Sherwood

by S. E. Roberts

  The adrenaline she'd had a few moments ago left her behind, returning her to her tired and sore state. The pain in her shoulder came back with so much ferocity that it nearly immobilized her.

  She stumbled back a bit, releasing him from her foot's grip on his neck. She extended her hand, which he'd contemplated refusing, but gripped it regardless.

  Enders knew that he'd over-stepped the arrogance boundary and had royally frustrated his opponent. The least he could do would be to mend the friendship while it still existed.

  Harlow lifted her head to her surrounding, realizing the eerie quietness that existed at the moment. The circles of men had stopped fighting and had turned their attentions to Harlow and Enders.

  Harlow raised an eyebrow at the men in annoyance. “Shows over, Men!” She yelled out in her best masculine tone, which had improved in the last few days.

  The men all turned back to their fights, some smiled at her before they turned back, signaling that she had their approval as far as the battlefield went.

  Everyone had stayed in their circle, except for a few men who wandered just a bit closer from the back of the field, so the sound of progressive swordplay picked up rather fast.

  Harlow stumbled a bit closer to Enders. “Are you okay?” She asked, leaning on her sword, which she'd stabbed into the sand-like dirt.

  Enders looked up from his hands and connected his eyes with hers, his eyebrow raised as always. “Aye, I'm fine.”

  Harlow raised her eyebrow at him, mocking him, bringing one hand to the side of her mouth and tapping it twice for him to check the blood that dripped out of the edge.

  Enders chuckled, and rubbed his mouth on his sleeve. “I may have underestimated you, McBride. Maybe we should stop for a break.” He turned his back to walk away.

  Harlow shrugged regardless of her intense amount of pain. “You scared, Hode?”

  She didn't know why she pushed so hard; why she cared so much to prove herself.

  Enders paused and turned to face her again, a grin on his lips. He walked back into the circle and raised his sword in a defensive nature. “Never.”

  Chapter Six

  The sun started to go over the horizon four days later.

  Harlow stood offensively in the circle. The last couple of days, she'd been out in the training circles with Enders, practicing different strategic moves.

  At the moment, Enders was knocked down on his back, heaving in and letting out ragged breaths.

  Harlow stood victoriously in front of him, looking down. “Oh, Come on, Hode.” Harlow chuckled, realizing a second to late how feminine the words sounded from her mouth.

  The sudden, sharp, high-pitched version of his name made him perk up and grin. “Oh yeah? Looks like manhood hit you a little late, wouldn't ya say, McBride?”

  Harlow raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. “Say what you will. You're the one on the ground.”

  Enders stood up, his breathing still a tad ragged, although he could stand just fine. “I doubt it will stay that way for long.” He said, looking down at his hands, examining them.

  Harlow noticed his attitude take a slightly more arrogant turn of events.

  She rolled her eyes when he wasn't paying attention. “Ready?” She asked, positioning herself better.

  He took a step or two forward. “Aye.”

  Harlow gave him several more seconds to prepare while she raised her hand to her hair and made sure her hat was securely on her head.

  She was unprepared when Enders came flying toward her, his wooden sword raised in hand, and his eyes focused on her.

  Quickly Harlow dodged out of the way, rolling on the ground and landing back on her feet in one fluid motion. She looked at the ground, smiling to herself because of her agility.

  Still, Enders came toward her, and he didn't look like he had any intent on stopping.

  She understood that he was practicing, but she felt afraid. She knew she could yell and ask him to stop, and he would, but she was scared to do so.

  Instead she looked around her. Her wooden sword was on the ground away from her. She'd felt it fall away from her when she dodged, but had no intent of getting struck by the wooden stick.

  She ran to the side, then spun backward when Enders came toward her.

  Without thinking, she flung her elbow up making the sharpest noise she'd ever heard come from the human body.

  She turned around as Enders stumbled backward a bit, his eyes wide.

  Enders had dropped his sword, both hands up to his face holding his nose, blood pouring through the cracks in his fingers.

  Harlow rushed over quickly, grabbing his sword on the way. “Whoa! Enders, are you okay?!” She exclaimed.

  Enders looked down at his hands, then up to her. “I don't know, do I look okay?” He asked sarcastically, scanning her over with his eyes. “What do you have in those bones, McBride? Stone?”

  Harlow looked at him annoyed, an eyebrow raised. “My Father taught me how to use my limbs as weapons when I have nothing else.”

  Enders rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Yeah, you're father was a great man, we all know that.”

  Harlow looked around, relieved that no one else was on the field, most everyone gathering around fires to eat their dinner.

  The sun was still shining, although going down over the horizon.

  “Enders, what's wrong with you?” Harlow asked suspiciously. “You're acting like an animal.” She said.

  That was the wrong thing to say.

  Or maybe it was just the wrong time to say it.

  “I'm acting like an animal?!” Enders shouted. “I'm acting like an animal? No, No, Henry. I'm acting like a normal, fighting soldier. I'm doing what I have to do. You're always bragging, always acting better than everyone else. You're always talking about how great you're father was and how much he taught you. You're trying to live out some legend without actually having the capability to be the legacy. I'm no animal. You're the animal.” Enders accused, keeping his voice level and looking down at his blood covered hands. Most of the bleeding had stopped, but that didn't stop him from being angry.

  Harlow was taken aback for a moment. “So what exactly do you hold against me? You hold it against me that I'm proud of my father? That I'm not as good a fighter as I should be?” Harlow started to get angry, raising her voice. “You're not making any sense, Enders. If you're going to fight with someone at least have the decency to have manners!” She exclaimed the last word, filling the forest with echoes.

  Enders gave her an incredulous look, not ready to give up on this argument. “You're criticizing my manners!?” Enders exclaimed at her. “At least my manners aren't totally boorish!” He couldn't contain his frustration and started yelling irrationally. “At least I'm not disrespectful enough to show off all of my accomplishments everywhere I go!” Enders' lowered his face, flushed with blood, although the flow seemed to lessen some. This was evidence to Harlow that he'd be alright. “I'm sure your father would be real proud, don't ya think, Henry?”

  Harlow winced, feeling and hearing the malice in his voice. At first Harlow was frozen in shock of what he'd said to her. But, as he turned to walk away that shock turned into pain, which in turn retreated to anger. He was gone before she was angry enough to do anything to him.

  She shook her head, trying not to be angry, trying not to be upset.

  Nothing worked.

  Of course, she always talked about her father, because it was the only thing she had in common with everyone else here.

  She wasn't a soldier. She wasn't anything these men were. She wasn't even a man.

  Now that the fight was over, Harlow picked up her own wooden sword in her right hand, carrying Enders' in her left. She made the ten-minute walk to the cabin that both Enders and Harlow stayed in along with eleven other men.

  When she entered, it was empty. Not even Enders had resolved to go to the cabin.

  It wasn't hard to spot Enders' cot. It was the only one that was kept neat and cle
an, well made and well folded. She shook her head and let out a small knowing huff.

  'And I called him ill-mannered,' She thought, walking to the mattress that rested on the floor and placing his wooden sword on the right side of it.

  Afterward, she sighed and walked to her own cot, collapsing on it. She let the cot cradle her as she felt the throbbing of her sore limbs.

  She was asleep before anyone even came in.

  *~*~*

  The sun came up the next morning, invading her eyes and waking her up. She groaned for a moment, stretching her arm up before opening her eyes.

  That's when she saw no one.

  The cabin was completely empty and devoid of life. Except for her, of course.

  She gaped at the emptiness, immediately getting herself up and rushing to grab her wooden weapons. She attached them to herself, rushing out of the cabin and stumbling over everything in her way as she forced herself forward.

  Harlow made sure she had her wooden stick, knowing Robin wouldn't let her forget it if she'd left it behind. Robin had told the recruits when they first came to the encampment that they would only be using the wooden weaponry he gave them. He insisted that they needed everyone alive, and because of some casualties and injuries during previous training sessions, they'd switched to less threatening weapons. He stated that the real, metal blades were supposed to be used only for real combat.

  Harlow barreled past Aldridge's training group, keeping a strong, unwavering composure. She tried to make it seem as if she knew what she was doing, as if she wasn't late or oversleeping.

  She approached the training area that Robin had his group at. He was perched at the side as usual, half watching them, half critiquing them.

  Harlow took several paces forward, looking over the group. She spotted a sweaty Enders practicing swordplay with another man in one of the farther circles.

  He was here.

  'He didn't wake me. No one woke me.' Harlow felt the hurt and frustration build within her.

  She saw some of the men smile at her mischievously. She couldn't decide if they'd done it on purpose or had done it in order to play some sort of joke. She settled for giving them a small, confident smile back.

  The betrayal sank deep into her heart.

  Harlow was convinced that what had happened yesterday would be mended. In the time she'd spent here, blending in with them, she knew Enders the most. And he was not one to hold a grudge.

  He was reasonable.

  Or so she thought.

  “McBride!” She heard her name being called. She turned to her right, although she knew the person who called her name before she saw him.

  “Yes, Sir?” She said, again faking her tone of voice.

  “You're late.” He said, walking up to her and raised an eyebrow.

  She furrowed her eyebrows at him momentarily. She couldn't place it, but he suddenly looked familiar, but before she could recall anything more, the moment had left her.

  “Aye.” She responded, regaining her composure.

  Robin kept his eyebrow up. “No excuse?”

  Harlow kept her eyes even. “None, Sir.”

  Robin nodded, approvingly and slightly impressed. “Alright.” He scanned the area and all of the men who were fighting. Most had stopped fighting to watch; Others simply pretended to keep fighting.

  No one had ever been late to training.

  No one.

  Every one was apparently curious to see how this played out.

  “Is there anyone unpaired here?” Robin asked to the crowd. Everyone murmured and then looked around.

  Harlow looked Enders' way. His eyes were on her. She felt self-conscious, but forced her eyes to stay on him for several seconds, wanting him to feel her discomfort. She reached a hand up to make sure her hair was still neatly tucked into her hat, assuring herself that no strands had fallen loose.

  He avoided her eyes after a few seconds, his expression looking almost guilty. His betrayal still stung her to her very core. He accused her of being self-centered and ill-mannered. Now, he hadn't even woken her for training.

  At first she was angry, but the anger dissipated into a distant pain in her chest.

  He'd been her only friend here. Her only ally.

  She assumed that he'd turned into her greatest rival.

  Robin turned back to her and started thinking aloud. “Well, Enders already has a partner.” Enders didn't look phased by the mention of his name. Harlow held her eyes on him for a moment longer, letting their eyes meet. He averted his eyes immediately, upon seeing her gaze. “So, you'll be practicing with me today.”

  Harlow's eyes immediately moved to Robin, who was grinning madly. Again, she couldn't shake a feeling that Robin looked familiar to her, but she brushed it off, trying to fight the complete apprehension rising in her chest.

  Robin was on the move, walking toward the back of the field where one, lone, free circle sat, totally unoccupied.

  Harlow tried to fight her racing heart as she walked to the back circle, after Robin.

  He pulled up his wooden sword and took the defensive immediately.

  Harlow knew what he was doing. She understood his strategy.

  She stepped into the circle and took one look at him. She shook her head. “No.”

  Robin furrowed his eyebrows at her. “What?” He looked slightly taken aback.

  “You took defensive. You're trying to see how good I am, then you'll use what you can against me.” Harlow told him, trying to stand tall and firm. “You're looking for the inevitable human weakness.”

  Robin lifted his chin, staring down his nose at her. He only stayed that was for a moment before breaking into a grin. “You're good.” He said, taking the offensive stance instead.

  Harlow shrugged. “It was my Father's teaching.” She shot a glance at Enders, who stared at the two. He didn't seem so much frustrated as he did anxious, as if he was worried.

  Harlow turned away from Enders and looked at Robin.

  “Ready?” Robin asked, twirling the sword in his hand.

  Harlow sighed. “Aye.” She kept her sword at her side. She had an idea, a strategy of her own.

  Robin raised an eyebrow when she didn't move for the defensive. He sighed. “Alright.”

  Harlow let the sword hang at her side. She wasn't going on the defensive. She was going to be offensive. She was going to force him into defensive without his knowledge.

  Robin charged and lifted the sword to strike.

  Harlow ducked and rolled out of the circle, looking expectantly at him.

  Robin knew at that point that Harlow hadn't intended on keeping this fight in the confines of the wooden boundary. He gave a small nod and charged again.

  This time Harlow ducked slightly, missing the wooden sword by a few inches and swinging her own stick toward Robin's leg.

  Robin let out a small yell and rubbed the leg she'd hit.

  The men from training slowly stopped fight and watched as the two went here and there, causing a scene.

  Harlow kept her eyes on Robin, trying not to get distracted. She heard people talking about her. She heard her boy name being called out this way and that.

  Robin immediately swung low, trying to catch Harlow's legs and get her on the ground.

  Instead, Harlow saw it coming and jumped over the sword, nicking it with her shoe slightly.

  She got on her feet and spun to her left, letting the sword swing in front of her at stomach level. She let it connect hard with Robin's stomach, making him double over, one hand clutching his stomach.

  Robin charged fast, getting over the pain quickly. Harlow raised her sword up to deflect the blow, which it did.

  When Robin retreated slightly, Harlow made a small back step and charged toward Robin, her sword held at her side instead of up. He deflected her blow as well.

  They went back and forth for what felt like an hour, making each others arms sore and strained. They were moving all over the place. They'd scrambled into the cabin are
a, passed the lake, and almost busted into the kitchen area. When they'd approached the lake the second time, Robin tried to push Harlow in, but to her dismay, she was able to deflect him and kick him back.

  Robin had found that McBride's leg strength had surpassed her arm strength, although, he hadn't been too shocked by it. After passing the lake, he stopped making it accessible for her to kick him.

  Neither were winning, but neither were losing either.

  No one had ever dared to fight Robin this way. Everyone thought he was some kind of invincible man, someone who would always win no matter what. No body counted on him actually being human, but he wasn't too shocked that it was a McBride that was willing to take up the challenge.

  The fight seemed to go on forever. The men started to murmur about the fighting ending in a draw.

  What they didn't know was that Harlow wouldn't let that happen.

  Harlow heard a murmur of her fathers name. She looked up momentarily, into the direction of the murmur, her eyes colliding with Enders'. It caught of her off guard.

  She let her eyes linger on him for too long. She knew she shouldn't have let it distract her, but she was captivated by the blue eyes that portrayed some form of anxiety. It puzzled her and made her angry at the same time. She felt her heart start to race, and while she wished she could blame it on her anger towards him, she knew that wasn't the cause.

  Without any warning, Robin's sword made a harsh collision into her stomach, making her cry out in pain.

  It sounded way to feminine for her liking. She thought for sure, she was done. She thought for sure that everyone would know. But instead, laughs burst out.

  This was the best time if any.

  The laughing threw her off guard only momentarily, but it made Robin arrogant.

  Harlow feigned pain for a second before she got a better grip on her sword and jabbed him in the side.