So I'm trying t o be a little better about getting chapters out. Not
saying it will work, but I'm trying. As always, reviews are appreciated.
*^_^*
byrdgirl
Chapter 8
The next couple of weeks provided more raises in taxes. Notices were made in the town that on the next collection day, new taxes would be added. Citizens of Nottingham began to seek refuge in Sherwood forest before they were arrested. They brought what little they had, in hopes that the Lionheart would return soon and protect them.
Just as Sarah had suspected, Milly did not make a full recovery. She insisted on continuing her household responsibilities, but she would occasionally have to stop and brace herself against a wall or table as deep uncontrollable coughs racked her body. She never complained and often made comments about how it was clearing up, or how she always coughed when the weather started turning cooler, but everyone knew that if she didn't rest soon, she would become seriously ill again.
Piper also noticed that the manor was receiving more company than usual. Robert of Locksley, Guy of Gisbourne, and the Lady Marian all came all came frequently to plead sensibility from the Sheriff. The visits from Lady Marian were especially difficult. Piper knew what Philip felt for the elegant and compassionate noblewoman, yet he had to play the hard, uncaring villain. No one, not even Piper had the courage to approach him after he sent Marian storming from the manor in quiet, feminine righteousness. Those were the nights that he tended to drink. Those were the nights that she could hear furious screaming and the sound of things breaking against stone walls.
Piper and Much suffered a great deal of strain on their relationship as well. They were in love, but the need for caution was greater than ever. They only met at night, and their meetings had become uncomfortably silent very quickly. Piper couldn't talk about her work, or about the Sheriff's true motives for increasing taxes, and Much had to internalize his frustration over the Sheriff's methods. Sometimes Piper feared that they wouldn't last. She lay awake late into the night imagining all of horrible things that might come of their forbidden love.
During the day, the young guard threw herself into her work. She spent all her waking moments attending her responsibilities or training. The other guards mistook her new focus for ambition, but there were times, while she was sparring with another guard, that Bear would stop and watch her. In those moments, he suspected there was something more to her motivation. There was a fire in her eyes that hadn't always been there. They burned with an unspeakable pain and joy, and Bear knew that she had found something to fight for.
**********
It was mid December. Piper had been a guard for several months. Things in Nottingham had progressively gotten worse. Many Norman nobles in the area began showing outward support for Prince John. Saxon land owners had become hostile and belligerent towards the Sheriff, refusing to pay taxes that they, amongst all the Saxon people, could afford. There was no trust in England. Old friendships were torn down as winter began to settle.
Piper was sparring with Bear in the training field. It was early, and there was a thick layer of fog settling over Nottingham. Bear swung at Piper. He was quick, but she ducked under the attack with less than an inch to spare. He attacked again, using a series of punches and kicks in quick succession. Piper avoided them all. She still had difficulty taking a larger opponent down, but she was very adept at avoiding attacks. Richard and Bear both said that that was the most important thing. Her fighting was improving, but that would get her nowhere if she allowed herself to be pommeled by her opponent.
Piper and Bear had been working for nearly an hour and both were showing signs of fatigue. "Good job, as usual." Bear huffed. White clouds of vapor rose up and vanished into the fog with each breath. He extended his hand and Piper took it. "Perhaps you could show me those new arrows you got now."
Piper had become the expert archer of the group. She was always looking for new ways to improve her accuracy, though the other guards often teased about it. It was already established that she was quite possibly the best archer in England. Still she searched, and most recently her search led her to a new fletcher. He had been passing through Sherwood forest when she chanced to meet him. He introduced himself as Gordon, the fletcher and upon her request, he demonstrated his special arrows. He cut his feathers in a way that she had never seen before, but they flew faster and straighter than any she had ever known. She spent all the money that she had on arrows and told him that if he was ever passing through Sherwood again, there would always be business for him at Mark Manor.
Now she and Bear inspected the arrows and commented on their design. They were just about to use them on the targets when the sound of an approaching horse drifted in from the distance. "Horseman coming!" Bear shouted above the sounds of training, and all activity on the field stopped as the guards waited for the horseman to clear the fog. It was rare for a visitor to come from that direction as there were no roads. After what seemed like an age, a figure appeared, cloaked in green and riding a chestnut mare. The horse rode straight through the mass of guards, forcing a few to dive out of the way.
They watched horse and rider speed on to the manor. "That was Lord Robert, wasn't it?" Jeff asked. Richard nodded. They all knew that a notice of forfeiture had been issued on Lord Robert's lands for failure to pay taxes. They also knew, instinctually, that the course of history was quickly rolling out of their control. Robert's arrival was the beginning of something that would change their lives forever.
"Uh...Piper. That's a nasty cut there on yer hand. Perhaps yeh should go in and get that cared fer." Richard suggested.
Piper looked down at her unharmed hand. "But there's nothing..." She began, just as Bear grabbed her wrist and ran the sharp edge of an arrow along the back of her hand.
"Ouch!" She snatched her hand away from him and glared in irritation. Bear looked away. "Go inside the manor and have Milly take a look at that." Richard repeated. Then Piper understood. She nodded and ran towards the manor, following the same path that Robert of Locksley had taken moments earlier. She didn't even bother returning the bow and arrow that she held to their proper place.
By the time she reached the Mark Manor, she was slightly winded, but she controlled her breathing as she crept through the halls. Generally, guards were not invited inside the Sheriff's home unless they were providing security for an event of state. Piper would not attract as much attention as one of her comrades,but she was still pretty certain that the Sheriff would not approve of her spying on him. She repressed even the sounds of her breathing in order to avoid detection.
She didn't have to worry about her guardian noticing her. The door to his chamber was opened, but only a crack. Philip Mark was standing with his back to the door. Locksley was pacing and speaking with a great deal of quiet vehemence. "...my home you damned whoreson!" Piper's eyes grew wide. She had never heard a noble use that kind of language when addressing a peer. Locksley slammed his fist on the heavy oak table that dominated the room to emphasize his words. "I suppose our friendship means nothing to you. You took my lands! You took my titles! You took my honor, you treacherous, stone-hearted, back stabbing villain! I hope Prince John approves of your deceit, because you sold your soul to the devil himself!"
All the while that his once-friend spoke, the Sheriff did not move. Piper couldn't see his face from her perch beside the door, but she imagined that it was carved in stone. His back was rigid with tension caused by the remarks. Still, once Locksley left an opening for a response, the Sheriff took it.
"You speak of friendship, but I don't understand since not once in heaven knows how long, have you come to this house in friendship. Instead, you come to criticize, accuse and insult. I took no pleasure in forfeiting your lands, but the law is the law, and taxes must be paid. If not, compensation must be tak..."
"This play bores me. These taxes are unjust. They are being used to support John. Everyone knows it."
"...compensation MUST be taken." There Sheriff's voice was low, and carefully controlled. It demanded attention and respect and forbid further interruptions. "I warned you. For months I urged you to pay the taxes. You knew what the penalty for refusing was." He began to walk out of Piper's view completely. Lord Robert followed him.
"I will not lend my money to pave John's way to the throne."
The Sheriff's next words held barely contained anger. Piper's own heart beat faster at the sound. The man rarely ever lost his temper in the presence of others. "You will not question my loyalties in my own house again, you ignorant Saxon dog!"
There was only a beat's silence before Piper heard the sound of flesh on flesh; the sound of a fist connecting with a jaw. She didn't think before she acted. She threw open the door, aiming the one arrow that she had with her at Locksley's heart. Both men turned in surprise at her entrance, and looked at her with a mixture of confusion and incredulity. It was then that she realized what she was doing, and her heart filled with dread. She was not afraid of violence. She knew her aim was true and that Lord Robert would not have the opportunity to try anything. What terrified her was the possibility that she would have to shoot. She had never killed a person before. Now, faced with the prospect, she suddenly realized what that meant. She did not want to end a life if it could be avoided.
"Sir, is there a problem?" Her question was addressed to the Sheriff, but her eyes never left Locksley.
"No Piper. Robert was just leaving." Again his voice was even and stone cold.
Robert looked from one to the other with malice. "Letting little girls fight your battled for you, Philip?" He grinned at his own cleverness. Piper chose a more direct approach. "Leave now, or you won't be leaving at all." She gestured slightly with her bow to make her point clear.
Robert was an expert marksman himself. He recognized a true aim when he saw one, and he knew that Piper's threat was not idle. He turned to the Sheriff one last time before leaving. "Philip, you've made yourself a powerful enemy this day. Don't think that I will retreat with my tail between my legs. This Saxon dog has teeth, and I intend to go for the throat." He left with his threat hanging in the air, thicker than the fog outside.
Piper turned to the Sheriff. He was slightly disheveled. His head was lowed and his eyes were dark. He looked to Piper like a half starved wolf about to attack. "Sir...I...I hurt myself." She held up the hand that Bear had cut. "I was looking for heard a fight..."
"Leave now." Piper needed no further encouragement. She all but ran out of the room. She was just as eager to escape the Sheriff's wrath as she was to return to return to the training field and recount the events to her compatriots.
Chapter 8
The next couple of weeks provided more raises in taxes. Notices were made in the town that on the next collection day, new taxes would be added. Citizens of Nottingham began to seek refuge in Sherwood forest before they were arrested. They brought what little they had, in hopes that the Lionheart would return soon and protect them.
Just as Sarah had suspected, Milly did not make a full recovery. She insisted on continuing her household responsibilities, but she would occasionally have to stop and brace herself against a wall or table as deep uncontrollable coughs racked her body. She never complained and often made comments about how it was clearing up, or how she always coughed when the weather started turning cooler, but everyone knew that if she didn't rest soon, she would become seriously ill again.
Piper also noticed that the manor was receiving more company than usual. Robert of Locksley, Guy of Gisbourne, and the Lady Marian all came all came frequently to plead sensibility from the Sheriff. The visits from Lady Marian were especially difficult. Piper knew what Philip felt for the elegant and compassionate noblewoman, yet he had to play the hard, uncaring villain. No one, not even Piper had the courage to approach him after he sent Marian storming from the manor in quiet, feminine righteousness. Those were the nights that he tended to drink. Those were the nights that she could hear furious screaming and the sound of things breaking against stone walls.
Piper and Much suffered a great deal of strain on their relationship as well. They were in love, but the need for caution was greater than ever. They only met at night, and their meetings had become uncomfortably silent very quickly. Piper couldn't talk about her work, or about the Sheriff's true motives for increasing taxes, and Much had to internalize his frustration over the Sheriff's methods. Sometimes Piper feared that they wouldn't last. She lay awake late into the night imagining all of horrible things that might come of their forbidden love.
During the day, the young guard threw herself into her work. She spent all her waking moments attending her responsibilities or training. The other guards mistook her new focus for ambition, but there were times, while she was sparring with another guard, that Bear would stop and watch her. In those moments, he suspected there was something more to her motivation. There was a fire in her eyes that hadn't always been there. They burned with an unspeakable pain and joy, and Bear knew that she had found something to fight for.
**********
It was mid December. Piper had been a guard for several months. Things in Nottingham had progressively gotten worse. Many Norman nobles in the area began showing outward support for Prince John. Saxon land owners had become hostile and belligerent towards the Sheriff, refusing to pay taxes that they, amongst all the Saxon people, could afford. There was no trust in England. Old friendships were torn down as winter began to settle.
Piper was sparring with Bear in the training field. It was early, and there was a thick layer of fog settling over Nottingham. Bear swung at Piper. He was quick, but she ducked under the attack with less than an inch to spare. He attacked again, using a series of punches and kicks in quick succession. Piper avoided them all. She still had difficulty taking a larger opponent down, but she was very adept at avoiding attacks. Richard and Bear both said that that was the most important thing. Her fighting was improving, but that would get her nowhere if she allowed herself to be pommeled by her opponent.
Piper and Bear had been working for nearly an hour and both were showing signs of fatigue. "Good job, as usual." Bear huffed. White clouds of vapor rose up and vanished into the fog with each breath. He extended his hand and Piper took it. "Perhaps you could show me those new arrows you got now."
Piper had become the expert archer of the group. She was always looking for new ways to improve her accuracy, though the other guards often teased about it. It was already established that she was quite possibly the best archer in England. Still she searched, and most recently her search led her to a new fletcher. He had been passing through Sherwood forest when she chanced to meet him. He introduced himself as Gordon, the fletcher and upon her request, he demonstrated his special arrows. He cut his feathers in a way that she had never seen before, but they flew faster and straighter than any she had ever known. She spent all the money that she had on arrows and told him that if he was ever passing through Sherwood again, there would always be business for him at Mark Manor.
Now she and Bear inspected the arrows and commented on their design. They were just about to use them on the targets when the sound of an approaching horse drifted in from the distance. "Horseman coming!" Bear shouted above the sounds of training, and all activity on the field stopped as the guards waited for the horseman to clear the fog. It was rare for a visitor to come from that direction as there were no roads. After what seemed like an age, a figure appeared, cloaked in green and riding a chestnut mare. The horse rode straight through the mass of guards, forcing a few to dive out of the way.
They watched horse and rider speed on to the manor. "That was Lord Robert, wasn't it?" Jeff asked. Richard nodded. They all knew that a notice of forfeiture had been issued on Lord Robert's lands for failure to pay taxes. They also knew, instinctually, that the course of history was quickly rolling out of their control. Robert's arrival was the beginning of something that would change their lives forever.
"Uh...Piper. That's a nasty cut there on yer hand. Perhaps yeh should go in and get that cared fer." Richard suggested.
Piper looked down at her unharmed hand. "But there's nothing..." She began, just as Bear grabbed her wrist and ran the sharp edge of an arrow along the back of her hand.
"Ouch!" She snatched her hand away from him and glared in irritation. Bear looked away. "Go inside the manor and have Milly take a look at that." Richard repeated. Then Piper understood. She nodded and ran towards the manor, following the same path that Robert of Locksley had taken moments earlier. She didn't even bother returning the bow and arrow that she held to their proper place.
By the time she reached the Mark Manor, she was slightly winded, but she controlled her breathing as she crept through the halls. Generally, guards were not invited inside the Sheriff's home unless they were providing security for an event of state. Piper would not attract as much attention as one of her comrades,but she was still pretty certain that the Sheriff would not approve of her spying on him. She repressed even the sounds of her breathing in order to avoid detection.
She didn't have to worry about her guardian noticing her. The door to his chamber was opened, but only a crack. Philip Mark was standing with his back to the door. Locksley was pacing and speaking with a great deal of quiet vehemence. "...my home you damned whoreson!" Piper's eyes grew wide. She had never heard a noble use that kind of language when addressing a peer. Locksley slammed his fist on the heavy oak table that dominated the room to emphasize his words. "I suppose our friendship means nothing to you. You took my lands! You took my titles! You took my honor, you treacherous, stone-hearted, back stabbing villain! I hope Prince John approves of your deceit, because you sold your soul to the devil himself!"
All the while that his once-friend spoke, the Sheriff did not move. Piper couldn't see his face from her perch beside the door, but she imagined that it was carved in stone. His back was rigid with tension caused by the remarks. Still, once Locksley left an opening for a response, the Sheriff took it.
"You speak of friendship, but I don't understand since not once in heaven knows how long, have you come to this house in friendship. Instead, you come to criticize, accuse and insult. I took no pleasure in forfeiting your lands, but the law is the law, and taxes must be paid. If not, compensation must be tak..."
"This play bores me. These taxes are unjust. They are being used to support John. Everyone knows it."
"...compensation MUST be taken." There Sheriff's voice was low, and carefully controlled. It demanded attention and respect and forbid further interruptions. "I warned you. For months I urged you to pay the taxes. You knew what the penalty for refusing was." He began to walk out of Piper's view completely. Lord Robert followed him.
"I will not lend my money to pave John's way to the throne."
The Sheriff's next words held barely contained anger. Piper's own heart beat faster at the sound. The man rarely ever lost his temper in the presence of others. "You will not question my loyalties in my own house again, you ignorant Saxon dog!"
There was only a beat's silence before Piper heard the sound of flesh on flesh; the sound of a fist connecting with a jaw. She didn't think before she acted. She threw open the door, aiming the one arrow that she had with her at Locksley's heart. Both men turned in surprise at her entrance, and looked at her with a mixture of confusion and incredulity. It was then that she realized what she was doing, and her heart filled with dread. She was not afraid of violence. She knew her aim was true and that Lord Robert would not have the opportunity to try anything. What terrified her was the possibility that she would have to shoot. She had never killed a person before. Now, faced with the prospect, she suddenly realized what that meant. She did not want to end a life if it could be avoided.
"Sir, is there a problem?" Her question was addressed to the Sheriff, but her eyes never left Locksley.
"No Piper. Robert was just leaving." Again his voice was even and stone cold.
Robert looked from one to the other with malice. "Letting little girls fight your battled for you, Philip?" He grinned at his own cleverness. Piper chose a more direct approach. "Leave now, or you won't be leaving at all." She gestured slightly with her bow to make her point clear.
Robert was an expert marksman himself. He recognized a true aim when he saw one, and he knew that Piper's threat was not idle. He turned to the Sheriff one last time before leaving. "Philip, you've made yourself a powerful enemy this day. Don't think that I will retreat with my tail between my legs. This Saxon dog has teeth, and I intend to go for the throat." He left with his threat hanging in the air, thicker than the fog outside.
Piper turned to the Sheriff. He was slightly disheveled. His head was lowed and his eyes were dark. He looked to Piper like a half starved wolf about to attack. "Sir...I...I hurt myself." She held up the hand that Bear had cut. "I was looking for heard a fight..."
"Leave now." Piper needed no further encouragement. She all but ran out of the room. She was just as eager to escape the Sheriff's wrath as she was to return to return to the training field and recount the events to her compatriots.