Trail of Fate (25 page)

This time there was a new feeling as befuddlement overwhelmed me. It was as if Eleanor's words had pulled me without warning from the deepest slumber. I lost my concentration for a brief moment. In a split second, may God forgive me, I paused to consider what she had said. She would see me dead before I sat on Richard's throne? What could she possibly mean?

And in my short moment of contemplation, whatever clue I gave away in my stance or eyes or the look on my face, in that brief instance Sir Hugh saw his chance.

He was still too far away for any of us to reach him, and knowing this he reared back with his right leg. I watched in terrified fascination as it started its inevitable descent forward toward the barrel. In less time than I could draw a breath Maryam was going to die.

Then as it had many times before, the stillness of time was broken by a familiar humming sound that filled the air around me. Angel barked and everyone was screaming, but in my heightened state all sounds became faint and far away.

“Robard! Now!” I shouted. My own voice sounded dull, like I had tried to shout to him from under water. My body tensed, then sprang into action. With my eyes on Maryam, I pushed the Queen Mother roughly toward the Captain and sprinted for the wagon and Sir Hugh. There was a flicker of movement in the corner of my vision as Robard rose and took aim.

He let the arrow fly.

 

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