The Eternal Shadow

Chapter 46

XLVI

For a while, Lord Winchester had been content to watch Vaisey and Gisborne's blundering; it had amused and entertained him but now his patience was wearing thin.

He had to admit that Vaisey's idea of making one of Hood's men a lord to coax him into divulging information to a pretty servant had been a good one and probably would've worked too were it not for the servant in question, who double crossed the sheriff and the 'lord', who readily gave up the good life to go back to his friends in the forest.

Idiots.

Winchester couldn't do anything with people like that.

Fortunately, whilst strolling through Nottingham one evening, he found exactly the sort of person he could do something with and didn't hesitate to invite him to the castle for a chat.

"Aww, look yer alright, I was about to get goin' yeh..."

It wasn't quite the response Winchester had been hoping for but he'd never been one to give up so easily, "Really? A shame for I have a proposition to make that you will certainly be interested in..." The lord's smile was all charm but his eyes were deadly serious and just in case the young man hadn't quite got the message, a small troop of guards surrounded him blocking any chance of escape.

"I guess when you put it like that..." He mumbled, nervously eyeing up the 'welcoming committee'.

"Smart move my friend."

**********

Francesca had spent the day helping Mary Lambert sort through her son's possessions.

It had been an emotionally draining task but she'd been glad to help, not just because she wanted to support her friend at this difficult time but also because it gave her an excuse to get away from the castle and in particular, the men in it.

No sooner had she returned however, that she wished she'd stayed with Mary.

The reason for this was that not long after arriving in her chamber, she heard an unmistakeable voice out in the corridor pleading not to be taken to the dungeon. She waited until the commotion had passed her doorway and opened her door a fraction to observe a group of guards dragging Allan-a-Dale in the direction of that dreaded place.

Her heart sunk.

She knew he was an outlaw and most likely guilty of whatever they'd accused him but she couldn't help but remember how he'd been with her in the forest – friendly and chatty, keeping an eye on her and trying to put her at ease – not at all what one would expect from a criminal. Maybe she was letting her feelings get in the way here, the law was the law after all, but having witnessed what had happened to Lambert, she felt sympathy for all who opposed the sheriff and suffered at his hands.

Funny how that happens, you spend your life trusting that all is as it should be then you get a glimpse behind the curtains of power and suddenly all you thought you knew is turned completely on its head.

These were her thoughts as she heard footsteps approaching. She quickly closed her door and just as moments earlier, opened it once they'd passed by.

It was Winchester.

Going to the dungeon.

To see Allan.

What is he going to do to him?

A vision of Lambert in that terrible place instantly appeared before her eyes - broken and battered, helpless and afraid - and an agony of indecision overcame her.

A few days ago, she would've felt bad for Allan but most likely done nothing, for who was she to interfere with the law? But now, having to live with the knowledge that she might have been able to do more for a man who ended up murdered, she could not turn a blind eye and let events take their course.