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The clearing erupted after the scout delivered his news. Women were calling, children crying, men were shouting and running around. It looked like an unorganized mess.
“Stop!” Einri called and everyone froze. “We’ve prepared for this. Go to your homes and prepare to leave. Men without families set up a perimeter and use your senses. I don’t want them sneaking up on us. This is our home, and we will defend it.”
Shouts of agreement rang out before everyone started bustling following Einri’s orders. I watched quietly, still sitting on the log bench. The bowl of food had grown cold in my hands, so I set it aside.
“Come with me.” Tuck appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me by the elbow.
“Where are we going?” I wondered, the darkness making the area unfamiliar.
“Back to the cave. Einri wants you out of sight.” Tuck explained seriously.
His steady grip on my arm revealed strength that his charm had hidden. He was dangerous. Probably the most dangerous kind of man because he could put anyone at ease first. I shivered thinking of Captian Rekker and his unnatural strength. I’d bested him, barely. I couldn’t hope to do the same a second time.
“Why are the Bruralian’s coming here?” I asked as Tuck led me into my cave prison.
“We are traitors, remember. Loyal to Einri and not the king. We are no better than rogues in their eyes. They hunt us, force us to shift then skin the pelts from our bodies as trophies while we slowly die.” He had started to pace inside the cave running his hand through his hair, face scrunched with worry in the torch light. “This place is well hidden. We’ve taken every precaution to keep people safe.”
“Do you have family here, Tuck?” I queried, trying to distract him.
“Everyone here is my family.” He replied, taking a deep breath before pointing to something on the floor. “I managed to snag the bag from your horse. At the very least you could change your clothes.”
“Thank you.” It was nice of him to sneak it to me.
I felt guilty for my previous anger. Tuck had been nothing but nice to me, though I was a prisoner here he’d always treated me like a person not a high-born lady or a simpering court lamb to be treated delicately. Deep down I was a beast just like them. Ruthless. Cunning. Driven. I wouldn’t stop until I’d gotten my cousin safely out of my enemies' clutches.
“I have to go. There’s a guard out front if you need anything.” I nodded, biting my tongue. He turned to leave but paused and looked over his shoulder. “And Arrow, don’t do anything stupid.”
I shook my head, using my finger to make a mark over my heart. He grinned before leaving the cave. Following him, I stopped at the entrance and looked out at the dark forest. I strained to hear anything from the houses or the clearing. All I heard was the trees rustling as a breeze blew.
The trees.
That’s how I would escape this place: through the trees. A plan started to form as I turned to search the bag that Tuck had brought me. I pulled out the outfit I had commissioned before I left. Soft buckskin trousers, a loose shirt, belt and boots. These would be easier to move in than my skirts.
At the bottom of my bag something white appeared. I pulled it from the bag and gasped, nearly dropping it. It was a hood made of a white wolf pelt and I remembered it was the wolfwoman I had killed. She’d turned back into her human form before my eyes. I didn’t want to know how they made this hood, but I had a feeling that Little John must have made this for me. A souvenir of my survival. It made my stomach sour, but I laid it aside carefully, not wanting to stain the fur.
I took stock of what I had, which wasn’t much. My dagger was missing along with my flint so making a fire once I’d escaped would be more difficult. My bow and arrows were also missing, but I expected them to keep my weapons from me. They saw what I did to the white-wolf woman and wouldn’t want that to happen to any of them. I’d gotten lucky and my knuckles still smarted from the hit.
The Bruralians were close. If I could find them maybe they had Will or they could lead me back to him. This was my chance, and I couldn’t pass it up.
Morning dawned, lighting the forest beyond the entrance. I’d been awake most of the night planning and listening. I hadn’t heard anything beyond the breeze since my cave was too far from the center clearing.
I was sitting by the entrance to my cave in the shadows waiting for the guards to change. I was dressed, with my pack secured to my back. The only cloak I had was my red one, and since it didn’t have a hood, I’d put on the white wolf head. It felt wrong wearing it, but it would keep me warm at least.
A man came out of the trees and strolled to the guard. They turned toward the center, heads together whispering. With everything that had happened I’m sure my guard wanted to know what had transpired while he had been on guard duty.
I tiptoed past the entrance, doing my best to be as quiet as possible. During my walks with Tuck, I discovered that the cave that was my prison was on the side of a small knoll. It wasn’t on the side of a cliff or mountain. Just a small hill in the middle of a forest.
With a small jump I grabbed the edge of the cave above my head. I sucked in a deep breath then hoisted my legs up and over my head. Using my arms, I pushed my body until I was lying on my stomach on the grassy hill.
Moving quickly but taking care of where I placed my feet, I walked backwards, keeping my front facing where the guards were. Step by step I backed down the hill and entered the trees.
Ducking behind a thick oak, its bark digging into the skin of my back, I paused, listening. My heart was beating in my ears, but I couldn’t make out any sounds of pursuit. Regardless, they’d know I was gone soon. I needed to get up into the trees. I’d be harder to track not impossible but more difficult.
Grabbing a branch of the tree next to the oak, I pulled myself up then continued to climb until I reached the bigger branches. I took a deep breath to gather my thoughts and plan out my next move. I knew the Bruralians were close but had no idea which direction. In order to find that out, I needed to travel closer to the center and hope to overhear which direction they were in.
As the world grew brighter, I jumped from branch to branch, tree to tree. No one had noticed my absence yet. I hoped I could get the information I needed and be gone before the alarm was raised.
Nearing the homes and bridges in the trees I slowed down. Being extra cautious as I jumped not wanting to disturb the people who were no doubt still sleeping. This close to the center, branches had been trimmed from the trees making my path treacherous.
