BooksBarbecue
Back Nottingham
Chapters (76)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. PART I
  6. ONE
  7. TWO
  8. THREE
  9. FOUR
  10. FIVE
  11. SIX
  12. SEVEN
  13. EIGHT
  14. NINE
  15. PART II
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. PART III
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. INTERLUDE
  35. PART IV
  36. TWENTY-SEVEN
  37. TWENTY-EIGHT
  38. TWENTY-NINE
  39. THIRTY
  40. THIRTY-ONE
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. INTERLUDE
  45. PART V
  46. THIRTY-FIVE
  47. THIRTY-SIX
  48. THIRTY-SEVEN
  49. THIRTY-EIGHT
  50. PART VI
  51. THIRTY-NINE
  52. FORTY
  53. FORTY-ONE
  54. FORTY-TWO
  55. FORTY-THREE
  56. FORTY-FOUR
  57. FORTY-FIVE
  58. INTERLUDE
  59. PART VII
  60. FORTY-SIX
  61. FORTY-SEVEN
  62. FORTY-EIGHT
  63. FORTY-NINE
  64. FIFTY
  65. FIFTY-ONE
  66. FIFTY-TWO
  67. PART VIII
  68. FIFTY-THREE
  69. FIFTY-FOUR
  70. FIFTY-FIVE
  71. FIFTY-SIX
  72. EPILOGUE
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  75. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  76. Newsletter Sign-up

She finished her circle at Will, and slipped her arms around him from behind. She whispered in his ear, but it was loud enough for everyone. “But there are some of us here with the strength to stand up and do what’s right.”

Will squeezed her hand, and spoke slowly, “We’re not going to do nothing anymore. And we’re not going to wait, either.”

Arthur and David gave a hear hear, which Alan joined in upon.

“Right now, Gisbourne’s men are spread out all across Nottinghamshire, raiding villages. If we wait until they’re done, they’ll take it all back to Castle Rock. But right now, right now, they’re divided. In small groups. They wouldn’t know we’re coming.”

“We have the element of surprise,” Elena said, and winked to Much.

“So we’ve got to move fast,” John smiled.

Will licked his lips. “It’s time to fight back. Marion?”

She nodded.

INTERLUDE

JOHN LACKLAND

TICKHILL CASTLE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH, 1191

RED ROGER’S BEST WINE was terrible, and his prettiest daughter was delicious. John Lackland intended to spend the day in bed with both.

The round tower-castle was a tangible expression of the fat baron’s pride. Its highest level was open to the world, ringed by pillars supporting a stone canopy. On an inclement day the wind might rip mercilessly through the open space, but on a day such as this John had no trouble keeping warm between the wine and the girl’s naked body.

He suspected the traditional use for the “room” would be for surveying troop sizes, or to hold prominent weddings that those below might stare up upon. But John wanted to use it for debauchery. He had demanded, by asking politely of course, that the baron move his largest bed to this rooftop gallery. Baron Roger de Busli, or Red Roger as he notoriously branded himself, had been as accommodating as steel thicket.

“With respect to you,” he had growled (a phrase that had never been followed by anything resembling respect), “the castle of Tickhill is expressly exempt of your charge.”

“Which is why you shall accommodate me,” John had said, even then giving a squeeze to the daughter of his choice. “Out of generosity, rather than obedience. A much more trusting relationship that way.”

He’d taken the daughter’s hand, whose name he would later learn was Myla, and spun her about to get a full look at her. She’d giggled and blushed when he gave her a light smack, which was all John needed.

“It occurs to me that while Tickhill’s castle is indeed not mine to command, the same cannot be said for every inch that surrounds it. I wonder how long it would take to build a wall in front of your gates?”