Robin Hood | Thief of Skandia

Chapter 4 (Death Threats)

Song: Bad by Michael Jackson

Half a day later Robin started to notice that there were multiple groups following these tracks. While she wasn't the best at tracking and the snow was melting, she knew for certain there was at least another party. Given this she thought it would be best to double back. Robin Hood did not want to be surprised if another group caught up to her. She diverged from the tracks and went a few kilometres to hide her horse before doubling back again to hide her own tracks.

Then she settled down for the night, not risking a fire, she bundled up next to her horse with the thick blanket used for a saddle pad. Early the next morning she rose before dawn and continued on without her horse, ensuring it had enough food and water to survive a few days without her. After an hour or two of doubling following the tracks, she was quite glad she decided to take the time. As in-front of her she found a large party of Skandian men and as she observed she realised they were starting form a line. Similar to one a predator makes before they attack their prey.

Taking to the trees she noticed the group the Skandians were hunting. Much to her surprise she saw it was that young Arualen knight and ranger she had chatted to months ago in Gallacia. Robin cursed inwardly. There was a scuffle of movement in the trees and a party of armed warriors stepped out into the open behind them, blocking their Arualens retreat

The ranger swung quickly to the front once more, as a second group emerged from the trees, fanning out to the sides and moving to cut them off in all directions.

'Skandians!' exclaimed a young man- presumably the person the two were originally looking for since he rode the spare ranger horse. Robin noticed Halt's shoulders slump in a gesture of disgust with himself.

'Yes. The horses have been trying to warn us. I was so preoccupied by what I thought was Tug's unusual behaviour, I didn't realise it.' She heard the ranger tell the group.

A burly figure, wearing an enormous-horned helmet and with a double-bladed battleaxe laid negligently over his right shoulder, stepped forward. Robin heard the sinister whisper of steel on leather as Horace drew his sword. Without turning, she heard Halt say:

'Put it away, Horace. I think there are too many of them, even for you.'

As Horace had moved, the huge axe had risen instantly to the ready position. The huge Skandian wielded it as if it were a toy. Now, he spoke;

'I think we'll have you down from those horses, if you don't mind.'

The unkown young man blurted out: 'Erak!' and the Skandian took a pace closer, peering at the second cloaked figure in front of him.

The one called Erak cursed quietly under his breath, then recovered. 'Down!' he commanded. 'All of you.'

They dismounted off of their horses.

'Grab them.'

Now was Robin's time to shine, perched on a branch, she called out, 'I don't think so! Put your bloody axe down now before I put two or three arrows into you. And if any of you take a step closer I'll drop the lot of you before you even figure out where I am.' She shouted.

One of the Skandians moved and to demonstrate her skills she put an arrow into the wood of the fellows axe in the space between his fingers. He shouted startled and dropped the axe.

The Arualens looked up in confusion.

'What do you want?'

'I already told you what I want. Drop your weapons and back the fuck away from them before I kill you all.'