The Lady Katherine Chronicles, Number 19
Lady Katherine And The Pressing
Pursuit
By Sazzy
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Codes: |
uber J/7 |
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Rating : |
NC-17 |
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Setting: |
July/August 1192, |
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Thanks: |
MercyCroft, Solise and MF for beta reading this for me :) Special thanks to MF for cleaning up my awful French! |
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Disclaimer: |
This is a work of fan fiction but uses characters that bear a striking resemblance to those that are copyright of Paramount Pictures. No infringement on their copyright is intended by the author in any way, shape or form - this is just a bit of fun. This story includes an all female relationship, so if you don’t like that then look away now. |
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A faint whispering was the first thing Anne noticed as she stirred from her fitful sleep. She glanced down at her companion, but Katherine was still fast asleep. Every once in a while she would let out a small, unintelligible murmur but showed no signs of waking. Anne couldn’t help reaching out to brush her fingers lightly through Katherine’s hair, playing absently with the auburn strands in a vain effort to distract herself. However, the whispering continued. Anne supposed she could wake Katherine, but didn’t think the other woman would be able to help her or even hear the strange noise. Though it seemed to be coming from outside, Anne had little doubt that it was actually in her mind. The call of nature seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.
Anne tried to think about something else and ignore the persistent voices but they kept buffeting her, just loud enough to be annoying. Finally she gave up, rising and pulling on the rest of her clothes and her boots before she left the tent. Despite the fact that it was night, it was hot and sticky outside and Anne thought there would be a storm soon. For the time being there was only the odd cloud up in the sky and she could make out the constellations high above as she wandered aimlessly away from the camp. Even in a foreign land far from home they remained reassuringly the same. While watching the stars, she stayed alert and alive to the possibility that she wasn’t alone. Though they’d had no problems so far on their return journey, the Syndicate could be on their trail.
So it was that she heard the sound of footsteps brushing faintly through the undergrowth behind her. Just a single pair, but footsteps nonetheless. Anne surreptitiously gripped the hilt of her sword but didn’t turn, allowing them to think she hadn’t noticed them. The steps were delicate, careful and getting closer. Anne could almost imagine she could hear the person’s breaths echoing in the still night air.
Suddenly Anne whipped out her sword and whirled round in one swift motion. The approaching person was only saved from being impaled when she pulled back a fraction at the last moment.
Anne eyed the person suspiciously. “I thought I said I didn’t want to see you again?”
A pair of brown eyes regarded her from an elfin face picked out in the moonlight. Axia looked at the tip of the sword hovering close to her dress. “So you’d impale me rather than speak to me?”
“You’re the one sneaking up on people in the dark,” said Anne with a faint shrug. She withdrew the sword, knowing Axia was no threat to her, at least not immediately. She was yet to determine what exactly the other woman’s long term ambitions were. “So what are you doing here? Come to tell me more about this mysterious mission you have for me or just generally spying?”
“No, just making sure you are well.” As always Axia spoke with a serenely soft lilt to her voice despite the challenge in Anne’s tone. Yet rather than making Anne feel relaxed the calmness of it grated on her for some reason.
“With the aid of your little helpers?” Anne indicated some of the forest animals that appeared to be watching their discourse. The nearest squirrel had the good grace to hop back up its tree now it had been caught out.
“You could talk to them too,” said Axia, “If you were so inclined, but you choose to devote your time to other areas.”
Anne laughed. “Other areas? She has a name you know.”
“And you waste far too much time on her.” For once Axia’s voice betrayed rare emotion. “You have a gift, Anne, one you are not utilising to your full potential while you are busy satisfying her every whim.”
“Whether or not I harness my special abilities has nothing to do with Katherine,” stated Anne, annoyance colouring her words, “In fact she’s always been the one to encourage me in the past. You don’t know her at all, or me for that matter!”
Axia reached out a hand to touch Anne’s arm. “I do know you.”
Anne shrugged off the hand. “Get off me!” She was fed up of Axia’s cryptic comments, it was almost as if she took perverse pleasure in supposedly knowing something Anne didn’t.
“We can protect you,” said Axia, following Anne as she tried to walk away.
Anne glanced back at her. “From what?” she asked with incredulity, “The man-eating squirrels and deadly killer-deer roaming these woods?”
Anne spun on her heel and almost careened directly into someone standing right beside her.
“From people like me.”
Anne’s eyes flicked up in shock, though she had already recognised the voice. Kirby? How in the hell had he snuck up on her? Anne’s hand shot to her scabbard only to find her fingers grasping at fresh air. Her eyes verified what her hand had discovered - her sword was gone.
“Looking for this?”
Kirby had it. He stepped back a few paces and started waving it before him so the blade glinted in the moonlight. How had he managed to get it? Anne hadn’t felt or noticed him take it and she was well versed in sleight of hand.
“Seems you can’t keep hold of it.” He stopped swishing it around and fixed her with a look of pure menace in his dark eyes. The tattoo above his left one crinkled as they narrowed. His intention was obvious.
Anne tried to move but her feet seemed slow to react, not
wanting to obey her urge to flee. Kirby
started coming towards her, but still she couldn’t summon the will to run. Anne just had time to glance to Axia who was
simply watching impassively before Kirby struck. The sword bit into her flesh just as it had
done back on the boat on the
Anne screamed and jolted awake.
It took her a few sharp intakes of breath to realise she was still lying back in the tent, a now awake Katherine beside her. It had just been a dream, realised Anne before reconsidering. She knew she couldn’t be sure where Axia was concerned. Already Anne had discovered she’d been completely oblivious to their meeting on the spirit plane. It wasn’t much of a stretch to think that Axia could be invading her sleeping mind now. If that was the case she didn’t much like the message.
A concerned hand brought her back to the present again. “A nightmare?” asked Katherine softly, though as much was fairly evident.
“Yes.” Anne was
sitting up now, knees drawn up with the bedclothes. Katherine pulled herself up beside her, hair
mussed, still looking half asleep. She
waited for Anne to elaborate. “It was
Kirby,” she said, not really having to spell out any further what that meant. She bit her lip for a moment supposing she
may as well take the opportunity to tell Katherine about Axia. She had been waiting for a good time to bring
it up, but couldn’t see one of those coming along for a while. They still had to make it back through
“Robert?”
“No, her name is Axia.”
Katherine frowned slightly. “Axia?” She was obviously trying to place the name and drawing a blank.
“She was the one who healed me back in
“Then I suppose I should be grateful to her,” said Katherine, “Was she helping you fight off Kirby in your dream?”
“Not exactly, and I’m not sure they are just dreams,” confessed Anne not liking being so uncertain what was happening in her own mind.
Katherine looked equally confused. “But if they’re not dreams…?”
“Axia has other abilities like I used to, such as being able to remove her consciousness to the spirit plane.”
“And you think she was speaking to you via the spirit plane in your dream?” Katherine was trying to hide it, but Anne could detect the tiny edge of jealousy creeping into her voice. It was a rather intimate thing for someone to be doing if it was the case. Anne paused before revealing more, yet knew she had to be totally honest.
“Axia intimated we’d communicated that way before.”
Katherine didn’t look too impressed. “She ‘intimated’ as much? Can’t you remember?”
“No, that’s the frustrating thing. She claims I used to be a regular visitor to the spirit plane while asleep but I can’t remember a thing.”
“Used to be?”
“She says my visits stopped around spring last year.”
“Axia seems to have had a lot to say for herself,” noted Katherine with barely concealed scepticism, “So what exactly were you supposed to be doing on these ‘visits’?”
“She didn’t say, but I got the impression there was more to it than simply exchanging the latest pagan news.”
Anne didn’t really want to voice her suspicions, but it seemed she didn’t need to, with Katherine able to read between the lines.
“You think she has feelings for you?”
“I don’t know,” admitted Anne, “I might be imagining it, but a couple of things made me wonder.”
“And what about you?”
Anne was unsure of the reference. “Sorry?”
“Do you have feelings for her?”
“No, of course not!” stated Anne immediately.
“But you said you couldn’t remember,” said Katherine, “Maybe you used to?”
“No, I’m sure I would remember that.” Anne tried to sound more convincing than she actually felt. “And even if I did, I certainly don’t anymore. There’s only one person I have feelings for now. Intense, overwhelming feelings.” She didn’t need to attempt to inject sincerity into her voice now, it was there in abundance.
Katherine sighed seemingly accepting she had nothing to fear from Axia in that regard. “So why do you think Axia might be trying to communicate with you still?”
“There were some other things she told me too...”
Katherine was starting to look more and more anxious with the direction the conversation was taking, picking up on Anne’s own unease. Anne decided she better forge on now she had come this far. “Axia told me something disturbing about what happened last year with Bronwyn.”
“More disturbing than you being killed?”
Anne paused and it was enough to bring Katherine’s anxiety bubbling up to the surface. “Tell me!” She demanded.
Anne turned so she was facing Katherine, taking the older woman’s hands in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture. Yet Katherine’s eyes continued to search hers with a hint of desperation. Anne doubted her words would help assuage her fears but it was too late to go back now.
“You recall how I sacrificed my powers in order to come back from the other side?” Katherine simply nodded, it wasn’t as if either of them was likely to forget. “Well, it seems Axia and her friends decided I wasn’t allowed to do that. According to them I need those powers for some mission they have for me at some point in the future. So they made a deal on my behalf and without my knowledge to get my powers back, which is why I’ve been having those odd flashes the past few months. Eventually they will return in full.”
“And what was this deal?” asked Katherine slowly, having picked up on the crucial missing point.
Anne found her lips were suddenly dry. This was worse than having to hear it herself. She took a deep breath and then rushed through the rest of the explanation in one go. “I got my powers back in exchange for time from my life, meaning that I will age twice as fast as I would have done. For every year I live I will age two.”
Katherine just stared at her. Anne wondered for a minute if she’d said the words too quickly for the other woman to hear. Then slowly Katherine’s head started to shake. “How dare they.” The words were said with quiet venom. Anne almost felt scared on Axia’s behalf seeing the look in Katherine’s eyes.
Suddenly the older woman was on her feet. “Where do I find this Axia?”
Anne had to react quickly to get up too and block the way. “Katherine…”
The other woman didn’t seem to hear, still intent on her course. “I’ll bloody kill her!” she said as she tried to step round Anne.
“Katherine!” Pale
blue eyes finally fixed on Anne as if noticing she was in the way for the first
time. “Where exactly are you going? We’re in the middle of
Katherine thrust her hands on hips, determination sparking
in her eyes. “I’m going to give this
Axia a piece of my mind even if I have to search the whole of bloody
Anne raised a single eyebrow. “In your nightshirt?”
Katherine looked down at herself as if she had forgotten she was dressed in just a loose white shirt that fell to her thighs. “If I have to,” she stated indignantly though the urgency of the moment had been broken by the innate ridiculousness of the situation. Anne placed gentle hands on Katherine’s shoulders to calm things further.
“Katherine, though I appreciate the sentiment, there’s not a lot we can do about it now.”
Katherine frowned. “You seem oddly resigned to it, don’t you care? They’ve stolen your life from you!”
Anne guided her back down onto the bed on the floor. It felt a bit odd to be taking the role of the reasonable one for once, while Katherine seemed hell bent on running out and getting revenge. Then again after recent events when Katherine had thought her dead, she supposed she could understand the urge to protect her at any cost.
“Of course I care,” said Anne, “And I was incredibly angry when she told me. In fact I picked a fight with Tobias not long after. But that’s beside the point. I can’t change it now, and frankly I’m not going to waste time worrying about it, not when I might get killed by the Syndicate or anyone of a number of other enemies tomorrow.”
“Well, that’s looking on the brightside!” said Katherine sarcastically.
“You know what I mean. None of us knows what the future holds or how long we have. We just have to make the most of what time we do.” Anne reached out to stroke Katherine’s cheek with one hand. “And I want to make the most of my time with you.”
Katherine closed her eyes, savouring the touch. As Anne’s fingers trailed downwards she used them to draw the other woman’s chin forwards. Katherine let herself be guided into the tender kiss. When she pulled back Anne saw she was smiling.
“I suppose there is one other brightside,” noted Katherine.
“Oh yes?”
“At least I can look forward to eventually being the younger woman!”
Anne couldn’t help laughing before Katherine continued.
“Though for now this older woman needs some sleep since we’ve got another early start tomorrow.”
Katherine lay back down and Anne automatically followed, wrapping her arms around the other woman from behind and tucking herself in close.
“Do you think we’ll manage to make it back to
“We can only hope and pray.”
………
It took another three days to make their way back to
The
It was nice to hear some English voices for once, a reminder that they weren’t far from home now. Not that Katherine couldn’t understand French, she was actually fluent in the language, but there was just something comforting about hearing her native tongue, even being used in the most inane conversation. Katherine glanced surreptitiously over to study the two English women who were sitting at a table near the bar. They seemed oddly familiar though Katherine couldn’t quite place them. They were fairly non-descript and she supposed she could have bumped into them in any number of places back home. Then again they were a fair way from Nottinghamshire and peasants didn’t usually travel far beyond their parish.
“I think he likes me, you know,” said the younger of the two.
“What the one with the wonky eye, or the one with the gammy leg?” The second one had a raspy voice as if she’d enjoyed just a few too many ales in her time.
“You’re just jealous because no one wants to talk to an old and bitter crone like you.”
“Yeah, right. What did they want then, to discuss your latest bardly masterpiece? What is it this time? Please tell me you’re not still pushing that one about the noble lady and the outlaw. I don’t want to get run out of town by the local priest again for your heretical works.”
The discussion stirred a faint thread of memory for Katherine, not least because of the supposed subject matter of the song. She rested her head on her hand, covering her face from the two women, just in case they recognised her.
“No, I’ve decided to save that one until we have a more…cosmopolitan audience. Mind you I couldn’t understand half of what they were saying. What’s a ‘putain’ anyway?”
The raspy voiced one immediately spat her drink all over the table. Katherine herself had to reign in a laugh.
“What is it?” asked the other one of her companion.
“Nothing, there was a fly in my drink.” She wiped her mouth. “Anyway, I think it means something like ‘beautiful woman’.”
The other one eyed her suspiciously. “You’re lying. If you know what it means, it’s got to be something disgusting.”
The raspy-voiced one was saved from having to translate the word by a third woman barrelling up to the table, precariously balancing three mugs of ale which she quickly deposited. She was taller and younger than the other two and seemed excited by something.
“Do you know they have five different sorts of wheat based beer here? I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“Que voulez-vous?”
Katherine’s attention was drawn away by the bartender’s abrupt words.
“Bonsoir,” she said in return. She put on her best polite accent and flashed him a smile for good measure. “Je voudrais quelques chambers, s’il vous plait.”
He seemed immune to her attempt at charm as his expression veered between a disgusted sneer and indifference. Katherine wondered if her accent marked her out as English. Then again he was French so maybe the surly contempt was just his normal demeanour with everyone. She was glad when the bargaining was done with and she could get back to the table, sitting next to Anne so they could talk quietly amongst themselves while Nicholas regaled an unimpressed Tobias with another one of his colourful tales.
“You know something,” said Anne watching the men, “In a strange way I’ve enjoyed this trip.”
Katherine just stared at her. “Are you insane?”
A tiny smile curved at the corner of Anne’s mouth for a second before she turned to Katherine to continue. “I mean from the point of view that we’ve been able to spend our time together without fear of someone discovering my real identity. What’s going to happen when we get back to Nottinghamshire?”
“I don’t know,” said Katherine honestly, “I’ve not really thought about it.”
“No, I know,” said Anne with resigned understanding, “Of course you wouldn’t, it’s hardly of great importance what with everything else that’s been going on. It’s just something that occurred to me that’s all. Forget I mentioned it.”
“I will not forget you mentioned it. O
“And leave
“Maybe I want to?”
Anne merely regarded her with a disbelieving expression.
“Maybe
“Your differences to those other nobles are precisely why
you’re so good for
“Maybe just a bit too much,” suggested Katherine, “I’ve let far too many people pull the wool over my eyes recently. I’m just not sure I’m tough enough to run an estate.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I can’t think of anyone better suited. Maybe you are a bit too trusting and willing to look for the good in everyone, but better that than a hardened cynic. Don’t let the actions of a few twisted individuals put you off.”
“You spotted that Robert was up to no good.”
“Well, I didn’t want to say I told you so…anyway, I am a hardened cynic.”
“Now that lie I can spot. I know you’ve got a soft heart under that tough shell.”
“Shhh, you’ll spoil my reputation.”
“What are you two whispering about?”
The interloper was Nicholas who had obviously given up trying to goad a reaction out of Tobias.
“We’re just having a philosophical discussion,” said Katherine.
Nicholas’ bushy eyebrows knitted together. “Is that some sort of code?” A smile came across his bearded face as he tried to decipher what it might mean. “I bet you were actually talking about…you know…”
Katherine looked innocently back at him. “You know?”
“Don’t come that with me or I won’t be giving you any more of my cough-ee.”
Katherine held up her hands. “All right, all right, you caught us out, we were talking about ‘you know’. Now about that cough-ee…”
As Nicholas proceeded to tell her about his latest enhancements, Katherine could see Anne looking increasingly uncomfortable as more and more people came in from the street and the bar started to fill. She broke off from the banter with Nicholas to lean back over.
“Are you all right?”
“I just don’t like enclosed, busy spaces much.”
Katherine looked doubtfully round the room. “It’s not exactly heaving in here.” She knew Anne really wasn’t one for crowds. She’d grown up in the forest after all, where a crowd was a few squirrels nibbling their nuts. Yet the sparsity of the clientele that evening made her think that wasn’t the only reason for Anne’s unease.
“Do you still need someone to deliver that payment to the boatman?” asked Anne.
“Yes, but Tobias can go, or it can wait until morning,” said Katherine, “It looks like it’s about to tip down outside.”
“We don’t want to lose our passage,” reasoned Anne, “I’ll go now, I could do with some fresh air.”
Katherine was going to object, but she could sense Anne wanted some time alone for one reason or another. Better to let her have it in the reasonably safe surroundings of the foreign port. They could talk later when she got back.
“Are you going to be all right, wandering around in some
strange town after dark.” Katherine
realised the question sounded stupid given who Anne
was, but she couldn’t help herself, not after what had happened back in
Anne pulled her hood up over her head as she stood up, “Don’t worry, I know how to stay in the shadows.”
………
Anne had barely got to the end of the street before the heavens opened. The rain had been coming for days, it had only been a matter of time. The downpour drummed down on her head, trickling through her quickly soaked hood and down under the collar of her shirt. The quayside track had turned to a muddy quagmire, tugging at her boots as she trudged along. She considered that she would be glad to get out of France, for one reason and another.
There were few other people braving the summer storm, the odd person hurrying past on their way to shelter, head bowed and not giving her a second glance. At least here she was just another traveller, rather than an infamous outlaw. Though she would be happy to get home, she had to wonder what was waiting for her there. For the past fifteen years or so she’d been contented enough with her existence on the fringes of society. Now she was feeling more and more disconnected from that life. Yet she didn’t really fit in anywhere else either. How could she ever really be part of Katherine’s world after all? For a start they couldn’t even admit they knew one another openly, let alone that they were lovers. It had been exciting for a while – the secret known only to them, sneaking around, clandestine meetings – but now Anne wanted more.
That conundrum wasn’t the only thought troubling her that night. Her recent brush with death and Axia’s subsequent revelations had brought her own mortality into focus. In the past she’d not really considered it, taking a cavalier attitude to her life as an outlaw. Yet now she had so much more to lose and she found she feared death, as much evident by the repeated dreams where Kirby appeared and stabbed her again.
Anne was lost deep in her thoughts as she forged on along the harbour. Occasionally a wave would break against the wall and send up a fine salty spray to join the downpour from above. She continued on past several taverns, the French conversations from them echoing out over the dock. It was all unintelligible to Anne, so she was surprised when she caught an English voice among the overriding chatter.
“Please, I don’t have anything…”
“Chien anglais! Ou est ton argent?” [1]
Anne heard the telltale thump of a fist hitting flesh. Forgetting her own worries for a moment, she sought out the source of the altercation, quickly discovering it was an alley between two ramshackle buildings.
“I swear I don’t…”
There was another sickening crunch as one of the attacker’s feet connected with the Englishman who was already on the ground, surrounded by four other men. Automatically Anne went to draw her sword, before realising she had left it back at the inn. Still she knew she couldn’t stand by – four against one was hardly fair, especially when it was four Frenchmen against one English. With a surge of compatriotism Anne charged for the group.
The attackers were so focussed on their victim they didn’t see her until she barrelled into a couple of them, knocking them into the wall of the alley with her momentum. The remaining two uttered some French curse words and swung for her with chunky fists. Luckily for Anne they appeared to be inebriated and their lunges were clumsy and uncoordinated. She ducked under a flying limb and landed her own blow into a sagging gut. The man collapsed onto the flagstones and proceeded to throw up all over them. Definitely too much to drink, concluded Anne. His companion was dozy enough to slip on the multi-coloured vomit and Anne seized her chance to deliver a resounding upper cut that laid him out cold.
The other two had finally stumbled to their feet and one of them made a grab for her which she side-stepped straight into the other one. He latched onto her top and as she tried to pull away her hood slipped down revealing her blond hair.
“Sacre Bleu! C’est une femme!” [2]
Anne didn’t need to speak French to understand his surprised look. Fortunately his amazement gave her the opportunity to knee him smartly in the groin, further proving her feminine credentials. Few men would inflict such damage on another, but Anne wasn’t above fighting dirty, not if it meant winning. The last man seemed to sense he was on a hiding to nothing and helped up his moaning friend to stumble off towards the quayside.
Finally Anne was able to turn her attention to her downed countryman. The four Frenchmen had obviously picked on someone weaker than them – the poor man looked like he hadn’t eaten in weeks and his ragged clothes hung from his frame. His hair was matted with blood from a gash on his temple, the rest of it being dark brown like his eyes and overgrown beard. When he spoke she was surprised to find his accent was clear and crisp. Obviously at some point he had mixed with nobility, even if it had just been as a servant or in a similar capacity. “Thank you for your assistance,” he said as he attempted to get up.
Anne stepped in to offer a hand. “No problem, it was hardly a fair fight.”
Now it was his turn to be surprised. “You’re English?” He looked at her more like she was a talking sheep. She wondered how long it had been since he’d been home.
“Guilty as charged,” she confirmed.
“This is a night for surprises,” he said. Now he was on his feet he stood a few inches taller than her. He continued to brush himself down, though Anne thought it was hardly worth it given the state of his clothes. “Saved from a beating by a beautiful young English woman. You certainly know how to handle yourself.”
“I’ve picked up a few things here and there.”
He regarded her for a moment and she noticed the keenness in
his eyes for the first time. He held her
gaze unwaveringly. “A few things,” he
repeated with some amusement, indicating he was well aware it was more than
that. Yet he didn’t press. Any English person who was frequenting dark
alleys in
Anne felt an odd surge of compassion for the man. Perhaps it was the bond of nationality in the foreign land. “I could buy you one, perhaps something to eat?”
“It’s very kind of you, but…I have somewhere to be.” Anne sensed he was tempted by the regret in his tone. He extended his right hand. “Thank you anyway.” Anne took it and found her hand being gripped by a firm handshake. “Au revoir, as they say here,” he added in parting.
And with that he was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the night. Anne stepped round the pool of vomit and the two unconscious men and started back on her course for the docks.
………
Katherine climbed the stairs of the inn with Anne’s words from earlier still fresh in her mind. She hadn’t thought much about the future recently, having been so consumed with the pursuit of the Ares weapon and satisfying her father’s legacy. Yet there would be a future, providing they did catch up with and stop Robert. She had to believe that was possible. The alternative didn’t bear contemplating.
What would that future hold? She and Anne had managed to engage in their clandestine relationship so far, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep it secret. Already several people at the manor knew, not to mention the more troublesome prospect of Lord and Lady Chesterfield’s knowledge. How long could they go on as they were, and more importantly, did she actually want to go on that way?
With a deep sigh, Katherine pushed open the door to their
room. She dumped her and Anne’s bags and
went to light the lamp with her candle.
It flickered in the draft from the open window and outside she could see
that the rain had set in for the evening.
Anne would be getting soaked she considered as she went to close the
window. A constant splattering resounded
up from the street below as the rain drops hit the mud. Katherine surveyed the rooftops of
A faint creek from the floorboards gave her scant warning she was not alone. Suddenly something wrapped round her throat, pulling tight. Katherine staggered backwards, crashing into whoever was trying to strangle her. Desperately she tried to get her fingers under the material constricting her airway.
“Ceci est
la pénalité pour votre opposition
au Syndicate Ares!” [3]
The rough French voice was right by her ear. Katherine gave a choking gasp, unable to
reply and realising she was running out of time. Already she was starting to feel
light-headed. Summoning her strength,
she put all her effort into shoving her attacker backwards. They stumbled across the room, upending the
furniture until they whacked into the wall.
Still he held tight. Katherine
was starting to feel dizzy, pin pricks stabbing at her eyes.
“Meurt, salope!” [4]
She could feel his hot breath by her ear again. Suddenly Katherine threw her head forward and
then snapped it back. There was a
satisfying crack as her skull hit his nose.
Immediately he let go and she got the chance to push away from him,
taking in grateful gulps of air. She
turned to see he was clutching his nose as blood poured from it.
“Vous m’avez casséz le nez!” [5]
Katherine thought that much was evident. “Excusez-moi, c'était
maladroit de ma part,” she said without remorse. [6] Her
eyes darted round the room, landing on the sword amongst Anne’s things. Thank god she had left it behind. Katherine dove for it, snatching it up before
the man could react. He attempted to
grab for her and she made a warning swipe with the weapon, showing him she knew
how to use it in case he thought it a bluff.
He took a couple of steps back.
“Vous pouvez dire a vos maîtres, que nous les arrêterons!”
she stated.[7]
Not giving up that easily, he darted for her, but she
dodged and slashed into his side. He
cried out, now clutching that wound rather than his damaged nose. Katherine resolutely held the sword up
again. She hoped he gave up soon; she
didn’t really want to use deadly force.
Despite everything she had still only ever killed one person and that had
been self-defence. Even now Will
Scarlett haunted her dreams on occasion with his accusing eyes. Thankfully her mettle wasn’t further tested
this time. Deciding he’d had enough the
man gave her one last sneer as if she wasn’t worth the effort anyway and ran
for the window, vaulting out it to plop into the mud below.
Now she was on her own, Katherine realised her hand was
shaking where she held the sword out-stretched.
Her adrenaline fuelled heart thumped hard in her chest and she had to
take a few calming breaths. Would she
ever get used to this?
…………
The first thing Anne saw as she pushed open the door to the room was half their belongings scattered over the floor. The second was Katherine, gulping eagerly at a mug of something that Anne didn’t think was Nicholas’ cough-ee. The anxiety of knowing something was amiss flared instantly.
“What happened?”
Katherine put the mug down before answering. Anne could see her hand was shaking. “Just a visit from one of our Syndicate friends.”
“What? Are you all right? What happened? Where are they?” Her barrage of questions was accompanied by her dashing to the window as if she could catch the person responsible somehow.
“He ran off after I persuaded him it wasn’t a good idea to threaten me,” said Katherine, “With a little help from your sword.”
“Then I’m glad I left it.” Anne came back to sit on the bed next to Katherine. “Are you sure you’re all right though?” To make her point she took Katherine’s trembling hands.
Katherine tried a reassuring smile as she squeezed Anne’s fingers. “Yes, I’m fine, just a little shaken.” She picked up the mug and took another fortifying gulp of her drink. “No matter how many scrapes we get into, this sort of thing still manages to shock me. You think I’d be used to it by now.”
Anne caught Katherine’s hand before the mug met her lips again. She eased it from her grasp and placed it down on the table.
“Don’t ever become used to it.”
Anne held the other woman’s gaze. Blue eyes fixed on hers. There were no words just a silent exchange of mutual understanding of what they’d been through the last few weeks.
Then suddenly Katherine’s lips were on hers, hot, searching. Anne fell back on the bed as Katherine’s momentum carried them down. She could taste the faint blush of alcohol on Katherine’s lips as they captured her own with searing intensity. At the same time Katherine’s hands were urgently roving over her body, trying to push aside clothes to find skin beneath. Anne felt the corresponding rush through her own body at Katherine’s passion-fuelled actions. Her fingers tangled in Katherine’s hair, pulling her close so Anne could return the kiss with equal fervor. Katherine’s urgency seemed to be infectious, enflaming her own desire. For a moment she was lost to the kiss, caught up in the whirl of passion.
Eventually Katherine seemed to gain some control of her wanton urges and pushed herself up off Anne, her face hovering so close that the tips of her hair brushed against Anne’s cheeks. Her breathing was coming in panting gaps, her words husky between them.
“Don’t ever leave me again.”
Anne had no intention of, and seeing the look of unadulterated lust on Katherine’s face only confirmed as much. “I won’t.”
Katherine’s lips curved up at one corner into the adorable half smile Anne loved so much. Her insides did a tiny flip. When Katherine lowered herself to bring those lips to hers once more her insides started doing cartwheels. It seemed like it had been so long since they had been together like this, a lifetime ago in a way.
A thigh slipped between her legs, pushing, rubbing. Anne found her body automatically responding, her hips gyrating her pelvis against it. Katherine was practically tearing at her clothes now, and Anne barely managed to get her top off before her breast was covered by hot lips. She gasped at the contact, her nipple stiff between Katherine’s teeth.
Anne tugged at Katherine’s own shirt, somehow managing to yank it up over her head. The rest of Katherine’s clothes remained elusive and Anne could only watch as ruffled auburn hair tracked down her body following the trail of Katherine’s lips as they explored the smooth skin of her abdomen. Katherine’s tongue circled her belly button before tickling across her hip in an erotic dance. Still Katherine kept moving lower.
She gripped the cord that tied Anne’s trousers between her teeth and started to tease it open. After the initial rush of passion she seemed to have gained some semblance of dominance over her heated emotions. She was deliberately taking her time now. Anne on the other hand was still in the grip of the initial fire, the ardour flowing through her and willing Katherine to just rip the trousers off and take her. Katherine knew as much too, which was why she was taking such delight in making the young woman wait.
Slowly she undid the cord and then started easing down the black material, stopping every inch or so to kiss the fresh skin that had been exposed. Each time she did Anne let out another gasp. She hoped the French built their inns with thick walls. Eventually when Katherine had reached her knees and was dangling half off the bed, she tugged the trousers the rest of the way off and let them plop on the floor.
Katherine started slowly back up her body, swirling her tongue in small circles up the inside of Anne’s thigh. As she edged closer and closer with agonising slowness, Anne let out a long, plaintive groan. Her fingers tangled in the bed clothes. When Katherine finally flicked her tongue across her clitoris Anne practically ripped them from the bed. She was so close that she had to try and hold it back. She didn’t want it to be over yet. Katherine seemed to sense she was on the verge too and dipped lower instead, her tongue sliding inside Anne. The young woman groaned again as Katherine continued to tease her. She lost track of how long the other woman toyed with her, dipping her tongue in and out, occasionally moving up to give a brief flick over her clitoris but never enough so that she came. She was just always on the edge of the precipice but never quite falling over.
Anne’s hips started to thrust automatically in rhythm with Katherine’s tongue, the young woman becoming desperate to be consumed now. In fact she wasn’t above begging.
“Oh god, Katherine, please…”
Suddenly the tongue was on her clitoris, flicking rapidly across it. Anne’s head tipped back, her back arched and she let out a scream into the French night as the orgasm ripped through her.
For a moment she couldn’t move, all she could do was lay there gazing up at the roof. Her mind was everywhere and nowhere. Slowly her senses returned and with them the urge to return what had been given. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, facing Katherine who had simply been watching her lying there panting the whole time. Katherine was topless, but still had her trousers on, an oversight that Anne was keen on remedying as quickly as possible. Katherine gave her a knowing grin as she saw the way Anne’s eyes were tracking over her body with obvious desire.
“You know you’re lucky no one came to check we weren’t being murdered in our bed with that outburst!”
Anne inched closer across the disarrayed bed. “Well let’s see how quiet you can be.”
To make her point she reached out to caress the soft flesh of Katherine’s exposed breasts. Katherine gasped as her fingers brushed the skin, tentative at first. Her nipples stiffened immediately and Anne moved closer to cup both breasts, brushing her thumbs over the erect flesh. She could feel the heat rising again within her and she had to be careful to keep her movements slow and tantalising. She leaned just that bit closer so her lips were almost touching Katherine’s but not quite. She could see Katherine’s lips parting subconsciously in response to her nearness, inviting her to close the last small distance. Anne deliberately held back, whispering something with quiet authority instead.
“Take your trousers off.”
Katherine swallowed hard and did as instructed, whipping them off and kicking them onto the floor with the rest of the clothes. Now they were both naked, Anne gently teased Katherine’s legs apart, wiggling herself into position in between them so she was sitting opposite the other woman with Katherine’s legs up over her thighs. They sat there for a moment, just studying one another. Anne could feel her heart hammering with such intensity it was almost painful. When she did go to move her hand she found her fingers were trembling and she had to consciously still them before she stroked them over Katherine’s cheek and into the hair behind her ear. Katherine leant into the touch. A small sigh escaped Katherine’s lips and suddenly the fire surged up within Anne and overcame her. She pushed forwards, lips locking onto Katherine’s, her hands roving over the other woman’s back, exploring, urgent.
They quickly found their way down onto Katherine’s thighs and between them. All the time their tongues were tangling, sliping across teeth and lips in a frantic, overwhelming kiss. It was only broken when Anne slipped two fingers inside Katherine. The other woman gasped into her mouth before her head tipped back. Not one to pass up an invite, Anne leant forward to kiss Katherine’s chest. She traced a trail of soft caresses across the smooth skin until she reached a nipple that she drew into her mouth, swirling it round on her tongue. She felt the corresponding tightening against her fingers in response.
Bracing Katherine with her left hand on the other woman’s back, Anne slowly drew the fingers of her right hand out before delving back inside the wetness. She was slow and deliberate at first, feeling every small shudder and tremble from the other woman as she moved her fingers. However, watching Katherine gasping up to the heavens each time she touched a sensitive spot soon became too much to bear. Anne found herself naturally increasing her pace of her movements.
Katherine’s fingers dug into her shoulders, the nails breaking the skin. Anne bit her lip and held on tight with her free hand as Katherine’s whole body stiffened. She held it for the briefest of moments and then suddenly Anne felt the surge of wetness over her fingers and hand. She gasped at the sensation as Katherine collapsed against her, shaking and breathing hard. Anne eased her fingers free and guided them both down into a lying position. Katherine snuggled up close to her, draping an arm lazily across Anne’s stomach. Anne let out a contented sigh as she stared up at the ceiling listening to the sounds of the rain pattering down outside.
“Do you think we could get some room service?” she wondered out loud.
Katherine let out a small laugh. It tickled the skin of Anne’s neck. “Did you speak to that barman downstairs?” asked Katherine though her tone suggested she already knew Anne hadn’t.
“No, but I could try if you like?” replied Anne playfully, “I’ve picked up a couple of words while we’ve been here. Let’s see…” Anne cleared her throat and put on the most exaggerated French accent she could muster as she spoke some random words she’d heard. “Je suis le fletan froid fessee et le ecuriel course.”
Katherine looked doubtful. “You want him to spank you with a cold halibut while stroking a squirrel?”
Anne grimaced. “I guess I need a bit more practice,” she admitted, “Maybe you could teach me?”
Katherine’s
mouth was by her ear before she realised.
“Je veux te
faire l‘amour toute la
nuit.” [8]
Anne shivered with anticipation at the sultry words whispered so softly. Her head fell to the side, seeing the pale blue grey eyes regarding her intently across the pillow. “Yes.”
Katherine smiled. “Do you even know what I just asked?”
“No, but whatever it was – yes!”
For all she knew Katherine could have been asking her to clean out the latrines. It would have sounded sexy either way. As Katherine’s lips met hers she guessed she was lucky it seemed the words were less to do with scrubbing tasks and more to do with sensual ones.
……….
Come the next day Anne wished her senses had left her. In fact she wished she was completely
unconscious rather than have to endure the rough seas of the Channel. Her stomach clenched for the umpteenth time
and she had to put her hand to her mouth, afraid of losing what little food was
left inside it. As soon as she’d seen
the churning sea that morning, she’d known she was in for a painful crossing
back to
“Is it even worth me asking how you’re feeling?”
Anne didn’t dare open her mouth to reply, afraid that words wouldn’t be the only thing passing her lips. She simply looked pathetically at Katherine. The other woman appeared to be about the only person unaffected by the rocking. Anne supposed she shouldn’t be surprised; Katherine did have the constitution of a belligerent ox. The sounds of retching and vomiting echoed round the cramped quarters below deck. It was too much.
“I…have…to…go…outside!”
Anne quickly clamped her fingers back over her mouth and dashed for the stairs. As she staggered out onto the deck she leant heavily on the side. The sky was grey and a smattering of rain joined with the spray from the sea as the waves crashed against the boat. She had to hold on to the wood as the deck tilted, her boots slipping slightly on the soaked planks. As it tipped back the other way she couldn’t hold back any longer and she vomited spectacularly over the side. As she straightened up she vaguely registered another person approaching through the squall of the storm. She didn’t have time to see who it was before something hard whacked into the side of her head. It catapulted her skull into the side of the boat and she was unconscious before she hit the deck.
………..
Katherine clung to the ropes affixed to the wall as she attempted to climb the stairs to the deck. If anything the storm was getting worse. Sat below decks she had become increasingly worried over the time Anne was taking up top. She would have asked one of the other to come with her if any of them had been in a fit state. Her anxiety flared stronger as she finally took the last step and saw an empty deck stretching out before her. The rain whipped across it, drilling the rain into her eyes. She could barely see as she continued to look frantically around.
“Anne!” she called out into the storm. She peeled the damp hair from her face to get a better look, but there was still no sign of the younger woman or anyone else for that matter. That in itself was strange. Surely there should be some crew up on deck even in the battering storm?
Katherine slipped and slid out across the deck to the side. Could Anne have fallen overboard?
“Looking for someone?”
The voice was behind her, but she didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Given their recent troubles she had come prepared and her hand found its way onto the hilt of the sword at her side. Slowly she turned, having to look up to the raised platform at the stern of the ship to see Charles Kirby’s grinning face. It wasn’t that she was concerned with though. She was far more worried by the sight of Anne standing next to him with her hands bound behind her back and a rope dangling about her neck. The noose was slack for now, but Katherine could see exactly what Kirby’s intentions were as she followed the line of the rope to where it was attached to one of the beams of the mast.
“What do you want, Kirby?” she shouted, trying to buy some time as she moved closer. “You already have the weapon.”
“No, Robert has it,” he corrected, not sounding best pleased by that fact, “He left me behind to make sure you two didn’t follow.”
“Left with the menial task while he goes off to get all the glory?” She couldn’t resist the dig.
“On the contrary, I was quite happy to stay behind if it meant getting to kill you two.”
Katherine realised there was little chance of talking him out of anything and quickened her pace as she edged up the steps to his level. She could only hope he blustered for as long as possible.
“I couldn’t decide who should get to watch who go first though,” he continued, “Luckily your little friend made the decision for me, helpfully stumbling up here on her own.”
“You’re just lucky I was too sick to fight back!” said Anne, still obstinate despite looking pale and drawn.
Kirby ignored her and pulled the noose tighter, looking to Katherine who was only feet away now. “Time to say goodbye!”
With that he gave Anne a shove, sending her flying off the platform. Immediately the rope pulled taut leaving her suspended several feet above the deck as she gagged and gasped for air. Katherine felt her own throat constrict as she watched helplessly. Kirby was laughing as he secured the other end of the rope to a mooring on the side of the boat. Katherine knew her only hope was to undo that rope and let Anne down quickly. It was blind fortune that she hadn’t broken her neck instantly as it was.
Katherine’s sword clattered into Kirby’s as he got it up in
defence. They traded blows a few times
as she desperately tried to get past him to the rope. All the time she could see Anne still
dangling there. Her eyes were starting
to droop, the movement in her legs starting to still. With renewed determination Katherine hacked
at Kirby again. She was fortunate that
the rocking boat and the fact that he was fighting one handed evened up the
odds. His left hand was covered in a
thick bandage, a remnant of where Anne had stabbed him back in
Staggering back a couple of steps with the latest tilt of the boat she reassessed her tactics. Forget the sword, she just needed him out the way. She waited until the boat went up over another crest and as it plunged down the other side she ran with the slope. Kirby was caught off guard as she crashed bodily into him. His feet slipped on the wet planks of the platform and then he tumbled to the deck below. Katherine only just about held back from going over herself, her feet slithering to a halt inches from the edge. Not waiting to see what Kirby was up to, she dashed for the rope, taking a huge swing and bringing her sword down on it. She almost lost her grip as it bounced off the soaked rope, barely making a mark. Another wave crashed over the side, drenching her and the rope further.
Her eyes darted to Anne. She wasn’t moving. Not again! Katherine gripped her sword and battered the rope repeatedly, each blow more fierce than the one before. It was starting to fray at last. In her peripheral vision she could see Kirby was coming up the steps, being tossed from side to side as he staggered towards her gripping his sword. She tightened her hold and swung one last time. There was a twang as the rope finally snapped.
Katherine ducked under Kirby’s impending strike and flung herself off the platform. She rolled up onto her feet and ran for Anne who was now lying slumped on the deck. Katherine’s heart was in her mouth as she knelt down by her side, brushing the sopping hair from the young woman’s face and loosening the rope from her neck. She was almost afraid to touch a finger to the raw, chaffed skin in search of the heartbeat under it. When she did put trembling fingers to the scarily pale flesh she almost cried out in relief. She didn’t have long to thank the lord that Anne was alive as she heard the incoming slap of Kirby’s boots on the wet deck.
Katherine took one last look at the young woman who appeared so vulnerable just lying there. Katherine’s heart clutched in her chest. She held the swell of emotion close, drawing on it and letting her anger at what Kirby had nearly accomplished surge up to fuel it. Standing up she faced her nemesis head on. The wind and rain drove at her but she stood rigid, sword at the ready.
“Looks like I’ll have to do it the old fashioned way then!” he cried as he swung for her.
Katherine met the swipe with a strength belying her smaller stature. The clang of the two swords smashing into one another reverberated right up her arms. At least the unstable deck gave her a chance against the much bigger man. Both of them found it hard to keep their feet as they slipped and slithered across the planks, trading blows.
“I don’t know why you continue to fight, you can’t beat the Syndicate,” shouted Kirby against the howling wind. “It’s hopeless, give up!”
Katherine gripped her sword tight as the rain trickled between her fingers. “It’s never hopeless, not while I have breath in my body to defy you.”
Kirby dodged back a couple of steps. “You know your father said something very similar, right before he died.”
An icy dagger hit Katherine’s heart. She paused, sword hovering defensively before her. “What are you talking about?” She could see he was grinning at having hit a nerve. She hardly wanted to give him the satisfaction of a reaction, but at the same time couldn’t resist asking, just in case there was something to it. “What do you know about my father’s death?”
Kirby laughed, mocking her. Katherine slashed at him but he easily rocked out of the way and carried on taunting her with his laughter.
“Shut up!” Katherine swung wildly again. “Tell me!”
Kirby managed to parry as she attempted another blow. She staggered into him as the boat tipped. Their swords locked together between them. Katherine was close enough to see the individual raindrops tracking over the tattoo on Kirby’s brow.
“You want to know about your father’s death?” His breath was hot over the chilling rain on her face. “I thought everyone knew he died of a common fever?” She could see he was enjoying tormenting her. She fought back the urge to untangle her sword and stick it in his gut, though god knew he was giving her enough provocation. She had to hear him out first.
He leant in closer. “It’s amazing what people will believe if it comes from a reliable source,” he said, “But you want to know what really happened?” The storm seemed far away now, the crashing of the waves a dull thump in the distance as she waited for his words. She held her breath.
Kirby gave one more nasty smile before delivering his statement with what sounded like pride. “Robert killed him…and then I killed your mother.”
Katherine could only stare at him. He was lying, he had to be lying. Yet somehow she knew he wasn’t. The dreadful, mocking expression on his face told her it was only too painfully true. He started to laugh at her incredulity and she felt an odd twisting sensation in her stomach. It gripped at her insides, wrenching and pulling them in a knot of pain.
“Bastard!”
Kirby was too shocked at her sudden lunge to defend himself. Katherine’s sword pierced the flesh of his right shoulder, driving in hard. Kirby screamed in pain. Katherine was glad to hear it. She pulled her sword back out, seeing the blush of crimson on the blade. She wanted to see more. Kirby desperately tried to defend himself against the enraged woman, staggering backwards under the ferocity of her attempted attacks until he was up against the side of the ship.
Suddenly the boat reared over a huge wave. Katherine was thrown backwards, landing heavily on the deck. Kirby managed to cling to the side, but then the boat lurched back in the other direction. Already off balance, Kirby was catapulted over the edge. Katherine clambered to her feet and stumbled to the side, taking care that she didn’t follow him. As she peered over the edge she was surprised to find Kirby was clinging onto the side of the ship with his one good hand. The waves crashed mercilessly against him and she could see he was starting to lose his grip. His eyes shot up to her.
“Katherine, please…”
She hesitated. His eyes held her gaze in a beseeching look.
“…please, help me.”
It would be so easy to just let him go. She didn’t even have to do anything, just watch for a moment. Yet she couldn’t do it. As much as she hated herself, she just couldn’t watch him die. She went to reach for him just as another massive wave hit. It knocked her off her feet as it swamped the deck. She spat the salt water from her mouth and pulled herself back up. Kirby had better thank her for this! Only when she looked over the side she discovered he was gone. Her eyes scanned the churning, murky waters but there was no sign of him. It was too late; he was lost to the sea. Katherine felt an odd mix of regret, remorse and pleasure. She wasn’t sure she should be feeling the last, but she couldn’t help being just that bit glad. Not after all he had put them through. Not after what he claimed to have done. Now he was gone she had no way of determining if he was telling the truth or not. At least not on her own. There was one other person who could confirm what he had said – Robert. It was just one more reason to find him.
……….
The August sun was hot on Anne’s head as it poked its way
through the lush tree cover up above.
She turned her face upwards, basking in the feel of it on her skin
before another leafy shadow fell across her.
It was good to be back home. She could almost feel the familiarity of the
place in her bones as they trotted through
Anne wondered if everyone else was quite as glad, given the
circumstances of their return. Glancing
to her side she could see the faraway look in Katherine’s eyes. The other woman was absently staring off at
the trees that lined the forest track.
It was a look Anne had gotten used to seeing the past week or so and one
that troubled her more and more. Ever
since Kirby had come out with his revelation back on the boat from
That course hadn’t been faring well. They hadn’t been able to pick up the other man’s trail back in England, but knowing he needed Prince John’s crown to link with the one he already possessed they had gone to Windsor, hoping to beat Robert to it. Only they had discovered the Prince was away, visiting the Sheriff of Nottingham of all people. So they had set a course for home and galloped at top speed for seven days, only stopping to eat and sleep. Now they were finally back in their home county, they could only hope they had reached it before Robert.
Throughout the journey Katherine had veered between fierce determination and brooding distraction. The former was driven by her desire to protect Prince John and with him quite possibly the lives of many others. She also had the added incentive of catching up with Robert to discover what he knew about the circumstances of her father’s death. The fresh uncertainty surrounding that was the primary cause of the second of her predominant moods. Though she had never known Katherine back then, nor met her father, Anne knew enough to know that his death had been hard for her. Now to find out he may well have been murdered by someone they had trusted was difficult to bear. In a way Anne hoped Kirby had been lying. Either way Anne would be there for Katherine, just as the other woman had been there for her time and time again. Most recently Anne knew that without Katherine’s intervention on the storm lashed boat, Kirby would have finally succeeded in killing her. As it was he was the one who had met his end, though more by a twist of fate than anything else. Anne felt a small pang of regret she hadn’t been the one to dispatch him. It seemed too easy a death – drowned at sea – after all the pain and heartache he had caused them.
“Whoever it is you’re thinking about should be scared.”
Anne looked to her side to see Beatrice on the horse beside hers. Her first thought was that Beatrice would know a thing or two about scaring people with looks if the ones she’d been shooting Thomas with were anything to go by. For once Anne didn’t speak her mind though, deciding that Beatrice didn’t need to be reminded unduly of her treacherous former sweetheart. It was bad enough that he was still journeying with them. “He can’t be scared, he’s dead,” she said instead.
“Now that’s a way to solve a problem,” noted Beatrice a bit too eagerly for Anne’s liking.
Not that Anne would personally mind if Thomas met a sudden and unexpected end, but she thought Katherine was fond of him considering she had given him a second chance despite his betrayal. It was like he was an errant child that she was determined to rehabilitate.
“Though a bit too quick,” said Anne trying to steer the conversation away from murder.
“Ah, good point, they should suffer…”
Anne could see the malevolent look on young maid’s face as she obviously pondered ways in which to achieve that. Anne tried another tack. “You could say guilt is punishment enough in some cases.”
Beatrice just stared at her. “You don’t believe that! You tried to kill him yourself!”
“In the heat of the moment,” allowed Anne, “But sometimes to be able to forgive is the greater and more rewarding thing.”
“That’s her ladyship talking, not you.”
Anne couldn’t deny it. “Maybe, but she has a point.”
Beatrice gave a dismissive snort. “The only point I’m interested in is the one on the end of a dagger that I might insert in that weasel.”
Anne would have attempted to continue on her dissuasive course, but she noticed Tobias and Katherine had stopped up ahead and were scanning the trees.
…………….
“What is it?”
Katherine turned to Anne who had approached from behind. “Tobias thinks someone’s following us.”
At least being followed gave Katherine something to think about other than her father’s fate. She unhooked the bow from her saddle, sighting it along the trees. There was a movement in her peripheral vision and she latched onto it in a shot. She stared at the spot, waiting for further evidence. A branch twitched. Her fingers tensed. A flash of green moved behind the bush. Katherine fingers started to ease off the string just as a hand knocked her bow.
“Wait!”
The arrow shot chaotically from the bow. Luckily it sailed harmlessly upwards, burying itself in the leafy canopy. Katherine looked at Anne in bemusement.
“What did you stop me for?”
“They’re friendly.”
“How do you…” Katherine didn’t need to finish her sentence, realising exactly how Anne had known. The forest had “told” her. Katherine still didn’t quite understand what that meant, though she was pretty sure it didn’t involve the trees somehow whispering the actual words in her ear.
Further proof came when several figures appeared out of the undergrowth carrying bows and dressed in camouflaged shades of green and brown. Anne immediately leapt off her horse and ran over, giving the man at the head of the group a warm hug. It was the most emotive Katherine had ever seen her apart from when they were alone. Eventually Anne released him and they came towards Katherine who hopped down to meet them.
“Robin,” she greeted with a nod in the outlaw’s direction.
“M’lady,” he said formally in reply. “It is good to see you’ve returned safely to these shores, though I do wonder where it is you’re now heading.”
Katherine thought the question odd considering the road they
were on only had one destination. “We’re
going to
“Are you going to give yourself up?”
Katherine’s brow creased in confusion. “I beg your pardon?”
“To surrender to the Sheriff,” he outlined further. Seeing the continued look of incomprehension on Katherine’s face he carried on. “You’re wanted, for…” Robin paused to glance at one of the other outlaws. “…What was it again?” The man handed him a piece of parchment from which Robin read. “Crimes against the church and King. Quite a price there is too.”
“Let me see that!” Katherine snatched it off him needing to see it for herself to believe it. The Sheriff’s proclamation went on to detail Katherine’s crimes of consorting with outlaws and partaking in heretical activities, finishing up with details of how she would be tried and executed for those crimes.
Anne was looking over her shoulder. “Lord and Lady Chesterfield must have told the Sheriff about us,” she deduced.
“It would appear so,” said Katherine grimly. She looked to Robin. “And
“It’s been seized by the Sheriff,” he replied, “The manor
and all its lands are part of the larger
Katherine rubbed at her pounding temple. “I can’t believe this, not now.”
“In fact I would suggest we get off the road, unless you fancy being arrested by one of the Sheriff’s patrols.”
Katherine conceded the point, allowing Robin to lead them to
a safe encampment not far into the forest.
On the short walk Katherine’s mind raced over what they had learnt. Not that she had time to worry about her
estate, title or reputation. The only
thing that really concerned her was what would be happening to the people of
“Do you always watch that road?” she asked him.
“For the most part.”
“Have you seen another noble come this way in the last few
days? Lord Robert of
“I know who he is,” interrupted Robin with an edge of disdain in his voice. Had everyone known of Robert’s true nature apart from her, wondered Katherine. Robin continued. “He travelled this road yesterday.”
Katherine sucked in a breath, almost afraid to ask the next question. “And Prince John…?”
“Prince John?”
“Has he been on that road to
“No.”
Katherine breathed a sigh of relief, at least they still had time.