A World That Will Not Turn to Ash (English)(From Ashes Vol.1)

Chapter 41 - Faith

Guy looked at Roger of Barrett who was dragging his hostage on the platform of the scaffold and he squeezed the handle of the bow, quivering with rage, but he didn't nock an arrow: his aim was not good enough to hit his enemy without hurting the woman. And even if he could, there were the two other soldiers, ready to cut the throats of the other hostages.
That coward of Barret wouldn't make no qualms about killing women and children to get what he wanted and Gisborne stared at him with hatred: he wanted to destroy him, to make him pay for all the suffering he had caused.
But he could not.
"Sir Guy!"
Cedric's voice made him turn suddenly, frightened, but Guy relaxed slightly when he recognized the boy.
"It's the second time that you can catch me by surprise" he admitted, with a half smile "you may have a future as a spy or a thief."
"Why not? So, if they catch me, I am already used to having my fingers cut off." The young man replied in a tone deliberately light, then he turned serious and he looked at Guy, worried. "Don't listen to him. Even if you do as he says, he will kill the same those people. I know it and you should know it as well: people like him has no honor and no mercy."
Guy shook his head.
"I know. But I can't stand here idly and do nothing. Not again."
Cedric knew that Gisborne was thinking about the two soldiers in the clearing, those who had been slain before their eyes, because it was what he was thinking, too.
The thought that it could happen again was unbearable, but Cedric tried to stop Gisborne, grabbing his wrist.
"Please, Sir Guy, don't do it. This time he will really kill you and I don't want to see it again!"
Guy looked at him, surprised both by the unexpected contact and by the tears that he saw in the boy's eyes, then he freed his arm from his grip and looked in the direction of Barret.
"I know. But I don't want to see other people die at his hands. I am no longer willing to tolerate it."
He looked for a moment at the bow in his hands and then he gave it and the arrows to the boy: he wouldn't need it anymore. Cedric accepted the weapon, amazed, and he forced himself to hold back tears. He understood that Gisborne wouldn't change his mind and he didn't want to show his weakness in front of his superior.
"Sir Guy?" Cedric asked, his voice trembling. "How can you go to him knowing what awaits you? Aren't you afraid?"
"I am. A lot. And I have so much, too much, to lose." Guy admitted and Cedric knew he was not lying, then Gisborne recovered from that moment of vulnerability and smiled. "Cedric, you did good to open the gate, before. If Nottingham will be saved, it will be thanks to you too."
The boy wanted to say something, but he didn't make it in time: a moment later Guy of Gisborne had left his hiding place and had entered the courtyard of the castle.
"I'm here, Barret! Let go of the hostages!"

Roger of Barrett realized that something had changed, hearing that the crowd gathered in the courtyard of the castle was suddenly struck dumb. A moment later the voice of Gisborne had broken the silence and Barret smiled wickedly.
Possible that his enemy was really that stupid? He had fought so much and then he'd sacrifice himself to save the lives of two or three beggars who he didn't even know...
Without letting go of the woman he was holding hostage, Barret took the whip hanging from his belt and he cracked it in the air, staring at Gisborne.
"Well, sheriff's dog, apparently you have stopped running away. Now drop your sword and approach me. Come here."
Guy held his breath when he heard the sound of the whip, and for a moment he couldn't think straight: he felt that he had to turn and run as far as possible, to run away and escape the searing pain he knew all too well.
He couldn't face it again, he couldn't do it.
Then the moment of panic passed and he had not moved: he had not obeyed the order of Barret, but he didn't run away either: he just stood there, petrified, panting with terror.
Guy closed his eyes and he took a deep breath, then he drew his sword, looked at it for a moment and forced himself to open his fingers, letting the sword fall to the ground.
"Good doggy." Barret said, then he pointed to the steps of the platform of the scaffold. "Now get over here, so that everyone can see clearly the deserved end of a bastard of Nottingham."