Arrow To The Heart (De Bron Saga) (6 page)

Chadwick grinned. “The one with the dark blonde hair.”

“Aye.” Kendrick knew he had to see her again. “Find her.” Slowly she was becoming an obsession, a fact that disturbed him more than just a little.

The hallway was cold in spite of the sconces sputtering on the gallery’s stone wall. Kendrick tugged at his cloak, pulling it closer around him as he stood before the chamber room door, waiting for his audience with the prince.

“What does he want….?”

He was apprehensive about having been summoned. His business with John had all been settled, had it not? Why then had John requested his presence at this ungodly hour? To question him again? Test his loyalty? Make idle conversation? Or was there a more sinister reason?

“The air is thick with intrigue…..”

Kendrick sensed that there were plots and counterplots and men willing to switch sides in an instant were the monetary reward high enough. Why, even the women were involved in the sparring, he thought , remembering the Lady Marian’s outburst. He would have to be cautious and just as calculating and clever as the prince and his cohorts, for one false move and everything could very well be lost.

“And I will find myself in exile again…or worse.”

He had heard frightened whisperings about the torture chambers and dungeons below. Nevertheless, impatience goaded him. He wanted this interview over and done with, for waiting was not a thing Kendrick dealt well with.

Crossing his arms, shifting from foot to foot, he tried to make himself comfortable as the minutes passed by.  Why was John making him wait? To keep him in his place? Or was something else going on? Remembering the young woman’s flight this morning from the knight in the hallway, he was curious. More so when he heard the faint mumble of voices beyond the thick, closed door.

What is being said is none of my  business
. Perhaps not, but that didn’t keep Kendrick from eavesdropping anyway.

She escaped us, my liege. Somehow the woman in blue vanished right before our very noses.”

“So I noted.” There was a pause. “Alas, there are more fools than just Lankless abiding in yon castle, William.”

“My lord, please let me explain….”

“No, let me. Allow me to talk of the
hows
and
whys
of such a failure.” There was a long pause. “Now, because of your stupidity there is a chance that Marian will be forewarned.’

“Then we will just have to change our plans---“

“I already have.”

Kendrick quickly stepped away when he heard the shuffling of footsteps. He didn’t want to  be caught with his ear to the door. Taking several steps backward he pretended nonchalance as it was flung open.

“So, you obeyed my summons.” The voice crackled with an icy tone, and Kendrick feared for just a moment that John suspected him of eavesdropping.

“Of course.” Burying his pride, Kendrick affected a polite bow. “As I told you before, it is my intention to be at the beck and call of the next King of England. I, like you, always align myself on the winning side.”

The beady-eyed John scrutinized Kendrick for a moment then, seemingly satisfied, he smiled. “If indeed you are as good with a sword as you are with your tongue, then I have no doubt that we will work well together, you and I.” Roughly he pushed Kendrick into the chamber room, then slammed the door. “I will get right to the point. I am surrounded by bungling fools who alas have complicated the simplest task.”

“And you want me
to
uncomplicate
it.”

With a grim nod of his head, John said, “Yes.”

“What would you have me do?”

John’s eyes stared straight into Kendrick’s eyes as if somehow he could see into his soul. “I want you to act as guard dog.’

“As what?”  Kendrick’s cheek twitched with irritation. He had no liking for being relegated to the position of a hound.

John tossed a log into the chamber room’s small fireplace, then watched as the sparks danced up. “You heard the haughty babbling of my lady Marian.”

Kendrick furled his brows. “I did.”

John’s face was an ugly mask of anger as he explained his plans for the lady in question. “She cannot be allowed to express her opinions so vocally.”

“Nay, she cannot, but….” Kendrick shuddered, fearing that John meant to see her put to death. He had never in all his life harmed a woman and he would not do such a thing now, even if it did mean the end to all his fine dreams.

“She needs to be put under lock and key until she can be made to see things… well, differently.”

“Imprisoned, you mean.” Kendrick fought hard against the smile that tugged at his lips. He had had dealings with Marian when they were both little more than children and he could well say that she was determined and exceedingly stubborn. Moreover, she had always loathed John. He doubted that Satan himself could make her change her views.

“Aye!” John wrinkled his nose. “Locked away until she can say a few kind words about me.”

“As she did the other night,” Kendrick teased.

The prince was not in a joking mood. “Do not mock me, de Bron! I am deadly serious.” Looking down at the rings adorning his fingers, he toyed with the jewelry. “Once people laughingly called me John Lackland because my father had not yet secured lands for me, but now….” He swallowed hard. “Now, for the first time I have power within my grasp. I will not let anyone, much less a woman, interfere with my plans. Would you?”

Kendrick suddenly thought about the honey-haired woman who had so charmed him and shook his head. Not even for such as she would he risk his future. “No, I would not. As I said, Marian was naught abut a woman.”

“Naught but a woman.” John’s laugh
was sinister.

“So, what is it you would have me do?”

John quickly explained his intention to allow Marian to leave the castle so that the inhabitants would see her go. Once she was well outside the castle walls, however, she was to be subdued, taken prisoner and secretly brought back to lodge in the rooms below.

“A simple scheme which would have unfolded without any problems had it not been overheard. As it is, your part in all of this, de Bron, is to take any would-be rescuers unaware and to guard my lovely prisoner on the ride back to
Nottingham.”

“I see.” It was a mission that Kendrick did not like at all.

Chapter Six

Four travelers rode past the walls of Nottingham Castle and deep into the forest.  It was a colorful band; a knight dressed in his best tunic and cloak, a lady dressed in her brightest finery, she too wearing a mantle, a servant dressed in gray and looking like a woeful pigeon, and last but not least a youth wearing boots, hood, cape and woolen tunic, carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows.  All clutched their cloaks tightly about them to keep out the early morning chill, visibly expressing their hurry to end the journey and return to the warmth of hearth fires.  Despite the haste, however, the lady stopped her horse and gazed upon the beauty of a doe foraging for food a short distance from the riders.             

"Carefu
l, little one, lest our mighty prince decide to levy a tax on you for eating the leaves on his land," she said bitterly.  "He is so fond of taxes."  As she spoke, the lady's cloak fell from her head revealing thick dark tresses that caught the dawn's faint glow.             

"Aye, fond of taxes.  That he is," echoed the servant accompanying her as he came to her side.  "But Robin will show him.  Me thinks John will not end up as rich as he supposes."  The little man was quickly silenced by his mistress but he kept on grinning.
             

"Is something amiss?" Roderick of
Hereford was anxious to learn why she had paused.

"Nothing that Richard's return can't quickly rectify," she mumbled, then said louder, "I but needed to catch my breath, Sir."  
             

A grumble was her answer.  "We have no time to rest here,
Lady Marian." His gruff voice frightened away the deer and sent it scurrying.  "I must be back to Nottingham ere nightfall."   The knight's eyes scanned the horizon.  He couldn't hide his nervousness, his agitation.             

"Aye, back to do John's bidding no doubt."  Hastily Marian pulled her hood back up again.  "Well, let us be off  then." 
             

The small band rode further on, the Lady Marian now taking the lead.  Though
her eyes were focused forward, the knight continued glancing behind  him, as did  the youth in the hood.  The walls of the castle were becoming a speck in the distance, but not so small that the flickering fire of a torch could not be seen.             

"The signal!"  The pre
-appointed sign that the Prince and his men would soon be approaching.  Pulling the reins of his horse,  Roderick of Hereford brought the animal to a halt. "Now!"  he commanded, beckoning to the hooded lad at his side. "Take them."  With a stern frown he awaited the inevitable, raising his sword and slowly closing in.             

Totally taken by surprise,  Lady Marian tried to push her horse forward but found her path blocked.  "What are you doing?"

"We go no further along this pathway, my lady.  Instead, I must inform you that my intent is to escort you in another direction."             

"What other direction?"  Maid Marian was indignant.
"What folly is this?  I command you to get out of my way so that I may ride back to my home, back to Huntington."             

"I think not.  The Prince has other ideas."  Grabbing the reins of her horse
, the knight kept her mount immobile.  "You are to be the most honored guest of the Prince."

"Guest!  Fie, Sir.  You mean his prisoner."  She shook her head violently.  "I tell you I want no part of him...." 
             

Looking first to her servan
t, then to the hooded lad, Marian couldn't mask her fear.  It seemed to her as if the lad in the hood suddenly smiled, but why?  Though the grin was meant to comfort her, to Marian who could no longer  seem to trust anyone, that smile meant danger.  Sliding from her horse she took to her heels,  tripping over the long woolen skirts which were a woman's woe.             

"Catch her, you blasted yeoman!" shouted the knight, turning towards the hooded youth.  "Don't let her get away.  Stop her!"
             

"Stop her?"  Throwing back her head
Rowena laughed.  Even Maid Marian had not recognized her, dressed as she was in the hood and clothing of Prince John's henchman.  "I think not.  It is you I came to spar with."  Before the knight could react to her words, she had her arrow strung in her bow and pointed it straight at the other man's heart.  Loudly she ordered  Marian's servant, "go after your mistress.  Tell her to come back, that I am a friend!"             

Fumbling with his own weapons
, the knight showed his outrage. "What goes on here?"             

"A rescue, I would call it,"  Rowena retorted as she recalled how easy it had been to best the prince's hired kidnapper.  A blow to his head, a length of rope to bind his hands and feet.  Leaving the fool in naught but his under tunic
, she had stolen his garments and taken his place.  She had waited for the right moment.  Now she congratulated herself that all had gone very smoothly.   She had but to make certain that Maid Marian would reach her estates safely and then her mission would be at an end.             

"Rescue?"  The knight tried to scrutinize Rowena but she hastily turned her head.   He took a step closer, halting when she gave him silent warning.  "What kind of fool has John sent me?  A traitor to be certain."
             

"I am not a traitor."   Her voice was husky for a woman's, yet she sought to lower it even more, a ploy she had used long ago when acting like a lad.  The knight seemed no wiser. "But
you
are."              

"You dare.....!"  The knight reacted in anger, moving forward with deadly intent, but his vengeance was thwarted as the archer pulled back
tautly on the bow.             

"Aye, I do dare!  Toss down your sword and get down off your horse,"  Rowena ordered.
             

"No!"  The knight responded stubbornly, enraged to be outwitted by a mere yeoman. He grumbled beneath his breath that he had not wanted this foolish, traitorous mission in the first place. 
             

Rowena gave him a warning look, pulling tighter on the string.  "I will shoot you.  Don't be so foolish as to test me," she warned.  "Throw down your weapons and dismount."
             

Perhaps it was the look in her eyes which warned the knight not to trifle here
, for after but a brief show of defiance he complied with her demand.             

Giving the horse a slap on its hind quarters, Rowena sent the animal back towards the castle.  "That will slow you down a mite."  Ignoring the curses of the knight, who swore beneath his breath most foul
ly, she ordered him to strip.  It was the same ploy she had used once before on a dark-haired devil whose face she tried not to remember.  "I want your cloak, your tunic, everything but your inner tunic and boots."  She bowed mockingly. It had worked before.  She was certain she would be successful again.              

"I would be
the village idiot to do as you bid me," the knight growled.  "Take off my garments, indeed."  He stood with hands upon his hips in defiance.               

An arrow whistled through the air, coming within inches of his ear. "You would be the village idiot not to as I say."  She reached for another arrow.

Quickly the knight held up his hands in defeat.  "By our Lord, desist.  I will do as you ask.  Prince or not, he is not worth dying for."  Blushing furiously as he saw the figure of Maid Marian coming over the hill, the servant in tow, he none-the-less stripped.  "But I warn you.  I will avenge myself for this act one day!"             

"You and several others...."  Rowena said beneath her breath.  She nodded her head sending the knight marching down the road.
             

Maid Mari
an stood viewing the scene with confusion clearly marked upon her face.  One moment she was being abducted and the next moment she found herself looking after the retreating, half-naked form of her captor.  "Whoever you are, you are very brave," she complimented.  "Nearly as brave as another archer I know."

Rowena lowered her voice.   "Thank you, my Lady." To be compared to Robin Hood was a compliment.    Rowena  watched for any signs of recognition but saw none and knew that her disguise had worked.  If Marion who had known her since childhood didn't know who she was
, then she need not fear being recognized by others.  It gave her just the confidence she needed.   "Now come.  To horse again.  You have far to go still and can not linger here.  Prince John and his henchmen are not far off."               

Maria
n pulled herself up on her steed, smiling at the young "man" who had saved her.  "I thank you, kind sir, for your help this day.  Perhaps some day I will be able to reward you for your act of bravery in saving me from the clutches of......."   Her face paled as she looked back towards the castle. "Look!  Someone is coming."             

Whirling around
, Rowena cursed beneath her breath as she recognized who  was approaching.  Even from afar she recognized the dark hair, the way he sat his horse, indeed  the very  arrogance of the man.  "Kendrick de Bron," she exclaimed.  Alas, he was not alone. Two other men rode with him.             

"We'll be caught!"  Maria
n hesitated, not knowing whether to stay or to go.             

"No we shall not."  Rowena made a hasty decision to act as a decoy.  "Ride.  You must return to
Huntington," she said a bit gruffly.  "I'll  lead them on a merry chase." When  the Lady Marian refused, Rowena  gave Marian's horse a slap on its rump with her bow.  "I said ride!"  Turning her horse around, returning her bow to the safety of its strap, she mounted, urging her  horse onward.  And just in time! The sound of horses' hooves echoed in her ears, coming closer and closer.             

"The rogue robbed me.  Catch him! " she heard Roderick of Hereford shout.
             

"Never!" she vowed.  She would outride them all.  Across the rocky hillside she guided her horse, moving towards the thickest part of the forest.  The leafy branches beckoned her like the arms of a lover as she fled her enemies.
             

Feeling the pulsating rhythm of her horse's flanks beneath the high leather of her boots, she rode towards a  clump of trees.  Once there she could seek the shelter of the dense foliage, double back, make a large circle and emerge from the trees to take the opposite path  back to the castle.  A tricky man
euver but one she must complete successfully.  To be caught would put not only herself but her father in danger.               

Rowena's heart was beating like a drum as at last she reached the foliage.  Reining in her mount she hid behind a tall, stout tree, scarcely daring to breathe. 
             

"Where did the lad go?"

"He went to the right."             

"To the left."
             

"Come follow me."
             

From her position she could see the shadows of the men on horseback as they rode past her.  She could hear their shouts, the plop of their horses' hooves, could nearly hear them breath
e as they passed her. 
Ride, you churlish bastards
!  she thought angrily
.  But you will never capture me
.  To assure that they would not, she kept her eyes trained on them, watching their every move. For what seemed forever she huddled behind the trunk, totally determined.  Only when she was certain that they were gone did she come forth from her concealment. 

“Had they but eyes in their heads they would have found me.”

She was pleased with herself because of her cleverness, more so because she had outwitted the arrogant dark-haired knight who had been so certain she would anxiously jump right into his bed.

“Overbold knave!” Not for the world would she have admitted that his sexual virility had burned her like a flame, nor that in truth she had enjoyed the searing warmth of his kiss. “I have escaped you once again.”

Rowena wasn’t completely safe, however. She would have to take shortcut back to the prince's castle, a dangerous one to be sure since it crossed through the wilder nooks in the forest, but she had to take the chance.  She had to reach her father quickly and get him back to their own estates just in case the Prince had any suspicions
.

“Nay, it can not be!” Feeling a total surge of frustration, Kendrick rode hard in pursuit of the
lad who had spirited Lady Marian away. “BiGod, even from a distance I recognized the scurvy bastard.” It was the archer who had accosted him in the forest. So, once more the lad had gotten the upper hand.

“
Gone, BiGod!”

Kendrick’s two companions were nearly as angered by the episode as he. In truth, all three of the men knew that this failure to bring Maid Marian back to the castle would infuriate John.

“He’ll have our ears or worse….” Humbley shuddered.

“He will not!”
Kendrick was determined. “If we have to look behind every tree we will do so. We will find the young scoundrel and take him back with us. That should appease the prince.” He wondered just how cocky the lad would be once he found himself hanging in chains from the castle’s dungeon wall.