Robin Hood | Thief of Skandia

Chapter 22- (Wolfwind's Crew)

Song: You're On Your Own, Kid by Taylor Swift

Some of the Skandians who had been working the targets were calling to Erak now as he came closer, wanting to know how events had turned out at Sand Creek Bay. As the Jarl confirmed Slagor's treachery, there were angry mutterings and dark looks cast towards the Lodge, where Slagor was being held under guard.

'What about the Temujai, Erak?' Will asked. 'How did you convince them to go ashore on Fallkork Island?'

Erak's laughter rang around the practice field. 'We would have had to fight to stop them!' he told the assembled audience. 'They were scrambling over each other to get back on solid land.'

The Skandians in the crowd standing around him echoed his laughter as he continued: 'I managed to find a spot where we had the wind from astern, a steep head sea on our starboard quarter and the tide race through the Narrows at the same time. A few hours of that and our fierce horse soldiers were like little lambs – sick little lambs.'

'They weren't the only ones,' Halt replied with some feeling. 'I've been through some rough seas in my time, but I've never felt anything like the plunging and leaping you had us doing.'

Once again Robin grinned with laughter. 'Halt here went nearly the same shade of green as his cloak,' she told Will. Halt raised one eyebrow.

'At least I finally found a use for that damned helmet,' he said and while Robin sniggered, the smile disappeared from Erak's face.

'Yes. I'm not sure what I'm going to tell Gordoff about that,' he said. 'He made me promise I'd look after that helmet. It's his favourite – a real family heirloom.'

'Well, it certainly has a lived-in feel to it now,' Halt told him and Will noticed there was a hint of malicious pleasure in his eyes. The Ranger nodded at the group of archers who were standing by.

'You seem to have this group working pretty well,' he said.

Will felt absurdly pleased at his mentor's praise.

'Oh,' he said, trying to sound casual. 'We're not doing too badly.'

'Better than that from what I saw,' Halt told him. Then he repeated his earlier suggestion. 'I meant what I said, Will. Give them the rest of the day off. Yourself too. You've earned a break. And unless I miss my guess, we're going to need all the rest we can get in the next few days.'

Erak bid the Araluen's far well and gestured for Robin to follow him.

'Damned baby sitter, I swear.' Rolling her eyes she placed her hand on wills shoulder as she moved past him. 'Well done Kid.'

He grinned both at her underhand remark and her comment. Halt fought the smile that wanted to break out on his face as he watched her leave.

Catching up to him, she questioned, 'where are we going? I want a nap.'

'I need to talk with Svengal and the rest of my crew.'

Robin groaned, 'well, I am going to take a nap.' She crossed her arms in defiance.

'That is not happening. You can't leave my line of sight and I need to talk with my crew which is more important than napping.'

'Not to me its not.'

Erak sighed, 'please don't kill me.' He steppped closer and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder and walked out to the docks where he needed to go.

'I will defininantly be killing you later.'

They were almost there when Robin gave up, 'fine, fine I'm coming. Put me down.'

He lightly dropped her on the ground so that she was lying on the hard pathway on her back complaining. Sticking her hand up for him to help her up, he took it, still chuckling.

'It's a pity murder is illegal.'

'When has that ever stopped you?'

Some of the Wolfwind's crew was watching the duo's interaction with mirth in their eyes. One Skandian nudged another asking if their was something going on between the two of them.

Svengal and a few others were placing bets on what would eventually happen. Unbeknown to all it was Svengal who placed the winning bet.

When they got there Svengal raised an eyebrow at his long time friend Erak, a broad grin on his face.

'What?' Erak asked gruffly, understanding not reaching his eyes. Svengal waved his question away.