Another warning cry was given and a beast's dart was thrown at my horse. They wished to stop me at all costs. Turning to one of the soldiers, I pointed my beast and shot him. I hit what was in front of me and his scream echoed before he fell off his horse, colliding with the ground. I armed the beast again and shot the others who were still chasing me. An arrow went through the air and I felt it when it hit my right arm grazing. I let out a cry of pain, but I kept control of the horse.
- Hold your fire! - a soldier screamed. - They know you want her alive.
That phrase gave me the creeps. I shot another knight once again.
- Damn it! She's gonna kill us all! - the soldier screamed again. - We have to get off the trail.
Signaling to the others who came after me, they split up and suddenly disappeared. I frowned, but I stood my ground. Even with that infernal pain that took my arm, I kept the reins very firm and forced the gallop. That's when soldiers showed up in front of me scaring the horse and making it tilt.
- Damn it! - I screamed scared.
By controlling the horse, I managed to stay on it. Without thinking, I pulled the sword from the hem and pointed the beast with the other hand.
- Get out of my way! - I commanded with a firm voice. - I don't know how you found me, but God forbid if you try to stop me! I will kill each of you with the tip of this sword or the arrow of this beast.
There were at least five knights in the siege who looked down on me.
- We don't want to hurt her, but we won't hesitate. - one approached and reached out. - Come with us and I assure you nothing bad will happen to you. You can trust me.
I had a laugh.
- Me? Trust an Englishman? Not even dead! - ...I pronounced with debauchery. - In fact, you shouldn't be here. The king will kill them if he finds out they've crossed the border and are helping a traitor. It's not your king's cause, so get lost before he finds out.
- That decrepit old man doesn't have the strength to stop us!
Another soldier had a laugh. Catching the beast, I aimed right at his forehead, which he swallowed dry and stopped laughing.
- The king who now rules this land is not a decrepit, but a very brave warrior. So will all your subjects who won't bow down to any Englishmen. - I growled.
- Careful, Mrs. MacGregor! - the man who stretched out his hand said smiling. - The queen occupying the throne is also English, so you serve England too.
Snarling, I held the beast harder.
- I'm not and never will be a MacGregor! - I fired angrily. - I'm Annabel MacBride, daughter of Loch MacBride and no one's gonna take that away from me. Much less an insane tyrant. I might kill him, but first, I'll kill him first.
Raising my chin in defiance, I pulled the beast's trigger, but the arrow didn't hit my target. They had a laugh. Then I threw the beast to the ground and pulled the bow over my head and prepared three arrows.
- Get out of my way! - said preparing the scope. - Now!
- Enough of this joking, young lady! - one of the men shouted, signaling to the others.
- I'm not kidding! - he said between his teeth. - And don't call me a girl!
Shaking his head, the captain signalled for the soldiers to come towards me. I didn't wait for their action and I shot the arrows. Two stuck to the chest of one of the soldiers in front of me and the other to the foot of the other who had jumped off the horse.
- Get her! - the captain screamed.
Before more soldiers came towards me, I waved my sword in the air. Pulling the reins, I pushed the horse forward and so it was, until I could open the way for them. A third soldier came on foot and tried to grab my leg, but I hit him with the sword. Passing the other two with ease, I was able to gallop the horse. I tried to put a distance between us, but they seemed to have the trail map on their heads. Maybe my mother instructed them. I reached a fork which I had never seen before and without thinking about where it would end, I entered. Snowflakes fell thinly through the trees and I shook with the cold wind that blew.
- I don't remember this way! - I whispered looking around.
The stretch became dark with treetops intertwining in the others, limiting the passage of light. The air seemed heavy and suffocating.
- That's not supposed to be here. - I whispered, I was already scared to see that I was lost. - I thought it was just a woods.
Fear
