Chapter 2

the Sword

I swiftly pulled up the board and put my dagger in the hidden sheath up my dress sleeve. Then continued to do my chores. Before I left the barn, I grabbed the bag of meat scraps. When I got to the house I heard whispering. Putting my ear to the door I listened.

"Robin why did you come?"

"Why do you think Malcolm, I have come for what you took from me." I heard a chair clatter to the ground. "Robin it is not yours it was my brothers!" I could tell my father was angry. "And my fathers." Shouted Robin. I stood up Robin was my cousin?

I was about to go in and demand what this was all about. When twenty of the sheriff's men rode into the clearing. "What is this?" I demanded trying to keep my voice from cracking.

The head man answered. "We have been sent by the sheriff, with the warrant for Malcolm Marigold." I stepped back in shock. "What for?" the sheriffs men got off their horses "no more questions. Move away from the door." I couldn't believe what I was hearing "I am the daughter of Malcolm Marigold." The head man smiled "in that case you are to be arrested to."

The men moved forward dropping the bag I drew my dagger. One of the men laughed "oh so the little maiden thinks she's a warrior." He pulled out a length of rope and moved forward. I lunged at him he grabbed my arm and started to tie my hands together, grabbing the dagger from my hand. The other men headed in the house.

Tears ran down my face. Why were they doing this we did nothing wrong. Then there were sounds of a struggle in the house. I couldn't see past the door. Then one of the men staggered out the door an arrow sticking out his shoulder.

The man who had tied me up threw me to the ground. A sheering pain went through my body. I could taste blood and dirt then everything went black.

I opened my eyes to see Emerald green eyes staring down at me. "Father?"

"No, it's me." A soft voice answered. I looked up to see Dan. "Where is my father?" I asked I could see Dan's frown growing. "Kathie the healers tried their best." I sat bolt upright and looked around. I was in me and Dan's old play bunker. "Kathie." Dan turned me to look at him. "The sheriff's men had a warrant to arrest him."

I couldn't help it I began to cry. "Why He did nothing wrong!" Dan looked at me. I could see the sadness in his eyes. "They said you and your father harbored a criminal. Tears flooded down my face Dan held me close. "it's ok." He murmured "it's ok." We stood there like that for a few minutes.

Then I looked up at him "Dan could you take me to my father?" he sat me down on the makeshift cot, I had been lying on. "I don't think you should quite yet."

"Why?" I demanded "Kathie they have a warrant for you to." I sat down again hard. "What for." I whispered Dan started to pace "they said that you tried to protect the outlaw, and your father murdered twenty of the sheriff's men."

I stood up "my father couldn't fight. He had no weapons in the house that I knew of." Dan shook his head. "When I got there your father was holding a bow, He also had a wound by his heart, He was lucky to survive the fight. All of the men had arrows sticking out of them."

Then it hit me. "What was the name of the Outlaw?" Dan looked at me quizzically "Robin Hood. Why?" I staggered back and tripped on the cot. Before I hit the floor Dan caught me. "Kathie are you alright?" I stood up "fine, I'm fine, have you buried my father?"

Dan looked at me. I could tell he was worried "yes next to your house."

I went towards the door "We must go there." Dan grabbed me "I can't go with you. But if you must go you might want these." He handed me my dagger and crown piece. "The meat was ruined." He told me.

I put my dagger in the secret holder and hugged Dan. "Thank You Dan. I will be back." He smiled "you better or I might just come after you." I headed out the door and toward my home.

It was dark and as I got closer I hid in the trees that surrounded the barn. I looked around, no one was there. So quietly I went in the barn. What I saw was horrible hay was every were floor boards had all been pulled up and the two saddles we had were ripped to pieces.

I went over to the horses stall. What I saw made me sick. I found my cloak and left the barn as fast as I could. I headed next, to my father's grave. When I got there I fell to my knees and wept everything I had was now lost.

I stood up and brushed the dirt off my dress. I needed to look around, before anyone decided to take another look around. I went into the house tears sprang to my eyes. Everything I had was destroyed. Plate fragments were littering the floor.

I went over to the keepsake box, to find the lock broken and top hanging opened. Nothing was left. I stood up my heart beating faster than before, how dare they come into my house, kill my father and steal my belongings!

I kicked the keepsake box.

To my surprise I heard a loud thump. Slowly I turned the box around to see a small crack running along the bottom of the box. I pulled my dagger out and stuck it in the crack and pulled. A compartment opened in it was a sword.