Nothing is as it seems, and it seems there is nothing the Sheriff won't do to prevent his plans from falling through...Please review!

Chapter 23

Lizzie

We walked in silence through the forest, my heart thudding nervously – had something happened to Guy? My companion was surly at best but I tried anyway,

"Look, what's this about?" I said, stopping firmly. "Surely we've gone far enough."

He turned round slowly,

"Just a little bit further. And I couldn't give you the details if I wanted to – I'm just the messenger." He said shrugging and sloped onwards, leaving me no choice but to follow, which I did. After what seemed like way too long he slowed and leveled with me, saying

"My wagons just through there." And pointing through a gap in the trees. True enough there was a wagon there but I began to feel very uneasy about going any further, curiosity got the better of me though and I stepped tentatively towards the wagon with the stranger close behind me – too close. As I got nearer I saw that two men were leaning against the wagon obviously waiting for something, I wondered if they were waiting for me. A quick, nervous glance behind me confirmed that the stranger was still at my heels but I tensed, ready to run just in case. A twig snapped underneath my feet and the two men looked up sharply, exchanging looks upon seeing me – I definitely did not like this, I jumped as I felt a hand on the small of my back, pushing me forward and dug my heels into the ground.

"What are you doing? Can you please tell me what's going on?" I demanded but he just kept applying pressure to my back, adding a hand on my arm and he was too strong for me by far – I was being shepherded towards the wagon. The men sauntered forwards to meet us and the stockier of the two nodded at me.

"That her?" He asked and my companion nodded. The other man, who was tall and lanky with sandy blonde hair, smirked.

"Well she don't look up to much." He wheedled in a nasal voice. I could feel my nose wrinkle with disgust – when I got my chance I was kicking him first. I struggled against the strangers grip but he grabbed both of my arms and twisted them painfully behind my back making me hiss through my teeth in pain,

"I demand to know what is going on." I said through gritted teeth but no-one replied. Charming. I noticed they were all quite heavily armed – the short one had a belt laden with various types of daggers and the tall, thin one had a bow and arrow slung across his back and a dagger by his side, as for the man holding me – I could now feel his knife, the tip was pressed between my shoulder blades.

"Did the Sheriff send you?" I growled and the stranger laughed,

"Very astute Miss, I must say." He said, mocking me as he pushed me towards the wagon. Now I knew for a fact that the wagon was somewhere I didn't want to be in the slightest so I took a chance and fell heavily to the side, crying out in pain and making a show of nursing my ankle.

"You idiot! You lumbering buffoon – you tripped me!" I shouted, glaring up at the stranger who was looking at me, puzzled.

"No I didn't. You watch your mouth." He threatened but I made a noise of disbelief,

"You stepped on the hem of my dress, you oaf." I informed him bitterly. "Now help me up." I demanded imperiously, extending my left hand. He rolled his eyes but did as I'd asked, taking my left hand and giving me ample opportunity as he bent over to take the dagger out of his belt with my right and brandish it fiercely.

He jumped back with a yell and I scrambled to my feet, retreating slightly so all three of them were in my line of vision.

"Don't come any closer." I warned but quick as a flash the short man threw himself at me and I stepped out of the way in shock, bad move. I couldn't help uttering a small scream as he came towards me again, this time with a blade of his own and pointed at me, I threw up my arms in defense as he advanced and, when he was near enough, gritted my teeth and kicked out, catching him on his kneecap. Taking advantage of his deflection I brought up my knee to connect solidly with his groin and had the satisfaction of seeing him crumple and roll around, I had no time to crow though as I was caught from behind by the lanky man and my captor was fast approaching, his eyes flashing. I struggled for all I was worth and found that we were quite evenly matched in strength, encouraged I bent at the waist and bit his hand, drawing blood, but the stranger quickened his pace so I stood up quickly and with force, hitting the lanky man in the face with the back of my head. He let go of me and I didn't look, just slashed with my dagger and heard his shriek of pain, looking I saw I'd cut him across his side and he was doubled over with the pain, feeling queasy but still determined I cut the tie binding his bow and arrows to him and whirled around, slotting an arrow into place just as the stranger was about to grab me.

"Stop." I ordered, as calmly as I could while pointing the bow and arrow steadily at his heart, and he did stop though his eyes turned dark and his top lip pulled at the corner to expose sharp teeth in a feral snarl. I held my ground,

"Do not come any closer or I assure you I will not hesitate to 'shoot the messenger' as it were." I said and he clenched his fists, the look in his eyes telling me he wanted nothing more than to rip my head off. I gulped, despite me being the one holding the weapon I felt like I was the one being threatened. Still we stood there and neither of us moved a muscle even though my hand began to ache from holding the bowstring taut, all at once he dived to the side and I automatically released the arrow – of course it pierced the air – and I cursed but soon I had more to curse about as I was grabbed from behind by strong arms. Stocky man! I'd forgotten about him. My surprise and panic made me a worthless fighter and he had me in a minute, my stomach sank with dread as the stranger walked towards me and between the two of them they began dragging me, kicking and screaming, to the wagon. The tall man was lying on his side whimpering and I felt a rush of savage pleasure as I realized I had done that, but I was getting closer and closer. The blood started to go to my head and I gasped for air, running out of energy to struggle against them. Then I was there. The stocky man went to get the tall man up and I was left in the iron grip of the stranger, I struggled with renewed fervor but he lifted me off the ground and shoved me none too gently into the back of the wagon, clambering in after me and tying my hands behind my back with some rope. That done he took a piece of cloth and slotted it between my teeth, knotting it tightly behind my head, then a handful of my hair was seized,

"Give up and settle down." he whispered fiercely into my ear as the wagon began to move. Restrained by the ropes and held by the strangers strong hands I couldn't escape and could only sit and hate them all with a burning passion I'm surprised didn't scorch the ropes. As we got further and further away from the forest and my only hope of protection the stranger laughed,

"We'll be there soon, our mutual friend the Sheriff has a few things he wants to...ah...make clear."