Marian cinched the girth on Sky's saddle just as the sun finished cresting the horizon. Sky stomped her back foot and snorted. Are we ready yet?
Marian smiled. She could feel the energy in the morning air, too; just a little taste of the end of summer. But for the first time in a while she felt unburdened. She felt free.
"Almost, girl. Then what do you say we leave these boys in the dust for a little bit?"
Sky tossed her head in agreement and Marian laughed.
"What are you two conspiring about now?" Will asked, leading Tug up next to them. The last of their saddlebags were packed and the campsite looked as if it had never existed. Marian raised her eyebrows innocently, then swung into Sky's saddle.
"We've been on the road four weeks, what could we possibly conspire about?" She said pointedly.
Will pursed his lips and eyed her suspiciously, then he followed suit and soon they were both settled on their ponies. Before Tug took a step, Marian spurred Sky to a gallop. "See you in a bit!" she called, racing away.
Tug snorted, almost as if he was laughing. Will sighed and nudged Tug into a steady walk.
"Unless you want to chase after them?" Will asked. Tug flicked his tail and Will nodded. "I thought not."
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Marian whooped as her cloak streamed behind her. Sky was running so fast all Marian could think about was the wind stinging her cheeks and the thunder of hooves beneath her. If she closed her eyes, it felt like in only a few more moments they would by flying.
Eventually, breathless and in high spirits, she slowed Sky to a mild canter, then to a walk. Tug and Will were no longer in sight and open plains stretched before them. The wind rustled the dry grass, sounding a little like rain. Marian closed her eyes and breathed. When she opened them again, Sky had crested one of the gentle hills. She could see for miles and relished the feeling of being small, natural speck on the surface of the world.
As she scanned the horizon, Marian noticed a group of figures nestled on the side of the road around a campfire. Smoke curled into the morning air and the unrestrained laughter of children caught her ears. She kicked Sky forward and approached them at a trot. They looked up as Marian came into view and she raised her hand in greeting.
"Good morning," she said, pushing her hood back. "Easy journey?"
The family, a husband, wife and two daughters, froze as she spoke to them. The two parents exchanged worried glances and the children moved closer to their mother.
"Easy enough lady Ranger, thank you," the father said stiffly.
Marian frowned at their apprehension. It seemed different, somehow, from the usual reservation all Rangers faced from travelers on the road. "May I ask where you are headed?"
Panic flashed across the wife's face. The two children looked between their parents, sensing something was wrong. The father angled his body between her and them. "Please, Ranger. We don't know anything. We're just trying to travel in peace."
"Sir, if you're in trouble…"
"No, no trouble," he cut her off. Marian noticed the woman tighten her grip on her husband's arm.
Will always said there were times when she should press and there were times when she should sit back. Something the man had said struck her as odd but she wasn't sure what it was, and he was too on edge for her to gather anything useful.
"Very well," she nodded. The relief that flickered through their eyes worried her. "I wish you safe travels."
She nudged Sky onward, the feeling of freedom from this morning hampered somewhat by the encounter. When she and Sky were out of view of the camped family they stopped. Maybe it was time to let Will catch up.
When Will and Tug finally found them, Marian was dozing against Sky's legs. Then Sky nudged her awake and she was on her feet, facing Will's teasing grin. "Long day?"
"You were so slow, we got bored," she grinned. Will inclined his head.
"Well, we certainly can't have that. Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't get bored again anytime soon." Marian groaned good-naturedly. She should have realized that getting caught dozing was an excuse for him to give her even more work.
"Will," she said, settling into the saddle. Will looked at her, his eyebrows raised in question.
"Did you pass a family back there? Camped by the side of the road?"
Will shook his head slowly, thinking. "No, but I did pass a campsite. It looked like whoever was there left in a hurry. Why do you ask?"
Marian wove the reins between her fingers. "I'm not sure. I passed the family that was camped there. They seemed almost scared of me."
"You know how many of local villagers feel about us," Will reassured her. The steady clop of their ponies' hooves provided a steady backdrop to their musings. "And with reports of all these raids we're investigating now, even the most pragmatic of people are bound to be a little wary."
Marian shook her head. "This was different."
"Alright," he nodded. "What do you think we should do?"
"I don't know." She sighed. "I don't even know what exactly is bothering me about. I'm sorry."
"There is nothing to be sorry about," Will said sternly. "A Ranger has to rely on her instincts and you have good ones. Listen to them." He reached across the space to pat her knee. "If you think we should do something we will. But I bet this is just a passing concern."
Marian nodded and vowed to put it out of her mind. They had enough to worry about right now without paranoia getting in the way. Will was right, it was probably nothing anyway.
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The Rangers led their ponies through the winding roads of the small city sprawled below Hogarth Keep. Will said they had to stop here on their journey through the fief to keep the Ranger assigned here, and by extension the lord, apprised of any information Will and Marian had gathered during their time on the road. It wasn't long after they left the Gathering that they came across multiple reports of raids, and empty villages to back those reports up. Marian thought it all seemed coordinated but Will wasn't convinced yet. He wanted to get another Ranger's insight and normally Marian would agree. The only problem is that the Ranger assigned to Hogarth fief was Antony.
But even the prospect of dealing with Ranger Antony couldn't dampen her excitement for a warm bath, the first real comfort she will have had in weeks.
Moving through the crowd was easier than expected. People tended to give anyone with a mottled cloak plenty of room. But this time Marian noticed their eyes linger. They whispered. The buzz that followed them felt angry.
"Will," she murmured, moving closer to her mentor. They were shielded on either side by Tug and Sky.
"I know." He surveyed the crowd around them, alert and, to Marian's keen eyes, on edge. "I feel it too."
"What do you think it is?" she asked.
He shook his head. Tug and Sky seemed to pick up on their concerns, moving closer to their masters and pricking their ears forward. "I don't know. But we need to find out." Will picked up the pace, making their way to the keep's gates more quickly than expected. They were admitted without any problems, though Marian thought she noticed some tension in the guards.
Marian gave Sky's reins to one of the stablehands. The pony butted her head against Marian's side. Don't leave.
"We have to, girl," Marian said, rubbing her forehead affectionately. "We won't be long. Just be good, okay?"
Sky nickered and allowed herself to be led away, though she seemed to throw one more reproving look over her withers on the way to the stable.
"Will."
Both Marian and Will turned around and saw Ranger Antony striding across the courtyard to greet them. He was in full uniform and his face was as impassive as ever. He didn't spare any glance for Marian.
"Antony," Will said, reaching out to shake the other Ranger's hand. "Didn't expect to see you so soon after the Gathering, but I thought we should make a stop on our way through. Has something happened in Hogarth? The town seemed a little on edge on our way here."
Antony paused, finally glancing over at Marian. "Please, follow me. Lord Godwin is waiting for you."
Marian would've snorted at his lack of answer if she had been alone and certain no one could hear her. But right now, she had to be on her best, most professional behavior. She trailed behind Will and Antony, taking in the simple and austere appearance of the keep. It wasn't built for looks, but for function. Lord Godwin had been one of the few unperturbed by Jeren's rebellion, knowing he had the means to withstand assault for a long while.
Antony led them to an upper level of the keep, stopping at a small office room. Lord Godwin was there, sitting across from a man whose back was to them. Godwin glanced up when they walked in and waved them closer. As Antony moved around the desk to stand next to Goodwin, a frown flickered across Will's face.
The man Godwin was talking to turned around in his chair and Marian paused for a just a moment. He was tall, heavily muscled and sported a full blonde beard. She met his stare and something tugged at her memory.
"Ranger Treaty, Apprentice Harwood. Welcome," Lord Godwin said, drawing Marian's attention away before the memory could come forward.
Will inclined his head. "Lord Godwin. Ranger Radlin here says you've been waiting for us?"
"Ah, yes," he said. "Can I offer you any refreshment? You've clearly been traveling in," he sniffed, eyeing the mud on their boots. "Less than ideal conditions."
Marian gave him a brittle smile but Will's hand settled on her shoulder before she could respond unwisely.
"Refreshments would be welcome," he said.
"It must be difficult, traveling for so long without any civilized lodging," Godwin said, addressing Marian directly. "It must take a toll, on both the mind and body."
She breathed through her nose before answering. "I manage," she said.
"Still," Godwin smiled as one of his pages brought in a tray of tea. Marian wondered if he purposely refused to serve coffee or just forgot. Marian knew the expense wasn't a problem for someone like Godwin. "I can't image any of my daughters having to endure such conditions."
"I'm sure they can endure more than you give them credit for," Marian said.
Godwin's smile faltered for a moment. Then it turned even more patronizing than before. "How optimistic of you. Well, I for, one, am grateful your theory has not been tested."
Oh, I'm sure it's been tested, Marian thought savagely. But she caught Will's warning look and held her tongue.
"Lord Godwin, Marian and I have been investigating reports of increased gang activity around the area," Will said, attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Has Hogarth suffered any attacks lately?"
"No, nothing of the sort. Though we have heard such rumors," Godwin said. "Everyone is perfectly safe here."
"Really? Do your people feel that way?" Marian asked. "It didn't seem like they did when we arrived."
Godwin smiled again, but this time it was more than simply patronizing. It was triumphant.
"It's funny you should ask that, my dear. It's not the gangs that has me and my people worried." He looked at Will. "Ranger Treaty, have you been aware of your apprentice's whereabouts these past few weeks?"
Will paused for a moment and Marian felt the first stirrings of apprehension. "Marian? She's been with me, of course. What is this about?" He directed that last question at Antony, but the other Ranger simply stood there, impassive.
Godwin tilted his head. "She may have been travelling with you. But has she been in your sight the entire time? At night?"
"At night we typically sleep," Will responded, his voice brittle. Godwin nodded, as if Will's response confirmed something for him.
"I was afraid of that. I don't blame you of course, Ranger Treaty. It was always a gamble, to have someone like her in the Corps. You never know when they can snap." Godwin reached behind him and pulled a cord. Marian couldn't see whether anything happened, but her hand drifted to her weapons belt anyway. "You see, I have been receiving reports of a female Ranger breaking into people's homes in the dead of night and attacking them, going so far as to torture them," he paused on the word 'torture,' his eyes boring into Marian. "All while searching for any information on someone called the Sheriff of Nottingham."
Marian froze. How could he know that name?
The door behind them slammed open and Marian turned, her brain scrambling to catch up. Her hand closed on her weapon but she wasn't fast enough. Soldiers streamed in to the room, crowding everyone close and making it impossible for Will or Marian to move. Sharpened metal faced her on all sides.
Will put his arm in front of Marian. "What are you doing?" he growled.
"These reports have come to me from Terris, Aven, Lametich, and Cormin. All essentially the same, all when she was likely not under your supervision." Hands snatched her away from Will and a swift kick forced Marian to her knees. She cried out in surprise. Will looked at her in fear but was stopped from coming to her aid by the bristling ring swords. Ropes pinched her skin as soldiers tied her hands behind her back.
Part of her wanted to fight back. But it was like she was watching the scene from outside herself. Marian didn't understand what had gone so wrong.
Godwin straightened, savoring the power he was holding over two of the most famous Rangers in the kingdom. "You may be the Queen's officers. But you are not above the law. If Will Treaty is unable to hold his apprentice accountable, then I will." He signaled the guards and they dragged Marian to her feet.
"Will," she pleaded, stumbling as they dragged her from the room. "Will!" The last thing she saw before they took her from the room was Will's face, uncertain and—for the first time in her apprenticeship—afraid.
RMRMRMRMRMR
Once Marian was gone, the guards put their weapons away. Will settled his breathing and composed his expression before turning around. He couldn't let Godwin see how angry and scared he was.
"You've made a mistake," Will said. His voice was low and dangerous and Godwin felt a moment of fear for himself. But he quickly quashed it.
"The evidence doesn't lie, Will," Antony finally spoke.
"You don't get to speak!" Will failed to keep his anger in check this time and Antony blinked.
"We have an eye-witness and multiple reports of a woman in a Ranger cloak attacking families." Antony pressed on, gesturing to the stranger in the room that Will had forgotten about. Antony raised an eyebrow. "You were more than willing to believe an eye witness when it was Marian making the accusation against someone else."
"Except she would never do something like that."
Godwin made a calming gesture, looking sympathetic. "I wish I didn't have to do this Ranger Treaty, believe me. Please, if you sit down we will explain." He signaled to the witness, who had been watching the exchange warily. The man clutched a worn and formless hat in his hands, bobbing his head towards Will. Antony remained standing behind Godwin.
Will's first reaction was to refuse. He wanted to find Marian and get them both away from this keep. But instinct told him he was going to need all the information he could get in order to face this. He nodded curtly and crossed his arms, but declined the offered chair.
Godwin sighed. "Go ahead, Brutus. Tell Ranger Treaty what you told me and Antony."
Will turned to the stranger as he began speaking. "Thank you m'lord. Ranger," he said. His eyes darted nervously between the Ranger and the noble. "Well sirs, I'm from Cormin. We heard about the Rangers' arrival there but I told my girls not to go lookin'. You see, we had heard some things from the other villages and, if you please, I don't much like the things you Rangers can do."
Brutus paused, trying to gauge Will's response. He was met with a stony expression. Brutus swallowed hard. "But the second night of your arrival, after the house was asleep, a noise woke me up. And she was right there, at the end of our bed. At–at first it was just a person with a cloak like yours, sir and a leaf necklace. Then she showed her face and it was her, the one that came in with you. At first, she was just askin' questions, but I didn't know the answers. Then she got angry. She hit my wife, and gave me this when I didn't answer." Brutus pulled at the collar of his shirt and Will's jaw clenched at the ugly slash starting at his neck and disappearing down his shirt. "She kept askin' about this 'sheriff' but I still didn't know. She cut off my wife's finger when I didn't answer a second time." His voice had dropped to a strained whisper and Will noticed Antony's glare. "When I still couldn't give her what she wanted, she finally left. I couldn't let her do this to someone else, not after the stories I heard from the other towns. So I came here."
Will shook his head slowly. "That's not possible."
"You said yourself you can't account for her whereabouts at all times." Antony snapped. "A woman, with a Ranger cloak and an oakleaf medallion. There is only one possible person that could be doing this!"
"There is more, I'm afraid," Godwin said solemnly. He pushed papers towards Will, who takes them in his hands. He leafed through the reports, noticing the different signatures at the bottom. "These are citizens who have come forward with similar stories. As you can see, there are quite a few."
Will's heart sank as he read through the reports. He knew she had trouble adjusting after her return from England. He knew she disagreed with the Queen's and the Rangers' decision to leave the Sheriff of Nottingham problem alone for the moment. And he didn't want to admit it, but Antony was right, more than he even knew. Not only was she the only woman in possession of a Ranger cloak and medallion, but no one else present knew who the Sheriff of Nottingham even was. The evidence looked insurmountable and the more he read, the more he failed to come up with an alternative explanation. But he couldn't let his growing doubt show in front of these men because he knew they would latch on to it. What he needed was time. He looked up at Lord Godwin, ignoring Antony and Brutus altogether.
"You may have the authority over your own fief, but you do not have the authority to detain a Queen's Ranger. You certainly do not have the authority to determine guilt and sentencing." He paused to collect himself. "Marian and I will both return to Castle Araluen."
"Ranger, I'm afraid I can't grant that request," Godwin said. He paled a little under Will's glare, but he didn't break. He did, however, re-phrase what he was going to say. "If you leave with your apprentice how will the rest of us ensure that justice has been done?"
Will pressed his hands against the edge of Godwin's desk. He felt the soldiers in the room shift, or maybe it was simply the rise in tension. "Are you saying I won't obey the law?"
Godwin quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Not at all, Ranger Treaty. I am only trying to assure that justice will be done."
Before Will could explain in detail exactly what assurance he was going to give Lord Godwin, Antony stepped in again. "I can accompany the two of them."
Will's attention turned to the other Ranger. His mind whirled, trying to figure out just what game the man was playing. Lord Godwin's smile was brittle. "Thank you for offering Ranger Radlin. But as I'm sure you can see, my concern still stands. I'm afraid leaving this matter solely to the discretion of the Ranger Corps when it is one of your own who is in in trouble…" Godwin shrugged. "You can see the potential conflict."
"I can," Antony inclined his head. Will clenched his jaw but remained silent while Antony continued. "I would suggest, in that case, if you do not want to travel yourself, you send along someone you trust from your own household. This way, you'll be certain to maintain an interest."
"And turn our party into a criminal transport?" Will asked.
Godwin was silent for a moment. He looked almost trapped, but slowly nodded. "I can see that Ranger Radlin has a good solution," Godwin said. "I will allow her to leave under those conditions." Will started to protest, but Godwin raised his hand. "Either that, or Miss Harwood stays in her cell."
"Ranger Harwood," Will said coldly. He knew if he left her here, Godwin would take it upon himself to conduct Marian's trial and he had no doubt she would be convicted. He was not about to let that happen, which meant he was going to have to concede this round.
"Very well. We will be leaving first thing in the morning." Will looked directly at Antony. "I expect you to be ready."
He didn't wait for either man to acknowledge his statement. He turned to one of the remaining soldiers in the room. "Take me to Marian. Now."
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Marian slammed her fists against the solid oak door in frustration. She knew it did no good, but she didn't care. She didn't know where Will was or what was happening to him. She didn't know what was coming next. She had been taken by surprise and left completely in the dark. And she hated it.
At least they left my cloak and medallion, she thought wryly. One guard attempted to take them away from her when they stripped her of her weapons. He had paid dearly for it and no one else tried. Whatever they accused her of, she was still a Ranger and she wasn't about to just give up the things that made her one.
Marian looked around the empty room in despair. She saw hardwood floors, the tiny privy in the corner and the single window behind her. The privy was a glorified bucket with a screen to maintain the idea of privacy, and the window was more of an air vent than an actual window. But at least she had light.
She moved to the window, pressing her face to the wall in order to get a glimpse of the outdoors and breathe in the fresh air. Think! Marian scolded herself. She had to calm down, figure out what had happened and why. But the only explanation that kept popping uninvited into her mind was one she didn't want to contemplate at the moment. So instead she forced her mind to focus on the first, and very necessary, step: getting out of this room.
Marian heard someone unlocking the door and she turned, easing into a fighting-ready stance. When Will entered, followed by a flustered young guard, some of her apprehension she had been ignoring vanished. "Will!"
He smiled at her, but there was a tension in his eyes. "Are you all right?" he asked.
She stopped on her way to give him a hug, wrapping her arms around herself instead. Something was wrong. "I'm fine. Just confused. What is going on?"
He handed her the papers Godwin had given him. "A man came in, saying that a young woman in a Ranger cloak with an oakleaf medallion broke into his home, attacked him and his wife, looking for information on the Sheriff of Nottingham. These," he gestured to the papers in her hand, "are reports from other townspeople saying essentially the same thing. He had a wound Marian, a fresh one."
She flicked her eyes up at Will, before reading through the papers. With each report her frown deepened. "Who would do these things?" she muttered. It took a few moments of strained silence before Marian looked up at Will, the reports forgotten in her hands.
"Who do you think would do this Will?" she asked slowly.
"I don't know."
Marian took a step back, staring at him. "You actually think this was me?" she whispered. Will tried to protest, his expression mournful. But she shoved the papers back into his hands. "How could you possibly think that?!"
Will caught the papers. "I don't think it was you!" he protested. "I would never. It's just that-"
"Just what?"
He spread his hands wide, helplessly. "They have a lot of evidence Marian. Evidence that can only possibly point to you. This only happened at night, when we weren't in each other's company. And who else would know about the Sheriff of Nottingham? All I'm saying is it's going to be difficult to come up with another explanation. But that doesn't mean I think you did these things." The look she was giving him broke his heart, as if she was falling apart right in front of him.
Marian had another explanation. But for the first time ever, she didn't feel like she could tell him what she was thinking. If he doubted her, then she was truly on her own.
"So what now?" she asked, her voice strained. She refused to give in to the tears threatening to form behind her eyes.
"We're going to Araluen. Antony and Godwin, or someone from his household, will escort us," Will said. He tried to keep his voice steady, pretending to ignore the way her eyes glistened.
"Right, because I can't be trusted." It came out sharper than she intended, but she pressed her lips together. She wouldn't take it back.
Will ran a hand through his hair. "Marian, that's not—"
"You should get going," she interrupted. "You probably have a lot to do to get ready for the trip."
Will half nodded. He wanted to say something more, to comfort her, or reassure her. But he didn't know how. Will sighed and turned away, pausing once at the doorway, but Marian refused to look at him. She waited until the door was locked and she was alone. Only then did she let herself cry.