Chapters (76)
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- PROLOGUE
- PART I
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- PART II
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- PART III
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- INTERLUDE
- PART IV
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- INTERLUDE
- PART V
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- PART VI
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- INTERLUDE
- PART VII
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- PART VIII
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- EPILOGUE
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- Newsletter Sign-up
“He’s back?” de Lacy attacked the word. “I did not know he was missing.”
“He’s been searching for one of his men, Jon Bassett,” Hamon answered, “who was left behind after the altercation at Locksley Castle. His regiment returned two days ago, but he apparently continued the search alone. Did you not know?”
De Lacy’s face spoke to his shock. “You’ll have to forgive my lack of omniscience. I only know things that people tell me.”
“Did he find him?” William asked, eager to punish the man.
“No.” Hamon pivoted, as if he were about to be chastised for whatever ill news he had brought. “Gisbourne searches in the city now, it seems. And he has just issued some very alarming orders.”
TWENTY-FIVE
ELENA GAMWELL
THE GREAT OAK
ELENA WAS PERFECTLY TORN. On one hand, she wanted to refuse to participate in Locksley’s patronizing attempt at an education. On the other hand, she didn’t want the rest of the group to see how much he’d crawled under her skin. There was a victory in being above it all, no matter how much she wasn’t.
The entire camp was gathered around a collection of tree stumps, where she and Will sat alone. Robin of Locksley had climbed down from his mighty golden tower to share his knowledge with the ignorant poorfolk, and that expertise amounted to nothing but a couple of stumps.
“You should bounce!” came a chirp from the audience, and Elena flashed a smile at young Much.
“Oh look,” she managed a forced giggle for him, “what a lovely carriage ride!”
She bobbed up and down on her stump, happy to amuse him, and extended her foot forward to nudge Will’s back.
“I’m not bouncing,” he muttered without turning.
At some distance away, Locksley led Alan in a wide circle, exaggerating his movements to show how stealthy they were supposed to be. It was pure façade here in the bare field under the Great Oak, but that was the point.
“You’re not doing it right!” Much yelled again, this time at Will.
“Oh my,” Will droned out a monotone response. “An excellent day for a ride. I certainly hope we don’t get mauled by a bear or stopped by anyone who means to take all our gold, oh no.”
Will pulled back on some imaginary reins to halt their imaginary horses in response to a non-imaginary Friar Tuck who stood before them, waving his arms in the air.
“Halt! Oh please, halt! Oh thank you for stopping, kind sirs or madams. The Lord has sent you to me in my moment of need, and for this I am thankful!”
Will dropped his head. “This is so stupid.”