Sherwood Forest: Evil Works

By Laura McVey

With the rebels scattered and the village burning, Robin and the outlaws rush to free prisoners from the Sheriff's dungeon before it's too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura McVey
• Release date: Mar 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310831058

Laura McVey

Laura McVey is a university graduate with a minor in history, though neither of these things seem to have done her any good yet. She writes stories about heroes and kissing.

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Sherwood Forest: Evil Works

by Laura McVey

Copyright 2015 Laura McVey

Smashwords Edition

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Droplets of water slid down Bess’ forehead and dripped into her hair. Her mouth felt cracked and dry; air whistled between her lips every time she took a breath. She let her lips part and opened her mouth, hoping that some of the moisture would dampen her tongue, but it was too far away. There was something cool and damp resting on her forehead, giving her some relief from the ache in her temple.

Is she waking up? someone said. The sound of their voice made her head hurt more, but it also stirred her consciousness. Where was she?

There was a gentle touch to her shoulder, and a voice said Bess? She knew that voice; it was Alice. She opened her eyes.

Above her was a netted ceiling of greenery, with patches of pale blue sky peeping through the gaps

. Beneath her, she could feel a rough blanket, and branches and stones poked into her back. She reached out with one fumbling hand, and grasped a handful of twigs. They felt rough and cool under her fingers. She began to raise her head, but fell back with a whimper as the hot throbbing in her temple grew stronger.

Easy does it, said another voice. This one was not as familiar, but Bess knew she had heard it somewhere before. Hands slid under her shoulders and helped to lift her up. Another hand cupped the back of her head, keeping her from needing to hold her neck up. The damp weight on her forehead slid down and fell into her lap; it was a rag that had been dipped in cold water, still cool to the touch. Bess blinked, and the world came into focus.

Alice was kneeling next to her, a hand pressed to the back of Bess’ head. She was watching Bess, red-eyed and uncharacteristically quiet. The pair of hands that had lifted her belonged to a large man kneeling at her other side. It took Bess only a moment to recognize him- John, the physician who had tended to her father. They were surrounded on all sides of towering trees- a forest of them. If John was here, and there were trees all around, that meant-

Bess turned her head, and Alice let her hand fall away. Sitting all around the clearing were men and women- some more familiar than others, but Bess had seen them all before. There were Will and Shaima, who had been at the inn days (had it been days? How long had she slept?) earlier. There was Lady Marian, who Bess had seen in processions every year since she was a child. There was a man whose name she didn’t remember, but she knew he was from Nottingham. There were John and Alice, by her side. And sitting on the far side of the clearing, dressed in a green tunic and cloak, was a man who needed no introduction. After the past several weeks, Bess could have identified him by his clothing alone. He met her gaze and held it.

You’re awake, he said. The statement held no surprise or warmth; it simply was. Lady Marian stood and walked over, placing the palm of her hand to Bess’ forehead. It was such a motherly gesture, Bess felt a swell of sadness, though she couldn’t have said why.

We were worried about you, she said gently. You slept for a long time. Do you remember what happened?

Bess shook her head slowly, wincing at the fresh pain lacing through her head. She had a vague impression of heat and darkness and fire- of suffocating terror- but it all had a faint, dreamlike quality. It felt more like a nightmare she had had long ago than something that had really happened to her. What happened?

Lady Marian bit her lip, exchanging a look with John over Bess’ head. Several of the other outlaws looked down or coughed. No one spoke.

It was Gisbourne, Alice said. After taking her hand away from Bess’ head, she’d taken one of Bess’ hands in her own instead. Her grip was tight. He came to the inn last night after I left.

Bits and pieces of the previous night were drifting back into Bess’ memory; she had a clear recollection of thinking

, but she couldn’t remember what had been happening when the thought had crossed her mind. Did he hit me?

One of his lackeys did, Will Scarlett said from across the clearing. He wanted to keep you from running away. We managed to get you away before they put you in the wagon.

Bess reached back and let her fingers brush over the lump on the side of her head. More bits and pieces of the previous night were trickling through her mind like sand; she couldn’t hold on to any one piece long enough to understand it. The wagon?

Alice’s grip on her hand tightened. They were there to arrest you and Thomas. Her voice faltered. Allan must have told them about the rebellion. They’ve been rounding people up all day.

Bess struggled to clear her head long enough to hold a single, clear thought. They arrested my father? He’s at the castle? She looked up sharply. We’ve got to get him back. His injury-

But Alice was slowly shaking her head. Tears had gathered in the corners of her eyes. Bess looked around the clearing again, at all the people surrounding her. None of them spoke. None of them were even willing to look at her.

Bess looked back at Alice. Where’s my father?

He- Alice made a choking noise and cleared her throat before continuing. Gisbourne burned the inn to the ground before he left. Thomas was trapped inside. She gripped Bess’ hand until Bess thought it would snap. I’m so- She shook her head. He’ll pay for this.

Bess looked at her blankly. She could feel a pit opening up in her stomach, her heart rushing downward until it was surrounded by darkness