“Is Master Warin trying to get us all killed?” Karina said in a low voice. She placed an arm around Eli and pulled him to her side.
“Geoffrey won’t let him,” he whispered back. “Look, I see him over there.”
A few paces away, Geoffrey noticed them as well. From under his hood, he shot Karina and Eli a warning glance before he inched his way to the front of the horde.
Slowly, as if the mob was starting to awaken, a restless rumble began to emerge.
“Why are we here?” a man shouted off to the right. “We have our livelihood to tend to. We cannot —”
“Silence!” the leading knight shouted. Glancing at the upturned faces, he searched for the man who boldly raised his voice. But whoever had spoken shrank back into the safety of his peers. The outlaw then zeroed his gaze back onto Warin. “Who are you?” he asked sharply.
“The — the Master of the Chandler Guild,” Warin answered, his fleshy face turning blotchy.
“Perhaps I should kill you first, and set an example to those who speak out of turn.”
“Now let’s not be too hasty,” Warin said, taking an involuntary step back. He pressed both palms together in supplication. “I’m telling you the truth here. ‘Tis impossible that the princess can be in Treville. Our town is still a distance from Baltroham Palace, and even farther from the royal courts. ‘Tis a well-known fact that the royal family rarely visits this town. You would do well to go north-west to the palace and find her there.”
“Jak,” the commander said, pointing a narrow finger at the guild master. “Seize him.”
Warin took a step back. “What are you doing?” he gasped.
A large knight dismounted from his horse, his heavy footfall sounding loud and ominous as he advanced toward the fat guild master. Large hands grabbed the front of Warin’s tunic, lifting him up as if he weighed little more than a sack of dried beans. He squirmed and pulled back uselessly as the gigantic man dragged him to his leader.
The outlaw knight stared down at Warin, his gaze unwavering. “You talk too much.”
“I — I’m only telling you what I know,” he said, sweat forming on his upper lip.
“Oh, and what do you know?” The leader arched one eyebrow.
The grip on Warin’s shirtfront tightened. His face turned beet red as the air was choked out of him.
“Nothing!” he gasped. “I know nothing!”
“Let him go, sire,” Sewallus said, emerging from the crowd. He licked his lips nervously. “He’s telling the truth.”
The leader swung his gaze at Sewallus and sneered. “And you’re saying that you know more?”
“I don’t know any more than my father does, but perhaps I can help you.”
The outlaw jerked his chin at the giant. Jak immediately released his hold, and Warin crumpled to the ground. The guild master pushed himself awkwardly to his feet, while Sewallus made his way to stand in front of his father.
“Are you mad?” Warin demanded in a low voice, although he was loud enough for Geoffrey to hear.
“Leave this to me,” Sewallus said, shoving his father aside. The guild master stared at his younger son’s back as if he suddenly sprouted horns and cloven feet. But Sewallus didn’t notice his father’s regard. Instead, he addressed the outlaw, “If you say that the princess is here, then I believe you, and —”
“I saw the princess,” Geoffrey said, coming forth to join the small group. He pushed the hood from his head. “And I know where she’s headed.”
Sewallus looked over, and did a double-take. “How did —?” He glanced over at the pillory. The wooden contraption was empty, confirming the obvious. The young candlemaker shook his head as if he assessed whether Geoffrey’s escape was more significant than facing the outlaws.
“A murderer and a stable hand,” he said at last, “I wouldn’t listen to him, sires. What could he possibly know about the princess?”
But Geoffrey kept silent and continued to level his gaze at the rider.
The outlaw stared back at him, stroking his chin, his dark eyes studying him. “And what reason do I have to believe you?”
“’Tis up to you if you want to believe me.” Geoffrey brushed off an imaginary piece of dirt from his sleeve. “But if you want to find the princess, I suggest that you listen to what I have to tell you.”
“I’ll kill you if you’re playing games with me, peasant.”
“Nay, I’m telling the truth,” Geoffrey lied. “I was locked in the pillory there,” he indicated to the wooden contraption, the thick cords cut into pieces and lying on the ground. “That was where I saw the princess and her two royal guards. They let me out of my prison in exchange for directions.”
The commanding knight stared at him with narrowed eyes. “And?”
“And they said that they planned to leave at first light — as soon as the town gates opened.”
The outlaw glanced up at the bright morning sun, which was high in the sky. And if it was possible, the expression on his visage darkened even more. “Did they say where they were going?” he asked.
“Nay, although I overheard them saying that they planned to hide deep in the woods until you’ve left Treville.”
“Deep in the woods?” one of the men said. He urged his horse to the front. “’Twould not be wise for us to go further in the woods, Sir Wouter.”
Wouter turned to look at his companion, his brows lowered in barely restrained annoyance. But he was saved from saying anything more when Sewallus cut in.
“Aye ‘tis not wise to go too far into the woods, sire,” he agreed. “You’d be trespassing on the green demon’s domain. ‘Tis well known that anyone going into the thicket rarely comes back alive.”
“That was not my worry,” the knight said, frowning at Sewallus. “My concern was that we might get lost, since there would be no clear trail to follow.”
“We’ll have this man guide us,” Wouter said, flicking his fingers at Geoffrey’s direction.
“But he’s a cripple!” Sewallus cried.
“A cripple that has valuable knowledge,” Geoffrey said firmly. “But I have one request.”
The leader quirked an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
Geoffrey straightened his spine. “I desire your protection.” He waved a hand at the townsmen behind him. “These people want to see me dead for a murder that I didn’t do.” He put his hand on his hip and began to absently knead it. “I know that I won’t be able to make it very far if I leave this town on my own.” He paused. “These savages will hunt me down and kill me. But if I could join your troop…”
Wouter watched him with hooded eyes. “Take me to the princess, and then I’ll decide what to do with you.”
“I will go as well,” Karina came to stand next to Geoffrey. “I know the area, and can help you search for the princess.”
“Don’t be foolish, Karina,” Geoffrey hissed. “You’ll put yourself in danger.” He bunched his hands into fists, trying to refrain himself from grabbing her and tossing her behind him.
“This is the only way, Geoffrey,” she said in a low voice. Ignoring the displeased expression on his face, she added, “I cannot allow you to do this on your own.”
“Well, I’m going too,” Eli interjected loudly. “Geoffrey needs me to support him, because he cannot travel far on his own.”
“You’re both mad,” Geoffrey said. And then realizing that everyone was starting at them, he dropped his voice. “Don’t you know how dangerous these men are? They aren’t one of your suitors, Karina. And if they decide to turn on you, I cannot protect you.” His eyes began to glint dangerously. “Tell him that you reconsider. Tell him. Now.”
Before she got a chance to respond, Wouter cut in.
“The three of you will accompany us,” the outlaw knight said. He pinned his sharp gaze at Geoffrey. “If you’re lying to me about where the princess is headed, then the woman and the boy will die,” his eyes then swept across the crowd, “along with every single pe
rson in this town.”
Chapter 15
“Hopefully we’ll get to the cottage soon,” Karina said quietly. She slanted a look at Geoffrey as they made their slow progress through the twist of lush and thick vegetation. She had never been this deep in the woods, and she was at once fascinated and fearful. Only the three of them traveled by foot while the five outlaws rode their horses.
“Aye,” Geoffrey answered. “The knights are starting to get frustrated.”
A slight mist hung mid-way up the trees, causing the forest to have a strange, almost supernatural feel to it. And she sensed that someone or something watched them, even though there was no one to be seen. Her toe stubbed on a fallen log and she stumbled to the side. Reaching over, she steadied herself on a tree. She sprang back just as her hand sank into a deep, spongy layer of moss. Karina was used to seeing moss on the ground, but not growing on trees like this. Its growth was so copious that it covered the entire trunk in a green, fuzzy coat. She peered at the tree trunk, expecting to find a face staring back at her, but nothing unusual showed itself.
It’s just a regular tree, she told herself firmly. But everyone knew that forest spirits lived in trees.
As they continued further into the forest, the cheerful chirp of birds faded away until a strange stillness descended upon them, permeating the air with its pregnant silence. The mist became noticeably thicker. Suddenly the trees were no longer trees but stately, shadowy figures with long reaching limbs. The only sounds were the soft metal clink of the horse gears, and the occasional twig snapping underfoot. Hugging her arms to her chest, she rubbed at the gooseflesh that appeared there. All the while, her stomach churned with dread as she forced her legs to continue forth. Knowing that she was a part of a small troop provided little consolation.
“Do you think we’ll see the green demon?” Eli said at her side, questioning something that she didn’t want to acknowledge. He spoke just loud enough to be heard by one of the men.
The outlaw knight turned his head abruptly and looked down at them from his horse. “What do you know of the green demon?” he scoffed. “They’re just stories to scare small children like you.”
“Everyone knows that he’s real.” Eli climbed up on a small boulder. “You’ll see for yourself if you stumble upon him in these woods.”
“Don’t listen to him, Clement,” Daud said, as he caught up to them. The second in command had the fresh face of a countryside youth, although it was clear that he was a full-grown man. There was nothing memorable about his features, and if he wasn’t in such rough company, Karina would have dismissed him. The man reached for the hilt of his sword and rested his hand there. “There’s no such thing as the green demon.” He spat at the bushes to the left of him. “I’ve heard those stories when I was a lad. It never scared me then, and it doesn’t scare me now.”
“Well, you should be scared,” Eli jumped off the rock and landed on the soft ground. “For all you know, he could be watching us from there.” He pointed to an especially dense tangle of vines. The fog settled all around them, leaving only shadows and the smell of damp earth. It was remotely possible that something was there.
“I heard that he snatches bodies.” The boy jerked his chin at the men. “He’ll probably take your grotesque bodies first, since you’re both bigger than me, and I can run faster.”
Daud’s eyes bulged slightly, but he managed to get a hold of himself. He started to withdraw his sword from his scabbard when Geoffrey stepped in front of Eli.
“The boy doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” he said.
The knight paused for a moment before shoving his sword back into the scabbard. Glaring at Geoffrey, he said, “Make sure you keep his mouth shut then.”
“Daud!” Wouter called sharply, his head turned over at their direction. “What’s this delay?”
“Clement, come,” the second in command said, gritting his teeth. The two men spurred their horses forward.
“Did you see their expressions?” Eli said, his eyes twinkling gleefully.
“I don’t think ‘tis wise to taunt those men,” Karina said. “We don’t know what they’re capable of.”
“I’m not worried about those men, ma dame,” he said, sobering immediately. “I was just talking about the green demon before they interrupted me. If anything we don’t know what he’s capable of. I want to be prepared — in case we encounter the forest spirit.” He glanced cautiously at the same dense area that he had pointed. “Do you think we’re safe here?”
“Don’t think too much about it,” Geoffrey said, starting forward. “I’m sure that the tales of the green demon are greatly exaggerated.”
Eli nodded, although he didn’t appear wholly convinced. And neither was Karina. Unable to help it, she allowed her eyes to scan the thicket. While the forest spirit was responsible for the rain and good crops, he was also known to be unpredictable and malevolent. Once, when Karina was a young child, she had gone into the surrounding forest with her friends to gather blackberries. She forgot to tell her mother where she was going, and her mother came searching for her.
“There you are!” her mother exclaimed. She took Karina’s sticky hand and pulled her away from the berry bushes. “I thought the green demon took you.”
“I’m not afraid of any demon,” Karina said, yanking at her arm to loosen her mother’s grip. But she only tightened her hold.
“You should be very afraid.” Her mother glanced behind her and hastened her steps, forcing Karina to go at a half-run. “Too many people have disappeared while going into the forest. And I don’t want you to vanish either. Promise me that you won’t go near the woods again, Karina.”
When she didn’t respond right away, her mother stopped. She bent down and grabbed her chin, forcing Karina to meet her eyes.
“Promise me,” she demanded, all traces of anger and annoyance gone.
“All right, I promise,” she said, squirming away from her mother’s grasp. She wiped her hand across her mouth. Promising something like this meant that she would no longer be able to taste any more of the succulent berries. She could feel herself becoming more sullen. “I don’t even know what he looks like.”
Her mother straightened up, satisfied that she had driven home her warning. “There’s no mistaking him. His skin is as green as newly sprouted moss, and he wears no clothing other than foliage.” Her voice dropped to almost a whisper, and Karina strained to hear. She could detect real fear in her mother’s eyes and voice. “He’s an ugly creature as you’ll ever see. Except for his beady, red eyes, his face is covered with leaves. He has long vines, like snakes growing out from his mouth, nose and ears. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man, woman or child.” She paused, allowing her words to take flight in Karina’s imagination. “If you ever see him, run for your life.”
Karina turned to glance at the woods behind her, imagining that someone or something was looking back at her. A shiver ran down her spine. Later when her friends invited her to pick more berries, she didn’t dare accompany them. The forest bordered her town, and for all she knew, it spanned across the entire countryside. If she got snatched by the green demon, her parents would never be able to find her.
Yet years later, here she was, ignoring her instincts and going deeper into the woods. She propelled her feet onward. What was she thinking?
“’Tis not wise that you accompanied us,” Geoffrey said, breaking into her thoughts. He looked surreptitiously at the men on the horses before adding in a low, flat tone, “You put yourself at risk by being here.”
“I couldn’t allow you to go alone with these outlaws,” she said, glad that the conversation distracted her from the fear that crept into her chest. “Your leg —”
“I’m well aware of my leg,” he almost growled. “But you being here make things complicated.”
She fell silent. “Perhaps ‘twas not the most clever thing to involve myself in your — your plan, but I couldn’t allow you to go off on your own. ‘Tis true
that I’m only a woman, but at least if these knights try to hurt you, I could somehow find a way to intervene.”
“You would intervene for me?” he asked, staring at her.
“Aye, I would.”
His gaze softened suddenly, and he said, “No one has ever cared to interfere on my behalf.”
She focused her eyes on a tree stump up ahead. “This involves a cause bigger than us. I believe that the more people that are available to assist you, the better. And besides,” she said, her voice brimming with emotion, “even though the townspeople ridiculed, insulted and imprisoned you, you still involve yourself with them. This is a display of true valor, and I don’t care what anyone says.”
“Is that all?” he asked softly.
“Aye,” she said. But she knew that there was another reason why she insisted in going with them. And that reason could no longer be ignored. She was starting to care for Geoffrey. Perhaps she cared a little too much.
***
“How much longer?” Wouter demanded.
They had been walking for nearly an hour, and the forest had gotten denser, making it near impossible for the horses to cut through the heavy underbrush.
“Yonder,” Geoffrey said, pointing beyond the crush of trees. “There’s an old cottage up ahead. That might be where they’ve headed.”
“You better be right, peasant,” Wouter said, grunting. “If not, I’ll sever your head, and leave it for the crows to peck at. And believe me, I’ll not give mercy to a cripple.” He urged his horse forward, but the quick motion caused a red squirrel to run out of its hiding place. Startled, the horse reared up, almost unseating its rider. Wouter let out a loud curse.
“Look up there, sire,” Clement said, pointing to an incline, where the roof of a small wooden building was barely visible through the trees. “I think I see something.”
“We’ll need to continue on foot,” Daud said, stating the obvious.
Irritably, Wouter dismounted. He glanced over at one of the men. “Rob, I want you to stay here with the horses.”
Heart of a Knight (A Medieval Romance Novella) Page 9
