Page 20 of Huntress of Sherwood

At the apex of the hill, I had a clear overlook to the meadow beyond, and the massive Grinning Oak sitting peacefully among smaller trees. It was a grand, ancient tree with a natural slit carved in its middle that looked like the smiling visage of an old fishmonger.

Squinting against the soft sunlight, I stayed still and crouched to survey the scene. See if anything was moving unnaturally in the bushes to the oak’s left or right, or—

There. Was that bushel of berries swaying in the same direction when I arrived up here? Could someone be hiding behind it?

Taking a deep breath, I decided to throw caution to the wind. All I needed to do was make it to the tree. I couldn’t see any way Will would have gotten here before me. As long as I touched that smiling face, I’d win.

So I took off down the slope of the hill. Barreling forward, charging with mad abandon, the wind burning my eyes dry.

At the curving base of the slope, I jumped forward over a capsized trunk of lumber and my cloak billowed behind me.

I was less than thirty paces from the tree.

My heart soared, the competitiveness inside me reaching a fever pitch. A smile cracked my dry lips and I balled my hands into fists.

Twenty paces away, and no sign of him anywhere. I almost let out a laugh at how easy this had been.

Then the ground was abruptly rushing to meet my face, and my mind tumbled just as swiftly as my body did.

I put my hands forward, eyes bulging in shock as my ankle met sudden resistance and flung me forward. “Fuck!” I yelled on my way down—

And managed to correct my momentum into an awkward roll that kept me on my hands and knees.

Darkness in the left corner of my eyesight.

I glanced over—

Will barreled into me, taking me to the ground with a tackle. My back flattened the high grass and splashed in the soft mud, air flying from my lungs.

Will’s arms were loosely around my waist, his head against my side. Tackling me to the ground had made his hold on me unbalanced.

Before he had a chance to assert his position and put his weight on top, I rolled away, scampered on all fours, and pushed up to my feet. The fire in my thighs weakened my stride but strengthened my resolve.

I felt his presence mere feet behind me, closing in with longer strides. And then I heard his devious laugh.

The man was cackling as he gave chase, like a goddamn madman. I slowed down for a split second to let him think I was tiring, giving up—

And then kicked back as he advanced, smacking his arm out of the way. That shut his laugh up and replaced it with a curse and a growl.

I smiled. Ran forward.

Ten paces to that grinning tree!

Will’s growl became a roar.

The footsteps behind thudded loudly. I still could hardly hear them over the rush of blood pumping inside me.

I glanced over my shoulder, my final mistake—

Because it inadvertently slowed me while he was picking up speed. His hand caught the hem of my cloak, and I squealed, “Shit!” as he tugged.

Suffocating pressure strangled my airway. The mantle of the cloak choked me. My hands instinctively went to my collar to try and fling the garment off.

My momentum halted like I’d run into a stone wall, and then I was staring up at the blue sky as he was yanking me back toward him.

I landed between his legs, and had half a mind to punch up and squarely into his balls.

Instead, I rolled, trying to get away.

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