AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My three mates stared at me like I had gone crazy.
Me, Robin, backing down?
Not by a long shot, boys.
As we turned to leave, Emma’s voice rose above the wind. “Lady Robin, please!”
I halted, glancing over my shoulder. The fear and sorrow written on Emma’s dirty face split my heart in two, and yet all I could do was steel myself and give her a tiny nod. I couldn’t give myself away, even if she thought I was abandoning her again.
As we reached our horses further down the hill, Will whispered, “What’s the plan? I recognize that look you get, little thorn.”
“And what’s the look, hmm?” Alan asked.
“Mischief.” Will smiled. “And hopefully violence.”
I pursed my lips, clamping my jaw.
“Tonight,” I said. “Be ready.”
Chapter 15
Robin
We waited for nightfall in the trees not far from Rufford Abbey, making sure to keep a visual on the two-story structure. Sharpening our blades, licking our chops.
My heart thrummed, even while Will Scarlet sported a nasty-looking smile on his face. Sadistic, that one.
When the sun sank behind the hills, we were ready. We kept our horses tethered to trees—they’d only hinder us for this job.
Crouching, peering through a wreath at the hill, I crawled over to my men. They were also crouching stealthily, making sure to stay hidden. The carriage rolled down the hill, exiting the abbey, creaking on the road and into the forest trail.
Once it had disappeared from view, I said, “Ready? We all know the plan?”
“And the contingency plan,” Will said with a sigh. “I’m hungry. Let’s get this done.”
“Hungry for food . . . or blood?” I asked.
His eyes darkened. “Aye.”
Alan-a-Dale chuckled. “There’s my little badger.”
“Are the soldiers in that carriage?” Tuck asked.
“They aren’t,” Will said, nudging his chin up the hill. “I see two of them at the front door of the abbey.”
“The carriage is bait, then,” Alan said, “in case we’re foolish enough to follow it. Only has the driver in there.”
“Foolish enough, like we were the first time,” Will snapped back.
“If the soldiers are up there,” Tuck said, “then the girl is, too.” He looked to me in the darkness, a sliver of moonlight halving his face. “You’re sure about this, Robin?”
I nodded. “Let’s move.”
Will and Tuck went one direction out of the woods, while Alan and I waited.
I heard Alan mutter something to himself as we watched them go. I dipped my head closer to him. “What was that?”
“Sending the most diplomatic of us, and the most violent of us. Like honey and salt. An interesting theory to test, little songbird.”
