determined to ignore him she drew her legs up to her chest and turned her back.  At last the guard left, but only for a short while.  All too soon he was back. This time to tease her with a mug of ale.

"Forsooth.  You again?"  

"Thirsty?"  Deliberately he poured it on the floor. "Well then, lap it up."

"I'm not a dog," she retorted.  "If you expect me to beg you are wasting your time.  I will not grovel."

"Even for your life?"  He put his hands at his throat and mimicked the gasping sound of a man being hanged.

"Not even for that."  She would only hope that once it was discovered she was not the infamous Robin Hood that she would be spared. 

"Then you will die."  With that said he left again, but after a time he was back. "Up on your feet.  Daylight is fast approaching.  It's no time to sleep." He rattled a stick over the grille.  "Awake.  Awake.  Awake."

"I wasn't asleep."  She held her temper in
check, knowing that an argument was obviously what he wanted.  "I've stayed awake, anticipating your fine company."

"My company?"  For a moment he showed surprise then he laughed.  "So you will miss me when I give you over to the day guard?" he taunted.

Rowena's spirits lightened.  She got to her feet.  Of course. There would be a changing of the guards at daybreak. It was common practice. Why hadn't she thought of that?  And with the changing of the sentries would be her one chance of escape. 

"Of course I will miss you," she said in a forced affable manner.  "You have been so
kind.
  Besides, I've gotten used to the rhythm  of your boots as you pace up and down.  Makes me want to dance."

The guard grunted, angered by her apparent cheerfulness.  "Makes you want to dance, does it."  He kicked at the door, making a frightful noise.  "Well,   Edgar's trod is twice as loud because he is twice as big." 

Rowena smiled.  "I'm looking forward to meeting him."  Certainly he couldn't be as big a lout as this one. Or could he?  Settling back down on the hard stone floor and closing her eyes, she could only imagine as she drifted off to sleep.

"Pssst!"

Her eyes flew open at the sound.  A rat?  Instantly she was wary, for the disgusting creatures were not unknown to nibble at human flesh.  She was always on guard against them.

"Psst!" she heard again. 

This time she suspected that the sound was human.

"Who's there?"  The thought occurred to her that perhaps the change of guard was earlier than usual.

"Lankless!"

"Lankless."  She could hardly believe her good fortune.  He was the one person in the castle that she trusted.  Still she was cautious.  "How do I know it is you?  Let me see you."

"It is I."  She could see the brightly colored shoes with their pointed toes peeking through the door.  The bells on those shoes jingled as he moved closer.  "I heard by way of the castle grapevine that you had been captured.  I've come to help you, Robin."  Because he was so short, just the top of his hat showed through the grille.

Instantly Rowena was one her feet. "Thank God!" Running to the door she stood on tiptoe looking
out.  "I'm not Robin, but will you help me any way, considering that you made a promise?"  Quickly she revealed their meeting in the forest when she had come to his aid. 

"The lad!  But how....!"

"Shhhhh.  What I told you is a secret." In a hushed whisper she told him about her successful plan to save Robin Hood.  "Now it is time to save myself and Marian.  I need your help." Rowena waited for a reply and was dismayed to see the jester's hat disappear. So that was her answer then.

As quickly as he had disappeared the little man reappeared.  "I thought I heard someone coming," he explained.  "I wanted to wait until the guard moved to the other side of the cells."   His had bounced as he hurried forward.  "But tell me.  What can I do?"

"I need women's clothing.  A chemise, robe, mantle and head covering, and I need you to take a message to Lady Marian to instruct her to be ready to flee the castle ere dawn."

"Women's garments?"  He laughed and in that moment she knew he sensed what she was about.  "It might work.  By Lord it just might.." He was silent a moment, then his voice was very spirited. "And I will keep yon guards distracted with my tomfoolery."

"It will work!" As she watched the jester's hat bobble away, it was as if she could see the open skies above her, smell the fresh air.   This time when she heard the rustle of hay as a rat scurried by her feet she was not afraid.

Rowena's fingers trembled as she fastened a belt about her kirtle. Straightening the folds of that gown she looked about her for any sign of the guard. "Is it clear."

"All clear."

"Bless you, Lankless," she whispered, adjusting her head dress, a circular hat-like garment called a fillet.  It was the latest style, Lankless had told her, shoving it through the grille with the other garments.  "How do I look?"  Unruly strands of her hair stuck from beneath the chin cloth, but she had not the time to tary.  Soon it would be time for the changing of the guard.

"Lovely.  Were you really a woman I would woo you unswervingly." His bells jangled as
he made a bow.

"Good."  Stuffing her man's garments with straw so that it appeared that the scarecrow was huddled upon the hay, Rowena thought over very carefully every detail of her plan. Then, hearing the shuffling steps of the guard she stiffened.  If it was the old guard, all was lost.  She could only pray that it was the new one.

She heard the sound of keys.  Looking around the cell she lamented that there was not even a stool to use to bang him on the head.  What then?  As she heard the sound of the grille hatch being opened further, her heart sank just a little.

"Hey you, wake up!  King of the archers, it is time to rise."  The guard had seen the scarecrow and thought it to be her. So much the better. She heard the key in the lock and braced herself for attacking him if that was the only way out.  "I'll wake you up!"

Rowena waited for the door to open but it remained closed.  The silence was eerie and for a moment she wondered if the sadistic fool was playing some kind of game.  A moment later the riddle was answered, however, as she heard the boom, boom of footsteps. The other guard.  No doubt her antagonist was anxious to be off duty and had thus abandoned all thought of tormenting her further.

"I thought I heard you coming.  You're late.  Do you think I like to stay down here, BiGod?"

"Sorry, but I found a wench in need of my wooing outside the scullery.  Can't blame a man for having a bit of fun, now can you?"

"Nay!  I would do the same."  Rowena could hear the footsteps again and hoped that it meant the old guard was leaving.  Crossing her fingers, she waited.  In a few moments the sound of the outer prison door told her that her wish had been granted.  She counted to twenty beneath her breath, then adjusting her garments, stepped away from the door.

"You.  Guard!" she called out with all the authority her nobility had taught her.  She held her head erect in a haughty manner.

A pair of eyes stared at her through the grille.  "Who are you?  And what are you doing in here?"  He had not expected to see a lady in an outlaw's cell.

"I want you to let me out of here at once," she commanded, refusing to answer his question.

"Let you out?  Who let you in?"  He was puzzled.  This one was much younger and to her relief seemed far less intelligent than his predecessor.

"The other guard," she lied.  "I came to say goodbye to Robin Hood, yet since he lies there and sleeps I say let the gallows have him.  He sleeps when he could be in my arms."

"A fool he," he complimented.  Still, he hesitated.  "You say Edgar let you in?"

"Aye.  But I must admit I bribed him.  I gave him several gold coins."

"Gold coins?"  The mention of money made him more pliable.  "And would you likewise give me gold to let you out?"

Rowena nodded.  "Of course."

"Give them to me." His greed was obvious.

"First let me out."  She walked to the door.  "Or shall I give it out that it was you who let me in and see you flogged to within an inch of your life."

"Don't be doing that!"  His voice was tinged with fear.

"Well then....."

Rowena heard the key in the lock, then a jingle as it fell to the floor.  He picked it up and put it in the lock again. She heard the key turn. Then the door was open.  Rowena stepped through to freedom.

"My gold?"  He blocked her way, the only barricade to her freedom.

"Your gold?"  She reached inside the folds of her kirtle as if fumbling for her purse, then taking him by surprise, kneed the guard in the groin.  As he lay writhing in pain she wrenched his night stick out of his hand and hit him hard upon the head, not once but thrice.  Then picking up her skirts she fled.

Rowena retreated into the dark shadows of the castle corridors.  She had to find Lady Marian and
whisk her away with her to Robin's camp, else she could be used as bait for Robin again.  But where was the lady?  It seemed a hopeless task to locate her.  Like looking for a needle in the hay. 

"Psst.  Arrow."

Like a welcome boon, Lankless popped out from behind one of the doors, pointing towards the top of the stairs.  "She is in her chamber.  Third door to the left."  A key dangled from his hand and he grinned.  "Which soon will be unlocked."

"Thank you, Lankless."  Suddenly fearful for him she asked, "And what of you?"

He shrugged. 

"Come with me," she urged. "Join Robin's band.  Methinks it might not be safe for you now.  John will know that I had inside help to escape."

The little man thought only for a moment before making his decision.  "Agreed."  Wielding a large club he promised to defend her if need be.

"Then come on!" Together they ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.  At the top Rowena paused, listening.  Being met with silence she proceeded on, coming at last to the bed chambers.  She counted three doors and was just about to knock when she heard the sound of voices coming from within.  Shrinking back, she waited anxiously.

"You will  marry Sir Guy of Gisborne, I say.  Your lover Robin Hood will decorate my gallows.  I fear he will not have time to pay his respects to you, my lady."  It was the voice of Prince John.

"Never!  I would as soon marry the devil as to marry that evil lout.  I'll marry Robin, or none at all. You promised me to the winner of the tournament and Robin was the winner."

"BiGod!"

"You can not make me marry!"

"Ah, but I can.  Just wait and see."

Rowena pressed tightly against the stone wall as she heard the door open.  Footsteps descended the stairway.  Waiting until the count of twenty, she then approached the door. "Lankless....." Feeling behind her, she felt the cold metal of the key grace her open hand.  Fitting it in the lock, she turned
it slowly, silently then opened the door.

"I already to
ld you I wouldn't......."  Marian stared at Rowena opened mouthed.  "Rowena?"

"Hurry.  We haven't time to chatter.  It's a long story. I'll tel
l you on the way." Pushing Marian none too gently, she prodded her along. 

"What of Robin?"

"He's back at camp.  You'll see."  Taking her by the hand, she pulled her down the stairs with Lankless tagging along behind.  Past the buttery and the pantry they ran until they had reached the front door of the castle.  Only then did they stop to catch their breaths.

"How are we going to g
et past the men-at-arms?"  Marian was fearful as she noted the two guards looming in their path.

"Leave it to me," Rowena answered.  With her most seductive smile she walked towards one of the men, her hips swaying provocatively.  Acting as if it were her intention to seek him out, she came before one unusually tall guard.