AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I wonder why that is? I thought as I dragged my leather armor on over my coarse tunic, staring out from the unenviable confines of our prickly hideaway.
It was Robin. I knew it sure and true. I had grown softer, more hesitant, because I actually cared about someone now. When your life was a freewheeling stop from one place to the next, without any concrete purpose, you tended to grow detached.
Now, I had a vested interest. It was personal. If anything made Robin unsafe, I’d second-guess myself. I should’ve second-guessed myself when she asked to leave for Nottingham. Oath or not, that was foolish of me to allow her to go, knowing Guy was on our trail. It blew up in my face.
“Erm, boss?”
I turned to Alan-a-Dale as he smacked nettles out of his face. “One of the horses is gone.” I had forbidden him from playing music last night over our meager supper, lest he alert the nearby ambushers to our whereabouts, and he still looked sad about that.
“Shit,” I muttered, strapping on the loose harness that kept my quarterstaff slanted across my back.
“We think Maid Marian doubled back once we fell asleep, and stole him. I’m inclined to agree.”
“Sounds probable.”
“If we’re swift enough, maybe we can catch her.”
“That is if she went into Skellingthorpe like I suggested.” I chuckled humorlessly. “I doubt that woman will be taking my suggestions after I ousted her.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you on that.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. Alan was an agreeable fellow, and knew how to skate on a thin line. That was the second time he’d used that phrase. Last night he tried to play mediator by agreeing—and then disagreeing—with both Will and me. Alan didn’t want to ruffle feathers, whereas Will was born to ruffle feathers.
“Well,” I said, stepping out from under the low-hanging tree I’d slept under. I smacked thorny stems out of my face, sputtering and then spitting on the ground. “We were headed to Skellingthorpe anyway. Might as well take a look around, long as we’re quick about it.”
Alan joined me as we walked through camp and gathered the men. The next few days would be a mad dash to find Robin before Guy did. I prayed we would do it, and even asked Tuck to speak to God about it.
He did. We all lowered our heads around the pond.
“God,” Tuck began, “let Robin’s feet be swift, and her mind swifter. Let her outrun the dangers nipping at her heels. We beseech you, Almighty God, to smother her in the bosom of your protection.”
I glanced up under the ridge of my brow and saw Will smirking.
Tuck sighed at his immaturity. “We are sinners, God, yet she is pure—”
“Bullshit, mate,” Will said this time, head reeling up. He was the least faithful of us, and I couldn’t blame him.
Tuck snapped at the younger lad. “Would you like to lead this prayer, Will Scarlet? Or will you let me finish?”
Will frowned, lowering his chin.
“Good. Where was I? Ah, right. God, we are sinners, yet she is pure, and we ask you to place a beacon over her heart and soul. We might not be worthy of her love, as we are certainly not worthy of yours, but she deserves peace. Amen.”
We echoed Tuck before he looked up and smiled.
Then we rounded up the rest of our horses—two to lead the carriage, two more now that Marian had taken one. Sir Gregory stayed with his hostage, Tuck, in the cargo bay, and we allowed him that illusion.
I supposed it didn’t cross the knight’s mind that we could have easily killed him in his sleep. That wasn’t our way, though, and we needed all the help we could get. He was a formidable warrior. Truth was we might need his sword and experience. Plus, he had a connection with Robin that went beyond ours.
Did I think Robin would go home with him once we found her? Not if I knew my little star. But she was nothing if not unpredictable, so who really knew?
I was tense with worry as I looked over the horse’s saddles. “Two horses, and two are needed to pull the carriage. We can’t bring everyone into Skellingthorpe.”
Tuck tapped his chin. “We can double our efforts. I’ll bring the cart to Broadholme Priory, west of Skellingthorpe. Perhaps I can plead for favors from the White Canons there. The lasses are right with me.”
Will’s brow lifted. “Lasses?”
“Aye,” Tuck said, stepping into the carriage after Sir Gregory. “The priory is run by canonesses—one of only two in the country, that I’m aware of.”
