Roger Ascham and the Dead Queen's Command by Matthew Reilly

Author:Matthew Reilly [Reilly, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781760982331
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 2020-04-01T05:00:00+00:00

6.

The two arrows crossed in mid-air.

Whoosh-whoosh!

Maynard’s arrow slammed into Ascham’s shoulder, throwing him back against the doorframe, pinning him to it, so forceful was the shot.

It wasn’t a fatal wound, but it was a winning one: stuck to the door, Ascham dropped his bow and now he couldn't reload it for a second shot. Maynard could kill the queen at his leisure.

Ascham looked up, beaten—

—to see Maynard sitting on the floor with his feet splayed wide and his mouth hanging open, slack-jawed, blood trickling from it…

…and with Ascham’s arrow protruding from his chest, lodged in his heart. Ascham had got off his shot!

Maynard did not move.

He just sat their dumbly. Ascham’s arrow had penetrated deep into his heart. He was probably dead before he’d hit the floor.

Ascham sighed with relief. ‘I always said archery contests should measure accuracy and speed…’ he said to no-one.

Moments later, Hopgood arrived, beheld the scene and leapt to Ascham’s aid.

After he had carefully pulled Ascham off the door, Ascham said, ‘Take me to the window, lad.’

Hopgood helped him to the window, where they saw the royal barge cruising toward them.

Ashcam looked out at his queen—his former student—and for what it was worth, waved with his good arm.

And as Elizabeth’s barge passed under London Bridge, she caught his eye and started for a brief moment as she saw and recognised him.

He nodded to her and she smiled back, nodding almost knowingly, and then she continued waving happily to her subjects as if nothing untoward had happened at all.

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