Free Trouble in the Forest Book One: A Cold Summer Night by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Page B

you to seek out a single place where you can go to ground, if you must. I want us to be able to scatter in an instant, and disappear into the forest when we are threatened. I will summon you from your lairs when it is safe. No man-at-arms can find us if each is hidden alone.”
    Will Scarlet added, “If we are attacked, we must not be captured. Remember how terrible the craving is when it is denied. If they kill us, we have nothing to fear, but captivity must be avoided.”
    “Only when we are able to fall on the men-at-arms and overpower them should we engage them in combat, and take what we need from them when we have triumphed. It is not to challenge their valor or honor. They are not our enemies. They are our food. They are livestock,” said Hood with very little emotion.
    The Red Friar listened with growing dread.
    “And in that regard,” Will Scarlet went on, “we now have two more mules to trade with the crofters who are willing to aid us. We can provide them with the things they need, if they will protect us.”
    “If they refuse, or fail in their tasks, we will exact a price,” said Hood in the same flat voice as before. “And they will pay that price in blood.”
    The people gathered around him howled again, and to his dismay, the Red Friar found that he, too, was howling.
    “It is going to be a good night for hunting,” announced Hood. “There are crofters who have told their warden about us, and they must suffer for their insolence. The man has four sons and three daughters, and two sisters who live with his family. We will take them all, and kill them when we are done, so that others will know they will not become one of us if they betray us—they will die.”
    Again the bestial chorus sounded.
    “Sleep for the day, save for you who are to guard us. And at sundown we will march for the croft. It is six leagues away. They will be sleeping soon after sundown, and that will make our work easier. We will be there before midnight.” Hood’s satisfaction was compounded of arrogance and will. He did not look at any of his followers as he trod off toward the largest of the huts, closing himself away from the loud acclaim of his band.
    “Come, Red Friar,” said Will Scarlet, amused and forbearing at once. “You will need rest. It is getting too bright for us.” He indicated the hut next to Hood’s. “You can share my roof for the time being.” He smiled. “Don’t touch my harp, though. I will tolerate many things, but not that.”
    “Your harp?” asked the Red Friar, shocked afresh at this revelation. It was as if he had discovered that Belial was a gifted stone-cutter, or Asmodeus an orator.
    “Yes.” He made a gesture of encouragement. “You see, I am a troubadour. Or I was, once. I came upon Hood in the dungeon of Ely Castle, and I was imprudent enough to let him out, being as we are remote kindred. I was told he was a killer, but the lord of the castle had not paid me as he had promised. I thought it would be a good idea to set my distant cousin and his enemy free, to show the lord I would not let him get away with fleecing me and remaining unscathed. Hood agreed, when I told him my plan.” He shook his head slowly. “He was on me like a cur on a rat.”
    Stunned by this information, the Red Friar followed Will Scarlet into his hut.

How deSteny sought Aid

    ANXIOUSLY now , Hugh deSteny read over the letter he had written, trying to determine if the tone was right. There was so much he wanted to convey, and he had so little certainty that his account was convincing. But he had to have help, capable help, informed and intelligent help, in order to defeat the Devil’s servants. Sir Gui was useless in this battle, deSteny knew it. If there was to be any chance of defeating the evil in Sherwood Forest, he would need a better ally than either Sir Gui or the Bishop of Lincoln, who was a venal and worldly cleric disinclined to believe in undead creatures preying on the living. It would take