1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Twenty-three

The gang walked in Sherwood Forest, making their way inside the camp. Tuck was saved, but Robin was to have a few words for him.

"You disobeyed me," he said, stopping to turn to Tuck.

"I had no choice," he responded.

"Tuck, we never act alone!" Robin shouted.

"I had to find out what hold the Sheriff had over the abbot," Tuck said, raising his voice.

Robin glanced at John, he of which looked like a madman. "And did you?" said Robin.

"Oh, yes," Tuck said with a nod of his head. "Yes, I did."

"Well?" Robin waited for answer.

"The abbot has translated the bible into English," Tuck explained.

Everyone stayed silent for a few moments. "The bible?" asked Much. "In English?" It was unbelievable.

"Yeah," Tuck said with a little nod.

"Oh, hang on, hang on," Much said, still trying to process everything. "A Holy Bible... in English?"

"That's right, yeah," nodded Tuck with a smile.

"Adam and Eve, the flood, Moses, in English?" asked Much once more.

"You catch on fast, don't you?" chuckled Tuck, patting Much on the shoulder.

Much continued. "Loaves and fishes, crucifixion, resurrection, the final judgement all in English?"

"Much!" yelled John, and Much shut up.

"Is that even allowed?" asked Allan.

"No! It's blasphemy!" shouted John angrily.

"No, John, no," said Tuck, going to John. "It's progress. It's taken him ten years, and it can enlighten a nation."

John scoffed and walked away.

"Tuck. Here," said Robin, giving him a thing of water.

"Thank you. Thank you," he said, and jugged it.

"We have to get the abbot to reverse his edict against us," said Robin.

"There's a special service tomorrow morning," explained Tuck.

"St. Barnabas' day," breathed Much. "Everyone will be there."

"Including the Sheriff and his men," Tuck said.

"Oi, don't forget about the lady," said Allan with a grin, and John smacked him in the back of the head. "Ow! Anyways, we have to find that Bible, right?"

"Allan, go with Tuck," commanded Robin with a hand to his chin.

"Right," said Allan grimly, eyeing Tuck.

"He's the only man who knows what to look for, and you know the castle better than anyone. When you find the bible, you bring it to us," ordered Robin.

"Where?"

"The abbey, Allan," Robin said. "If the Sheriff is using the bible to make the abbot lie," Robin grinned, "it's what we'll use to make him tell the truth."

*****

"Requiem aeternam dona eis, domine, et lux perpetua," prayed the abbot in the Latin tongue in the service room of Kirkless abbey.

"Keep digging!" said a voice from outside, along with scraping noises.

Frowning, the abbot looked to the side. He stood to exit the abbey, bringing a torch light with him. He stood at he balcony, listening for the sound.