The horse was swallowed up by the woods.
She turned, scanning the wall of trees.Ianwas nowhere to be seen.
“Ian.Where are you?”she shouted.
The only sound she heard was the shrill cryof a bird.“Ian.This is not amusing.Do not tease,” she called.“Show yourself.”
Her voice seemed to echo in the mist-shroudedwoods.The forest closed around her.She stood very still, grippedby a paralyzing chill.It was happening again.The demons that hadplagued her for so long were returning to torment her oncemore.
* * *
The queen, accompanied by Neal, waited in thecourtyard to claim her victory.Soon her smile of anticipationturned to a frown of concern.
“They should have emerged from the woods bynow.”
Neal glanced at the sun, almost directlyoverhead.“Aye, Majesty.It is not a large island.They could havetraversed the entire distance by now.”
“Help me from the saddle,” Mary commanded.Neal assisted her and stood holding the reins of her horse as sheclimbed the steps of the castle.
Over her shoulder she called, “Summon me whenyour sister returns.I wish to collect what it due me.”
“Aye, Majesty.”
When the door opened, Jamie and Douglas, whohad been deep in conversation, looked up to see the queen’s flushedface.Both men scrambled to their feet.
“It would seem you exerted great energy onyour ride, Majesty.”
“Aye.I engaged Lindsey in a race.But shehas not yet returned.”
“Where did you ride?”Douglas came forward tooffer his arm.
“The forest.”
Douglas paused and glanced toward Jamie,whose smile faded to a look of alarm.
“Lindsey is alone in the forest?”
“Nay.Neal and I rode together.Lindsey iswith Ian MacPherson.”
MacPherson.That was even worse.Jamie’sthroat went dry.Struggling to control his voice he asked, “Did yousee the direction they took?”
“Nay, my friend.You know how I hate to losea wager.I led the way into the forest and never looked back.”
Jamie was already heading up the stairstoward his chambers.Strapping on his scabbard, he lifted his swordfrom the mantel and hurried from the room.
* * *
As Lindsey picked her way through theundergrowth, she cursed the clumsy skirts that impeded herprogress.Having had the occasion to wear a lad’s breeches, sheknew that a woman’s clothing put her at a distinctdisadvantage.
She paused a moment, seating herself on afallen log.As she lifted a handkerchief to her face she had theeerie feeling that she was being watched.But when she turned toglance over her shoulder, she saw no one.
Getting to her feet, she studied the progressof the sun.It seemed only minutes ago it had been directlyoverhead.But already it had begun its arc to the western sky.Shemust find her way to the castle before daylight faded.Else shewould be forced to spend a night of terror alone in thesewoods.
She tossed her head, refusing to permit suchthoughts.She would think of this forest as a maze.And she wouldwork her way through it to safety.
She heard the snap of a twig above her andlooked up just in time to see a heavy branch falling toward her.With a cry she leaped back and watched in horror as the limbcrashed to the ground inches from her.Had she not looked up intime, she would have been crushed.
She looked through the dense foliage.Therewas no one visible.It was merely the wind.She knew she wasimagining dangers that were not really there, but she could notfight the terror.With her heart pounding she took off at a run,plunging deeper into the woods.
