The Dangerous Road to Oldchester

Christine and Erik woke at the first tweets of the dawn chorus that was sung loudly from the canopy above them. With their clothes still wet they had felt cold through the night and had barely slept a wink, Both, now longed for the warmth of mid-morning

The immediate danger had seemingly passed and the villagers we're already heading back in their droves back to their fields.

Word had spread that the Black Prince's flags were flying from the turrets of Bartholomew's castle. However, the villagers having seemingly decided to throw their lot in with the Black Prince and were not about to risk their lives for business that was above their station.

This broke Christine*s heart and she feared for her parents.

Christine headed in the opposite direction but still kept the cloak wrapped around her, as did Erik. Not just for warmth but also to hide their identity. If someone spoke, they replied with a single word answer in the hope of hiding their Highborne accent.

They headed for Oldchester, where they would rendezvous with Merthin the notary. It was the best part of a day's ride so to walk it before nightfall meant they needed to keep a good pace.

They were soon alone on an old Roman road which cut a straight line through the ancient forest of beech, oak and chestnut.

It was deathly silent.

Bandits and other undesirables were known to stalk these parts. And if you were really unlucky you could run into a pack of wolves or even a bear. There were also tales of ghosts, trolls and goblins too.

So, a young pretty girl and her younger brother were easy pickings so they both kept their daggers close to hand. An hour turned into two. No one passed. Had they gone the right way? The forest seemed deeper.

The silence was now all-consuming until late in the afternoon.

First there was the smell of wood smoke. Then the sound of harsh laughter on the summer breeze. A few more yards and they came across three men sat in the shade of large beech tree. At their feet a campfire was in its final embers.

One man was elderly, the second a little younger with only one hand, and the third man who Christine guessed was in his twenties, was skinny like a whippet. They were all disheveled, stunk, and dressed in nothing but dirty rags.

They were clearly outlaws.

Christine suddenly wanted to be alone. The three men stopped talking, climbed to their feet and stared at the siblings.

The youngest of the three asked, "You two make for an odd couple." The siblings didn't answer. "Bit young and **** to be on these roads without a guardian."

Christine gripped Erik's hand tightly. She whispered, "Just keep walking."

The man with one hand stood. "It's rude not to answer a man when he talks to you."

"We're in a rush." Christine knew that men like these would think nothing of robbing her and Erik of anything of value. Their fine blades, their cloaks and boots while too small for the outlaws could be sold - suddenly she remembered the heavy gold ring tied around her waist. "Run, Erik."

The siblings ran as fast as they could. At first their young legs pumped with youthful energy and put a good distance between them and the chasing outlaws.

But Erik's foot got caught on a branch which sent him crashing onto the moss-covered road cobbles.

Christine turned and pulled Erik up onto his feet. They again began running again at once but had lost their advantage.

Erik fell again as he was tackled to the earth by the one-handed man. Christine too, was grabbed by her dark brown hair, the pain **** Christine to stop in her tracks.

Christine then felt two strong arms grab her around her slender waist.

But there was a glimmer of hope for the innocents.

A man on a horse came into view. Christine screamed for the distant horseman, "Help!" She then shouted. "Please, good sir. Save us. We're nothing but innocents being attacked."

Her attacker **** her against a large oak, causing her breath to leave her. He then whispered into her ear, "Shut it bitch. He won't come and rescue you, if he wants to keep his life."

Chrstine couldn't reach her dagger as it was pressed tight between her and the tree.

The elderly man who now had Erik in his grasp shouted out, "Argh! The fucker bit me" He slapped Erik across the back of the head and made him cry. They removed his dagger and tossed it to one side.

Christine realized it was the younger man who held her from behind, pushing her against the tree. She felt his hand slip under her cloak and suddenly began massaging her healthy ass cheeks with his strong grip.

His hand then **** his way between her legs and started tracing the contours of her virgin sex. It dawned on Christine what cruel fate awaited her. She cried. "Help. I'm being ****."

The sound of galloping hooves rained down on the squabbling group.

The horseman was now at the scene. He was dressed in the green tunic of a Verderer, an officer of the court who was in charge of the forest. He was also the natural enemy of the outlaws. "By order of the King." He pulled his sword. "Let go of girl and boy and I'll spare your lives." To prove his point the Verderer brought his longsword in a whisker of the elderly man's weather-beaten cheek. "They are but children. You should be ashamed."