Free The Chronicles of Robin Hood by Rosemary Sutcliff

with a small frown between his eyes.
    ‘Master,’ said Little John, who was waiting beside him, ‘let us eat now, and wait no longer.’
    Robin shook his head. ‘John lad, I cannot eat. I fear Our Lady is angry with me that she has not sent my money. And I would have staked my life on Sir Richard’s honour.’
    ‘Do not be downhearted, Robin,’ said his tall lieutenant. ‘The loan was not due to be repaid until noon. Something has happened to delay the knight a while, that is all.’ And he put a huge hand on Robin’s shoulder.
    For a long while the two men waited, and then Robin said abruptly: ‘Take Much and Will Scarlet, and go up to the Irming Street, as you did last year; and bring a guest to dine with me. Be he messenger or minstrel, monk or villein, he will come in God’s name.’
    So the three took their bows and quivers and went up through the willow plantation to the Irming Street. Theyhad not long to wait before they saw a cavalcade approaching from the north. Two black monks rode at the head, and behind them came seven well-laden sumptermules and a file of two-and-fifty men-at-arms.
    ‘See yonder monks?’ said Little John. ‘They look as though they have brought our pay!’
    ‘But they are many, and we are only three,’ replied Much, doubtfully.
    Little John laughed softly in his throat. ‘Unless we bring them as guests to our master we shall get no dinner. If you do not wish to go hungry upon this feast of Saint John, see to your bows, lads. I take the foremost monk… .’ He broke off to watch the road in silence. ‘Now!’ As the cavalcade came trotting up the last slope, the three stepped out into the road, bows bent and arrows ready nocked on strings.
    Little John addressed himself to the leading monk: ‘Shame on you, Sir Monk, to keep our master waiting!’
    The monk reined in and sat looking down at him angrily. ‘And who is your master, you great oaf?’
    ‘Robin Hood, the lord of these parts. He bids you dine with him—and he is not used to being kept waiting!’
    ‘Robin Hood, is he?’ said the monk, with an ugly laugh. ‘Robin Hedge-knifer! A foul thief if ever there was one, and he will be sure to hang on the gallows tree at the last!’ And setting spurs to his horse, he strove to ride down the three outlaws.
    Next moment Much’s bow-string twanged and a long arrow hummed its way into the monk’s heart. For an instant he swayed in the saddle, then crashed headlong to the ground and lay still; while his terrified mount sprang away among the men-at-arms. In the confusion all the men-at-arms took to their heels, thinking there was an ambush in the woods; and the second monk, bewildered and terrified, was easily taken captive.
    ‘Well,’ said Little John, ‘that was neatly done. Now for dinner!’ and leading the monk’s horse by the bridle, followed by Much and Will Scarlet with the pack-mules, he set off for the home glade.
    Robin greeted his unwilling guest with all courtesy. ‘Welcome to the Greenwood, Reverend Sir. It is a happy chance that has sent you to us, on this feast of Saint John, for you shall say the mass for us and our own chaplain shall have a holiday.’
    The monk was livid with spiteful fury, but he dared not disobey, and gabbled his way through the prayers while the outlaws knelt around him, reverently, with their caps doffed but their bows ready.
    When the mass was over and the feasting began, the monk was set in the place of honour; Little John brought him a fine brass basin of water in which to wash his hands, and Robin himself served him with meat and wine, all of which frightened him greatly, for he wondered very much what it all meant and what was going to be done to him.
    Presently Robin asked from which Abbey he came.
    ‘From St. Mary’s Abbey at York; and I am the cellarer,’ replied the trembling monk.
    Robin glanced at him with a glint of amusement in his eyes, which the other did not see. ‘If Our Lady is your patron saint,’ said he,