Deception

Chapter 46

- Chapter 46 -

It is bright and early in Locksley as the sergeant was commanding his troops around the village square into their positions as the Sheriff ’s archers spread out into strategic points around the village. A gallows has been set up in front of the pond and the Sheriff and four nobles are sitting on a dais, their backs to the pond. Each end is flanked by soldiers. Esme stands in front to the side closest to the gallows, the Smith at the other. Daniel, his hands shackled and a rope tied round his torso, is standing in front of the Sheriff, who is holding the other end of the rope.

"Here, boy. See that?" The Sheriff  chuckles as he pulls on the rope and Daniel steps backwards and turns to look at the gallows.

"If Robin Hood doesn't show up, these people here are going to watch you swing. Sit." The Sheriff tugs on the rope and Daniel falls backward and sits on his heels with a glum but defiant look about him.

"Well, I can see the sun... no sign of your saviour." He smirked hoping to see the boy hand as the Sheriff loved to have a hanging in the morning.

"He'll come." Daniel informed the Sheriff assuredly. His loyalty and hope in Robin didn't go unnoticed as Esme smiles sadly but proudly at Daniel.

"Hm? Oh, well, let’s hope so, hm? For your sake. Hood!" The Sheriff chuckles, then stands and begins to steps off the dais.

"Oh, Robin Hood!" He shouted out in a sing-song tune as the Sheriff pulls Daniel with him as he walks towards the middle of the village where the peasants have loosely gathered. Robin appears, hood up, walking through the villagers, the box under his arm. The soldiers draw their bows at him.

"Stay where you are, Hood!" He commanded as Robin stops behind a line of villagers and puts both hands round the box. He and the Sheriff are several yards apart in the centre of the village.

"My smith will meet you in the middle, check the merchandise. If it’s all right... you get the key to the boy." He informed as the Smith glares at the Sheriff, obviously not expecting this. The Sheriff took no notice of his discomfort whilst he waved around the key to Daniel whose face had brightened at the sight of Robin.

"No, Sheriff. You can make the exchange. Otherwise your archers there will kill me. And if they do fire upon me, my men will kill you." Robin bargained as Robin slowly turns aside as his gang rush forward, shouting at the peasants.

"Out of the way! Clear!" Little John shouts causing the villagers scatter as Little John, Will, Much, Allan and Djaq line up, each with a bow drawn. Little John also holds his staff alongside his bow whilst Esme watches tensely.

"Oh, la-di-da-di-da. Right! Let’s get on with it." The Sheriff smiles slightly bored and steps forward with Daniel in tow. Robin steps forward with the box.

Allan and Djaq focused on the archers on the left whilst Much and Little John took those on the right. The Sheriff chuckles as he approaches Robin. The Sheriff ’s archers keep their arrows pointed at Robin as he walks past the well. Suddenly Esme intervenes.

"Stop!" She shouted out making her way towards them as the Sheriff puffs out his cheeks in exasperation.

"You cannot release the child to an outlaw." She spoke placing her hands on Daniel’s shoulders.

"Somebody find me a box and put this woman inside it!" The Sheriff grumbled as Robin smirked trying not to laugh as Esme just rolled her eyes.

"Release him to me. I'll see that he gets home safely. Locksley, this makes no difference to you. You have my word." Esme spoke blankly to Robin as he nods and shrugs whilst pretending to think for a moment.