laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

“I’ll approach and see if I can determine how many helpers she has,” Marian informed as they broke for a quick lunch. The ride had taken all morning and she knew that their presence would be discovered soon. Jutting from the ground stood the large, grey boulders vainly covered by fallen leaves and the area where Samuel had been bitten. Mentally negotiating a peace between themselves and the diamondback, she was assured that the mother was only protecting her young which Marian certainly understood.

“We’ll not be far behind you,” Sir Joseph assured as his steel-blue eyes gazed up into the bordering treeline.

“Keep your eyes open for runes or symbols in the trees,” Sir Roderick mentioned. “They have a habit of setting a wide perimeter around their homes in case of interlopers. We’ve seen that on many occasion.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep my eyes open,” Marian stated as she finished her meal of fruit and nuts, then replaced her waterskin to the saddle. “I’m ready.”

Joseph nodded, then unsheathed his sword as she climbed the steep embankment and then stepped up to a tree. Melding into the large oak, she disappeared. Traveling between trees, she felt the growing displeasure with the forest as she neared the home of this sojourning craftswoman. Her experiments and rape of nature drove the marshal on until she found the border of the well built home. Two-story, it’s thatch roof and solid walls belayed the evil inhabitant within, seeming rather to be the home of some ranger or druid instead. As she stepped out of the grey-brown trunk, her body morphed into a sapling nearby.
Two shepherd’s perked at her approach, then sniffed the air as they both stood near the front door. Quiet, the home seemed empty from where she stood within the thick ferns and bushes. A long, thin line of smoke rose from the chimney however and she could smell the cookfire in the air. Someone was home after all.
Suddenly, an explosion of fire leapt from a distant tree far to her right and back in the direction of her compatriots; they had found the site already. Allowing her plant form to dissipate, she concentrated on the pair of guard dogs and befriended both, assuring them that she at least was not there to harm them as both quickly became defensive at the intruder.

Movement inside the house made her realize that their quiet approach was now blown and she had to act fast. Unsheathing her sword, she heard the crashing of underbrush as the trio of knights charged the home which prompted her to run around to the back of the building to find a rear door opening which revealed an older man, arms clutched to a backpack as his blue eyes darted backward to the front of the house.
Arms upraised, she concentrated and called on nature’s help as roots suddenly burst from the ground and entwined around his legs, locking him near the doorway. Frantically, he pulled and twisted in an attempt to escape as she neared, sword and shield in hand.

“Is there anyone else inside,” she asked as her hazel eyes darted from victim to windows.

“You have no idea who you’re messing with, young lady,” he spat. “I’m a servant of the true ruler of this world and if you had any sense, you’d bow yourself to me. Release me now.”

She grinned in contempt. “I think not, sir. You’ve perverted Her domain long enough, now answer my question. Is there anyone else inside?”

He quickly dug into his pack which prompted her to charge him, sword upraised as the front door exploded open. Drawing out his right hand, he produced a wand which he pointed at her upraised shield, firing a bolt of lightning which stopped her cold. Shuddering power lurched across her arm and to her helmet, pitching her backwards to the ground. As she cleared her head, keeping the shield upraised, his renewed attempts at freedom prompted her to push herself up and swing, sharp blade cleaving into his shoulder as Sir Joseph attacked from behind. Stiffened, his body then sunk into the embrace of the roots which then lowered him to the ground as they retreated back into the soil.

“You alright,” he asked as the other two knights searched the home.

“I’ll be fine,” she nodded as her ears rang amidst a building headache. She had herbs for that however. “You?”

He nodded, then retreated back into the dimly lit home, now vacated by the witch who lay at her feet. She took a moment to rest as fingers rubbed her nose and forehead after she closed her eyes.

‘Madam, thank you for saving me again. Mercy isn’t wished by most of my enemies and sometimes it’s hard to know when to strike and when not to.’

‘You did well,” the male voice broke in. ‘The dogs await you at the front, they’ll need someone to tend to them and will protect you.’

She smiled, glad that the knights hadn’t killed them.