The Greenwood Shadow (38 page)

"So, kill the king and all of his sons?" Evey asked sardonically.

"To put it bluntly."

"So, you want some hired assassins. Well, I can't fault your taste. I'd make a wonderful enemy." Evey tightened her grip on the sword. "I've got to admit, though, I'm rather disappointed in you. I expected something partially tempting at least. I thought I might have to take at least four seconds to think before I refused you. But this is a bit below your usual standard isn't it?"

Sir Guy's voice dropped to a more threatening tone. "You're saying that you would choose to fight an already lost battle, and die in a forsaken, underground tunnel when instead you could choose wealth, power, fame, and freedom?"

"No. We're choosing honor over cowardice. You're asking us to betray our country, king, and everything we believe in, just to save our own skins. How can you think that we would ever even consider joining you? Especially with those conditions?" She wiped sweat from her forehead. "No, Gisbourne. You've made a huge mistake. You should have gotten rid of us while you had the chance."

"I've got the chance now. You're the one who has made a mistake in crossing me. Jorrin, the boy."

A huge soldier strode forward and kicked Isaiah squarely in the head. Evey's stomach clenched, and she white-knuckled the sword grip.

"Again!"

Jorrin kicked again, this time in the ribs.

"You will pay for that, Gisbourne." Evey's voice was low.

"Somehow I don't think so. Again!"

Jorrin grabbed Isaiah by the collar, hoisted him to his knees, and punched him in the gut, too close to his crossbow wound. Isaiah collapsed again, gasping for air. Tears ran down Evey's face, and she shook with rage.

"Again!"

Three punches flew, all to the gut. Before the fourth could land, Evey's sword had pierced Jorrin under his raised arm. For a long while, nobody moved. Then Jorrin fell to the ground.

As one Evey, Will, and John burst into action, overcoming three of the surprised guards. The remaining ten closed in quickly. In the confusion of the sudden attack, the tunnel walls served as their best defense. The tunnel was only wide enough for two to stand side by side, so the men couldn't crowd in all at once.

Evey threw her dagger at one, slashed the sword arm of a second, and knocked away the loosely held axe of a third all in one deft movement. John and Will were slower. Will's quarterstaff was not suited for such a confined space and John himself was large enough to limit his own movement. Even so, the soldiers fell before them one by one.

Evey fought hard. She was quick and small, but Sir Guy was right about one thing. The sword was not her strength. After several interminable minutes, there was only one man left on Evey's side. He seemed to be half drunk, but even drunk, he was better with his sword than she was. Evey parried desperately, only just keeping her footing. A moment later she landed a painful gash on the knight's weapon hand.

She parried a thrust, counter-attacked, and knocked the other sword wide. With a mighty swing, she smashed the hilt into the knight's stomach. For good measure she hit him over the head as well, knocking him unconscious.

Finally. She thought she'd lost that one for sure.

Things looked bad. John was pinned to the ground with his arm twisted awkwardly behind his back. Will's opponent had placed his boot on top of Will's throat, threatening to crush his airway at the slightest provocation.

She went for Will's attacker first, but it seemed too risky to attack with the sword. He might just step on Will. Instead, she tackled him. They both crashed to the ground in a confused mess. If the man had been at his best he could have trapped or killed her easily, but he was tired and surprised. Evey wiggled out of his grasp and slammed the sword hilt into his temple.

She snatched up her bow and aimed at the last man.

"Let him go or become a pin-cushion. Your choice."

The huge soldier looked around, saw his comrades had all been taken down, and raised his hands in surrender. John was a bit dazed, but unhurt. He stood and checked that his arm wasn't broken.

"Tie him," she ordered. John did as he was told.

Every surveyed the area and felt a bit nauseous. Dead and unconscious men were strewn everywhere. Yet again, this was the part of battle that she never considered. So many men had died on both sides, and all for what? How much of it was her own fault?

"John, check on Will. I'm going to..." She trailed off. None of the faces belonged to Isaiah.

She couldn't even scream. Her shaking fingers clenched her bow so tightly that she dropped it. Without another word, she scooped up her weapon and sprinted down the tunnel as fast as her legs could carry her. Sir Guy would not escape again.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

The tunnel got dark quickly. Obviously Sir Guy wasn't going to stop and light torches along the way. That would slow him down. But then again, so would the dark. Evey picked up her pace. Though she could barely see, she somehow never hit a wall or tripped over the uneven ground. She didn't understand it, but she didn't stop to question it either.

A flicker of light stopped her. It was just strong enough to show the fork in the tunnel. The main passage continued to the left, but the light came from the right. It was just a tiny branch-off. Evey might not have noticed it at all if it weren't for the light.

Even with Isaiah's life on the line, she was wary of venturing into a dead end tunnel that had Sir Guy at the other end. If she waited long enough, the king's knights would come. They could rescue him without any more deaths.

Except Sir Guy's.

Isaiah's bruised face appeared in her mind. An instant later, she sprinted down the side tunnel.

The light couldn't be too far ahead. She caught glimpses of it just around every bend. Sir Guy wasn't being very cautious. Lighting a torch at all was dumb, unless he thought that he was safe. Evey nocked the arrow that she'd been holding. Well, he was definitely not safe.

The bend ahead was particularly sharp. The light didn't seem to be moving anymore, so she approached slowly, ready to fire the instant she saw Sir Guy. Just one shot. That's all she needed. She took in a deep breath and swung around the corner.

The torch was there, but Sir Guy wasn't. Evey almost threw her bow down in rage. He was playing with her. Even now, when his men were gone and he was cornered, he toyed with her mind.

The tunnel continued on the other side of the small chamber. Evey headed for it with extreme impatience. Halfway across, something hit her hard from behind. In a matter of seconds, she was on the ground with a sword point at her throat.

Sir Guy wore a grin that made her gasp.

"You put up a marvelous fight. I never expected to have my men bested by such young children. But in the end, I still win." He touched her neck with the sword point. "I'm feeling in a generous mood, so I'll give you one last chance to take my deal before I dispatch you."

Evey brain went dizzy. She didn't know how much of it was due to the freely bleeding wound in her leg.

"Aren't you tired of taking second place?" Gisbourne asked almost mockingly.

"What?"

"Don't you hate having to prove yourself to everyone you meet?"

She struggled, but he nudged her again with the sword.

She froze, and glared. "What are you talking about?"

"Only a girl. Never to be taken seriously. No control over your own life. Your own future. Marriage and money and business... all things that are decided for you."

"Don't play games with me, Gisbourne," she shouted.

"Ah, but this isn't a game. I am not a fool. I see your potential. I understand your desires. Your skills. Your intelligence. I do not underestimate you because of your size or gender."

"Stop your babbling!" she screamed, desperately trying to ignore his words.

"Join me."

"Never!"

"Join me. Become what you have always wished to become. Leave your problems behind."

She still had a hold on her bow. She gripped it tightly and waited.

"Unless, of course, you want him dead."

Sir Guy glanced to the corner where Isaiah lay. In that instant, Evey swung the bow around. She swept Gisbourne's feet out from under him, drew her sword, and threw it in an overhead arc, aiming for his chest. He got his sword up just in time. He had no leverage while lying on his back, but neither did she.

It only took a moment to get to her feet, but Sir Guy was just as fast. He came in with a sweeping side blow and she blocked it. The force of the blow made her arm go half numb. He thrust and she parried. He swung again and she only just knocked it aside. Then the fighting started in earnest.

Sir Guy of Gisbourne was the steward of all things military. He had been a soldier his entire life. Evey had used a sword a mere handful of times. The fight was as one-sided as it was possible to be. Attack after attack rained in, and Evey just barely stopped each one.

She was tired, hot, bleeding, and scared. Sir Guy smiled evilly. He was still playing with her.

"Had enough?" he sneered.

She swung at him, but it was slow and half-wild. He batted it away with contempt. Her back hit the wall. She was pinned.

"Really, my dear. Let's stop pretending. We both know how this is going to end."

She stabbed at his stomach. In one deft movement he hooked his blade under her crosspiece and yanked the sword from her hand. It skidded into the darkness of the tunnel. Evey sucked in a sharp breath and braced herself for the killing blow.

"Oh, I'm not going to kill you," he whispered. "Yet. I have quite a bit that I want to do first. I hear that heated spikes are particularly painful."

The sword was at her throat again, and he put his face so close that she could smell him. He still wore several fancy perfumes, this time mixed with the scent of sweat, blood, and dirt. Before he pulled away, she slammed her knee into his groin as hard as she could.

He bent double for a moment. It was all she needed. Evey slipped away from the wall and dashed for her bow.

In a somewhat breathless voice, Sir Guy yelled, "Stop!"

Evey turned. He had reached Isaiah before she had gotten her bow, and dragged him into the center of the chamber. Isaiah's hands were bound. He struggled against Sir Guy, but it was no good. Sir Guy placed his sword tip under Isaiah's chin.

"Throat? No. Much too quick." He moved the point down. "Lung? Tempting. It would be agony, but no. Still too fast. Ah, yes. The stomach. If I do this properly, he could live for days. And you, my lady, will see every agonizing moment of it."

She charged at him, but he brought up his sword point with absurd ease. She had to check herself or risk impalement. She willed her bow to fly into her hands. She would give anything to save Isaiah's life. Even take three crossbow bolts.

In a flash of inspiration, she knew what had to happen.

"Leave him," she muttered.

"What was that, dear Marion?"

"Take me instead. Do whatever you want to me. Kill me slowly in your torture rooms. I don't care anymore. Just let him go. Let him escape and I'll come quietly."

Isaiah yelled something through his gag and shook his head. Evey looked away. Those piercing eyes were too much.

Gisbourne looked startled. "You'd give your life for his? Precious."

Evey nodded. Isaiah struggled some more, but she kept her eyes fixed on Sir Guy.

"You see, things really don't have to be as complicated as you like to make them. I would enjoy hurting him, but you're the one I want. Alright. The boy stays here. You come with me."

Evey nodded again. She forced the tears back.

"It's cute, but stupid," Sir Guy said casually. He turned away from Isaiah. "Now you see what attachment gets you. Love is the worst kind. People will do the most imbecilic things in the name of love."

Evey clenched her fists and her teeth. Maybe he was right for once. If only she had left Isaiah in the woods that day. Sir Guy would have no leverage over her. She wouldn't even be in the tunnel to start with. There was so much pain.

A tear crept out and ran down her cheek.

"Regretting your choice?" Sir Guy asked dryly.

She stood up straight and fixed him with her most intimidating glare. "Never."

No, he wasn't right. There was pain involved, but there was a whole lot of good too. Isaiah was better than she was in every imaginable way. She could face death if it meant that he lived. This time she really was ready for it.

Sir Guy raised his eyebrow. "Well, get on with it, then. Down the tunnel."

She started slowly for the tunnel. Gisbourne grinned and threw Isaiah bodily to the ground, where he lay unmoving. Evey choked back a cry. He'd be okay. At least she'd saved him.

Sir Guy grabbed the back of her cloak and whispered right into her ear.

"Killing you slowly is going to be the highlight of this whole affair." He pressed the sword tip right into her spine. "Oh, and don't worry. The king is still mine. Don't think you've stopped me."