Chapter 3
Taken
I balanced the sword in my hand. It was perfect in every way. I heard the creak of a floorboard behind me. I wheeled around nearly missing Robin's chest with the point of the blade.
"Oh mighty warrior don't hurt me." He said in a sarcastic tone. I glared at him keeping the blade point up. "Why did you leave my father to die?" Robin stiffened. "I didn't leave him!"
"During the fight you and your father got hurt. Your father was losing a lot of blood he blacked out; I went to get something to close the wound. When I got back you and your father were gone."
I lowered the sword. "I'm sorry, it's…. It's been a long day." I sat down on the chest. Holding the sword up, I examined it more thoroughly. "Is this what you came for?" I asked, looking up at Robin. I could see him hesitate then he said "yes, it is."
I sat there for a moment in silence. What am I going to do? I have nowhere to go. I thought to myself. I took another look at the sword. As I lifted It to the light I leaned in closer. It looked like something was engraved in the sword. I went over to the window and held it up to the light.
"What is it?" asked Robin from behind me. "I don't know I can't see. There's not enough light."Robin came closer. "Let me see." I moved aside and handed him the sword. He held it up to the light and squinted his eyes. "See anything?" I asked
He shook his head and handed the sword back.
"No, we will have to wait until morning." I took the sword. "What's do you mean we?" Robin shrugged "just what I said. If you want to come with me that is." I looked at him. Other than he was my cousin and wanted by the sheriff. I knew nothing about him.
"Were would we go?" he shrugged "Sherwood forest I have friends there." I thought about it for a moment more. "What have I to lose?" I said "but first I need to say good bye to Dan."
Robin looked at me wearily "who's Dan?" I stood up straight and made my voice sound sterner. "He is a friend and if I am to leave Mansfield I must say goodbye first." He sighed "fine, but make it quick it would be disastrous if either you or I should be seen by sheriff's men." I nodded and headed towards Dan's House.
When I got to the entrance to town Robin turned to me. "I have some business to attend to I will meet you in the Tavern." I nodded and started to walk away. "Wait!" robin called. I looked back, he was holding out a sheath. "Don't want to call attention to yourself do you?" I took it and sheathed my sword. "Thanks." I said pulling my hood over my head I entered the Town.
I walked up to Dan's house and knocked on the door. There was no answer. "Dan it's me, Kathie!" I yelled but there was still no answer. Slowly I opened the door and looked inside. I cracked the door open wider to let in more light. I gasped his house was just as my house had been.
I stepped in and looked through the mess of broken glass and wood. Next I headed to the back of the house. I relaxed no body which meant Dan wasn't dead yet. I had to find out where he was.
I ran to the Tavern and was about to call for Robin when I remembered not to draw attention to myself. I walked in to the tavern and almost got hit by a flying pot. I ducked and It broke against the door.
Slowly I looked around the thrower of the pot was a tall thin man. I nodded at the bar tender and sat down at one of the round tables. As I watched the tall man lunged at a stout well built man. I shook my head probably drunks. Soon to be dealt with by the sheriff. At the thought of the sheriff I shuddered. If he were to catch me… I left that though hanging.
I looked around the room for Robin but he was no were to be seen. Surprisingly the fight was still going between the tall man and the well built man. Then a memory came back to me from when I was a little girl.
The whole village was standing in the streets ready to welcome the sheriff. Being a little girl I didn't know the importance of the event that was about to take place. I was running around with my friends. We had just lost are ball to one side of the road and I had been volunteered to get it.
As I started across the road the sheriff and a few of his men had cantered in to the village. I was amazed at the beautiful white mare the muscular man was ridding and stopped in the middle of the road. When the man saw me he yelled "get out of the road you fool!" but I paid no mind transfixed on the mare.
An instant before I got trampled someone pushed me out of the way of the horse's path. The sheriff didn't stop to make sure I was alright he just kept ridding. I had run to my father. After a long lecture about running in the roads. I had gone and played again like nothing had happened.
I stood up straight in my seat the man fighting. The well built man was the sheriff. Slowly I rose from my seat and headed for the door. Before I reached it the sheriff lunged at the skinny man knocking him through the door.
I backed into the shadows hoping the sheriff wouldn't see me. He was only five feet from me. The sheriff grabbed the skinny man by the beard. "Don't ever call me a thief again or I will personally cut out your tong!"
He pulled the skinny man up by his hair and threw him against the wall. The sheriff turned to the rest of the room "may this be a warning to you all!" he yelled and strutted out the tavern doors.
I went over to the skinny man and to my surprise I knew him. "Henry?" the man looked up at me his face was bloody from the fight. "Kathie you should not be here." His voice was weak. "The sheriff came looking for you personally and a man named Robin Hood" I nodded "I know where is Dan?"
He looked at me tears filling his eyes. I knew He was old; he had been my father's best friend. He needed a doctor. "Can you get up I'll take you to the town healer." Henry shook his head "no, Kathie." He paused and when he continued his voice was even worse.
"He took Dan, said you were friends." He groaned and continued. "He was guilty to; he's is too be hung in Nottingham." Tears ran down my face. "I will help you both." He smiled and shook his head. "No Kathie go help Dan. My time has come." His eyes rolled up in his head.
I sat for a moment then remembering were I was I stood and turned to the bar tender. "He is dead bury him." I tossed my silver piece to him this should cover the price. He nodded and got some men to carry the body out of the room.
I left the tavern to see Robin running towards me. "Run Kathie no time to explain." I ran. We left the town and ran into the shelter of the woods. He sat down and exhaled. "That was a close one." I didn't sit. Quickly I explained to Robin what had happened. When I had finished He stood up.
"Well then we don't have much time." I nodded gravely. He frowned. "We had better go to Sherwood first and get some help." I thought about it and nodded "sounds good. Let's go." Robin nodded and we headed into the forest.