18
STEFANO
John informed me the next day that the castle attack had been postponed, due to new information brought by the recent additions to the rebels. New additions that, frustratingly, included Morgaine’s fellow witches.
According to these newcomers, heightened security measures had been implemented at the castle and in the surrounding villages and woods. I assumed this unexpected increase in guard presence had something to do with the disappearance of the new High Sheriff. I wasn’t worried; I would explain everything to Prince John on my triumphant return to the castle.
The new plan was to wait until the trouble died down and reassess in a few days, or even weeks. I had to admit, I was relieved. I still hadn’t decided how best to protect Morgaine if she joined the mission. And she would have to join us; I didn’t believe the damaged bond would stretch even as far as Kings Clipstone. She could be captured and executed, or worse, attempt to abscond in the commotion the attack would cause. How would that end? With both of us dead? But now, with any luck, the attack would be postponed long enough for the bond to be broken before the big day arrived.
The sudden, unexpected reappearance of Morgaine’s fellow witches had complicated proceedings. Despite her insistence they would escape and find me to take their revenge, I had assumed the two creatures had been tortured for whatever information they may have had, and executed days ago. Now, here they were, sitting in the great hall just metres away, most likely plotting against me.
I took a bite of my bread roll, but it turned to ash in my mouth. I’d failed in my most basic responsibility as Head Witch Hunter by giving them that dagger and making it so easy for them to escape.
Although, no one knew it was me who’d helped them to break out of the cell. Even if they had left my dagger behind and it had been found, I could easily talk my way out of it. It could even explain my disappearance: they overpowered me, stole the dagger and cast a temporary memory curse of some sort on me.
I would be even more of a hero to Prince John and the nobility if I returned to the castle with three confirmed witches to throw in the dungeons. All I had to do was keep my distance for the next month until the new moon, survive the disenchantment ritual—again—and lead the charge into the castle. I’d let the rebels get inside the castle walls, kill Prince John myself, then raise the alarm and have them all arrested.
With Lady Gwyn-Marie at my side, giving my rule legitimacy, while obeying my every command and smiling benignly in a crown, I’d be untouchable. There would be no one to argue with me, no one constantly challenging my authority, no irritating dark-haired witches to complicate things for me…
A hooded figure appeared in the great hall, coming from the direction of the rectory trapdoor, with a large sack over their shoulder. They leapt up onto the nearest table, and the entire room erupted into cheers and chants of “Robin! Robin!” I couldsee now that the slight figure was a boy; a teenager, no older than fifteen. And yet the rebels seemed to worship him as a hero.
“Who is that?” I asked the man next to me, but he was too busy shouting and pumping his fist in the air.
“Thank you, thank you everyone!” The boy shouted over the ruckus, and the noise began to die down. “I bring good news. Tonight—” He paused for dramatic effect, before unloading his sack onto the table beneath his feet with a clatter and a crash. Gold and silver goblets, serving platters, candlesticks and flatware bounced off the tabletop and onto the floor as the crowd screamed and cheered, applauding Robin’s performance. “We feast!”
I changed into a clean,black shirt and slicked back my dark curls. In celebration of Robin Hood’s return and the success of his mission to ransack a wealthy landowner’s home, there was to be food, music and dancing.
Stepping into the great hall, I was struck by the difference a few floral garlands and tapered candles made to the subterranean cavern. Everyone was dressed in their best—which meant cleanest—clothes, with flowers tucked into the men’s pockets, and the women’s hair. I accepted a white poppy from Millie, bending to allow her to pin it to my chest. My thigh twinged where the wolf’s fang had sunk in, but it had healed remarkably well, thanks to Morgaine and her healing ointment. The memory of the cool, soothing sensation of Morgaine’s magic rose up in my mind. I thanked Millie and kept moving, prowling around the edge of the hall, looking for her. The witch.
My eyes found Morgaine across the room, talking with Agatha, her brown hair falling in waves down her back. I didn’trecognise the long-sleeved, white dress she wore. She must have borrowed it from one of the other women. Morgaine’s eyes met mine then, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks. I allowed a smirk to tug at one corner of my mouth, until Will’s voice broke my concentration.
“We’re very grateful to you, Dante. Without your contributions, our plan to infiltrate the castle and take back Prince John’s stolen wealth would have failed before it had even begun.”
Soft music came from the corner of the hall, where a few rebels sat, playing a violin, a lute and a couple of recorders. I didn’t recognise the song, but the sound was prettier than expected, looking at the rabble playing them. Suddenly, I missed my mother’s harpsichord and the songs she used to sing us as children.
I cleared my throat. “It’s the least I can do,” I told Will. “You took me in and gave me something to fight for. I should be thanking you.”
Will clapped me on the back. “No thanks necessary. Have fun tonight, you’ve earned it. And in a few days, when we finally storm the castle, we need you ready.”
Days? I’d expected the delay to last for weeks or months. We would be attacking the castle in a matter of days? I grabbed a glass of mead from a passing tray and drained it. This was less than ideal.
Little John appeared at my side, accompanied by the fresh-faced Robin Hood. “Have you met Robin, Dante?”
I painted my most charming grin on and extended my hand to the young man. “I haven’t had the pleasure. I’m Dante, I haven’t been here long, but I’m very glad I found this place. It’s a wonderful community you have created, and an important cause that is very close to my heart.”
“Taking from the rich to give to the poor?” Robin grinned. “It’s the opposite of how Prince John works, the man is corrupt as they come. I heard you worked in the castle?”
My stomach plummeted, but my smile didn’t falter. “You heard right.” I had taken an instant disliking to this snot-nosed kid, and now my back was up. I had to work hard to keep my tone civil when all I really wanted was to strangle him. I glanced over and saw Morgaine watching us from the other side of the hall. She looked away quickly and pretended to be folding napkins.
“What did you do there?” Robin asked, his tone edged with a challenge that no one else would recognise, but as a fellow leader I immediately felt in my gut. I had the sudden suspicion that Robin knew who I was. But if he did, why hadn’t he raised the alarm already? I was heavily outnumbered here, he could have easily ordered the rebels to remove me. Or even kill me. After all, I was their number one enemy. Prince John might make the rules, but I enforced them. Me and my guards.
“I was a guard, but I only lasted a few weeks before being unfairly dismissed over a misunderstanding.”
I could see something glinting in Robin’s eyes, and my muscles tensed, waiting for the boy to expose my lie. Instead, he thanked me for all my help with their cause, and moved on to the next group of rebels to accept their fawning and adulation.
How had this child become the leader of a rebellion? He couldn’t have led the way out of a burlap sack.
The music kicked up a notch, growing louder and more energetic, and some of the rebels moved the rows of tables and chairs to each side, creating a small dancefloor in the centre of the room. I grabbed another pint of mead from a tray, drained it, and made a decision I was bound to regret.
