"Clayton Emery - Robin Hood's Treasure" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emery Clayton)

had entered his service, cleaned out his kitchen, and lured away his
cook. Later he'd tricked the sheriff into attending a feast in the
greenwood. Nicholas had eaten off his own plate, been served his own
wine by his own cook, and then been robbed for dessert.
More foresters held bows with arrows nocked and pointed at his
soldiers. Nicholas found his temper rising. Here was Robin's cousin, the
laughing Will Scarlett, who prowled Nottingham as a cutpurse named
Badger. Here was Hard-Hitting Brand, a tall man often mistaken for
Little John (by anyone who hadn't seen the real thing). And here was old
Will Stutly, whom the sheriff had tried to hang, but whom Robin Hood
had snatched from under his nose.
Brand pointed. "No word for Reynold Greenleaf, Sheriff?"
Will Scarlett laughed, "Isn't it Reynold John?"
Little John smirked. "Or Little Greenleaf?"
Will Stutly grinned a gapped grin. He rasped, "And have you
reconsidered joining our band?"
The foresters laughed, Brand and John and Simon and the two Wills.
Little John finally wiped his eyes. "You ought to teach your men proper
archery, Nick. Them crossbows are too slow to engage, and they look
so helpless."
The soldier at the forefront burst out, "Only cowards strike from cover!"
Simon darkened. "Cowards?"
Little John waved a hand. "Don't be touchy, Simon. They always say
that. We're forever killing the sheriff's men, and they're sensitive about
it."
Nicholas brushed at his cloak. "Did you have to kill my horse? They cost
more than the soldiers, you know."
The giant shrugged. Besides his quiver and bow across his back, he
held a quarterstaff taller than himself, thicker than the sheriff's wrist. "All
you lot do is complain. Next time we'll knock you out of the saddle and
spare the horse."
Nicholas shuddered, then froze as the giant continued. "Now hand over
the gold."
"G-gold? What gold?"
"Or silver."
"I, uh, I haven't any --"
Little John shook his head.
Nicholas sighed. "It's in the saddlebags."
Little John waved. "Scarlett, fetch it." Will untied the saddlebags and
bounced them on the road. They gave a muted chink. Little John stuck
out his hand. The sheriff produced his purse from inside his shirt.
Nicholas asked, "How did you know I had money?"
Scarlett laughed. "You always have money."
Little John added, "And you're not supposed to even be in Sherwood.
This ain't sheriff's territory."
"I can ride the roads!"
Will Scarlett slung the saddle bags over his shoulder. "You gonna do
like Rob does? He always splits it and gives half back."
"Robin ain't here."
Stutly croaked, "Besides, he lied. He said he didn't have no gold."