Part 7
Tuck had been in the house for two days when Eli thought him fit and trustworthy enough to take a message to Nottingham.
"You are to give this message into the hand of the Sheriff himself," implored Eli. "No other, not even Sir Guy of Gisborne."
"I understand," said Tuck.
He mounted upon his donkey and set off; the shortest route was of course through the forest. Tuck wasn't sure however if today was the day he wanted to come face to face with Robin Hood and instead took the cowards way out, going the long way round, but in doing so passed many of the oppressed villages and saw for himself the pitiful way in which they were forced to live. Tuck wished that somehow he could help elevate their strife himself, but what could a poor penniless Friar do by himself?
The town of Nottingham should be thriving, but was not as was the case with many county towns in these dark days. He left the donkey in the hands of an unenthusiastic guard and set off up the stone steps to the main entrance.
"I am here to see the Sheriff," he told the fierce guard at the door.
"He's busy."
"I too am a busy man. I have work I need to be doing and yet I have an urgent message, which I am to only give unto his hand. It is from Eli of Knighton Hall," Tuck explained, adding the last part as an afterthought hoping it might throw some clout on his errand.
"Very well," the guard finally said and let him in and pointed him in the right direction. "Do not tarry my job isn't worth it."
Tuck had no intention of 'tarrying' if he could help it. He did stop to admire the stonework as he walked along the corridor, looking up at the high ceilings and colliding with someone coming the opposite way.
"Sorry," muttered Tuck.
"Watch where you're going" the gruff voice said.
Tuck looked up, all he could see was black leather, his eyes trailed up further and finally he recognised Gisborne.
"Sir Guy," he said as politely as he could muster.
"Have we met?"
"I'm Tuck, Friar Tuck, Brother John appointed me to Eli of Knighton hall,"
"Ah yes, the do gooder who tripped up," he replied with a snarl. "What can we do for you here in the castle?"
"I am seeking the Sheriff. Eli gave me a letter to hand to the Sheriff himself and no one else," Tuck said determined not to hand it over to this Gisborne character.
"Let me see, the Sheriff hides nothing from me," he told Tuck and held out his hand.
"I fear I can not," Tuck said reaching inside his robes and gripping tightly on the letter. "My mission is to hand it to the Sheriff in person, you are not that person."
"No I am not," Guy said. "Alright, get on with it, come with me."
Tuck followed Gisborne into the Sheriff's quarters and Tuck took everything in, he did not want to miss a thing, should he find himself here again in less pleasant circumstances.
The Sheriff had been alone at his desk writing when the pair walked in.
"This," said Guy. "Is Friar Tuck, from Knighton Hall."
"Ah the school master, come nearer." Tuck did as he was bid as the Sheriff looked him over and he continued, "bit on the portly side aren't you, still I don't suppose that effects the way you teach the alphabet, numbers and Latin."
"He has a letter for you from Eli," added Guy.
"Hand it over then," Vasey said.
Tuck handed him the letter and he read it before looking up at Tuck, then guy. He took a fresh sheaf of paper and began to write a reply. When done he handed it back to Tuck.
"Go now," said Gisborne to Tuck.
"You may leave," agreed the Sheriff, waving his hand in the direction of the door. "I trust you can find your own way out."
Tuck nodded politely to both of them and took his leave. Walking along the balcony he spotted Brother John in the courtyard conversing with some guards. He, Tuck decided was up to no good as usual. He sped silently and swiftly despite his size and was just in time to overhear the last of the conversation. There was no doubt in Tuck's mind now; he had to find Robin Hood.