Barak sighed. We rode past the trunk of an enormous old oak. Then a sudden ruffle of wind set the leaves waving, and a large raindrop landed on my hand. A moment later the heavens opened and a sheet of rain fell down, soaking us in an instant.
'Shit!' Barak exclaimed. 'I said this would happen!'
We turned back to the enormous old oak, making the horses push through the undergrowth so we could gain shelter by the trunk. We sat there as the rain pelted down, the wind that had come with it making the whole forest seem to shiver.
'That path'll be just mud when we ride back,' Barak said.
'Hard rain soon passes. And these are good horses.'
'If I get congestion of the lungs, can I charge that up to Master costs—'
He broke off at a sudden, reverberating thud. We both turned. An arrow projected from the trunk above our heads, the white-feathered tip still trembling.
'Ride!' Barak yelled.
He gave his horse a prick of the spurs. We crashed out onto the path, which was slippery now. Every second I expected to feel an arrow in my back or see Barak fall, for on the path we were hardly less easy targets than under the tree. But nothing happened. After ten minutes' desperate and difficult riding we stopped in a clearing.
'We've outrun him now,' Barak said. Even so we both stared wide-eyed through the pelting rain at the trees, aware of just how helpless we were against a concealed archer.
'Come on,' Barak said.
It was with relief that we reached the highway again. The rain was easing now. We stopped, staring back the way we had come.
'Who was it?' Barak asked, almost shouting.
'Someone scaring us off? That was a warning; under that tree a bowman with any skill could have killed us both easily.'
'Another warning? Like the corner boys? Remember I heard those hoofbeats on the road? Someone rode after us, someone who knows these woods.'
'We'll have to tell Hobbey, report it to the magistrate.'
'What's he going to do? I tell you, the sooner we're out of here the better. God damn it!'
We rode back to Hoyland Priory. Once Barak would have dashed recklessly in pursuit of that archer, I thought. But now he has Tamasin and the coming child to consider.
WE ARRIVED back at the house. The rain had stopped, though there was still a breeze freshening the air. Old Ursula was in the great hall, polishing the table, and I asked her to fetch Hobbey.
'He's out, sir. Gone to the village with Master Dyrick. Mistress Hobbey is unwell again. She's in bed with that dog,' she added with a disgusted grimace.
'Then please fetch the steward.'
Moments later Fulstowe strode into the hall. He looked at us curiously as I told him what had happened in the wood. 'A poacher, without doubt,' he said when I had finished. 'Perhaps a deserter from the army, they say some are living wild in the forests. We have a forester to patrol Master Hugh's woods but he is a lazy fellow. He will be sorry for this.'
'Why should a poacher draw attention to himself?' Barak asked sharply.
'You said you disturbed some deer. Maybe he was stalking them. They would be a great prize for a deserter, or one of those hogs from the village. Maybe he shot to send you out of the woods.' He frowned. 'But it is a serious matter, the magistrate should be told. A pity you did not see him. If we could get one of those Hoyland churls hanged, it would be a lesson to all of them.'
'Barak thought he heard hoofbeats on the road.'
'They stopped just where we had entered the wood.' Barak looked hard at Fulstowe. I could see he was wondering, as I had, whether the archer had come from the house.
Fulstowe shook his head. 'A poacher would not be on a horse.'
'No,' I agreed. 'He would not.'
'I will have you informed as soon as Master Hobbey returns. I regret this should happen while you are his guest.' He bowed and left us.
'I am sorry I brought you to peril after all,' I said quietly to Barak. 'After what I promised Tamasin.'
He sighed heavily. 'If I weren't here, I'd be in the army. And you're right, we weren't in danger. He shot that arrow to miss.' He looked at me. 'Are you still going to ride to Rolfswood tomorrow?'
'This may be my only opportunity.'
'I'll come if you like.'
'No,' I replied firmly. 'I want you to stay here, work on the servants. See if you can learn anything from Ursula. Maybe visit the village again.'
'All right,' he agreed reluctantly. I turned and went upstairs, feeling his concerned eyes on my back.
