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

"After we get the money, can we spend it on wine and debauchery?"
Little John pointed to the robber knights trussed on the floor. He
answered Will Scarlett. "Are you sure you shouldn't be on the floor with
those two?"
The Merry Men waited in the dust-speckled dimness of a barn on the
outskirts of Nottingham. They ate and rested, lazy with the long day and
spring warmth. Barn swallows turned circles that brushed the rafters
and skimmed straw from the floor. The knights' horses chewed hay.
One kicked his hoof regularly against the outer wall.
Scarlett carved his initials in a post with a wicked knife. "Those two
don't know anything about debauchery. I can tell 'em about debauchery.
When I go out to debauch, I have a good time. They probably just get
drunk and beat up someone small. By the time they get to a whore
they'd pass out. Did you ever see two more sour faces?"
From the loft Hard-Hitting Brand called. "Here he comes with the
blacksmith."
"Anyone else?" asked Little John.
"Nope. Just a smithy and two apprentices."
"Well, keep an eye out all around. He may have told the sheriff's men to
come later, when we're negotiating hot and heavy."
"Right."
Scarlett brushed away shavings to see his handiwork, yellow etched in
brown. "You doing the negotiating?"
Little John rumbled, "No. I'm goin' to leave it to Simon here, only
because we don't have Much to talk for us." Simon blinked, but the giant
waved a hand at him. "Just joking, lad. I'll do the hagglin'."
Scarlett touched up his graffitti. "You sure you don't want me to?"
"I'm sure."
"Fine. You handle it. I'll keep quiet."
Little John snorted.
The owner of the farm, a merchant, knocked at the door and then crept
in. With him was the Nottingham blacksmith, a short solid man whose
long tunic had burns in the front. He carried an iron box. His two
apprentices, a thin boy and an older journeyman, carried steel pokers.
The Merry Men shuffled about in the tight barn to make room. Little
John signalled to shut the door, and for the blacksmiths to put down
their pokers. "You won't need those. We're not here to rob you." The
boy breathed easier. The journeyman seemed disappointed.
The blacksmith set down the box and put one foot on it. "So what have
you?"
The giant forester squatted and unfolded a hauberk. On it lay all the
knights' accoutrements. The knights themselves wore only gambesons
and rope.
"Two swords, two long knives. Baldrics -- this one ain't got a crack on it
anywhere -- scabbards and sheathes. Tooling, here. Their shoes, one
pair with double soles. Hauberks, one with copper, one iron squares,
good solid rivets. Norman helmets. Some kind of a locket here, must be
silver, and a cross of whatever this metal is -- bronze, is it? Someone's