Deception

Chapter 53

- Chapter 53 -

I began making my way down towards the courtyard as I found that I had a grumpy yellow-and-black uniformed man on her tail as I growl. Great Guy had put a guard back on me whilst being trapped in the castle. As I walked over towards Guy who was standing near the corridor entrance I saw that Matilda, a physician who was a great friend of mine and Robin's was gagged and being escorted halfway down the steps by two guards as the nobles of the area assemble at the bottom, with the Sheriff standing beside her.

"My lords! Matilda, here, somehow managed to bring a patient of hers back from the dead. So, what do we have here, hm? Do we have a healer?" The Sheriff shouted out as I frowned.

"What’s happening?" I whisper to Guy beside me as he holds a finger to his lips to silence me as I frown harder. Glancing back over I saw Matilda in discomfort as we both engaged eye contact as she shook her head slightly.

"Or do we have something else? Hm? A necromancer? Devil worshipper? No. A witch!" The Sheriff exclaimed as he stood behind her, grabbing Matilda’s shoulders. The crowd gasped around us as I hissed annoyed and shocked. A witch? A claim like that is a solid death sentence.

"She’s not a witch." I hissed truthfully as Guy beside me glares down at me out of the corner of his eye.

"So, perhaps a ducking in Locksley pond would calm all our nerves." The Sheriff offered as the crowd cheered and cursed her being a witch as went to exclaim but I saw Guy's uncomfortable body structure.

"Guy, you know she’s not a witch." I hissed up towards him as suddenly I didn't expect for Guy to turn sharply towards me and roughly grab my forearm and push me back into the corridor. OUCH!

"Esme, say nothing. These allegations spread by association." He warned as I stared at him in disbelief.

"The ducking stool’s a death sentence, you know that." I protested.

"There’s nothing you can do for her!" Guy growls lowly so no one hears as he turns to leave only to have me reach for him as he turns back.

"Did I leave you to die... when you were being drowned? Guy! Guy!" I questioned as he turned and left as I tried calling out to him though he had his goon intercept me to prevent myself from following him. I huffed angrily as I watched the distressed Matilda snarl down at the Sheriff. Maybe if I was accused of being a witch then Guy would try and save me? Who was I kidding even if he loved me he wouldn't save me if it meant putting his own neck on the chopping block? Would he? I felt my heart drop as I didn't know the answer any more.

"To Locksley!" The Sheriff exclaims loudly as Matilda was dragged out in front with the crowd hissing at her and throwing holy water as though it would damage the devil 'within her'. I quickly left to head back to my chamber tying my cloak around my neck. I placed my hair in a bun pinned back by my small dagger. I could hear the sound of retreating horses as I knew that I had a few moments to sneak off to the forest as the main party had already left for Locksley.

Running swiftly to the stables I mounted my horses and refused to wait for my escort as I took off through the town. I dashed towards to Sherwood Forest along the road as I glanced over my shoulder making sure I had no one behind me as I continued to urge my horse down the road.

"Robin!" I shouted out through the forest as I saw Robin running as fast as he can to the road, bouncing off a tree in the process, and waits breathlessly for me to arrive to the spot he had stopped.

"Robin! Matilda! The Sheriff knows she helped you. She’s refusing to tell them how to wake Henry up and they’re having her ducked as a witch!" I cried out as I saw the fear and shock on his face as I pulled the horse to a sudden halt as it neighed in discomfort.