Sherwood by S. E. Roberts Page B

head. She knew their strengths and their weaknesses. She
knew where to put them and what they were good for. She felt
confident, but for some reason she was putting off her first
raid.
    Robin had come to her two
days ago and told her that she would be doing the raid this morning
and that was final. He said there would be an important caravan
coming through and it might contain powerful information on the
royal castle.
    Harlow tried to tell him
she wasn't well, that she couldn't do it today, but he told her he
would have none of that. She was a McBride. She could do
anything.
    Harlow stared over the
lake. She was a littler nervous about having three other lives
resting in her hands. She wondered if her father would be proud of
her and her accomplishments. Of course he would be angry, but maybe
he would be proud that she'd followed in his footsteps.
    “ Henry,” a
voice called from behind her.
    Harlow opened her eyes, her
thoughts stopping and her heart pausing at the voice. She felt
herself get self-conscious in front of him.
    “ Enders,” She
greeted him back. She heard him step closer, and when he came into
her vision, she refused to look at him and get herself distracted.
She hadn't forgotten that Enders was under her command now, but it
didn't help to think about it. She felt a blush of red creep to her
cheeks, but she suppressed it.
    “ Everyone is
eating their breakfast by the fire.” Enders said, leaning against
an adjacent tree and looking in her direction. “We'll be ready to
leave in a few minutes.”
    “ Have you
eaten?” Harlow asked, using a gruff voice she'd learned from
listening to Aldridge Chadwick every time he spoke.
    Enders sighed, and looked
out over the lake. “I haven't been hungry.”
    Harlow kept her eyes
straight and even. “Go eat some breakfast before we
leave.”
    Enders raised an eyebrow at
her. “I'm not hungry.”
    “ You're our
strongest archer and our best swordsman. Without energy you can't
do much to protect yourself or anyone for that matter. I'm counting
on you to be at your best. So,” she said, taking in a deep breath
and turning her body to him, her arms crossed, “Go eat some food
before we leave.”
    Enders almost smiled. He
nodded before turning his back and walking back the way he'd come,
toward a fire burning in the distance where she saw Reggie and
Elwin tiredly eating by the flames.
    Harlow took in one more
deep breath before leaving the lake and having a piece of beef
jerky with her unit.
     
    *~*~*
     
    They'd set off about an
hour ago and they were almost at their destination. It was a cut
off pathway from the main road that led through a small clearing,
which gave them some time to set up and wait out the caravan to
raid.
    They were about ten minutes
away from the main road, Harlow walking backwards and taking up the
rear of the line. Reggie and Elwin were in the middle, supposed to
be covering both of their sides while Enders took up the
lead.
    “ My wife
would not be happy about this,” Reggie confessed, giving a hearty
laugh.
    Elwin snorted. “Aye, unless
she's looking for a way to rid herself of you.” He laughed at his
own joke, receiving a small punch from Reggie.
    Reggie laughed deeply,
enjoying the conversation. His laugh echoed throughout the forest
and reverberated off the trees.
    Enders immediately turned
around and looked at them, as did Harlow, giving the two men
condescending looks for their rowdy behavior.
    “ Have you
forgotten how dangerous this forest is?” Enders scolded, after
hushing them.
    Harlow tried to stay quiet,
not particularly in the mood to disguise her voice.
    “ Oh please.
We have to lighten up if we intend on keeping our sanity.” Elwin
said, although he complied with quieter tone. He kept his voice
low, turning to Reggie again. “I agree, though. My soon-to-be bride
would be appalled at the things we're doing.”
    Reggie gave another laugh,
although quieter this time.
    Enders again turned around.
“Reggie!” He hushed