by David Skuy
Harold hung his head. “We really made a terrible mistake.”
Pip looked over at the prison. “I might have to tell the truth.”
“They might not believe you now that we made up this story,” Lucy said.
Pip clenched his fists. “They’ll believe us. The story makes sense. That’s the best kind of story, and …”
The door opened. The red-faced man came out, tankard in hand. The mayor was next. He also carried a tankard. The mayor then reached out and held the door open for the baron and the sheriff.
“Your lordships,” the mayor said. “These are the children.”
Pip bowed deeply.
The baron sniffed the air.
“So you say these children put it all in that peasant’s cottage?” the sheriff said. He cast a chilling glance at Pip.
“They have informed me so,” the mayor said.
Sir Lanford came out. A smile crossed his face.
“I know this boy. I saw him on the main road not long after we discovered the theft. His father told me he had no knowledge of the affair,” Sir Lanford said.
“My father did not know. We did it without telling him,” Pip said.
“I am cold,” the baron said. “I must go inside and sit. I feel flushed — and I am hungry.”
“Yes, your lordship. Supper will be served shortly,” the mayor said.
“It was me,” Pip said, his voice quivering. “I found the food first and convinced Lucy and Harold to help me carry it to Merec’s home. I felt sorry for them and wanted to give them more to eat. I should be punished.”
The sheriff took a step down. “And who might you be?”
“Pip, son of Aldwin Draper of Nottinghamshire,” Pip said.
“We didn’t mean to cause trouble,” Lucy said. “It was a foolish thing to do.”
The sheriff held his hand up. “To be honest, I believe these children. They have no reason to lie. But my dear baron, you might consider how this will look if you change your mind. People may see it as a sign of weakness, and with so many enemies around we can ill afford that.” The sheriff shrugged. “But of course, it is no concern of mine. It is entirely your decision.”
The baron sniffed the air a few times. “I am hungry and need to sit. It has been an oppressive day. The air is wet, and it is hard for me to breathe. They were sentenced to death. I never change my mind.”
“But your lordship —”
The mayor cut Pip off. “You heard the baron. Off with you.”
The guard came forward, a hand on his sword.
“Please, your lordship,” Pip said. “You can’t do this. They didn’t —”
“Is this speck of dust talking to me?” the baron said.
“This way, your lordship,” the mayor said.
He opened the door, and just like that the baron disappeared from view.
“After you, my lord sheriff,” Sir Lanford said.
The sheriff looked down at Pip. “Stealing from the rich to give to the poor, I suppose. Another young boy twisted by the treasonous ideas of that villain Robin Hood. You are too little to know better. This execution is his fault, and it is on his head. I would much prefer to see Robin Hood dangling from a rope tomorrow. I will have to settle for a peasant family. Hopefully, Robin Hood will try to save them. We’ll be ready. I have a hundred soldiers here with me, and if he and his men do try they will learn the futility of oppos-ing King John.”
The sheriff offered a leering grin and went inside. Sir Lanford bowed in mockery, and he and the red-faced man followed him.
“Leave the Cathedral Square, or you can join that family in prison,” the guard said.
Lucy pulled Pip’s arm.
“This is all my fault,” Pip said. He was shedding real tears this time.
Lucy looked at him and then turned away without a word. She didn’t need to say anything, though. She obviously agreed.
It was his fault — completely.
ip hunched his shoulders and tucked his hands under his arms, all the while looking over at the prison.
“… five, six, seven.”
Harold counted off the ringing of the cathedral bells.
“My father knows the Baron Geoffrey. You heard him,” Archie said. “And he met the Sheriff of Nottingham once, in London, at Prince John’s royal court. He could talk to them tonight.”
“It’s worth a try,” Lucy said.
Pip was too upset to say a word. His stupid plan had been a disaster — like everything else he did. He kept quiet all the way back to Archie’s home. This time Archie knocked on the front door. It opened slowly.
“Your father awaits you in the study,” Jeffrey said to Archie.
Sir Duncan sat behind a large, dark walnut desk, Aldwin seated in front of him in a high-backed red leather chair.
“Archie, I was becoming worried,” Sir Duncan said. “Jeffrey was about to set out in search of you. You are late for supper.”
“I am sorry, Father. We were at Cathedral Square. The Baron Geoffrey and the Sheriff of Nottingham were trying criminals and sentencing them, and we went to watch,” Archie said.
A shadow crossed over Sir Duncan’s eyes.
Pip stepped forward. They would find out tomorrow anyway.
“I have some bad news …” Pip began. He felt hot tears falling down his cheek.
Aldwin stood. “Pip, what happened?”
“I was just trying to help, to get them some food. They were so hungry …” He couldn’t go on. Pip broke down and began to sob in his father’s arms.
Aldwin rubbed the back of Pip’s neck.
“Please tell me. I can’t imagine what could be so terrible,” Aldwin said.
Pip’s mouth was dry and tasted bitter. “Merec and his family were arrested by Sir Lanford and brought to Bradford. We saw them at Cathedral Square.”
“For what possible reason?” Aldwin said.
Pip wiped his tears with the back of his hand. “Last night when we stayed with them, while you were asleep, I snuck into the baron’s barn and took some flour … and a pig and two chickens … and a bag of vegetables and apples … and put them in Merec’s cottage.”
“We helped,” Lucy said.
“It was my idea,” Pip said.
“But we helped,” Lucy insisted.
“It’s my fault too,” Harold said.
“Tomorrow morning Merec and his family will be …” The word stuck in Pip’s throat.
“Did the baron and the sheriff sentence them to be executed?” Aldwin said.
Pip barely managed a nod.
Aldwin sat down and ran a hand over his forehead. “Pip, I believe your heart was in the right place, and perhaps you were trying to copy your good friend Robin Hood. Am I correct?”
“They are so hungry and have so little,” Pip said. “I … wanted to give them something, especially Barda.” He gripped his father’s arm. “What’s going to happen? Will they actually do it?”
“Can you stop them, Father?” Archie said.
“Who is this Merec?” Sir Duncan said.
Aldwin told him the story quickly.
Sir Duncan frowned and leaned back in his chair. “Where are they being held?”
“In the prison at Cathedral Square,” Archie said.
Sir Duncan cast a gloomy look at Aldwin. “The prison walls are very thick — and I imagine well guarded. If the execution is to take place tomorrow …” He shook his head.
“But, Father, surely you can do something?” Archie said. “You’re Baron Geoffrey’s friend, from when you were a boy. You told us earlier, when we were eating …
Sir Duncan put a hand on Archie’s forearm. “I said I knew him. I did not say we were friends. In fact, it might be fair to say we are the opposite of friends.”
“But you know the
sheriff?” Archie said.
“Alas, I have little influence with that man,” Sir Duncan said. He leaned forward in his chair. “Aldwin, do you have any ideas?”
Aldwin was looking down at the floor. Slowly, he raised his head.
Pip found it hard to breathe.
“I do know a man, a friend of mine, who might be able to help, but I’m not sure where he is. I doubt he could be here in time,” Sir Duncan said.
“Perhaps,” Aldwin murmured.
Sir Duncan nodded at Jeffrey. He bowed and left the room. “I will speak to the baron and the sheriff, nonetheless, ” Sir Duncan continued. “There is no hope if I do nothing.” He pushed back in his chair and stood up. “Under the circumstances, supper can wait.”
“May I accompany you?” Aldwin said. “Perhaps I can explain my son’s actions and take some responsibility.”
“You didn’t do anything,” Pip said.
“I am responsible for everything you do,” Aldwin said.
“Your presence may be useful,” Sir Duncan said. “Come, let us make haste.”
Aldwin stood and placed his hands on Pip’s shoulders. “I know you understand the seriousness of the situation. We will talk about it later. I believe there is food set out in the dining room. Please eat, and we will see what can be done. We will be back in two or three bells.”
The men left the study.
In silence, Pip followed the others to the dining room. Two large silver platters were piled high with roasted chicken, lamb, and pheasant. Bunches of grapes were placed in front of each plate. Another silver platter had cooked carrots and squash. He guessed the basin at the foot of the table was the soup. It looked incredibly delicious, and Pip felt his stomach growl. He instantly felt ashamed. How could he eat at a time like this? And then there was Arabella, who probably couldn’t even imagine having this much food.
“I’m too upset to eat, and I don’t think I’ve ever said that in my life,” Lucy said.
Harold held a grape in his fingers and then put it down. “What about Arabella? We promised her some food.”
Archie put some rabbit, vegetables, and a slice of bread on a plate. Harold added some grapes.
“I can take it to her,” Archie said. “She’ll be hungry.”
“I’ll come,” Lucy said.
“And I,” Harold said.
Pip gripped the edge of the table. He felt dizzy.
“Are you all right?” Lucy asked him.
Pip shook his head. “I’ll never be all right again. What have I done?” He put his head in his hands and began to cry.
Lucy pulled his hands from his face. “Let’s deliver the food to Arabella, like we promised,” she said. “It’s better than staying here.”
“How will that help Merec … or Barda … or …?” He hung his head.
“It will help Arabella,” Lucy said. “Let’s do that, at least.”
“We can use the front door this time,” Archie said.
He headed out of the dining room.
“I was just trying to help,” Pip said.
Lucy put a hand on his shoulder. “You know we love you, Pipper, only … sometimes you do things without thinking it through. And … please don’t get mad if I say this, but you’re not Robin Hood, and this is what happens when you pretend to be something you’re not.”
“It’s too terrible to even think about,” Harold said. “Do you think Sir Duncan can stop it?”
“We can only hope so,” Lucy said.
Pip wiped his tears away. He would never be happy again. He didn’t deserve to be. And he would never be one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men. He absolutely didn’t deserve that.
he sun had set. The main squares were lit by torches, but otherwise the streets were dark and mainly empty, everyone dining or relaxing after a long day. In one small square, they passed a group of people listening to a girl singing. She was accompanied by an older woman playing the lute and a young boy playing a drum. Normally, Pip loved music. His heart was too sick with worry to let him enjoy it. The others evidently felt the same, and they passed without stopping.
They turned into the dead-end street where Arabella lived.
“I don’t think anyone is watching,” Archie said. “There’s the hole.” He gave the plate of food to Lucy, dropped to his knees, and leaned down. “Arabella, it’s us. We’re here with some food.” He paused. “Okay. We’re coming.” He lowered himself down.
Lucy went next, and then Harold.
The courtyard gave Pip the shivers. It was so cold and unwelcoming — like prison walls. He lowered himself onto the pile of rocks and hopped down to the floor. A single candle lit the cellar. Arabella held the plate of food.
“Thank you,” Arabella said, reaching for the bread. “I con-fess I had doubted you would come — but you did. One day I will help you.”
Pip was overwhelmed by bitterness. “Can you walk through prison walls, by any chance?” he said.
Arabella slowly lowered the bread. “Why would you like to walk through prison walls?”
“A family is in prison because of me — in Cathedral Square,” Pip said. He kicked a small rock. It bounced off the wall and spun until it came to a stop. “I have the perfect plan to save them — I just need to get into and out of the prison without being seen.”
Arabella put her bread down. She seemed to be thinking about something very important. “Are you being serious? Do you know people in that prison?”
Lucy told her the basic story. Arabella’s eyes grew wide, and her gaze rested on Pip. She ate the bread and for a time didn’t speak.
“I know a way into the prison,” Arabella said matter-of-factly.
Pip dropped down to his knees and leaned close to her.
Arabella reached for a piece of roasted rabbit. “There are tunnels. Bradford is built on top of an old Roman city from many centuries ago, and the Romans built an underground water system. Some of the Roman buildings have crumbled and some water tunnels have caved in, but I know my way around those spots. There’s a tunnel that leads right to the prison walls.”
“That’s a start, I guess. But how do we get into the prison?” Archie said. “You don’t look like Merlin the Magician.”
Pip was in no mood to joke with Lucy about that.
“There is a large rock at the bottom of the wall that is loose. The mortar has crumbled away. With all of us helping, we may be able to pull it out,” Arabella said. She began to eat the grapes. “That should get us into the prison. I do not know where your friends will be.”
“I can only imagine the prison cells will be guarded,” Archie said.
Robin Hood wouldn’t hesitate — and neither would he. Pip couldn’t put his cousins or Archie in danger, however.
“I have a plan,” Pip said.
“It’s too dangerous,” Lucy said.
She always knew what he was thinking.
“What’s too dangerous?” Harold said.
Archie peered into Pip’s eyes. “If we get caught, we might join that family tomorrow on the scaffold.”
Pip took a deep breath. “I know. But I must try. I must. This is my fault. But I will go alone. There is no we.”
“You want to try and rescue Merec and his family from prison?” Harold said.
“It’s what Robin Hood would do,” Pip said.
He braced himself.
Lucy shocked him. “Pip is right. We have to try.”
“It’s not we,” Pip insisted. “I will go.”
“You don’t know the way,” Arabella said. “I will lead you.”
“So lead me to the prison wall and I will do the rest,” Pip said.
“You need help moving the rock,” Arabella said. “You can’t do it alone. You are too small.”
Arabella was tiny, although Pip sensed a great strength in her
. It was hard to understand where it came from, this little girl with long, thick wavy hair, big eyes, and a grim determination in her voice.
“That decides it,” Lucy said. “We all go.”
“I agree,” Archie said.
Arabella popped the last grape into her mouth and stood up. “The tunnel leading to Cathedral Square is there.” She pointed over Pip’s shoulder.
“It’s too dangerous,” Pip said. “Once we move the rock, I’ll go into the prison.”
“It’s dangerous for you too,” Lucy said.
“But it was my fault,” Pip said.
“You forget sometimes that Robin Hood has his Band of Merry Men,” Lucy said. “We’re your Band of Merry Kids.”
Pip looked at the dancing candle flame. His plans had failed so often in the past, but maybe they did because he tried to do things by himself, like when he’d challenged Cedric to a shooting competition. Harold should have taken the shot. He never missed.
“You’re right,” Pip said, with a sigh.
“What’s the plan?” Harold asked in a shaky voice.
For the first time in his life, Pip answered that question honestly.
“I don’t know, exactly,” he said. “We get into the prison, find a key, and get Merec and his family out of Bradford.”
“None of your plans ever work, Pipper,” Lucy said, laugh-ing. “So that’s as good a plan as any.”
“The Bradford Fair isn’t as much fun as I thought it would be,” Harold said.
“You don’t have to come,” Pip said one last time.
“Of course I’m coming,” Harold said.
“And so am I,” Archie said. “My father taught me to honor the truth. That family is innocent, and we must try and help them.”
Arabella reached for a stick of wood leaning against a pillar. White cloth had been wrapped around one end. She lowered the cloth to the flame. The torch lit. She gave a second torch to Archie. “This is for the way back. Follow me — and watch your heads. Some of the tunnels are very small.”
Arabella walked past Pip, ducked her head, and disappeared into the darkness.
ip had stopped thinking about his scratches and bruises long ago. The tunnels twisted and turned, and they had to scramble over rocks and slip through holes. Arabella was like a phantom, gliding along effortlessly. Pip kept banging into things. Every few paces someone whispered, “Ouch.”