Deception

Chapter 80

- Chapter 80 -

Today was boiling! We were currently at Locksley at Guy's manor and the heat was killing me. I had ensured that today under my cloak I wore a sleeveless tunic, yet I felt like I was suffocating in the heat of the black cloak. My mask was glued to my face in sweat as I was constantly drinking the cool water from my goblet to keep my cool.

When you glanced outside the sun seemed to be rolling off the earth in waves of heat. Flies buzz over a dry riverbed of sticks and stones. In Locksley, the villagers have set up awnings to shade them from the sun, but they are all suffering from the heat. My braid glued to the back of my neck as I remained seated with a servant standing beside me to fill up my goblet as I watched Isabella, giggling, pours water from a silver pitcher into a goblet. Her hair is disheveled and damp where it sticks to her sweaty neck.

"Do you know, I don't know who's hotter, you or me." The Prince flirted as Isabella hands the goblet to Prince John.

"Oh, it's you, sire. You... are hot... hot... "She whispered sultrily as she walks behind with and dabs a cloth all around his face and leaning into his ear, showing part of her cleavage as she bends over. I glanced over at Guy as the Prince giggles, he was just as unamused as I was as he wore a simple black shirt and pants that made me lick my lips.

"If we could get back to the business in hand, sire." He coughed to gain the Prince's attention as he rolled his eyes and slouched into his chair.

"Do we have to?" He whined as I rolled my eyes at his foolish behavior.

"I think I'll leave you to it." Isabella spoke as we watched her leave.

"I need to make arrangements." Guy began.

"Now, do stop whingeing, Gisborne. I've told you, you're as good as Sheriff already. The only thing you don't have is title or power.....or the castle. But the truth is, right now, there are more pressing matters." He spoke as I scoffed at the irony in his words at Guy's behavior. Guy watched the prince in disbelief as he ate a bowl of fresh grapes before we both continued to drink from our goblets.

"Robin Hood." He muttered though it sounded more like a question than a statement.

"Now obviously, he has to hang. The only problem is the people do rather insist on adoring him still." The Prince stated as Guy rolled his eyes as this was just common knowledge.

"Well, the people are fools, sire." I gruffly announce as his face lightened up.

"Well, of course, they are. But we need their co-operation if my plans for England are to come to fruition. So... I need to woo them. Make them love me." He spoke as he makes his way over towards the window with Guy shadowing the Prince John down the middle of the room.

"Yes, sire, but how?" Guy asked him confused as he turns away from the shuttered windows. His body seemed to stiffen as he held a sour look on his face which made me narrow my eyes in his direction what could he have possibly have seen to make him so grumpy.

"By giving them what they want, of course. What they want more than anything else with this drought. Water." He explained as he saw the confusion and puzzlement on Guy's face. It grew quiet in the room once again as it became too much of an effort to chat in this heat as the Prince remains by the door. It wasn't long before Isabella opens the door and comes in smiling and wipes her lip with a finger. Her face falls when she sees all of us watching her as I noticed that the Prince was death glaring her before placing a fake smile on his face. This got me very curious.

"You'll accompany me on my trip back to the castle. We'll visit the dungeons." He sternly informed Isabella as they began to make their way back to Nottingham. I however, trailed behind them until we reached Sherwood Forest before I went searching for the gang. I checked the secret camp and they weren't there. I wanted to inform Tuck about the Prince's plan.