Free Arrow To The Heart (De Bron Saga) by Katherine Vickery Page A

Loudly she ordered  Marian's servant, "go after your mistress.  Tell her to come back, that I am a friend!"             
    Fumbling with his own weapons , the knight showed his outrage. "What goes on here?"             
    "A rescue, I would call it,"  Rowena retorted as she recalled how easy it had been to best the prince's hired kidnapper.  A blow to his head, a length of rope to bind his hands and feet.  Leaving the fool in naught but his under tunic , she had stolen his garments and taken his place.  She had waited for the right moment.  Now she congratulated herself that all had gone very smoothly.   She had but to make certain that Maid Marian would reach her estates safely and then her mission would be at an end.             
    "Rescue?"  The knight tried to scrutinize Rowena but she hastily turned her head.   He took a step closer, halting when she gave him silent warning.  "What kind of fool has John sent me?  A traitor to be certain."              
    "I am not a traitor."   Her voice was husky for a woman's, yet she sought to lower it even more, a ploy she had used long ago when acting like a lad.  The knight seemed no wiser. "But you are."              
    "You dare.....!"  The knight reacted in anger, moving forward with deadly intent, but his vengeance was thwarted as the archer pulled back tautly on the bow.             
    "Aye, I do dare!  Toss down your sword and get down off your horse,"  Rowena ordered.              
    "No!"  The knight responded stubbornly, enraged to be outwitted by a mere yeoman. He grumbled beneath his breath that he had not wanted this foolish, traitorous mission in the first place.               
    Rowena gave him a warning look, pulling tighter on the string.  "I will shoot you.  Don't be so foolish as to test me," she warned.  "Throw down your weapons and dismount."              
    Perhaps it was the look in her eyes which warned the knight not to trifle here , for after but a brief show of defiance he complied with her demand.             
    Giving the horse a slap on its hind quarters, Rowena sent the animal back towards the castle.  "That will slow you down a mite."  Ignoring the curses of the knight, who swore beneath his breath most foul ly, she ordered him to strip.  It was the same ploy she had used once before on a dark-haired devil whose face she tried not to remember.  "I want your cloak, your tunic, everything but your inner tunic and boots."  She bowed mockingly. It had worked before.  She was certain she would be successful again.              
    "I would be the village idiot to do as you bid me," the knight growled.  "Take off my garments, indeed."  He stood with hands upon his hips in defiance.               
    An arrow whistled through the air, coming within inches of his ear. "You would be the village idiot not to as I say."  She reached for another arrow.
    Quickly the knight held up his hands in defeat.  "By our Lord, desist.  I will do as you ask.  Prince or not, he is not worth dying for."  Blushing furiously as he saw the figure of Maid Marian coming over the hill, the servant in tow, he none-the-less stripped.  "But I warn you.  I will avenge myself for this act one day!"             
    "You and several others...."  Rowena said beneath her breath.  She nodded her head sending the knight marching down the road.              
    Maid Mari an stood viewing the scene with confusion clearly marked upon her face.  One moment she was being abducted and the next moment she found herself looking after the retreating, half-naked form of her captor.  "Whoever you are, you are very brave," she complimented.  "Nearly as brave as another archer I know."
    Rowena lowered her voice.   "Thank you, my Lady." To be compared to Robin Hood was a compliment.    Rowena