CHAPTER 22

Politics had become my life in the past few weeks. Guy had ridden the several days journey to London to deliver our shared discovery with John, who had then begun preparations to leave for France himself. It had proven too late though, as Philip and "Rocks" had indeed met at Le Mans. As Guy shared with me upon his return, "Rocks" had been an English translation of the French name des Roches. It referred specifically to a powerful Anjou nobleman, William des Roches, who was in league with Philip and Arthur to overtake John's lands in Normandy. As the letter indicated, Des Roches and Philip had met at Le Mans, and then attacked and destroyed the border fortress of Ballon. This was the latest news we had, which strategically did not bode well for John. When Guy returned, his face was lined with care and worry, and he looked exhausted for days afterwards. He and Sabine continued to make local appearances together, though I noticed a marked coldness in her demeanor towards him, and his usual indifference to her was unchanged.

Guy sent word shortly afterwards to me that we should expect another message from his correspondent soon. I went about my business as usual, going to the market with Father, knitting and crocheting summer clothing for trade and spinning and carding our wool for the future. Underneath it all though I could not stop thinking about my next translation project and that it would mean I would see Guy. I thought of him often, as I did of Will, who I never saw anymore. He was, by all accounts working with Hood exclusively and had no time for the market, or anyone in it, anymore.

Father was ill disposed towards Will's abandonment of our courtship, but he was no less pleased for the reason of it. "I suspect that this translating is an elaborate ruse for Sir Guy to charm you into his bed," he had said to me at the market one day. "I am not pleased with your decision to help him."

"I'm not doing it for him, Father," I said.

"So if Sabine had asked you, then you would have obliged to work with her? Or the Sheriff?" he asked argumentatively.

"Sabine wouldn't know a political matter from a ribbon on her cleavage," I said sourly. "And the Sheriff would never trust a peasant like me."

Father shook his head at me. "I only remind you that Sir Guy has hurt you once. If he does it again, it is down to you for trusting him."

"I never said I trusted him!" I said. "However, I do want to help my King, not the French. And I have told you, when Sir Guy marries, this arrangement ends."

"Good," Father said ominously. "I look forward to that day." While his words were harsh, I knew it was because he had my best interests at heart. "I do wish you would try to make amends with Will, Nyssa," he continued.

"In terms of giving me up for his politics, Will is no better than Sir Guy," I said. "And when, Father? He is never here."

"I only wish he would train you further with that sword. I've seen you practice, but you need someone to practice with."

"It was not my choice to break off the contact. Stop blaming me for his decision. This conversation is over." I angrily threw aside a beaded necklace I had been working on and got up to walk away from the stall for a moment.

The men in my life constantly infuriated me with their habitual placement of blame on my shoulders. I beat a furious pace away from our stall and went to stand in the private grove where I Will and I had shared our moment of passion. As angry as I was at him, I still thought of him. I hoped he was safe and I hoped that he was truly fighting for what he believed in, because Will was a good man. I remembered that he had stopped himself from making love to me on that day in this grove out of respect. Part of me wondered why. It would have been no loss to anyone and might have further cemented our relationship. I might now be pregnant with his child and in a happy marriage…or I might now be pregnant with his child and deserted by him for Hood in the same way. Only Fate could tell. I paced the small area, my thoughts racing and racing with no easy conclusions in sight. Finally I decided to go back to our stall, though I still felt angry and unsettled.

As I walked back towards Father, I said simply, "I'm leaving for a while. Can you carry on without me?"

Father looked surprised. "Nyssa, I'm sorry if—"

"No mind. I just need an hour, and I'll be back." He nodded at me, obviously concerned, but released me for time. I strapped on my sword, concealed it beneath my cloak and headed towards the main road near the forest.

I had only gone a half-mile when I heard the thwack of an arrow into a tree near me, only a few inches away. I froze and slowly turned my head to the left, where the arrow had come from. As I did, I saw a man dressed in brown leather with green eyes aiming a second arrow right at my chest.

"That error was on purpose. I don't have to miss," he said unpleasantly.

This could be none other than Robin Hood.

"I believe you," I said carefully. Hood lowered the arrow slightly as he saw my face. "I can see that you carry a blade, my lady. I need you to disarm yourself, or I'll do it for you."

Sighing, I pulled my cloak aside and unbuckled my sword from my belt, tossing it on the ground. Hood drew closer to me, his arrow still drawn but looser now. "That's a good girl," he said cheerfully. I rolled my eyes in irritation. "I'm not a horse, Sir Robin," I said.

"No, you are not," Hood replied, his eyes dropping from me to my weapon. His gaze lingered on the sword, judging its length, heft, and weight. "I know that sword. That's Will Scarlett's work. " He took a closer look at me, recognition dawning on his face. "Lower your hood, my lady."

Not feeling it was wise to disagree, I did as he asked. He regarded me for a moment longer than was appropriate, then smiled. "Scarlett was right. You are a beauty."

"How is Will?" I ventured to ask.

"Well enough," Hood replied. "But I understand that you are Sir Guy's creature now, so why do you care?"

"I am no man's creature," I said. "I believe in the cause of helping Sir Guy for England, which is why I do it."

"I also understand, " Hood said smoothly, cutting across my last sentence, "that you were once his lover."

"I was once his fiancée, sir," I said. "Like Will, he abandoned me for his politics and is engaged to a French woman."

At this, Hood lowered his arrow and contemplated me for a moment. "I do not believe that Will has abandoned you, my lady," he said. "I believe he is hurt and angry and does not understand your decision. Nor can I, really."

"Nor can anyone. But I am the only one who has to understand my reasons," I said. "Are you and Will and the rest plotting against John?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Hood answered, smiling slyly. "Sir Guy will have to do his own footwork. He might do well to watch his step in the matter. Danger can befall those closest to him in a matter of moments." The last was said with an air of foreboding. I swallowed.

"Are you going to shoot me, or let me go, sir?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Oh, I plan to let you go once you tell me where the correspondence letters are being left," Hood said. "But not before then."

I lifted my chin. "I will not tell you that, sir. You will have to shoot me first."

Hood's face darkened. His bow arm tensed, the arrow drawn back. My heart's pace quickened and I said a silent prayer to God that if this was to be my last moment, that He would care for those I loved, and make this death quick. I closed my eyes, bowed my head, and waited for Hood's arrow.

It never came. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was staring at me in something akin to admiration.

"Very brave, my lady."

He smiled a bit, then said, "I can't take the life of one so brave, and since you have nothing else to take, I will settle for Scarlett's sword." He moved to pick up my sword, hoisted it over his back and began to saunter off. I burned in anger to see him with my property. Robin Hood, robbing from the rich, indeed! I almost called after him but fortunately thought better of it, and bit my tongue. As he left the path he exclaimed,

"Very brave! Wish you were working on our side, but let me know if you'd like to come with us. Scarlett would be thrilled."

Scarlett. Hood. Damn them both to hell! I was back on the path, so angry that my walk had become a run. I was minus a sword, my pride and my usual feeling of protection gone, and picking my way towards the main town road. I pulled my hood up as I emerged onto it, looking this way and that. I walked a ways further towards the busier area of the town, and found one of the local boys to carry a message to Gisborne Manor. I told him that I needed to see Sir Guy as soon as possible, so that I could tell him of my encounter with Hood. I also wanted to ask him if he knew if the letter had arrived yet, but would wait to ask that in person, as it had been the main reason for my journey. I gave the boy two coins and told him to get a sweetie at the local shop for himself after the message was delivered. He smiled and ran off in the direction of the Manor.

I waited a good twenty minutes for the message to find its master. I was just turning to go back towards the market, when who should come strutting down the main road but Sir Guy himself. Aomir recognized me immediately and pranced his way forward, apparently showing off the new friend that Guy led behind him. She was a dappled silver mare, elegant and well-made at the same time, and regarded me curiously as Guy reined Aomir to the side of the road. Aomir nodded his head, blowing out puffs of air and shaking his mane, in his usual posturing manner. I immediately went to the horse and gently rubbed his nose.

"Flirt," I said to him, blowing a kiss, "Just like your master."

Guy raised an eyebrow at me attractively. "So now my horse is a better conversationalist than I?"

"Better looking, anyway," I said impishly, glancing up at him. "But I suppose you'll do. I did send you the message, not your horse."

"You ought to watch your tongue," Guy said, his voice dropping a tone as he leaned down from Aomir to address me. "Or I may have to watch it for you."

"I think you're the one with a dangerous tongue, Sir Guy," I said boldly, curtseying with an overtly dramatic flair. I saw Guy snicker despite himself, and one of the first real smiles I had seen in months crossed his face. His eyes still on me, he swung himself out of his saddle and walked imposingly forward, still holding Aomir's reins. In a seductive murmur, he whispered, "And I'm still capable of using that tongue to good purpose, lady."

"Shhh now, don't make promises you can't keep," I said lightly, tapping his long nose. I was enjoying this. Who gave a fig if he would be married soon? I still enjoyed his intellect, his appearance, and his company. I had no name for what our relationship was, but the sexual tension and battle of wits was ever-present. As the thought passed through my mind, he captured my hand in his and kissed it. "I always keep my promises," he said in a low voice.

Now it was my turn to blush. "Well, then perhaps you can tell me when I should take delivery of another letter," I said lightly, attempting to change the subject.

"It should be late tonight or early tomorrow morning," he said, now serious. "Are you still comfortable going?"

"Well that was what I hoped to speak with you about," I said, now also turning serious. "Hood caught me in the woods today. He took my sword, and he and the others are plan to side with Arthur and the French in some way. I'm sure you knew this, but—"

Guys face had gone from serious to murderous. He took a quick, careful inventory of me. "Did he hurt you? Threaten you?"

"Threaten yes, hurt no," I answered. "But I feel less safe without my sword. I wonder if I could borrow one of yours when I go to retrieve the letter."

"You can borrow twelve if you like, but I'd rather go with you myself to be sure it's safe."

"No, Guy, I think that's what he wants," I said "He wanted to know where the letters were being left. I wouldn't tell him. And—"

"You wouldn't tell him?" He took my shoulders in his huge hands and looked down at me. "Nyssa, you could have been killed!" His eyes were frantic. "I can always find another place for the letters, but I can't find another you!" As he said this, he pulled me into his embrace and held me like a small child against his huge, lean frame. I felt slightly suffocated, but it was a pleasant form of distress.

"I'm fine, Guy, really," I said calmly. "He threatened, but I stood up to him and he couldn't bring himself to harm me." I pulled away from him, just a little, and put my hands on the sides of his face. "You have to stay calm. I think he wants to rile you up with this so you'll make a mistake and reveal something. If we go there together, they will know where it is, because you are tall and easy to see. Don't follow his scheme, Guy."

His eyes searched mine again, before he pressed my hands with his own. "You're right," he said, closing his eyes. "He's relying on me reacting in my usual way, which would be to challenge him to a duel, to go with you, and so on." He looked way from me, considering. I saw his frenetic energy calm, though his anger still simmered beneath the surface. I knew he wanted to tear Hood apart for threatening me, and to never leave my side in that threat. But he knew he mustn't. Looking back at me, he said softly,

"Why are you so loyal to me?"

"You know why," I answered.

I saw how deep his desire was to kiss me then, but as were in public, a struggle played on his face. He moved back from me a little bit and closed his eyes. I knew he was trying to believe my words, as if recovering from some old wound that had never healed. After a moment, he opened them and said, "Well then, as the stakes are so much higher, I have an advance on your next payment. Prince John was quite pleased with your work."

He walked back to the mare tied behind Aomir, untied her and slapped her a little bit on the flank. "Here. She's yours. Now you can come to Gisborne Manor as a true lady next time."

My mouth fell open. The gift of a young, strong horse was unlike any that I had ever seen, and no one in my class of people had. We were donkey people, mule people, but not horse people. Not a horse like this one. The mare regarded me with clear, dark eyes, and I her. I was already thinking of a place to house her in our barn.

I turned to look at Guy, who had a worried expression on his face. "Say something," he said. "Does she please you?"

"Oh, Guy! I never…ever thought to own a horse, let alone a fine mare like this," I went to her gently, took her reins and patted her nose. "Hello, lovely lady. Do you really want to come home with me?" I saw Guy smile peripherally as I spoke to her. He stroked her mane and reached up to scratch her ears while I continued my conversation. The mare seemed pleased and with a solid temperament, as she did not shy away from me or from Guy. She nickered softly as I petted her, and then I felt Guy's hands at my waist.

"Well come on then, let me see you on her," he said softly. I smiled and he lifted and swung me up onto the mare's back, perching me there like a bird. I shifted to put one leg on each side, and he laughed. "As I had expected. No court lady would ride in such a way."

I ignored him but made a mental note of this. "She's beautiful, Guy. Is she Arabian, like…like Sabine's horse?"

Guy's face immediately changed. "No, she's English. I don't take to foreign horseflesh. The Arabians are too flighty and high strung, and they colic easily. Only Sabine would insist on a white Arabian mare. This mare," he said softly, "is a beautiful being who is loyal and demands respect." He reached up to me and caressed my hand on her reins. "Much like her mistress." I smiled, unable to contain myself.

"What are you going to call her?" he asked.

I stroked her mane and smiled a second time.

"Lily."