Loving a Thief

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

I wrote a note on a small piece of paper and tied it to an arrow. I pulled the arrow back and aimed it at the side of the approaching wagon, then released. Sir Walter and the tax collector jumped in surprise. Fredrick was as calm as ever. The tax collector stopped the wagon and pulled the arrow out of the side. Fredrick pulled the note off and read it.

“Leave the money by the large oke tree. Then leave without saying a word. Signed Nikolas,” Fredrick read aloud.

“Nikolas! Where are you?” yelled Sir Walter.

“Do you really think he is going to show himself?” asked Fredrick.

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“Because you have a sword, and bow and arrows. We will be better off if we left the money,” answered the tax collector.

“I will not be robbed! I will protect the king’s money with my life. Unlike you,” Sir Walter replied with disgust.

“On the contrary, you will be robbed,” I surprised myself by saying. They immediately looked up into the tree I was hiding in. They did not see me for I was well hidden. “And I am quite glad you are willing to risk your life. I will take great pleasure in killing you,” I said to scare him. I would never actually kill him.

“Where are you?” Sir Walter yelled.

“Can you not hear my voice? I thought I was pretty obvious in revealing where I am. But since your eyesight seems to be poorly, I will use that to my advantage,” I replied.

Sir Walter, in his rage, started shooting arrows in my general direction. He missed me every time, thankfully. I shot an arrow in front of his feet.

“Did you try to shoot me?” he asked. I stayed silent.

I watched Sir Walter as he pulled an arrow back. He aimed directly at me. There was no time for me to move out of the way. I braced myself. I closed my eyes. I heard the whiz of an arrow fly by me ear. I looked to my left and see an arrow sticking out of the tree truck only inches from me. I looked down at Sir Walter. Fredrick was on top of him on the ground. They were wrestling. I looked at the tax collector who laid unconscious on the ground.

I scrambled down the tree and unsheathed my sword. I ran to the wagon and threw the bags of taxes over to a tree. Sir Walter and Fredrick were now on their feet. My ears were filled with the sound of clashing blades. I ran over to where they were fighting and behind Sir Walter. I lifted the hilt of my sword. Just when I was about to strike Sir Walter unconscious, he turned around facing me. I jumped back, barely escaping the edge of his blade. He attacked several times, and I blocked each one. My muscles started getting tired. I strained to keep holding my sword. Sir Walter attacked again. He caught me off guard and cornered me against a tree. He placed his sword against my neck.

“You can either surrender now, or I can kill you. You’re choice,” said Sir Walter.

“Neither!” I yell as I kick him in the groin.

Sir Walter stepped back in pain. I pushed him backwards, sending him to the ground with a loud thud. I placed my sword against his neck. He dropped his sword and lifted his hands.

“I surrender,” he whispered.

“I thought you said you would protect the money with your life?” said Fredrick.

“Do you wish me dead?” Sir Walter asked.

“At times like this, yes. Other times, yes. Rarely am I ever thankful that you were born,” I answered. Fredrick helped Sir Walter to his feet.