The Rebels of Cordovia Page 6

  Daniel listened as they talked about Edmund. They told him how he cared about the people… how he would find out who was in need and then send them food. Edmund had also taught the people to watch over one another and care for the widows. Daniel was impressed with everything he learned.

  After a short visit, he finally asked, “By the way, whatever happened to the servants of King Edmund?”

  No one knew. Some thought they were still at the palace. A few said they had heard the servants were living among them in the villages but didn’t know anything beyond that.

  Robin enjoyed the few days she spent with Daniel. He had been so gentlemanly and only thought about her comfort, whether she was getting tired or hungry. Some of the people they visited lived a mile apart. As they walked from neighbor to neighbor, they each talked about their different life styles and childhood experiences. He told her the pranks he pulled on his servants and she told him the pranks she pulled on her sisters. He had joked with her off and on and made her laugh. She never thought she could be so attracted to an aristocrat. Perhaps it was the rogue in him that got her attention.

  At the end of each day, they were exhausted. When he walked her home on their last day together, Andrew invited Daniel to stay and have supper with them.

  Andrew looked across the table at Robin and Daniel and told them what he had done at the Bakery. Since Robin was visiting their neighbors and friends of the family, he decided to talk to his customers at the Bakery.

  Andrew laughed as he said, “I just acted like an old man who just wanted to reminisce. It was easy to do since I use a cane and have a scruffy old beard with a few gray hairs.”

  Robin’s mother, Martha, laughed along with him and rubbed his beard as she said, “I like your beard.” Then she handed Andrew some stew and said, “So what did you reminisce about?”

  She was a short, attractive woman with dark hair like Robin’s. She was in her late-forties and was known as one of the best cooks in the neighborhood… probably because she was always giving her neighbors food when someone was ill or if a father was injured and couldn’t provide for his family.

  “I talked about the past like old folks do,” said Andrew. “But when I got to wondering whatever happened to the servants of Edmund, they would shake their heads. No one knew a thing.” He smiled. “Actually, I could have been talking to one of the servants who didn’t want to reveal herself. But Merek got lucky.”

  “Merek?” asked Robin. “What happened?”

  “He was out all day and finally came upon a friend that mentioned his neighbor’s wife had been a servant of the king. His friend said they were just talking about Edmund and how he tried creating jobs for the people. Then the neighbor let it slip how his wife had worked for the king.”

  Andrew reached into his small purse that hung on his belt, pulled out a slip of paper, and handed it to Daniel. “That’s the name of the couple and where they live.”

  Robin was sitting next to Daniel, so she leaned toward him and looked at the paper in his hand. He turned his face to hers and smiled. When his eyes lit up, she knew he was giving her the message that he had enjoyed their day together. Robin also knew he liked her a lot because of the way he had treated her all week.

  When Daniel leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, a warm glow spread over her as she laughed. She touched her warm cheeks as they flushed a rosy color and he grinned from ear to ear.

  This was the first time she had allowed any man to become close to her. She had refused the men who wanted to court her because they were not her type and didn’t have the strong beliefs she did. But Daniel was different.

  “No secrets at this table,” said Andrew with a grin. “We want to laugh, too.”

  Daniel smiled as he said, “I was just telling your daughter that we should have a rematch at archery. She had distracted me and it wasn’t fair.”

  Andrew laughed. “That’s just part of the game, son.”

  “How about fencing?” suggested Martha with a knowing smile. “She’s very good.”

  Andrew nodded. “She’s beat me a couple times and you know how good I am.”

  Daniel shook his head. “I can only be humiliated once a year. I don’t think I want to chance it again. If the word got out, my men would never let me forget it.” He smiled. “Besides, we men have a certain amount of pride. I have a reputation to keep.”

  Andrew chuckled and gave a nod. “I know what you mean.”

  As Daniel looked at the paper, he asked, “Do you know where this is, Marie?”

  She looked at it and said, “Yes, I know where it is. It’s in a nearby village a few miles from her. We can go tomorrow and check it out. Is that okay with you?” Then she hesitated, wondering if she was being too bold. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly said, “Don’t worry. If you have something to do, I can go alone. It’s not a problem.”

  Daniel shook his head. “If I did have something, I wouldn’t want you to go alone. With all the soldiers roaming about, I don’t trust them. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Robin sobered. “I can take care of myself. I know how to defend my rights just fine.”

  He shook his head. “How about the soldier at the Bakery?”

  Andrew chuckled with humor lacing his eyes. “Yes, how about that naked soldier who was found on an old nag? No one is going to let him forget it.”

  Robin blushed and covered her hands over her face as everyone joined in the laughter.

  Chapter 9

  The following morning, Robin packed some cheese, fruit, a jug of water, cups, a small bag, and her bow and quiver in the back of the cart. Andrew had already hitched up the mule and it was ready to go. Daniel arrived as she was packing everything.

  He looked at her curiously and said, “I doubt you’ll need your archery on this trip.”

  Robin shrugged as she covered the items with a canvas. “Just in case.”

  He grinned at her, knowing there was nothing to worry about with him along. As she held her dress up with one hand, he helped her into the cart. Then they headed down the road.

  Daniel noticed how this area was so lovely every time he visited Charlottesville. There were lush green fields, a forest in the background, and tall rugged mountains in the distance. There were red and yellow flowers speckling the meadows and birds were singing a melody. All of this gave a feeling of serenity. He had been raised in the city so this life was totally different. Daniel turned to the woman sitting beside him and smiled. No, life couldn’t be better.

  As they traveled down the road, they passed several soldiers. Daniel greeted them as they passed, hoping to be friendly so they would not be stopped and searched. After a while, they came upon a couple soldiers riding on horses with a rope tied to a middle-aged man. The man’s hands were tied together and he looked weary as if the soldiers had made him walk for miles.

  When he stumbled, Daniel worried the man would fall, so he pulled the mule to a stop and called out, “Hey! May we give this man a drink? He looks tired and a drink might revive him. It will help him to walk faster for you.”

  The soldiers thought for a moment and then nodded. “Go ahead, but don’t be long.”

  The two soldiers got down from their horses and stretched their legs. As they conversed with one another, Daniel helped the man sit down while Robin poured a cup of water and handed it to him. As he drank, Daniel asked the man why he was a prisoner.

  The man replied, “I couldn’t pay my taxes. I told the tax collector that I could barely feed my family. But that didn’t matter to him, so he reported me and here I am.”

  Daniel shook his head. What was this country coming to? The king should help him feed his family and provide better jobs, not put him in jail for being too poor to pay his ridiculous taxes.

  After the soldiers headed down the road, Daniel turned to Robin and said, “I wish there was something we could do to help him.”

  “There is,” said Robin as she pulled her small bag from the back of the cart.
<
br />   “What’s that?”

  “My rebel clothes,” she said with a grin.

  Daniel laughed. “I can’t believe you snuck that in there. But I can’t allow you to help that man. You might get hurt. Did you notice that the soldiers are actually carrying muskets now?”

  She nodded and explained her plan.

  He laughed and said, “It just might work.”

  “Then follow me,” she said as she led the mule off the road and left it at the edge of the woods. Then she grabbed her bow and quiver and found a good spot to change her clothes.

  Turning to Daniel, she said, “This is perfect. Warn me if anyone is coming. And no peeking.”

  He laughed. “I promise. No peeking.”

  Daniel chuckled to himself. He had never met a woman like her in all his life.

  “What are you laughing at?” asked Robin.

  “You!”

  “Me?” she said as she laid her dress on a limb.

  “It’s a good kind of laughter, I can assure you.”

  Robin smiled as she pulled her leggings on. After putting on her shirt, she secured her hair upon her head. Then she tied on her mask and put on her hat.

  “Ready!” she announced as she stepped out into view.

  Daniel turned around and smiled as he shook his head. “What a woman!”

  He walked toward her and pushed some loose curls under her hat and said, “Now you’re ready.”

  With that, they quickly ran through the woods and caught up to the meandering horses pulling the man who was slowly walking behind them. Robin grabbed an arrow from her quiver and took careful aim. When she let go, it sped through the air right into the tree in front of the soldiers.

  The men gasped and pulled their horses to a stop. They quickly scanned the woods for rebels as they grabbed their muskets.

  Robin took another arrow and aimed it right at the soldier’s thick leather bag. Then she gave Daniel a nod.

  Just as she let the arrow go, Daniel yelled, “If you value your life, you had better drop your muskets and the rope, and never come back here again.”

  The men were startled when the arrow struck the leather bag. Then Robin stepped out of her hiding place. With her feet spread apart, she stood with her hands on her hips in a commanding manner. Seeing the leader of Robin’s Rebels and hearing Daniel’s deep threatening voice was all it took.

  The soldiers got the message and exclaimed, “Robin’s Rebels!” Then they dropped their muskets along with the rope, and took off down the road at great speed.

  Robin laughed as she watched them ride away.

  When the men were out of sight, Daniel came out of hiding and smiled. “It worked.”

  “I knew it would,” she giggled. “Because Robin and his rebels have made a reputation for themselves. He is feared in all the surrounding communities. Haven’t you heard?”

  Daniel chuckled and shook his head with amusement as he headed for the curious man who was still tied to a rope. Robin stood behind, hoping to keep her identity a secret.

  While Daniel untied the rope from his hands, the man asked with admiration, “You’re one of Robin’s Rebels?”

  Daniel grinned. “I sure am.”

  “How did you… uhm…”

  “When I saw Robin along the way, I told him what happened to you. Then I told my lady friend to go on ahead and I would catch up later. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

  The man smiled. “Tell Robin thanks. I’d best be on my way.”

  “Do you live far from here?”

  He pointed. “In the next village but I have a friend not far off who can lend me a horse.”

  Daniel nodded. “Good. Better keep off the road.”

  “I plan to do that very thing,” the man said as he waved his thanks to Robin. Then he took off through the woods in the opposite direction.

  After picking up the muskets, Daniel turned around and saw Robin standing in her tights with her hands still on her hips. He chuckled. She was trying to look tough and apparently it had worked.

  He shook his head and mumbled to himself as he strode toward her, “Damn, she looks good in tights.”

  Robin was smiling when he approached.

  “Let’s go,” said Daniel as he took her arm and led her to the cart. “That was great. They didn’t even suspect there were two of us.”

  She grinned. “That’s because Robin is never without his men. He’s feared by all.”

  He laughed. “Well, next time… if there is a next time… please don’t jump out of the woods like that. You scared me half to death.”

  “But I had to,” she said with a smile. “They wouldn’t have known it was me.”

  He shook his head but didn’t say another word. When they got to the place where her cart was, he motioned to her hiding spot and said, “I’ll stand guard while you get dressed.”

  “Thanks. Remember…”

  “Got it. No peeking.”

  Daniel leaned against the cart and folded his arms across his chest as he watched her walk away. He shook his head and then closed his eyes as he reminded himself that his father had taught him to be a gentleman.

  He opened his eyes and repeated, “Damn, she looks good in tights.”

  Chapter 10

  It didn’t take long until they were headed down the road once again. They were going to question the servant of King Edmund. After arriving at the house, Daniel wondered how they should go about questioning Elsa. She and her husband would have no reason to trust them. She would most likely deny ever working for Edmund.

  Then it dawned on him. He had to make friends first. Seeing an elderly man chopping wood near the house, he wondered if it was Elsa’s husband.

  Daniel helped Robin down from the cart as he said, “I’ve got an idea. Follow me.”

  They walked toward the man. When he took notice of them, he stopped chopping and wiped the sweat from his brow.

  “May I help you?” the man said breathlessly.

  Daniel smiled in a friendly manner and said, “Are you Flann?”

  He nodded.

  “I’m Daniel and my friend here is Marie,” he said as he put his hand on her waist. “We’re on an errand but you look so weary.” He waved to the stack of logs the man was splitting. “May I finish this for you?”

  The man was surprised but quickly accepted. He leaned the ax against the pile of wood and then stood beside Robin.

  “Why don’t we have a seat, Miss? This will take a while.”

  She accepted and they walked toward a wooden bench that was next to the house.

  Daniel took off his waistcoat and handed it to Robin. Then he rolled his sleeves up, a few inches above his elbows and went to work.

  He placed a log on the top of a tree stump. Then he picked up the ax, raised it high above his head, and swiftly swung it toward the log. Daniel’s biceps bulged as he hit the log and split it in half. He did this same procedure again and again. The sound of the wood splitting was almost mesmerizing.

  After a while, Flann nudged Robin and said, “I really appreciate this. I was getting tired and the missus said she needed more wood to do some cooking.”

  When he smiled at her, she asked, “Have you lived here long?”

  “All our married life, which has been about twenty eight years.”

  “So you knew King Edmund, then.”

  He nodded.

  “My father told me all about him. He said Edmund was the best ruler in history.”

  Flann nodded. “You bet. He sure was.”

  When Daniel had been chopping wood for almost an hour, Flann stood and said, “You won my heart, young man. I think it’s time to quit.”

  Daniel wiped his damp brow. He looked down at his shirt, which was soaked with sweat and clinging to him, accentuating the shape of his broad muscled chest.

  He smiled and said, “Where’s your well? I need to wash up.”

  Flann pointed toward the front door and said, “I’ll get you a new shirt. You’re a
bout my size.”

  As he went into the house, Daniel wearily walked toward the well. He was exhausted.

  Noticing his fatigue, Robin quickly walked ahead of him, took the bucket and dropped it into the well as she said, “I’ll do it. You’re tired.”

  He nodded as he watched her pull the bucket up by the rope. Then she placed it on the edge of the well and stepped aside.

  “Thanks,” he said softly.

  He unbuttoned his dirty white shirt and pulled it off. Laying it across the edge of the well, he splashed water on his face and on his shoulders, arms, and chest.

  As Robin watched, she couldn’t help but notice that every inch of his torso was muscle. His chest, shoulders, and arms were as if some artist had sculpted every contour of his body. She noticed how his muscles rippled along his arms. That was when it dawned on her. It was evident that Daniel knew hard labor. He never sat at a desk and ordered servants around, although he could have if he wanted. He believed in work. Robin’s admiration for this man rose by leaps and bounds.

  She tried hard to not stare but it was difficult. Even her own men didn’t look like this. After working on their sword fighting skills, they would be sweaty and take off their shirts to wash up. But they looked nothing like this.

  When Daniel was finished, he turned toward her with water dripping from his face and chest as he said, “Sure wish I had a cloth to dry myself off.”

  “What?” asked Robin.

  Daniel looked at her curiously, “What’s the matter?”

  Robin blinked a couple times and said, “Nothing.” She looked around and didn’t see a thing. She shrugged as she playfully said, “Do you want to use the hem of my skirt?”

  He chuckled at her teasing.

  When Flann walked outside, he said, “I’ve got a towel for ya.”

  Daniel winked at her and took the small towel. After drying himself, he took the shirt that Flann offered him.

  “You can have mine in exchange,” said Daniel as he motioned to his shirt lying across the well.