Thanks for the Review. They are always very much appreciated. I'm sorry this chapter is so small but the next will hopefully make up for that.
As for the "Favorite Knights" thing, I'm still looking for input on that. I have 1 vote for Lancelot, 1 for Gawain, 2 for Tristan, and about a shrug for Dagonet.
Morning seemed to come all too soon. She was awakened and told to follow a man into another hut. There she was given some clothes of the Woads "so you won't stick out" he had told her when she had asked. She also reasoned that she would do better if she were not in this dress. She changed quickly and then met up with him again outside where she was given a sword, bow, and a quiver of four arrows to use. They were joined by sixteen others before they headed out.
The air seemed thicker than before and the mood of the forest heavier. She followed the men through the barely discernable trees, staying near the back. She did not want to get there any faster than she had to, but she also wanted to get it over with and so felt very anxious. Her face was hot and her hands were cold with the thoughts of what lay ahead.
They stopped near the edge of the trees, just before a large clearing with a light dirt road running through it. Here they waited. Ilara sat with her back to a tree, peering beyond the foliage to where their encounter would take place. The men paid her little attention other than a few sideways looks that she let them believe she did not see. She rubbed her hand over the flat surface of the sword they had given her that now sat on her lap, the same sword that would become sticky and a dark red.
Almost two hours passed before her ears pricked up at the sound of jangling harness and wooden wheels of cart or carriage coming their way. Another sound caught her attention as well, though she doubted the others could hear it. The sound was barely perceptible even for her naturally sensitive hearing. It was the sound of amour brushing against saddle and dress harness. She wondered if the Woads knew of this or not. Either way they would all know soon enough.
The small procession came into view. There was an open wagon and a closed carriage with covered windows. A score of twelve guards were their escorts. She could see no value in the open wagon and chanced a questioning look at one of the men who just watched them come. Ilara could also see that there were no Sarmatian Knights to accompany them. This was strange and she could feel that they were there. Apparently she was the only one.
The man who woke her pointed to her bow and told her to fire first. She did not know if he thought of it as some game that she should shoot first and alone, but she loaded her bow in any case. She chose her target as one of the drivers of the carriage. Placing her arrow just so on her bow, she pulled back on the string, raised it so the tip aimed high, and let it fly.
It landed where it was intended and the man fell right, off the wagon, causing the horse closest to him to toss its head and whiney. This got the soldiers attentions and they surrounded the carriage, waiting for them to come out of the trees. Their efforts were rewarded with the Woads yelling at the top of their lungs as they beat their wooden shields. A moment later they attacked.
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