Boots drew the bowstring back with controlled precision. He didn\u2019t move a muscle more than he had to. As he sighted along the arrow\u2019s shaft, little beads of sweat gathered at the roots of his shaggy hair, but his arm held steady. Crouched next to Boots, his friend, Colin, leaned in.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll never make that hit,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
An absent smile wandered across Boots\u2019 face; he didn\u2019t dignify the comment with any more reaction than that. His focus was on the round, wooden target dangling from a tree branch twenty-five paces away. He could just see it from their concealed spot in the denser part of the woods. The target was suspended from a large branch at the tree line that bordered a large clearing. Gathered in that clearing, shielded from Colin\u2019s and Boots\u2019 sight by the trees, were the crowds from the village, and the affluent visitors taking part in the competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The competition was hosted by some lord \u2013 lord Narsha? Narhosh? From what Boots overheard discussed in the village, the visit was not entirely welcome by all, which was not the usual case.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Typically, a visiting lord with a small party of retainers and soldiers was quite commonplace at the turn of the season or near festivals, and was often accompanied by competitions, feasting and celebrations. The lord may be coming through on travels, have business with the magister, or be on an errand from the king. The soldiers were there to tend to any problems and sweep the area for brigands along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Being a lowly farmer with no large amount of land, Boots never looked beyond the mug of ale and slab of meat these visits brought. But there was something different this time. There were mutterings and outright complaints about the new king and his \u201cnew ways\u201d, about land, lords, tithes and ownership. Boots did not have a full understanding of the changes the new king wanted to instill, but the reactions in the village were not favourable. It made what he and Colin were up to that much more satisfactory.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The main event of this particular visit was an archery competition, with an entry fee that was used to contribute towards the prize monies. A fee Boots was nowhere near able to afford; Colin could, but he had not the skill. They had briefly considered Boots entering with Colin\u2019s fee, a simple enough solution, but as was the way with the two friends, simplicity would never outweigh mischief. There was, of course, another reason for Boots in particular to avoid the public competition.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Yesterday, Colin had paused in his splitting of a long shovel handle to ask in an uncharacteristic moment of doubt: \u201cDo you think your mother would \u2013 \u201c\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI can\u2019t see how she could,\u201d Boots said, cutting him off quickly, \u201cno one is going to see me, I won\u2019t even see them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cAlright, it\u2019s just it isn\u2019t too late to back out. I know how much your mother disapproves of -\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Again, Boots quickly cut off his friend\u2019s concern, \u201cShe does disapprove, she always has. And I am not actually<\/em> going to compete or be seen, right? Only you and I will know and I\u2019m not going to tell her. Are you<\/em> going to tell her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Colin held up his hands to ward off even the thought of Meranin\u2019s disapproval in this matter, \u201cAbsolutely not. I know better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cGood, then let\u2019s keep working. Honestly, since when are you the one who needs convincing,\u201d Boots had said with a funny smile and gone back to the task of balancing an arrow just for the purposes of the difficult shot he planned to make.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n They had both bent their minds back to their work to better ignore the prickle of guilt that arose. As their plans fell into place, the doubt and guilt were blunted by the rising anticipation. And now, with success dangling before him through the tree branches, there was nothing in his mind but to measure the wind as it brushed his cheek and the cutting tension of the bowstring along his fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots had been listening to the villagers talk, and watching when he could, and he knew that those in the competition were very good, but he was better. And on this final day he intended to prove it, if to no one but himself, his good friend and one person he could only hope would be watching. Crouched in the bushes, Boots would miss the satisfaction of seeing the reactions, but he would hold the feeling of triumph dear forever. All he had to do was wait.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The dangling target that he could glimpse through the trees was as still as it was likely to get. In this competition, all arrows shot at the one target on the call of \u201cdraw\u201d. Only the fastest release and best aim would hit the round ahead of the other arrows. The arrow closest to the middle would be pronounced the winner. From this angle, crouched in the trees, Boots had no hope of hitting the centre of the target; but that wasn\u2019t his goal. Boots adjusted his aim; not at the target, but at the rope that held it.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Beside him Colin seemed to hold his breath. It would be any moment.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cReady!\u201d Came the cry from the clearing, muffled by distance. Boots\u2019 shoulder adjusted slightly, \u201cSet! Draw!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To Colin, the call and the hum of the string being released were simultaneous; there was no reaction time to be registered. Boots\u2019 carefully made arrow flew with unbelievable speed and power, whistling through the tree branches and severing the rope that held the target. The target plummeted downwards leaving nothing but empty air for the volley of arrows coming from the competitors in the clearing. A wide grin split Colin\u2019s face, and he punched the air in silent celebration as shouts of shock bubbled over the edge of the clearing as the remaining arrows flew past the spot where the target had been and into the woods beyond.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The only person who was not reacting to the downed target was Boots, who had readied another arrow immediately after the first had flown. His eyes had traced the path of the falling target until it disappeared from his view, and they were fixed at that point. He leaned to the left, raised slightly from his crouched position and sighted through the leaves and branches. He let the second arrow fly up in a high arc to plummet downwards through the treetops in the distance. Only then did he permit himself a satisfied grin. Colin looked at him quizzically but there was no time to explain. They both hopped to their feet and ran full speed through the woods to avoid the search that was possibly headed their way.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n They ran along a deer path that would leave as little evidence of their passing as possible. The woods they were in stretched out along a section of a creek then petered out closer to the farmers\u2019 fields at either end. Anyone who wanted to get from the clearing to where they were would either have to forge through the trees or take the path that looped all the way around the wooded area. Boots and Colin broke from the trees, bolted across road and hopped the low border wall.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Lying along the base of the wall were two, rough farm tools. One of them had a handle that had been split and hollowed out along each length by Colin. Boots rammed his bow and string into the hollow and fit the pieces together. Colin held the pieces of the handle together while Boots bound them with strips of cloth.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cTighter,\u201d Colin muttered, glancing up and down the path.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m trying!\u201d Boots gasped, he was feeling jumpy all over after the shot and the run, and his hands were sweaty and clumsy. He rubbed the sweat off his forehead and tied off the last strip of cloth. The seam was indistinguishable in the old handle, looking just like another crack that had been hastily repaired by a few rags. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A handcart was sitting in the field. Boots tossed the tool to Colin who placed it in the cart alongside a few others. Then Colin grabbed a cloth from the cart that held some cheese, red-root and bread with one hand and a jug of water with the other. He and Boots perched on the wall, catching their breath and trading swigs from the jug. Colin spat some water onto his thumb and daubed it on each shoulder, muttering an invocation to hide guilt before asking Boots,\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cWhat was the second arrow for?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots took a drink from the jug, also dabbed at his shoulders with a half-hearted plea to the gods, and passed the water back to Colin before offering his explanation with a cocky grin.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYou\u2019re only the winner if you hit the target, right?\u201d Colin coughed on his drink.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cBut you couldn\u2019t see the target, it was on the ground,\u201d he said, wiping a dribble of water from his chin with the back of his hand.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots shrugged and plucked a piece of red-root from the cloth, taking a big bite of the stem. It was a little bitter, but it was always refreshing. Colin nudged his shoulder and gestured ahead of them.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cThat was quick,\u201d Colin said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots looked up and followed Colin\u2019s gaze to where five riders were coming into view from behind the trees. They were still far away, but even from this distance, he was certain the horses and riders were not from his village.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n His heart was just starting to calm from their scramble to the field to hide the bow and now it gave a little stutter as he watched the riders pause where the road split. They seemed to be talking, Boots watched, clutching the red-root tightly in his hand. Realizing his tense posture, he breathed and tried to relax his shoulders, trying to copy the relaxed laziness that Colin adopted so easily.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A few of the riders up ahead looked to be kitted out as soldiers, with weapons strapped to their backs or sides. One rider cut out across the meadow, two more riders left the path and made for the forest Boots and Colin had just abandoned, and the remaining two riders continued down the path that would pass right by Colin and Boots.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Colin gestured towards the riders who had now reached the forest and were dismounting to look around.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cSee, aren\u2019t you happy now that we didn\u2019t stay hiding in there?\u201d He asked, not sounding half as nervous as Boots felt.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Then he waved at the soldiers and riders.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cColin!\u201d Boots hissed, \u201cDon\u2019t signal at them!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Colin rolled his eyes, \u201cIt\u2019s exactly what two country farm-boys would be expected to do. We look more innocent here than we would have crouching in the bushes, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n They had debated staying hidden in the bushes. Relying on the thick, messy underbrush to hide them while they made an escape. But though the patch of trees was large, it was surrounded on all sides by open fields and meadow. Even if Boots was as fast as Colin, there was a good chance they would have been seen fleeing by someone. Whereas this field gave them an easy exit and an excuse.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots glanced at the handcart to assure himself that the bow\u2019s hiding place was not visible. At one point they had considered leaving the bow in the woods, but had decided against it since it was immediately recognizable by every villager as belonging to Boots. And, if Boots was being honest, he really liked that bow. He liked it even more now.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Bolstered by the reminder of his victory he settled his shoulders and gave Colin a half smile that his friend returned in full. Then they adopted similar slack-jawed expressions as the two riders slowed to approach them. Colin had taken another bite of red-root and was chewing with his mouth open as he watched the riders steer their mounts off the path and walk the horses forward. He clicked his jaw shut and swallowed as the horses came to a stop.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The one horseman had dark hair and was dressed in rich fabrics and colours trimmed in gold braid, including little gold caps on the shoulders of his coat that were fringed in little gold braids that rippled when he moved. He looked very angry. His eyes skimmed Boots\u2019 and Colin\u2019s dirty clothes and gormless faces and seemed to dismiss them. He stayed loftily on his saddle; his long face turned to glare at the trees to his right.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The other man had a trim reddish beard and short-cropped light hair. He was dressed in dark grey and black and more black with a short sword at his hip and a larger one in a scabbard on his saddle. He had some gold and silver braid as well, but it was in bars of rank on his chest and sleeves. There was something quick about him, even though he was not moving, his eyes were watchful. He looked them over carefully as he addressed them.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cWe are looking for a man, or men, with bows. Have you seen any?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Colin picked at his teeth and let his country accent run thick through his answer.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYes sir.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cWhere?\u201d The second rider demanded, head swinging back to look at them.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cThat way,\u201d Colin said, pointing towards the horses waiting at the edge of the woods just recently left by the soldiers, \u201cI thought two of those riders had bows.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots had to fix an honest look on his face, and nod stupidly in response to the suspicious look the rider in black gave him.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cIdiots, are you mocking me?\u201d the dark-haired rider demanded, his horse cantering forward a few steps, the man\u2019s face was reddened in fury. \u201cAfter the insult I have borne today, the threat to my safety! It is not to be tolerated.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n He seemed ready to say more. The way he was leaning out of his saddle Boots thought he might be ready to jump off his horse. He felt a trickle of nervousness, he hoped Colin would be cautious.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The orange haired rider moved his horse to angle the other one back and inclined his head.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cMy lord, please allow me,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0The dark-haired man, the lord, Boots realized with a shock, looked like he might refuse for a moment, then stiffly nodded and sidled his horse out of the way. Genuinely impressed at the side-step the man achieved with his mount, Boots let himself gawk a little at the horse and fancy saddle.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cArrows were fired into the competition just now, beyond that stand of trees,\u201d the orange haired man said. His voice was mild, but his eyes were sharp. \u201cDid either of you see anything? Any men fleeing the woods? Someone approaching them earlier?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cNo sir,\u201d Colin said with careful politeness. Not trusting his voice Boots shook his head. In the distance a new group of riders were gathering on the path, Boots saw them divide up again in much the same directions as before. The lord looked over his shoulder, but the orange bearded man in black kept his gaze trained on Colin and Boots.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cHow long have you been here?\u201d Was the next question.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots felt a flush of sweat break out along the back of his neck. They had not thought anyone would ask that. They were just supposed to see two farm boys and move along. His tongue would not move and his brain was in a panic as it tried to scramble for a plausible lie. He needn\u2019t have worried, Colin was there.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s see,\u201d Colin began in a thoughtful tone that gave Boots some relief. Colin surveyed the field, as if thinking very hard.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cWe started in the south-west corner,\u201d Colin paused and checked the sun to be sure, \u201cbut we needed to check the sprouts over by the fence, but I forgot my pickaxe on account of my sister\u2019s, husband\u2019s brother,\u201d he paused and said in an aside to Boots who nodded stupidly in response, \u201cyou know, what a goat\u2019s arse he can be? Anyway, he borrowed it in the winter to chip ice and he warped the eye,\u201d he stopped his musing and fixed the orange haired soldier with a knowing look, \u201cbecause he was heating it up, see, to try and chip the ice faster. But you don\u2019t chip ice faster that way, you just weaken the metal and get yourself a warped pickaxe eye. Anyway, I didn\u2019t have the pickaxe because I told my sister to tell her husband\u2019s brother that he better fix\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Colin\u2019s voice droned on and Boots tried to keep his face plain and simple as he listened to Colin\u2019s ridiculous story. He did not think he was succeeding, maybe his guilt was seeping out around the edges, but Boots felt the fair-haired rider in black kept looking at him more so than at Colin. Boots felt a bubble of panic well up inside him and he let it burst out.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cDon\u2019t tell my mother!\u201d Boots cried out suddenly.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Colin\u2019s story halted and everyone stared at Boots.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cDon\u2019t tell my mother we have so little done. We should have done more, we just got distracted is all. We\u2019ll have to stay \u2018till dinner to make up the lost time, we mayn\u2019t even go to the festival if we don\u2019t finish. But we will. Wodan\u2019s honour. Sir!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots finished with a tense, awkward salute. Colin followed suite, bolting upright and lifting his arm; the large, leafy end of the red-root still clenched in his hand flapped against his face causing him to sneeze.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The lord made a sound between irritation and disgust, the orange haired man thinned his lips in thought. He was about to speak when a rider from the group in the distance broke and guided her horse towards them. The pounding of the approaching hooves caught everyone\u2019s attention and Boots deflated with relief when the lord and soldier turned to greet the new rider.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cCaptain,\u201d the approaching rider hailed.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The soldier in black responded to the woman, riding out to meet her. Though she addressed the man as \u2018captain\u2019 she was not dressed in any formal soldier\u2019s attire. Her horse was strong and broad, she did not even have saddle, just a thick blanket rolled at each end in the manner of the far North West. Two sword pommels stuck out from the rolled blankets at the back.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n She and the captain spoke quietly a little distance away. Boots, the dark haired noble and Colin all stood about in silence, until Colin broke it by deciding to take a loud bite of his red-root and chew with unnecessary force to fill the silence with his crunching.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The captain and the woman walked their horses back over. Boots no longer had to worry about covering his guilt with false innocence, because he was now watching with genuine curiosity.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cI have to ride out,\u201d the captain said, addressing the man with the dark hair, \u201cI should be back this evening or in the morning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cThat is unacceptable in these circumstances,\u201d the man replied, his voice raised. \u201cA crime has been committed against me! When my father hears of this, he will raze this village to the -\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYou will do no such thing,\u201d the captain cut in with an authority that seemed to diminish the lord\u2019s outburst, \u201cthat<\/em> is an order. And I suggest, following our conversation here, we return to your lodgings and discuss strategies for further action.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The moment was not far from a parent dressing down a child in public, and there was no doubt the \u201cdiscussion\u201d would be one-sided. Boots and Colin were taken in by the drama, no longer feigning their wide-eyed looks. Colin went to take another lout bite of his red-root but Boots reached out a hand stopped him.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cNow, I must depart. Bridda will be here to speak in my place, as usual, I trust her judgement implicitly,\u201d the captain said with emphasis.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cMy lord, I am pleased to serve you,\u201d the woman, who must be Bridda, said with perfect neutrality and a studied salute towards the dark-haired lord.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The noble\u2019s face was pinched with anger, his hands were sharp on his reigns as he turned the horse to fully address the captain and Bridda. Maybe the man could not trust himself to speak, or could not say what he wanted, because he turned his face sharply to Colin and Boots instead.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cFilth,\u201d he spat at them.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Then turned and rode stiffly away.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The unexpected venom of the insult took Boots by surprise. He heard Colin take in a sharp breath and Boots prayed that Colin would hold his impulsive tongue.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cAnd you are certain that you cannot delay for even a day?\u201d Bridda asked as she and the captain watched the noble ride away in the distance.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cI will be as quick as I can. I assure you,\u201d he responded.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cAnd these two?\u201d she asked, her gaze slid over to Boots and Colin, who, at this point, were leaning against the fence less to look casual and more to stay standing. It did not help to have the captain focus his attention fully on them once more. Again, Boots felt that the captain watched him more closely than Colin.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cI think these two probably have more questions than answers at this point,\u201d he said. That was, when Boots thought about it, possibly true.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cMake note of their names and where they live for now. Then report to me before I go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Again, Boots felt the panic of something they had not prepared for. He was trying to remember if Colin had lied about their names in his ridiculous story about the pick axe. He hoped Colin had an idea.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYou know I could just as easily go as you, right? It\u2019s almost as though you don\u2019t want to be here,\u201d Bridda said mildly to the captain.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cI believe my skills could be better applied to the awaiting task,\u201d he replied in an even tone.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cMine too,\u201d she said, drily.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The two sketched salutes to each other and the captain rode away, leaving Boots and Colin with Bridda, who fixed them both with a shrewd look they immediately understood.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The captain had an intense, unnerving look, but this woman\u2019s look clearly showed she had younger brothers \u2013 or something of the like. Boots had no siblings, but he knew the look from the village women who had been scolding him since they were just girls and he a boy. It was a look that harboured a completely justifiable mistrust and well-placed suspicion. Boots folded his lips together tight.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Colin cleared his throat and Boots tensed.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cMy name is Colin,\u201d he said, somewhat hoarsely, \u201cBoots and I were supposed to be going to check on the field but we decided to take a rest here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Half-truth\u2019s, that would work.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYes. And my name is Boots,\u201d Boots said. \u201cLike you wear on your feet,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n She looked from one to the other, then to the hand-cart in the field. She leaned forward in her saddle.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cLook. Did either of you shoot arrows at the crowd gathered in the woods today? Are you trying to assassinate a lord because you don\u2019t like what the new king is doing?\u201d She asked.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots and Colin\u2019s eyes both widened.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d Colin said faintly.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cNo,\u201d was all Boots managed with a stiff shake of his head.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cGood, because if that was the case, things would go very, very<\/em>, badly for the two of you and possibly your families.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n She stared them down a little longer. Boots felt like his guilt was a squirrel hiding behind a bush; one wrong move and she would see, she would know. She shifted her eyes to Colin, then back to Boots, as if sensing he was the easier target. It was not difficult for Boots to keep the look of surprise on his face. The words \u2018assassinate a lord\u2019, echoed in his head.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Finally, she straightened up.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cMy name is Bridda, if you think of anything or learn anything that you think I should know I want you to find me or send word right away. Understood?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYes ma\u2019am,\u201d they both murmured, no silly salutes this time.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cGood.\u201d She paused then added, \u201cstay out of trouble.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It sounded like a warning.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots and Colin watched her ride away, and with each step Boots felt his heart unwind a little bit more. He took a drink of water from the jug then passed it to Colin. Colin rinsed a mouthful around then swallowed.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cDo you think they know?\u201d Colin asked.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cIf they do, it doesn\u2019t seem like they want to give us up to that dark-haired dandy,\u201d Boots said. \u201cDo you think that noble is the one hosting the event?\u201d He asked.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cDon\u2019t know,\u201d Colin said. \u201cBut now that I\u2019ve met him, I\u2019m even happier that we did it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Both friends grinned.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cSo, we got away with it then? We did it.\u201d Colin said, the eagerness overtaking the uncertainty in his voice. Boots, whose fingers and face had gone a little numb with panic, began to tingle with renewed excitement.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cLooks like we did,\u201d Boots said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Their smiles widened, then Colin let out a chuckle. Then Boots did too, although he couldn\u2019t be sure why, the laughter just seemed to bubble out of them until they were holding their sides. They laughed and gasped out the excitement, the panic and the fear until tears streamed down their faces and they were sitting on the ground to catch their breath.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYour face when you saluted\u2026\u201d Colin said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cThat story about the pick-axe\u2026\u201d Boots said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cThe way you gawped at the horses. Those were some fine-looking beasts. Great teeth on them.\u201d Colin said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYeah. And the horses were pretty good too,\u201d Boots responded in kind. They shared another laugh while they leaned up against the fence and then settled down as much as they could. Boots scrubbed the tears off his cheeks and welcomed excitement of having gotten away with everything humming through his veins once more. They finally sat in silence for a bit, enjoying the open sky and the fine weather.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As though the laughter had emptied the tangle of emotions, Boots was able to look back over the past moments with more clarity and focus.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cWhen that lord said he\u2019d raze the village, you don\u2019t think -\u201d Boots began, unsure of how to finish. Colin thought this over.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cMaybe he wants to, but how could he. There are laws and stuff,\u201d Colin said vaguely. \u201cBesides, this competition had people visiting from all the surrounding villages too; could have been someone from another village just as well as someone from this village. He can\u2019t burn all of them to the ground.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots nodded; it seemed unlikely something that drastic would come of what they had done.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cYou really think you hit that target with the second shot?\u201d Colin asked, changing the subject.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Boots shrugged, \u201cIt was worth the try. I suppose we\u2019ll find out later.\u201d He did not want to overstate his confidence in case it had missed, but he had felt a familiar surety in the second shot.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cDo you think Fauna was watching?\u201d Colin asked with a teasing grin.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cI suppose we\u2019ll find out later,\u201d Boots repeated with another shrug, trying to sound disinterested; but his smile showed he wondered the same thing.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Boots drew the bowstring back with controlled precision. He didn\u2019t move a muscle more than he had to. As he sighted along the arrow\u2019s shaft, little beads of sweat gathered at the roots of his shaggy hair, but his arm held steady. Crouched next to …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boots"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":315,"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62\/revisions\/315"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=62"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fictionforest.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}