The group had been travelling for a month and fallen into a regularly routine. Due to Leonardo's scientific curiosity their progress had been slower than expected. Danielle enjoyed helping him and would often be the one game enough to try his experiments. The knights often looking amused when they found her up in a tree or holding some unusual contraption in her arms. Robert drawing the line when she attempted to climb down a cliff to collect a kite which had been lost when little Susan had let go of the string.

Danielle was learning to laugh again, and her confidence was increasing every day.

Every morning she would leave the camp and check her various animal traps. On one particular morning she was resetting a trap when she heard grunting noises. She turned and before her was a wild boar. It was a male as it had large tusks protruding from its mouth. Danielle had seen boars in the forest but not as large as this one. It was at least 150m tall and easily 100kg. She must have come into its territory and it was stamping it feet as a warning. Danielle slowly backing away hoping the animal would forget her. Her luck running out when the beast started running towards her forcing Danielle to climb the nearest tree…. racing to the highest branches.

"Help! Help!" she called out as the boar paced around the base of the tree.

"Danielle! Where are you?" a male voice called from a distance

"I am up in a tree but there is a large angry boar" she cried out to the warn the person. The boar racing away and she heard a loud cry as it was killed.

After a period of time she heard someone call her name….

"Danielle! You can come down" Danielle looked through the branches seeing Robert and Alexander peering through the tree branches. She quickly climbed down and in relief embraced both men.

"Are you well? Were you injured?" Robert asked and his voice shook a little. In her haste to climb the tree she had a number of scratches and bruises. She reassured him she was well, and they walked past the dead boar. Robert explained they had become concerned when she had not returned and had come searching for her. When they had reached their camp, Robert made her sit down and assessed her injuries. He observed there were scars on her arms and on her neck.

"My stepmother would beat me when I didn't meet her high standards" commented Danielle and didn't miss his jaw clench.

The knights deciding, Danielle needed to learn how to use a crossbow. It would provide her with greater protection, and they knew they couldn't stop her from going out hunting. Danielle always feeling an equal and grateful they were helping her to be stronger.

While the servants were preparing the boar, a target was created for her too practise with. Robert showing her the mechanisms of the weapon and how it worked. He stood behind her as she held the crossbow and released the arrow. She missed the target, but he encouraged her to try again. Every time she got better and by the end was hitting the middle of the target.

"Excellent… now let me show you have to wear it, so you don't shoot yourself in the foot" Robert commented while helping her put on a leather harness. He instructed her how to pull the weapon out and suggested she improve her strength to successfully use the crossbow. Danielle who loved a challenge nodded and was often seen carrying various items to increase her strength or practising with the target.

Her skill with the crossbow was tested when their camp was attacked by bandits one night. Danielle had been asleep when she suddenly found herself being rolled under the wagon. A large hand covering her mouth and before she could bite it recognised Robert's voice.

"Take care of Susan!" was all he said before disappearing into the darkness. She gathered the little girl in her arms and held her knife. She could hear grunting and clashes of steel. Danielle turned her head and found Leonardo crawling in their direction.

"Take my knife and look after Susan. I need to help the men" She directed Leonardo.

She crawled to the edge of the wagon and thankfully her crossbox was still leaning against the wheel of the wagon. She grabbed it and without fear sprinted towards a tree and climbed to the highest point. She loaded the weapon and let her eyes get used to the darkness. She could hear Robert, Albert, Alexander and Bruce talking to each other and made it easier to identify them from the other men. She saw Robert being pinned down by one of the bandits and with pinpoint accuracy released her arrow striking the man in the side. This allowing Robert to regain the advantage and finish off the man. She struck another man who was heading towards the wagon where the other members of their party were hidding. They finally overcame all the bandits and Danielle climbed down from the tree.

"Well done, Danielle… I think we need to start calling your Sir Danielle by your heroic actions tonight" Bruce commented while giving back her arrows. Danielle turning to Robert as she was unsure of his reaction. He had told her to stay under the wagon, but she had not followed his instructions.

"I should be angry with you but confess you saved us tonight" he spoke while still looking at her with concern. Danielle beaming with satisfaction as it was a compliment from Robert. He spent the chief of his time telling her off for not following his instructions.

"Does this mean I can be part of the security watch?" asked a hopeful Danielle who was still on a high from adrenaline rush. Everyone agreeing but Robert was a little more cautious but eventually nodded. Danielle excusing herself as she needed to check on Susan.

The four men watching her walk away confidently holding her crossbow. Danielle de Barbarce was in a class of her own.