1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Fifty-two

"Not as sorry as she's going to be," Vaisey said, appearing from the doorway. "She was on her way from Loughborough. With this." He held up a note, looking at it. "Expecting reinforcements?" Vaisey let out a little chuckle and threw the note back. "Not coming. Don't believe me? Tell him, dearie."

"Much," whispered Robin, looking at the top of the balcony where the rope holder was. He walked around and whispered in Much's ear, he of which was staring at the structure. "Can you do it?"

"King Richard isn't coming either," Vaisey continued. "He was on his way."

"You watch me," Much whispered back, sprinting off with a rope. He waved Guy and the others to follow him.

"But he was captured by Leopold of Austria."

"You're a liar," Linda said, moving out of the crowd and approaching the gate. Robin stood next to her.

"It's true," Genevieve said. "He's being held to ransom."

"250,000 crowns," Vaisey mused. "Enough money to bankrupt a nation."

"The troops at Loughborough won't fight unless Richard leads them," Genevieve explained, her voice breaking.

"So, what's it to be Hood: surrender or slaughter?"

"You damn well know our answer," Linda hissed.

Robin, put a hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her backwards. Linda sighed and looked up to see Much tossing Guy a rope, he of which was scooting up so the other boys could grab the rope.

"Neither," Robin answered the Sheriff. "You see, I don't trust you, Vaisey."

"You say you don't take prisoners, but yet you take my sister, your daughter—"

"Oh, yes. Yes, I did say that," Vaisey mused, leaning his chin on one of the checkered parts of the gates. "Well, that was rather hasty of me. I mean, who's going to pay taxes if the villagers are all dead?"

Robin let out a breath, a whisper of a smirk playing on his lips. "So, what?" he demanded. "You're going to release all these people now only to make slaves of them later?"

"Why?"

Robin chuckled and shook his head. "You don't give me much of a choice, do you?"

Vaisey chuckled now, his golden tooth showing. "What, have you got some little trick tucked up your sleeve, Hoody, hm? Humiliate me and rescue the girl? Your girl, if I'm hearing correctly, Blamire?"

Blamire nodded. "Yes, my lord."

Vaisey clicked his tongue. "Oh, Hoody, you honestly need to stop bringing the ladies into this. Remember what happened to poor Marian?"

Robin sneered and clenched his fists. Linda kept watching as Much readied the rope, looking down and trying to find a good place to jump so he could snatch Genevieve and go.

"You're so predictable, Hood," Vaisey said, the words like venom as they rolled off his tongue. "Bored of that game." The Sheriff turned around, walking away. "Kill her."

Linda took action. "Genny, above you! Lower the rope! Archers, into position!"

Robin ran back to help with the rope. Genevieve elbowed Blamire when he drew his sword, meeting Much as he was lowered. Genevieve clung to his neck, kicking the guards who were grabbing her feet.

"Up, up, up, up, up! Pull, macho men, pull!" Linda took steps back. "Kate, take command of the men at the tower. Archer, you too. The ones down here, release! Fire at will! Rain arrows at them like hell!"