by Jaleta Clegg
Chapter 12
Someone nudged me. I pretended to be still asleep. The nudge came again, harder this time. I rolled onto my belly, wrapping the blanket around my head. The blanket was yanked off.
"You've got exactly five minutes to be ready to move," Tayvis said.
"Or what? You'll leave me here?" At least the food was good at Robin's camp.
"I'll tie you over the saddle." Tayvis flipped the blanket over my head.
I pried one eye open. The early morning air smelled of breakfast and smoke. I sat, yawning and stretching, before stumbling out of my hut to the cooking area. One of Robin's men slopped a scoop of scrambled food onto a plate, then shoved it my direction. I took it, finding a seat on a nearby stump.
Tayvis looked different this morning. He'd added a shirt under his vest, one with long white sleeves. He had on leather wristbands, probably to cover the tattoo on his wrist. If I saw it and recognized it, someone else would, if they hadn't already.
Tayvis and Will had their heads together over a map spread on Robin's table. I ate the greasy mess on my plate, wondering what they planned. Tayvis wasn't going to arrest Robin for breaking his grant conditions. On the contrary, he appeared to be working with him. Tayvis tapped the map, nodding at Will.
Will rolled the map. Tayvis crossed to stand by my stump.
"No thirds or fourths this morning?"
"You didn't exactly feed me much."
"I wasn't planning on feeding two."
"I wasn't planning on being here at all."
He folded his arms, towering over me.
I hated feeling so short. "We're leaving now?"
"That was the general idea. Robin's sending several of his men with us, at least until we're out of the woods."
"How nice of him."
"He said you were too prickly to make a good Marian. Are you usually this grouchy in the morning?"
"No one ever complained about it before." I got off the stump.
He strode across the clearing like he owned it. I picked my way after him, envious of his boots. His horse waited near the pond, already saddled. Tayvis took the reins, looking over his shoulder to where I stood.
The horse seemed bigger than ever. I stuck my foot in the loop, heaving myself up.
Tayvis pulled on the reins, walking in front of the horse. Four of Robin's men fell into step with him.
The horse's gait was slow enough I didn't bounce. I expected Tayvis to get on once we were out of the camp, but he just looped the reins over his arm and kept walking. Three of the men with him fanned out into the woods, disappearing into the surrounding growth.
The last one walked beside Tayvis. "You'll want to watch out for the river. The only bridge is down by the main road. If it's low enough, there are a couple of fords higher up, but they can be tricky."
Tayvis asked questions. The man answered. How big are the villages? How many people? Any soldiers? Who controlled the lands? I tuned it out, watching the trees as the sun rose. I had bigger worries, like whether or not I would find myself under arrest when we reached the Patrol base. Tayvis didn't trust me. I had no proof, nothing but myself and it wasn't enough.
The sun woke red-gold highlights in his dark hair. It curled slightly, brushing the collar of his shirt. He walked easily, graceful and smooth. His actions made no sense. He was almost nice to me at the same time he thought I was a hired smuggler, or killer, or worse. I wondered what he really thought of me, deep down inside.
"Not that I care," I muttered.
"Did you say something?" Tayvis glanced over his shoulder.
"Lovely day, isn't it?" I smiled brightly.
"It is, rather," Tayvis answered, just as false.
The man in green gave us both suspicious looks. "Robin's lands end here, at the stream."
The horse stopped, lowering its head to bite off a mouthful of weeds.
"Tell Robin thanks for the help," Tayvis said.
The man waved as he trotted back the way we'd come.
Tayvis studied me. "We should reach the base by tomorrow afternoon."
"Walking or riding?"
He turned his back to lead the horse down the bank's short slope. He knelt down, scooping water to drink. I licked dry lips and decided I was thirsty. I swung one leg over, sliding down the side of the horse.
The water in the stream sparkled in the sunlight. It tasted of rocks.
"Do you want lunch now?" Tayvis asked.
I shrugged. I wasn't hungry, not yet.
"Are you sure? Robin packed extra after he saw the way you attacked the food. For someone so short you eat a lot."
"After three days of practically nothing, I was hungry."
He could be teasing me or he could be serious, I couldn't tell which. His face gave nothing away.
I drank out of my hand, taking my time. "Do you want me to thank you?"
"For what?" He looked genuinely puzzled now.
"You could have left me behind in Robin's camp. He has more than enough men to keep an eye on me." I couldn't help the sour note that crept into my voice.
Tayvis stilled, water dripping from his fingers.
"You're taking me to the base to arrest me, aren't you?" I knew his answer. The real question was whether he was going to lie to me.
"I thought you wanted off Dadilan."
"I do. But not if it means spending what's left of my life in prison."
"That depends on whether you can prove you're telling me the truth or not."
"How am I supposed to do that? I don't have a ship, I don't have cargo to show you, I don't have anything."
"Except your word. What is that worth?"
"I don't lie." I said it flat and hard.
He gathered the horse's reins. "We should be moving."
My comment hung in the air between us. I walked to the horse. I jammed my foot in the loop and grabbed the saddle.
The horse tossed its head and squealed. It danced to one side, dragging me on one foot. I hopped madly to keep from spilling onto my face in the dirt. Tayvis pulled on the reins, trying to calm the horse. I yanked at my foot twisted into the loop.
Answering horse squeals came from the bushes downstream.
Tayvis jerked his head around, staring at the bushes. "Get on. Now."
I jumped and landed on my belly across the horse. My foot slid free of the loop. The horse waved its head, dancing in circles. I barely stayed on its back.
Horses thundered out of the bushes towards us. Tayvis yanked the reins over the horse's head, then threw them at me. I grabbed with one hand, missing completely. The horse pranced, squealing nervously.
Tayvis pulled his knife out of his boot. The approaching men waved swords. Tayvis crouched, his knife in one fist, as the riders slowed. I recognized the shiny bald head of Ky. He didn't look happy.
Fear gave me enough impetus to get seated on the horse. The reins dangled out of my reach. I wrapped my arms around the horse's neck, grabbing for them. The horse tossed its head, pulling the reins farther out of reach.
Ky charged, his sword glittering as it carved air. Tayvis dodged out of the way, rolling under Ky's horse. The horse reared and dumped Ky in the dust. He stood, brushing dust from his backside.
I stretched forward as far as I could to grab the reins. The horse jumped sideways into the stream. I slid off the saddle, landing with a splash.
Ky sidestepped Tayvis, leaving him for the other three men. Ky came towards me with murder in his eye. I backed away, my heart thundering. Ky hated me, his eyes burned with it.
"You scheming witch! You work for Pardui. Leran hates being made to look a fool. You'll pay." He came towards me, one heavy step at a time. His sword caught the light.
I backed away, my sodden skirt tangling my legs.
"Get Robin," Tayvis shouted. He fended off three swords with his knife.
Ky snarled as he waded into the stream. I thought I recognized a break in the bushes on the other side of the stream. When he raised his sword, I dodged u
nder his arm, running for the bushes. His sword ripped through my skirt. His snarling curses gave wings to my feet. I flew out of the stream into the forest.
Tayvis could hold his own, I told myself as I ran. I hoped it was long enough.
"Robin?" My voice squeaked. "Robin!" I didn't know what else to shout.
The bushes behind me rustled. Ky's bald head gleamed evilly as he hacked his way through.
I twisted and dodged through the bushes. I ran until my breath ripped raggedly in my chest. I staggered to a stop against a tree trunk. I held my side, breathing hoarsely until the spots quit dancing in front of my eyes.
"Robin," I wheezed. There was no answer.
I turned back the way I'd come. I saw no sign of a pursuer. I slowly sank to the ground, propped up by the tree trunk. Ky prowled somewhere behind me. He wanted to kill me. I had no idea where Robin and his men were. I had no idea if Tayvis still lived.
The thought of Tayvis lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood made my heart ache. He didn't trust me, but he'd been my best hope of getting out in one piece.
Robin's camp couldn't be far. Will might help. I studied the hills and saw nothing familiar. The sun stood straight overhead. North, south, east, and west were vague concepts that didn't translate to the trees and hillsides I saw.
"Face it, you are lost. Utterly, completely, hopelessly lost."
Ky's snarling face and bald head haunted me. He wouldn't give up easily, if at all. I shivered despite the heat wavering over the ground.
I hunched my shoulders and wrapped my arms around the coldness inside. I picked a direction at random. Maybe someday someone would find my bones and wonder who I was and why I'd died in the forest. Maybe I'd get lucky enough to find Robin before that happened.
Luck was all I had left.
