Chapter 33
It was already dark, and Nazir and Robin were watching the main gate of Nottingham in the shadows of the trees. The night guard had gone out. Darkness enveloped the castle, making familiar objects and silhouettes ghostly and unrecognisable.
The wheels of a covered wagon pulled by a pair of horses rumbled. He had already dozed off to the sound of the hoofbeats, judging by his hunched figure and drooping head.
When they caught up with the van, Robin and Nazir quickly jumped into it, hiding among the sacks and kegs.
The horses came close to the gates of Nottingham and halted. It was a familiar route for them. The driver woke up, grunting, got down on the ground and went to negotiate with the guards.
-Why are you so late? - The gatekeeper grumbled.
- It's a long journey. As the horse had gone lame during the day, we had to stop at Wickham. It was evening by the time we were done with the horseshoes. I've got a load to deliver tonight, or my master's going to charge me for it.
Yes, he was not lying, he had indeed asked Wickham the blacksmith for help, and he had helped him without taking money, but he had taken too long with the horseshoes. He did this, of course, deliberately, so that Much would have time to warn the free woodland archers that the wagon was heading for Nottingham.
The guard stared at him and waited for something. The driver sighed heavily, took out a tattered wallet from his pocket, and handed the guard the fee to get into the castle.
The guard silently put away the coins he had received and headed for the wagon.
-What have you got there? -he asked.
-Honey from the abbey, sacks of apples and fish...
The guardsman tried to go inside the wagon, but the pungent smell of fish hit his nose, and he snorted and moved away with a wave of his hand, as if to say, 'Get the hell out of here'. He signalled, and the heavy bars of the gate creaked upwards, opening the way.
The driver yanked the reins, and the wagon swayed and disappeared through the gates of Nottingham.