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

Incredibly, the man had moved one blade in time to protect his ribs, barely saving himself from being cut in half. But the blow sent Scarlet tumbling off his feet, and Guy followed him as he scrambled away. The ground was littered with dead and wounded. Few were still standing, and Guy would not allow Scarlet to be counted amongst the day’s survivors. But as Scarlet collapsed, another shape interceded between them, saying something lost to the din. Though Guy could not recognize the words, he was far too familiar with their author.

The traitor Robin of Locksley’s face was bloodied. He held his own sword in the Fool’s stance, begging for absolution.

Guy gulped down air. There was still hope. This one slim chance.

He didn’t have the strength to stand, but he didn’t need to.

Devon and Jon Bassett were there behind him, propping him up. Reginold and Bolt spied the terrain for him. Eric and Marshall helped him raise his sword. Henry and Much, they reminded him he could do it.

For a brief, joyous moment, Guy felt pity for Locksley. Because he was outnumbered.

They did not speak. Their heads bobbed, a silent agreement. It was only appropriate to end in this way. Whatever raiders were still alive stood back, as if to recognize the necessity of this duel. Guy could not tell how many of his own men were left. It wouldn’t matter. Even if Guy died here, Locksley would pay for his reign of terror, Wendenal’s coup would be over, and Nottingham would be safe. The woods would regrow. Robin Hood would not.

They began properly, a slow circle, watching each other’s footwork, shifting their blades between stances. Guy transitioned to the front Plow and Robin appropriately brought his tip high in a Roof. Guy shifted to a right Fool and Robin matched with a left Ox. It was almost welcoming to see a worthy duelist, rather than his mob of drunken brawlers who pounded their swords like clubs. Guy weaved from a crab-walk to a deer’s, and Robin met him in a plowman. He was trained well, but he favored his right foot, and some cut on his lip made him infrequently tongue his cheek.

Guy, on the other hand, knew how to hide his own injuries and project others instead. He feigned a limp in his left knee, and waited for Robin to take note of it. That was all Guy needed.