A cloaked figure slipped into the tavern. Keeping to the shadows, the figure was unnoticed. “Redcoat tavern if I ever saw one,” the figure murmured. The Shadow Fox at down at a table in the shadows, near the only empty tables--the tables Agent Chaplen and the rest of the British officers would have to sit at.
After a quarter of an hour, British officers began to enter. They took the only tables available--those closest to The Shadow Fox’s corner. Their murmured conversations reached the Shadow Fox’s ears. “Perfect.”
Soon, a man the Shadow Fox recognized as General Howe and Captain Long entered. The former sat down opposite Captain Long and said, “So, this little troublemaker has become such a nuisance that England sends a special agent.”
“Yes, sir.”
Howe shook his head with a laugh. “I’d take that boy over my knee and give him a good whipping then send him home to his mother.”
“I’d like to see you try,” the Shadow Fox murmured, chuckling.
“He’s not worth sending an agent all the way across the sea,” continued Howe. Before he could finish, Agent Chaplen entered.
“General Howe, I presume?”
“Indeed.”
“Agent James Chaplen, at your service, sir. Thank you for meeting here tonight.”
Putting on his best forced smile, Howe replied, “My pleasure. Let’s get on with it, shall we?”
Agent Chaplen was not fooled by Howe’s fake sincerity, but he put on an amiable expression and began. “I have called you all here tonight because of a boy that goes by the alias, the ‘Shadow Fox’. I-”
“Are you having trouble with a little laddie?” Interrupted one of the younger officers. The other young officers hooted with laughter and a snicker escaped General Howe’s mouth.
Ignoring the jibe, Chaplen continued, “I would like to inform you that he is not as harmless as many have come to believe. He may be a mere boy, but he is clever and handy with a sword.”
“Why thank you. You are not terrible, either.” The Shadow Fox’s comment was lost in the cloak’s hood.
Other murmurs arose from those seated. “Is he really that clever? I doubt it.”
“A boy? Ha! Ridiculous.”
“He did outsmart an entire squad of some if our best men.”
Howe silenced them. “Shut your gobs, you lot, and let the agent finish. What is it that you plan to do about this, sirrah?”
Chaplin frowned at being called “sirrah” which is a term used to refer to those lower then oneself. “My plan is quite simple. You have recently captured a deserter, yes?” General Howe nodded affirmative so the agent continued. “The Shadow Fox will surely rescue him once he finds out and we will lay a trap for him.”
“But this man’s capture is top secret information. The Shadow Fox cannot possibly get hold of this information,” a sergeant interjected.
Chaplen smiled. He had been expecting this. “There is a boy in the house in which I am residing who is friendly with the Shadow Fox. Captain Long and I will discuss it with in earshot of him.”
“Very well, Agent Chaplen.” Howe stood. “I regret that I cannot refrain from my duties any longer. I bid you a good night and hope you are successful.” The rest of the officers began to stand up, toss coins on the table, and return their hats to their heads.
Suddenly, a drunkard staggered by the Shadow Fox’s table, lost his balance, and crashed into the table, knocking it over. Every head in the tavern turned and stared. The Shadow Fox was the first to move. She vaulted over the drunkard and fallen table and made a dash for the door.
Acting quickly, Agent Chaplen sprang in the fleeing one’s way. She turned, and--dodging a swipe from a sword--sprang onto the nearest table. The Shadow Fox dropped into a crouch as the rest of the British officers drew their weapons and formed a circle around the table. All of the tavern’s other patrons had turned to see what was going in on.
“Under normal circumstances, I would find standing on a table in the middle of a tavern quite amusing.” The Shadow Fox said, breaking the sudden silence that had fallen over the tavern.
“Have you been listening this entire time?!”
“Me? Eavesdrop? What are you insinuating, sir?”
Agent Chaplen rolled his eyes. “For one so clever you are extremely childish.”
“Indeed.” The Shadow Fox grinned. “The general thinks I need to be put over his knee and spanked.” Snickers of laugher followed this remark and Howe’s face reddened. “Tilting her head towards Howe, the Shadow Fox asked in the most cheerfulness of tones, “Should I tell the good agent what else you said, sirrah?”
There was a round of “Oooooooohs” and Howe replied, “You should be hung for your insolence!”
“If everyone that displeased you redcoats was hung, there would be no one left in the world.”
Chaplen chuckled and shook his head. “You are by far the cockiest lad I have ever met.”
“I do try.” Standing up she said, “While this has been immensely entertaining, I’m afraid I must depart--plans to ruin, you know.”
“Agent Chaplin!” Howe roared. “Seize that boy!”
The second the words had left Howe’s mouth, the Shadow Fox vaulted over the heads of the officers and landed in a roll. Silently thanking her grandfather for teaching her such acrobatics, the Shadow Fox darted towards the door.
Agent Chaplin and a few other officers got there first. The Shadow Fox skidded to a halt right in front of Agent Chaplin. “Good,” the agent said. “I was worried that you planned on running into me.” The Shadow Fox retreated a few steps. Several guns were cocked and trained on the cloaked figure as the officers formed a tight circle around her. The tavern’s other occupants had walked over to get a better view of the boy who called himself the Shadow Fox.
General Howe detached himself from the circle. “See how easily we’ve caught him?” he asked Chaplin with a smirk. “He’s nothing more than a boy.”
The Shadow Fox turned just in time to have her head patted. She didn’t turn all the way, though, as it would present her back to Agent Chaplin. The Shadow Fox ignored the head patting and turned her head back to the agent.
Howe followed her gaze to Chaplin and scowled. “You have more to worry about than Agent Chaplin, boy!” He grabbed hold of her hood.
The Shadow Fox reacted quickly. She kicked him in the knee. Howling, Howe released his grip on the hood to clutch his injured joint. Not wasting time, the Shadow Fox stuck two fingers in her mouth and whistled.
The tavern was then thrown in to pandemonium. The tavern doors flew open and Midnight bounded through. Men dodged her hooves and head as she barreled her way through the group to her rider. The Shadow Fox swung onto the black mare’s back. The horse reared up, and the Shadow Fox saluted Agent Chaplin. Midnight then launched herself and her rider out the doors and on the streets.
---
So, I'm officially a college student, now. Yikes!
I like this chapter. I had way too much fun with it.
I'm supposed to say something interesting about the story now, but I'm tired, so here's the best I have: Robyn was named after Robin Hood. I was thinking up a name for her, and that just presented itself.
Go figure.
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