Page 13 of The Robber Knight
“Are you sure?” Burchard asked, disbelieving.“And the knight was wearing red?”
“Red like the devil,” she confirmed. “Why doyou ask? Do you know something I don't?”
He shook his head, but his eyes remainedtroubled.
“You know who this red knight might be, don'tyou?” Ayla asked with an eagerness that surprised herself.
Burchard scrutinized her closely, then said:“I have an idea. But if I'm right, it's all the more important toget out of the forest and back over the river as quickly aspossible.”
Ayla didn't much like the sound of that. Nowthat she had reinforcements, her first instinct was to go after thevillainous knight and retrieve what was rightfully hers.
But to do so would have been foolish: he hadhorses, they didn't. And even if they managed to catch up to him,they were on a narrow forest path, wide enough for one man todefend alone, and he was standing on higher ground. Yes, heprobably was no great fighter, cowardly thief that he was, but wasshe willing to risk her men's lives on that chance?
Taking a deep breath, she said: “Yes,Burchard, you're right. Let's h—”
The ring of metal on metal interrupted her.Cocking her head, she turned to face up the path that led out ofthe valley again.
“What was that?” she asked.
“I didn't hear anything, Milady.”
“That's because you've got hair growing inyour ears, Burchard. Psst! Be quiet!”
Everybody went still, and in the ensuingsilence, they could hear the clash of metal upon metal in thedistance, intensifying—yet not because it drew nearer, but becausethe blows became ever mightier and faster.
“Come on!” Ayla gestured up the path and hadalready started on her way back when Burchard grabbed her by thearm.
“Have you gone insane?” he exclaimed. “That'stoo dangerous!”
“I know it's too dangerous! That's why we'regoing to help whoever is fighting there.”
“I meant too dangerous for you!”
“Well, I didn't.”
Burchard rolled his eyes. “Why doesn't thatsurprise me? Milady, how do you even know that one side of thefight deserves help?”
“Because,” she said with simple logic, “theother side is sure to be Falkenstein's men. Don't you hear it?That's more than two weapons up there. Who but him would dare tobring a battalion of soldiers onto my land?”
Burchard's grip only hardened. “And theprospect of walking up to a battalion of Falkenstein's soldiersdoesn't worry you?” he demanded.
“Not really, no,” she said, grinning grimly.“I will have my brave guards with me.”
“And what makes you think,” the stewardgrowled, “that your brave guards won't just drag you back to thecastle before allowing this foolishness?”
“Well,” she said, and nimbly slipped out ofhis grasp, “they'd have to catch me first.” Then she turned and ranback up the forest path. She had to help the poor souls that werefighting for their lives.
“After her!” Burchard yelled.
ListeningIn
The sounds of battle slowly subsided as Ayla hurriedtowards their origin. One blade after another went silent and spokeno more. She knew why: its wielder had met with an untimely end,had met with a faster blade. One side seemed to be winning thecombat. She hoped against hope that it was not Falkenstein.
With ruffled skirts, Ayla ran from tree totree, always keeping behind cover and watching the path before herclosely. Despite what Burchard might think, she was not anirresponsible girl taking every opportunity to stick her nose intotrouble. She was a responsible woman taking every opportunity tostick her nose into trouble—if by so doing she could help others.Whoever was fighting up there was fighting against the MargraveMarkus von Falkenstein, fighting valiantly by the sound of it. Thatwas more than enough reason for her to risk her neck.
As she neared the place of the fight, sheslipped from the path into the trees. Ayla knew this forest well;as a little girl she had gone riding out here often. She recognizedthe place in front of her. Not twenty yards away was a clearingwhere pilgrims and other travelers often stopped on their way tothe castle. Now, it seemed, the clearing was much lesspeaceful.
The sound of the furious blows intensified asAyla crept nearer. And then, suddenly, there were the cries ofmen:
