The Rebels of Cordovia Read Online Free PDF Page A

each event?”
    Miles nodded. “That’s right. Your best against
our best! My boss has heard of your expertise in archery. So he
wants to also challenge you, one on one, if you think you’re good
enough.”
    “If I think I’m good enough?” she exclaimed.
    The group burst into laughter. They knew how
good she was.
    Miles raised his brow as he asked, “Then it’s a
deal?”
    After a moment of thought, Robin asked, “Do we
have to beat every competition to win?”
    “No. Only two out of three…one for wrestling,
one for sword fighting, and one for archery, which will be you and
our leader. What do you say?”
    All the men and women yelled their approval.
With Robin in archery and Merek in wrestling, they had it made.
    Robin looked around and saw the excited faces of
her group. Then she nodded and shook Miles’ hand and set up a date
for the competition.
    After Miles left, she pulled off her mask and
said, “Who thinks he’s better at sword fighting than anyone
here?”
    There were a few shrugs.
    “Then,” said Robin. “We’ll have our own
competition. Whoever beats one of our own will challenge the
Freemen.”
    Everyone agreed. As Robin headed home, she felt
quite good about the deal she had made. If she won, they would help
her out anytime she wanted. There couldn’t have been a better
deal.
    She opened the door to her home with a grin and
greeted her parents. When her father saw her elation, he asked how
the meeting turned out and she told him everything.
    He nodded. “I think you made the right choice,
dear. No one can beat you. You’re the best.”
    She smiled. “You’re just prejudice. Besides, I
had a great teacher.”
    Andrew chuckled. “So can anyone compete in this
sword competition of yours?”
    “Of course.”
    “That’s nice to know,” Andrew said as he threw
his cane aside. “I just might think about competing.”
     
    ***
     
    Daniel laughed as Miles told him how the meeting
went. He was elated. It couldn’t have worked out better. “I think
two out of three is a good number to win. I’m quite excited about
this. I love a challenge.” He rubbed his hands together with
excitement. “So when’s the competition?”
    Miles stared at his leader and watched his
joviality. He seemed happier than normal. In fact, he acted as if
he could take on the whole king’s army.
    With puzzlement, he asked, “What happened in
Charlottesville today?”
    “It was great. We delivered a lot of breads and
pastries to many, many families. You should have seen the people,
Miles. They were so appreciative.”
    “We? Who helped you?”
    Daniel grinned. “The most beautiful young lady
I’ve ever met in my life. I’m not joking, Miles. She was lovely.
And she believes in our cause and isn’t afraid to speak out. She
said her mind and didn’t waver one bit.”
    Miles grinned. “I should have figured it was a
woman.”
    “What?”
    “Your happiness!” Miles chuckled. “I thought it
might be something more than just delivering food to the poor. Only
a woman would bring that sort of joy to a man. What’s her
name?”
    Daniel beamed. “Marie. She’s really something,
Miles. She put those children on her lap and asked them questions
about themselves as if she were truly interested in their lives.
Then she asked the parents if the children needed clothes. She’s
not wealthy by any means, but nonetheless, she acted as if she
could get them clothes with the snap of her fingers.”
    Miles burst into laughter. “You’ve got it bad,
Danny Boy.”
    “What?”
    “You’re enamored!” Miles laughed. “By the way,
the competition is in a couple days so you’d better practice
up.”
    Daniel shook his head. “It’ll be easy. Don’t
worry about me. Let’s talk to the men and see who wants to
volunteer for the sword fight and wrestling. We really need Robin’s
men. They’ve made a name for themselves. We need good fighters with
strength and wit to win this battle with King Rupert.”

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