1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Twenty-four

The crowd groaned, and Robin shook his head. So close to the truth, but once again, the Sheriff used his threats to win. The abbot did the sign of the Holy Spirit across his chest. Even he couldn't believe that he had done that.

"Tuck was wrong about you," said Robin.

"Arrest those heretics!" shouted Vaisey.

"No, wait! Wait!" Linda screeched, and made her way toward Robin. Vaisey grabbed her and held her back.

John started to fight the guards, but Robin stopped him.

"John, enough, enough!" he shouted. "It's over, John!"

"What?! No!"

"It's over," Robin said more quietly this time.

Much put his hands in the air, listening to Robin. Robin looked down at the ground sadly. Putting his bow on his back, he also put his hands up. Linda saw Kate in the crowd, tears in her eyes. She also didn't buy that Robin was a murderer or a heretic or a thief. The abbot was gone, he exited through the back. Linda broke out of Vaisey's hold and left through the back, ignoring the calls her father gave. When she found he abbot, he saw that he was in the hall, sadly looking on as the guards readied the podium and put wood around it. She stood right next to him, shaking her head. The abbot took her hand, giving it a small squeeze.

"Your book, it's magnificent," said a voice, and Linda beamed.

"Tuck!" she exclaimed quietly.

Tuck nodded her way. Then he turned his attention back to the abbot. "I just wonder is the world is quite ready for it."

"Tuck, this is no place for decent, educated men," said the abbot carefully. "Give me my book."

Tuck walked to a little fire place. "'If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but not have love, I gain nothing'," he quoted to the abbot.

"What are you going to go?" asked Linda nervously, backing up.

"Me? I'm going to burn this book," said Tuck with a frown.

"No!" cried the abbot.

"Unless you save Robin Hood!"

"Tuck, don't be a fool!" cried the abbot again.

"Yes, Tuck," said Vaisey as he appeared from the doorway. "Book burning, that's my job."

Guards arrived with crossbows aimed at Tuck. Linda gasped and stepped back, pulling the abbot back as well.

"Book... please?" said the Sheriff. He took the book and gave it to the big man, the executioner, next to him. "I shall be holding on to that until Robin Hood and his gang of maggots are reduced to ashes. Oh, stick him on the fire with the rest of them."

"Father, show mercy. You can't kill them based on a lie!" exclaimed Linda as the guards took Tuck.

"Yes, I can," he responded simply. He went to them and put a hand on the abbot's shoulder. "I win."

*****

"Burn them! Burn them! Burn them! Burn them!" chanted the crowd as the outlaws got dragged out.

Vaisey was placed in his chair, wine goblet on hand. Linda stood next to him, biting her nails nervously. All kinds of things were being thrown at them, and Linda winced every time an orange or something hit one of the outlaws. Hell, even Kate was chanting! The abbot stood to the side, reading in Latin.

Kate ran out to Robin. "Heretics, devils! I trusted you!" she exclaimed and slapped him in the face.

"Kate, please! It isn't true!" Much tried to explain, but he got pulled on the podium and tied up.