Chapter 7

It took us five hours to reach the camp so it was late in the afternoon and I was so hungry, I was tempted to eat Co...um...my finger nails. Yeah, that's how hungry I was.

The camp was not what I expected. Instead of dirty tents made of tree bows and little filthy fire places, there were neat small log cabins and stone lined pits. Large skins of elk and bear hung over the front of the cabins the men that were there already were dressed in the same fine green as the ones we had met. Some wore things they had picked off of rich guys, plumed hats, gold chains, a purple pointed shoe and other random things.

All of the man tilted their head towards Robina in a respectful way as she strode into her own camp with confident, proud strides. They looked at me, or should I say, they looked at Ares with great interest. There were a few women bending over some fires, and I hoped Perceval's cousin wasn't here. They stared at us blankly and when I forced a smile at one of them she creeped out and ran into a cabin while the others looked like I had just done something...horrible.

A very long table was stretched out under an oak where a few ladies and boys were scurrying about, putting food on. It was mostly meat and a strange dish of turnips. But hey, it was food, and I was practically drooling as I swung off Ares, my eyes only seeing the food.

Someone took hold of the reins and I immediately looked to see a greasy faced man clutching the bridle. Ares reared suddenly with a shriek of annoyance.

The big dumbell, Ares was my horse. I glared at the man and shoved him away.

"Don't touch my horse."

"We will take care of your horse," said Robina as if that justified what the man had done.

I shook my head. "Ares won't let anyone touch him but me. I'll tie him on that tree over there. And no one touch him," I said with emphasize looking at the rouge who had freaked out my horse.

Ares stepped cautiously after me and I tied him to the tree. "I'll be back later, boy, with oats, if these people have any."

Conrad was already stuffing his face when I returned and was laughing and joking with the rest of the green men. I joined and was impressed with the delicious taste of the meat, but then again I had starving so even the turnips, tasted great. I had never been a fan of veggies but that stuff was really good.

Perceval watched everything from his end at the table which was rather shadowy. He had been the only one who didn't wear the traditional green suit. He was dressed in black with a dark brown cloak covering everything and his face half way. But I could see he was smiling his sly smile as if he knew something was going to happen.

It made me nervous and I tried not to look at him. But that is hard to do when you know he is staring at you. It was rather uncorforatable. But I was too tired to care much.

Tired? The sun was still high in the sky, I wasn't tired. Was I?

I looked at Conrad who was drinking up the last of his wine and laughing with another green man. I blinked my eyes and it seemed as I did want to go to sleep, I was so tired.

A sudden slap on my back brought me to my senses and I looked up into Robina's beaming face.

"Lance," she said. "Remember your horse?"

"Yeah," I said, straightening and looking over to where he was grazing peacefully. "Of course I do."

"Can I have him?"

"No," I said flatly. I may have been looking tired but I wasn't dumb. Then I had an idea that almost made me smile and give it away. "Wait. I'll let you have him if you can stay on him for a minute."

She looked insulted. "I can ride a horse, boy," she snarled.

Oh, great don't call me that, you are only nineteen. "I'm sure you can," I said with a shurg. "But you can't ride Ares. I'll make a deal with you. If you can stay on Ares for a minute then I'll give him to you and everything I own. But ifyou can't. Then you have to supply me with a whole donkey full of food. And not just meat and turnips."

She smirked. "Fine. It's a deal."

"Very unwise of you...sister," said Perceval suddenly. He arose slowly from the table. "The horse is a devil and if you ride him you'll likely loose more than just food and a donkey."

Now Robina was really insulted. She sneered, "Perceval, shut up. You are only a boy and can't decide anything. I'm going to ride the bay."

I glanced at Perceval and shrugged with a grin. Perceval was undaunted by his sister and smiled, as if to say, 'Fine, be that way. It won't be my fault if you get killed.'

Ares rolled his eyes when Robina came marching up to him in a huff. I groaned when I saw her untie him. He quickly reared and would have crushed her if she hadn't jumped away at the last second. She led him to the large clearing and the people scattered watching wide- eyed as Ares rolled his eyes dangerously and stepped feverishly as if trying to step on Robina's feet.

I wish he did.

When she was in the middle of the clearing she swung on Ares with an angry expression on her face. Ares of course, reared so high, Robina got this sudden look of fright on her face as she clung to his mane. He came down with a high kick and Robina went flying over his head.

I had to keep a straight face as all of her green men immediately rushed to her with gasps and cries. Conrad was on his feet gaping in surprise as Robina Hall Queen of the forest was carried into a cabin, borne by four men and ten others following. He looked at me with a small amazed smile.

"We get food," I said happily.

Suddenly one of the men that took Robina away came out with a very grave face. He said, "Robina commands that the two prisoners, Conrad and Lance are to be locked up in jail until she decides a punishment good enough for them. She also demands that the horse is to be tethered and given no food or water. That should destroy his spirit."

My smile was immediately swept away as two men grabbed my arms.