Robin Hood | Thief of Skandia

Chapter 12 (The Infamous Trial of Robin Hood)

Song: Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood

Robin Hood had only seen Ragnak a few times from a distance, he was huge, but that was fairly normal for Skandians. He didn't have the classic, sculptured musculature that a person such as young Horace would achieve in the next few years, with broad shoulders and narrow hips. Rather, like all Skandians, he was bulky throughout his entire body, built like a bear.

The arms and legs were massively muscled, and the face was bearded, with the long beard lovingly separated into two sweeping masses. The hair had been red originally, but now the onset of age was turning it the colour of ashes in a cold fireplace.

There was a faded scar on one cheek, stretching from just under the left eye down to the point of the man's chin. Robin guessed it to be an old injury. Again, there was little to remark on in this. The Skandians chose their leaders from the ranks of warriors, not administrators.

Most of all, Robin noted the eyes. She recognised the dislike that she saw there. She had been expecting to see that, after all she was Robin Hood, and Robin Hood had stolen from him. But the eyes were deep-set and she could read an intelligence and cunning there as well.

'Bring her forward!' Ragnak's massive voice, used to dominating the howling gales of the Stormwhite, boomed painfully in the low-ceilinged Hall. Robin Hood walked to the front of the hall, hands in front of her. The room watched in utter silence as Hood stopped before Ragnak's raised dais. She met the Oberjarl's glower with a calm, composed expression on her face and then grinned.

'Oberjarl.' She greeted.

Her hands were bound with leather cuffs now instead of the rope that had been used when the Skandians originally arrested her. Now she stood before Ragnak and his council of advisors in the Great Hall. At the head of the room, Ragnak sat on his massive, carved chair. Behind her stood, packed to the rim, almost everyone in the town, and outside there were more people, everyone wanted to see Robin Hood on trial for her crimes, she was the most notorious outlaw in the world. More than that she was legendary and she stole from the rich to give to the poor, a vendetta that made her even more popular.

'Why do we waste our time with this nonsense.' Robin started before Ragnak could address her, a smile on her face. 'If you want to decide how to punish me for my crimes than let me fight for my freedom.' Some Skandians cheered, everyone admired courage, and Robin Hood was no coward.

'Silence.' Ragnak bellowed.

'Are you indeed the outlaw Robin Hood.'

'Last time I checked.' She smirked.

Someone wolf whistled and with only a glance in that direction a knife pierced the left horn of his helmet. 'I will allow that once, do it again and you're a dead man.'

There were whispers of shock murmuring through the crowd. Robin then turned back and grinned at the Oberjarl, 'apologies, now where were we.'

'Did you not check her for weapons?' Ragnak bellowed at the guards.

'We did Oberjarl.'

'Like I said I'm Robin Hood.' A proud smile met her lips as she stared defiantly up at her ruler.

'You should be punished for your crimes.' Ragnak started.

'Skandia is at war, yet we bide our time with this!

If it weren't for me one of your senior Jarls would have been killed by the Temujai.' She gestured at Erak.

'Is this true Erak.' The Oberjarl asked.