"It is what saved us. Else he would have stayed to finish the job."
"My brave little Brenna. Forgive me for the pain I have caused you."
She brought her horse close to his.
"I pray you will forgive me for lending Windham your jewels and falling into his trap."
"Hush, love. There is still work to be done. We must find the queen's party," Morgan rasped.
"Aye. But they could be anywhere in the forest."
"I know these woods. Richard and I have explored them all our lives. I will find her."
Brenna saw the beads of sweat on Morgan's forehead as he urged his horse into a run.
Ahead the forest loomed. And as they entered the thick wooded area, Brenna felt her heartbeat begin to race. Somewhere very near, the queen was being stalked by a vicious killer.
"There, Majesty. A fine buck."
"Aye, Lord Windham. I see him."
The queen drew back her bow and took careful aim. The arrow sang through the air. At the last moment the buck lifted his head, as if sensing danger. But the arrow found its mark.
Leaping high in the air, the buck executed a graceful death dance, then sank to its knees.
"A perfect kill. Majesty."
The queen acknowledged his compliment with a slight nod of her head.
"If you hurry, you can have another trophy. Majesty. I spotted a second buck just slipping off to yonder woods."
"I did not see it, Windham. Are you certain?"
"Aye."
The queen glanced around toward the rest of their party, who had fanned out on either side of them.
"We will lose the others if we do not tell them where we are heading."
"I will slip back and tell them which direction to take. You follow this trail around to the other side of those trees, Majesty. And I will show you where the buck is hiding."
The queen hesitated.
"My groom..."
"He is tending to your kill, Majesty. Hurry. Else we will lose the finest buck I have ever seen."
"Truly? How large?"
Windham's voice took on a note of excitement.
"At least ten points.
Majesty. "
"I must have him." The queen urged her mount forward.
"Wait until Morgan sees what I have brought down."
"Aye, Majesty. He will be impressed."
"I do not care about impressing him. I want him to regret missing this perfect day."
Windham turned away. On his face was a smug smile. He waited until the queen disappeared beyond the line of trees. Then he carefully studied the others to be certain that no one was watching. With a flick of the reins he urged his horse into a thicket. He pulled an arrow from the quiver he had stolen from Morgan's room. By the time the queen reached the appointed place, he intended to be ready for her.
By sheer force of will Morgan was able to sit his horse. He could feel his strength ebb as he ducked in the saddle to escape low-hanging branches.
A short distance away Brenna, unmindful of the briers that snagged at her hair and raked her flesh, peered through the brush.
"I see a movement, Morgan." Her voice was a soft whisper.
"Where?"
She pointed. He brought his mount closer. There was a sudden flash of color, then it was gone. He nodded then took the lead.
This had been his favorite part of the forest. Thickly wooded, it was strewn with boulders and pockmarked with small burrows where wild animals took shelter. He felt the sweat form a river along the small of his back at a sudden thought. It was the perfect place for a man to hide himself from view if he were stalking game.
Signaling to Brenna to follow his lead, Morgan dismounted and tied his horse. Walking as quietly as a deer, he moved through the shadowy forest until a movement caught his eye.
He stepped behind a tree and pointed. Brenna came up beside him and studied the area carefully, then nodded. Some distance away the figure of a man could be seen standing perfectly still behind a tree. His bow and arrow were at the ready, the bowstring drawn tautly. Following the direction of the man's gaze, Morgan caught his breath.
Just stepping into the man's line of fire was the queen astride her horse.
Morgan and Brenna assessed the situation and realized that they were moments too late. Before Morgan could cross the space that separated him from Windham, the arrow would be fired.
If they were to shout a warning, the queen would hesitate, allowing Windham the time he needed to get her into his sight and release the fatal arrow.
Though they spoke not a word, they were of one mind. Morgan raced toward Windham while Brenna sped toward the queen.
Lifting her skirts Brenna dodged fallen logs and the sharp edges of half-buried rocks. As she ran she blessed the training she had received in the company of her father's men. With a last burst of speed she leaped high into the air and caught the queen in a great hug, knocking her cleanly from the saddle. Both women fell in a tangle of arms and legs and billowing skirts.
Elizabeth was outraged.
"How dare you!" As she struggled to sit up, her famous temper boiled over.
"Scotswoman, you have sealed your fate.
It is not marriage to which I condemn you--'tis the hangman, for causing bodily harm to the queen. "