We three strangers looked to each other, Cooper to this fine lady, she to him, and I from one to the other. Silence but for Cooper’s horse that pawed over.

‘Who are you?’

Her voice was soft in that mottled light.

His steed bit to its bridle, eyes wary to its fellow, still as stone.

‘I am Cooper, James Cooper…’ he said under that woman’s steady green gaze. ‘Of the town brigade, my lady.’

And Lady Greeneye then alighted to me, my breath as fast as my beating heart.

‘And why are you chasing this woman, James Cooper of the town brigade?’

She spoke so clear like day cutting night.

‘She stole from me.’ Cooper bared his horrid fangs.

The fine lady looked to my hair in his fist.

‘And you from her, I see…’

Cooper let fall my lock and it drifted, a red flame in the prying sunlight.

‘I could not steal what is not yours to have!’ I blurted, like my voice had come from me unbid. Was it this lady who gave me heart?

‘Shut your hole, witch!’

‘It is not his!’ The beads rattled on the shawl as I shook it. ‘It was my mother’s!’

I pleaded to Greeneye, and she frowned, working our tale between her thoughts. She would know it.

‘He is the thief. He ripped it from her dead body!’

The lady looked to Cooper. What a sight we were. Did she think we played to thieve her?

‘She was a witch, my lady. Like this one,’ and he pointed to me, ‘to be brought to trial.’

Lady Greeneye raised an eyebrow. ‘Yet she died?’

‘She resisted our arrest.’ Cooper thrust his chin, like he faced his captain. ‘Tried to cast a spell upon us and—’

‘That’s a lie!’ I stepped closer to him and his snorting horse. ‘There were four of them. They killed her, like she was a beast to slaughter!’

‘And I will kill you, girl, if you dare to speak again!’ Cooper drew his blade, scraping the air. ‘I arrest you—’

‘Stay that sword!’ Lady Greeneye rose taller upon her horse which stirred and seemed to grow with her.

‘My lady!’ He eyed her, stabbed at me. ‘Witches are decreed traitors against the people’s army! I have my orders!’

‘I am aware of your new laws, James Cooper.’ Her eyes lit. ‘I said stow your blade!’

And that was my moment.

I ran past her silent steed, darting to the path, two, three, four steps away.

‘NO!’ Cooper raged.

‘Stop!’ The lady drove before him.

I could have run on then, left them both to tussle horses and argue, but instead I turned and saw Cooper’s horse rear, saw him raise that glinting blade to charge at me. He made to pass her with eyes only for me, but Lady Greeneye would not let him. And Cooper stared angry upon this strange woman of the wood, who grit her teeth so wilful to stop him. And then as they scuffled, as their horses jostled, they lost their balance, for neither would give, and together they tumbled and fell, shouting, struggling to the ground.

Cooper’s horse reared again, turning tight, the lady’s steed trapped beside it, skidding at stones that fell to the river. And beneath those sliding hooves, Cooper and Lady Greeneye heaved and battled.

I had to help. She had saved me, and now grim-faced fought that swinging blade. I started back, scrambling over the rocks.

‘You cannot,’ Cooper grunted, turning his weight upon her, ‘stop me, my lady. Foolish to try.’

Then I saw it in his sweaty grin. We were alone with him upon this path, empty of any traveller. His word against ours. If he killed this brave woman, no one would believe a witch. He would say I killed her.

‘I will!’ Lady Greeneye’s voice echoed above the cry of the horses.

Cooper’s steed barged, hemmed by the other, rolled its mad eye.

But Cooper was too heavy upon the lady who shook to hold him fast. I jumped to, grabbed his sword arm. Cooper’s other hand gripped mine, and now we three fought to wrestle that sword free.

And his horse slipped, hooves stamping, sliding near.

‘I am powered,’ sweat from Cooper’s brow dripped to her dress, ‘by Lord Whitaker himself.’

And then, spite our pulling, he was stronger, for slow he raised his arm, and I saw what he meant to do. To strike his sword pommel upon that lady.

Yet she looked him straight with a smile.

‘And I am powered to tell you that I am his daughter!’ she hissed, above the cry of his whinnying horse.

‘What?’ Cooper gaped, as a fish for water. ‘His daughter? What?’

I grabbed for the blade. But my hand slipped, and the steel sliced my palm.

‘No!’

Cooper punched my face so fast, and I fell back into Greeneye.

He was crazed, for we were laid before him, and such bloodlust foamed his mind.

His horse smashed down its hooves, sparks flew.

‘You should not have come this way today.’ Cooper raised his blade. ‘This path is too dangerous for fine ladies!’

With that he swung back.

And stuck his blade to his horse’s leg.

He pulled, as a shriek sounded, and I thought it was my own.

But it was Cooper’s horse that lashed out.

Kicked his skull with a loud crack!

Blood bloomed from his hair, through his eyes, to his grin.

And James Cooper of the town brigade fell forward.

Dashed and dead.