"What would I give" he muttered between breaths "for a rescue which didn't involve running away."
Robin laughed, and lowered the girl he had been carrying to the ground gently. Much joined him as he brushed her brown hair out of her face.
"So that's Alan's sister? She looks like him"
"She looks barely twelve years old!" Robin exclaimed. "And they were burning her for being a witch"
"Alan said she was fifteen Robin" Much reminded him. "She's considered a woman." There was a pause, as both men attempted to get their breath back.
"Robin..." Much asked hesitantly. "You don't think she did everything they accused her off, do you?" Robin looked up, ridicule on his face.
"I've told you before Much. Witchcraft is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard of! Satan worship indeed! Do you think a little snipet of a thing such as her could possibly be able to cause children to die?" Much shrugged, not convinced.
"They thought she did"
"People will believe anything you tell them" Robin said. "Believe me. And Alan says she could not have done it. That ought to be enough for you"
"Yeah, well, Alan isn't exactly reknowed for telling the truth, is he" Much pointed out. "Do you have any water left?"
Without a word, Robin handed over his water bottle, and then sat back, his eyes Rebekah. Her left hand was badly burned where it had landed amoung the flames, but other than that and being unconscious, she seemed unhurt. He had felt for a pulse while they had been running, and had found it in her wrist, strong and fast.
"Come on Much" He sighed, clabouring to her feet. "Lets get to the cave. If we are much longer, Alan will raise half of Nottinghamshire looking for us."
"Shall I carry her, master?" Much offered.
"If you want to Much, but she is no weight at all." Much bent down and lifted the girl with ease, grunting in surprise as he felt her bones even through the clothes she was wearing.
"I wonder how long ago it was that she ate" he glanced at Robin, worry flashing in his eyes, not for the girl in his arms, but for his friend who was waiting for them back the cave.
------------------------------------------
"Where are they" Alan hissed, pacing up and down. John, Djaq and himself and Will had been back at the cave for a while, had gotten a fire going outside and were now huddled around it, waiting for the return of their friends.
"They went left, thats the longest route" Will tried to soothe him. "They will be back soon"
"Whats the story with your sister Alan?" John was the one who asked the question that they had all been wondering. The man sighed.
"Rebekah. She has been under suspicion of being a witch since she was a child. You know how children are." He shrugged helplessly. "When our parents died, we had to survive anyway we could. I'm older than her by many years, and so was allowed to live in Rochdale as an adult, with Rebekah as my charge.
"Lying, stealing and poaching was the only way I could provide enough food for us to survive, as my father had not trained me in any skill and I couldn't find a job with a steady income. And when the Sheriff took over it became worse.
"But you may have noticed, Rochdale is religious, and suspicious, and the preacher there soon managed to turn the village agaisnt me. I was to hang in Rochdale, but escaped and found my way into Sherwood. And from there, you know the story. Rebekah was left on her own, a girl of only ten. I tried to sneak back to find out her fate from time to time, but never managed to catch glimpse of her."
As he finished speaking, there was a whistle from behind a tree, and Robin and Much appeared, running down the sloping bank towards them. Alan jumped to his feet.
"Robin"
"Shes alright Alan. Just the shock I think." He smiled as Much gently lay Rebekah on the ground, close to the fire. Alan dropped to the ground next to her.
"Her hand"
"I will do what I can for the burns" Djaq stood at his shoulder. "But they do not look too serious. Well" she took a second look at the burnt hand. "In any case, they could be far worse."
As the saracen deliberated over the wound, Rebekah's eyes flickered open, and her head turned to stare at the fire. As the flames danced infront of her, she attempted to role away, her body contorting in panic. Alan reached out and gathered her in his arms, turning her head away from the fire, rocking her in an attempt to calm her down. The other outlaws watched, Much pouring water on the fire. There was a loud hissing sound as the fire died down.
Eventually, Rebekah's breathing slowed, and Alan released her.
"Rebekah" He made hand movements as he talked, exagerating the movements his mouth made. "You are safe now! I am here. Everything is alright"
She burried her head on his shoulder, but he pushed her gently away.
"Djaq is going to help your hand. Alright?" She nodded, and made the similar hand movements back, grunting a little. Alan laughed and shook his head.
Robin frowned at the exchange, glancing questioningly at Alan.
"Rebekah is a deaf mute" Alan explained. "Its one of the reasons they were so quick to place the blame on her. That, and she is left handed."