Swinging her legs, Sovay perched on top of a bale of hay. She grinned as the door opened and the Rivers strode into the dimly-lit barn.”Greetings, fellow rebels!”
The cloaked one smiled.
Ben frowned at her. “Those had better not be my breaches.”
She had her red-blonde hair pulled back in the men’s style and was dressed in a long dark green cape, black boots, breaches, and jerkin, with a small mask over her eyes. She had topped it off with a hat that resembled one worn by a ship’s captain with a jaunty forest green feather sticking out of it. The Rivers had no earthly idea where she had gotten this paraphernalia.
Sovay grinned. “They’re not. So, how are we going to go about this?” She tilted her head at Robyn. “You are supposed to be the clever one, here.”
The Shadow Fox smiled. “Right, Master Green Feather, I am.”
Sovay frowned. “That’s a silly name.”
Ben shrugged. “A silly name for a silly outfit.”
She made a face at him.
Chuckling, Robyn began. “What we need is a distraction.”
Sovay grinned. “I do love distractions.”
Ben nodded. “I have a feeling that will be Sovay and I.”
~~~~~
Agent Chaplen looked up as a lieutenant burst into his office. Calmly, he regarded the man as he doubled over, panting for breath. When the man straightened, he said, “Yes, Lieutenant?”
“On the Commons, sir,” he replied, still out of breath. “They’re making such a ruckus amongst the soldiers. I was sent for you, sir.”
Agent Chaplen frowned. “Is it the Shadow Fox?”
The officer shook his head. “No sir, it’s two men dressed as pirates. They’ve overturned tents—trapping the men inside—knocked out the watches, put out the fires, and generally caused great disorder.”
“My, my, first Indians, now pirates. What next?” Smiling slightly, Chaplen stood and put on his coat. “I do believe an entire camp of soldiers can handle two men. However, I need you to gather a squadron of soldiers and send them to the jailhouse.”
The lieutenant frowned. “Sir?”
Buckling on his saber, Chaplen grinned. “The incident in your camp, my fine fellow, is a mere distraction. The real game is doubtlessly at the jailhouse.”
“Game, sir?”
Chaplen strode towards the door. “Ah, yes. The Shadow Fox.”
~~~~~
Ben pushed over another tent. Its inhabitants shrieked and yelled as they became more in tangled inside the cloth. Sovay came yelling like a mad thing at him. He waited for her to pass, then pinned the redcoat chasing her to a tent post with a well-aimed knife.
“Thank ye, Captain.”
Ben smiled through the grime he had smeared on his face. “Not a problem me first mate.”
Sovay looked around and asked in a deepened voice, “Do you think we have caused enough chaos here, cousin?”
Ben nodded. “Aye. Let’s get to the jailhouse to help Robyn.” He pushed Sovay out of the way and swiftly brought up his saber to black a sweeping slice from an officer.
Suddenly, a group of unharmed soldiers strode into the clearing surrounded by knocked-over tents. The officer leading them shouted, “There they are! Seize them!”
Quickly, the squad surrounded and closed in on the duo.
“Oh, fiddlesticks,” muttered Sovay.
Ben chuckled grimly. “Let’s hope the Shadow Fox can rescue us.”
~~~~~
The guard looked over the top of his beaker at the straw-haired lad. “Ya say Chaplen sent ya?”
The boy held the paper with Chaplen’s seal at the man’s nose. “Here it is, you lout. Let me pass, or you shall have to answer to Agent Chaplen. He will not be pleased to find out you prohibited me.”
The guard snorted. “Shut your gob, young one. I’ll let you through if you quit your snobbery.” He waved the young Redcoat through. “Huh, stupid British lads. Think they know everything.”
Robyn grinned to herself. She was about to march through to Jacob’s cell when an officer strode into the jail. The jailer swiftly stood up and saluted clumsily.
The distain was plain on the officer’s face as he spoke. “We have captured the two causing the ruckus on the commons. Do you have room for them?”
Robyn caught her breath.
The jailer bobbed his head. “Oh, aye, sir. When will I be expecting them?”
“In the near future. I think General Howe wants to question them first.”
The jailer grinned, showing his near-toothless maw. “Is one of them the Shadow Fox?”
“No, I don’t think so. Agent Chaplen is currently on his way here. He thinks this is a grand scheme to help that lad escape.”
The jailer harrumphed. “There’s no way the boy could get past me. You can tell Chaplen I have everything under control.”
The Shadow Fox slid into the shadows with a grin as the officer eyed the jailer incredulously. “He is still on his way. You will assist him in any way possible. In the mean time, don’t let anyone by.” And with a swirl of his cape, the officer was gone.
Robyn’s mind was working fast. Her friends were in danger, and Agent Chaplen was on his way. She couldn’t just abandon Jacob. A plan began to form in her mind. Softly, she whistled. Patriot bounded in. Having insisted on joining the party, he had followed her to the jailhouse. Now, she was glad he did. She slid the dirk out of her boot and underneath his collar.
“Patriot, I need you to stay by Midnight, then you two follow me. Once I whistle, you come. Got it?”
The dog nudged her, and she stood. “Right, now go stand with Midnight.”
Tail wagging self-importantly, the dog turned and strode off.
Robyn took a deep breath. This had to be one of her riskiest plans, yet. She stopped in front of Jacob’s cell, and put the key in the lock. “Alright, you rebel, you’re being moved.”
Jacob stood and glared at her. “I am being falsely accused. I am not the—“
“Shut your gob.” She giggled slightly.
Jacob eyed her thoughtfully. “Why am I being moved?”
“Agent Chaplen’s orders. I don’t ask questions, I just obey.”
“Typical Redcoat mindset.”
The second she turned her back to him, he pounced on her. She had been thrown completely off her guard, so it took her a few minutes for her to catch one of his arms. He pulled his free arm back to punch her.
“Whoa, whoa, Jacob, slow down! Please, I would like to keep my nose in one piece.”
He paused. “Who are you?”
She grinned. “The real Shadow Fox, at your service.”
Jacob released his grip on her shoulder, and she straightened her British uniform. “Now, you need to act like you’re my prisoner, alright?”
“Oh,” said a voice from behind her. “I don’t think that will fool anyone.”
The Shadow Fox froze as the sharp point of a sword made its presence known between her shoulder blades.
-----
Hehe, I love how Sovay just pops up dressed in random clothing.
Rather long chapter today, so be happy.
See ya'll next week!
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