1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Four

The ride to Locksley was spent in very uneasy silence, with only a few words exchanged between them. Linda saw Guy grip the reigns tighter and tighter as they neared Locksley, and she gulped.

"Ready?" asked Linda.

He nodded. "Ready."

Locksley came into view, and the two of them stopped. Locksley seemed deserted. Nobody was outside, and the ones who were quickly fled back into their homes. Families peeked their heads out of the windows, holding their kids close to them as they trembled in fear.

"Let's go," said Guy darkly.

Linda knew better than to object, so she just followed Guy to his estate. When they got there, two stable boys came running out. One of them helped Linda down and took her horse. She stretched and began to walk the opposite way Guy was heading.

"Where are you going?" he asked with a puzzled tone.

Linda spun around. "To venture around," she replied.

Guy frowned a bit. "Venture?"

"Do not worry, I will be back," she assured him.

Guy thought about it, then nodded and turned to go back inside. Linda sighed, a small smile creeping on her lips. It felt good to be out of the castle and out in the town she loved.

Just then, she heard a scream. Linda whipped around fast, and the blood drained from her face. The villagers were out of their houses now, but were rushing inside once more. Three guards on horseback had arrived in Locksley, and they were not friendly at all. One guard stormed inside a house, dragging out an old man who looked to be in his early fifties. The second guard had a teenage girl in one arm, and a little boy in the other. The third was holding back a young man who seemed to be the same age as his sister, and he was livid.

The first guard threw the old man to the dirt rather hard, the poor man landing on his leg the wrong way while the guard laughed at him.

"Too long have you gone off without paying your taxes," the guard sneered. "Now, you will pay."

"Have mercy! It's only been a week, and the pay is very little!" the man begged.

The guard's sneer grew, and he lifted his sword. Without thinking, she rushed forward and grabbed the guard's arm. She flung it quickly back behind him and then punched the guard in the face, him crumpling to the ground clutching his nose.

"That's not how you treat a citizen!" she said with authority.

The guard staggered to his feet, and the guards eyes widened. "Lady Linda!" he cried. "This man is—"

"Absolutely innocent. If you want to kill him, you will have to kill me."

The guard thought about it, then he charged. Linda dodged his attacks swiftly, and then grabbed his arm and put it behind him. She took the sword out of his hands and hit him in the spine with the hilt of the sword. The other two guards released their hostages, and charged at Linda. She parried their attacks, taking on one guard at a time. She kicked one in the stomach, sending him flying back. The other, however, got lucky. As she was turning around, his sword scratched her cheek and he kicked her in the stomach. Linda fell back dazed, her sword coming at of her grasp. Suddenly, the guard stopped. His sword fell out of his grasp, and he fell forward, an arrow sticking out from his back.

"My lady!" said a young mans voice. "Are you okay?"

Linda groaned. "Ugh. Yes, I think so. But my head hurts," she answered.

The young man held out his hand and helped Linda to her feet, and she noticed a bow and arrow strapped to his back. Once up, she quickly ran over to the older man, who was leaning on the girl for support.