Chapter 33-- Sovay has a Plan

“I have a plan.”
“No.”
Sovay put her floured hands on her hips. She had been helping Robyn prepare the evening meal for the officers, but now she was considering leaving her cousin to her own devices. “You haven’t even heard it yet.”
“Yes, but it had the word ‘I’ in front of it,” keeping her back turned to Sovay, Robyn grinned. She enjoyed tweaking her cousin.
“Well, you are going to hear it, whether you like it or not.”
Robyn waved a hand at the dough Sovay had been kneading. “Well, if I have to suffer through hearing your plan, at least finish kneading the dough.”
Returning to her work, Sovay began, “So, you want to get rid of Reid, right?”
“Of course.”
“Well, what if we make Agent Chaplen think he’s the Shadow Fox?”
Robyn arched an eyebrow. “What?”
“Just think about it. What are his initials?”
“R. R.”
“And what are the Shadow Fox’s?”
“I still don’t see where you’re going with this.”
Sovay sighed, as if explaining something painfully obvious. “He’s got the Shadow Fox’s initials, height, hair color—“
His eyes are the wrong color,” Robyn interrupted.
Sovay shrugged. “Well, that what the hood is for.”
Robyn shook her head as she dried her hands on a towel. “No, you don’t understand. Agent Chaplen knows the Shadow Fox’s eyes. He notices things like that. He will have noticed Reid’s eyes and won’t fall for it.”
Sovay smiled conspiratorially. “Unless he finds Reid dressed as the Shadow Fox.”
Robyn arched an eyebrow, clearly interested.
Sovay coughed, knowing there was a single flaw in her plan.” And riding his horse.”
“Reid is not getting his pompous behind on my horse!”
Wincing at the outburst, Sovay shushed her cousin. “Just hear me out.”
“Absolutely not! I am not going to ask Midnight to do that!”
“But it’s for the greater good!”
“No.”
“It’ll get rid of Reid.” Sovay’s tone was slightly singsong.
“How? Does your brilliant plan involve getting him hung?”
“No.” Sovay folded her arms across her chest. She had known her cousin would object. However, she also knew that she would eventually give in. It would just take a lot of prodding and poking. “Agent Chaplen will figure it out before then. However, it will cause Reid to leave. He wouldn’t stand for the insult of being arrested. He’ll stomp off.”
Robyn frowned, saying nothing.
Sovay nodded to herself. No reply was good. “We’ll convince him that dressing like the Shadow Fox will help him catch the Shadow Fox. Not to be rude, but he isn’t the smartest Englishman I’ve ever met.”
“Midnight won’t like it.”
Sovay nodded, pleased that her cousin had not said that she didn’t like it. “Anyway, we can tell Agent Chaplen or whoever that the Shadow Fox is about. He won’t be hard to capture.”
The sound of boots on the wood floor sent both girls back to their tasks. Agent Chaplen appeared in the doorway. “Ah, Miss Rivers, I just want to let you know that I shall not be here for the evening meal, so there is no need to set me a place.”
Robyn nodded somewhat distractedly. Knowing her mind was on getting rid of Reid, Sovay answered for her. “Thank you, Agent Chaplen.”
He nodded, then glanced at Robyn. With a slight shrug of his shoulders, he strode back the way he had come.
Sovay glanced at her cousin. “I wonder where he’s going.”
“The tavern.”
“What? How—”
“I heard him talking to Long about it.”
“Shouldn’t the Shadow Fox see what he’s up to?”
“No. Are you nearly done with that dough?”
~~~~~
A figure stood just outside the tavern window. Blowing the green feather from her eyes, Sovay peeked in the window. She could see Long, Howe, and Chaplen all seated around a table. About five officers sat near them at other tables.
“Right, Patriot.”
The border collie perked his ears and wagged his tail.
“Here is the plan. We sneak in there, listen, then sneak out. Savvy?”
Patriot cocked his head. “Aye, Captain,” his eyes said.
Nodding to herself, Sovay slipped in with a group of men who had already had a bit too much to drink. She quickly took a seat in the shadow, though close enough to hear what was being said.
“Any other news, General?” Long was asking.
The general shook his head. “The rebels aren’t up to much these days—at least, not much that my man hears.”
Chaplen leaned forward. “They seriously suspect none of this?”
Howe shrugged. “They did catch one of my men a while ago.” His eyes narrowed. “If I remember correctly, that confounded boy tipped them off.” He turned to Chaplen. “Speaking of which, how have you been getting on recently?”
The agent leaned back in his chair. “There has not been any activity, other than visits to his horse. I don’t really have anything to go on, currently. However, with every encounter, I grow closer to discovering his identity.”
Howe snorted rather rudely. “Well, you keep chasing that boy in your child’s game. Leave the man’s work to me. My little mole behind the rebel lines is currently doing far more damage than the Shadow Fox.”
Sovay gasped.
Chaplen tensed, and turned around. His eyes met Sovay’s and she froze. Rising from his chair, he slowly moved to where she was hiding. “You, I’ve seen you before. You’re that young boy who helped the Shadow Fox by destroying the camp.”
Sovay grinned guiltily.
“Seize him.”
Howe was on his feet in an instant. “Grab that boy!”
“Which one?!” a voice yelled out.
Confused, the entire group of Redcoats turned at the sound of the new voice—except for Agent Chaplen. He smiled slightly, keeping his eyes on Sovay.
“I think this one would be your best bet, General Howe.”
“Now, that’s hardly fair, Chaplen. He’s done nothing but turn a few tents! I, on the other hand, have done much more damage. Pardon me for being boastful, but I think I would be far more fun to hang.”
Sovay looked to see the Shadow Fox perched on top of a table. The table was not empty, however, and a few glaze-eyed men blinked at her in confusion. She had the feeling her cousin was quite enjoying her perch.
“Who’s your friend?” Chaplen asked.
Sovay pointed to herself. “Mine? Oh, that’s the Shadow Fox.”
The agent sighed. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Oh, me? I’m Daniel Dale.”
Chaplen groaned.
Sovay was confused. “What?”
“I used that name for my Redcoat disguise.”
“Oh. Good name, that.”
“Indeed.”
“Enough gabbing! Get that boy!” Howe roared.
“Which one?” chimed Sovay and Robyn.
The officers paused, seeing the logic of the girls’ question.
“The Shadow Fox!” Howe’s face was so red, Sovay wondered if he was about to burst.
The six officers lunged for Robyn, but Chaplen grabbed Sovay. She yelled in surprise, as she had expected him to go after her cousin.
“Let me go!”
Seeing her cousin in distress, Robyn vaulted over the officers’ heads, and landed on the table next to the one she had previously been occupying. Desiding this was a good idea, she leaped from table to table, sending drinks and plates flying. Finally, she landed on the table nearest to where Chaplen was struggling to keep Sovay’s wrist in his grasp.
“Hey, Chaplen! En guard!” Robyn leaped at him, sword raised.
Just as she hoped, he released Sovay in order to draw his sword. The blades clanged as they met, sending tremors up Chaplen’s and Robyn’s arms.
Sovay shot away from the dueling pair and straight at the group of officers.
“So, you’ve finally come out of hiding.”
Robyn brought her sword around to parry a quick attack from Chaplen. “I was getting bored.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t do something stupid because of your boredom.” Chaplen deflected a thrust.
“Aw, you know I’m cleverer than that.”
“Do I?” He swung his sword towards the Shadow Fox’s head.
Robyn dropped to the ground as the blade whistled above her. Once the danger was passed, she sprang onto a table. It wobbled, then steadied. “Well, you should, after all this time we’ve been friends.”
The Shadow Fox made a few hand signals in Patriot’s direction. The loyal dog was waiting at the sidelines, in case either of his young charges should require his assistance. He stood and trotted over to Sovay.
Robyn jumped over a slice at her legs. “Daniel!”
“Yes, Daniel?” Sovay yelled back, deftly deflecting a sword thrust from one of the officers.
“Take Patriot and get out of here!”
“Are you joking? This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks!”
“Now!”
“And leave you? Not a chance!”
“Patriot!”
The dog grabbed hold of Sovay’s cape, and dragged her from the tavern. She yelled at him the entire time, but could not get free.
That particular boy out of the way, the officers returned their attention to the Shadow Fox. Robyn turned her head to make sure Sovay and Patriot had gotten out alright. This was a huge mistake. Seeing his opportunity, Chaplen knocked her sword from her hand and brought his blade up to her throat.
“Defeated, boy. You’re mine!”
The Shadow Fox quickly glanced at her options. Seeing only one, she acted. Robyn stepped quickly backwards, then threw herself in a sideways roll. She hissed through her teeth at Chaplen’s sword skimmed her leg. Grabbing her sword, the Shadow Fox shot through the window in a spectacular shattering of glass.
“What?!” Screamed Howe. “He got away?! How could you idiots have let him get away?!”
The rest of the men pointed fingers, yelling over one another in their attempt to avoid blame. Only Chaplen was silent. He glared at the shattered window, seething.


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Sorry I'm two days late, guys. I have several excuses this time. Here they are: my grandmother had a heart attack, my mom cut off the tip of her finger making meals for her, one of our chickens died (yes, we have chickens, complete with a chick-mahal--you know, like the taj mahal, but for chickens--we call "Rosings Park" (this is said with a British accent) after the home of "Lady Catherine de Bourgh"(also said with a British accent) from Pride and Prejudice.) The only day that something bad didn't happen was Monday, and I was at a theme park, so I couldn't post. So there.
Anyway, the chapter is here at last.
Oh man, I love those two cousins. If I ever had a cousin my age, I'd want her to be just like Sovay. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to settle for the girl she is based off of. ;) And how did both Robyn and Sovay come up with "Daniel Dale?" Is it just a random name, or is this Daniel Dale some one? Hmmm... I'll let you know when I figure that out. Also, I think if I ever went to a tavern, I'd go table hopping. Sounds like fun.