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The king glared at me. “Your real name.”
My old self was so deeply buried in my subconscience, it took me a few seconds to reply. “Friar Tuck, sir. Formerly Mark Tuckerton.”
The king did a double take. “Henry and Alice’s boy?”
I stared. That he recognized my family name wasn’t terribly surprising. But that he knew my parents?
Wow. Next time I saw them, I would have a lot of questions.
“Interesting,” he murmured. “Very interesting.”
I hung my head. It wasn’t interesting. It was tragic, because I loved Marian, but I couldn’t have her.
Then he shook his head. “It pains me to see how poorly my lands have been governed. Robbers became lawmakers, and heroes were forced to become outlaws. Even knights and priests have switched places.”
Nervous laughter rippled through the crowd.
“Well, it’s time to set things straight. I hereby dismiss you, Friar Tuck, of your ecclesiastical duties — unless, of course, you desire to remain in the priesthood?”
God, no, I nearly shouted. “No. No such desire,” I managed.
A few guffaws broke out, terrifying me. I hadn’t meant it as a joke, but if the king thought I didn’t take his offer seriously…
But, whew. He grinned too.
“No, I didn’t think so. However, let me be clear about one thing. I will never allow my goddaughter to marry beneath her station. What say you, William?”
Marian’s father shook his head. “Never.”
“But, Father!” Marian protested, but the king raised his hand.
“A landless lord is out of the question.”
Marian turned red. “I don’t care about land, titles, or money.”
“Perhaps not, but you are neither king nor queen here,” the king said gently.
Marian’s father tapped his lips, thinking. “No, that just wouldn’t do. But a landed lord…”
I despaired, because my eldest brother stood to inherit everything. I was in line to inherit exactly nothing. Not a single building, nor a title…not even a cow pasture.
“If you please, sir,” someone called, making everyone turn — even the king.
“Yes, Sheriff?” he asked Daniel.
“Nottingham hasn’t had a lord for quite some time, sir.”
I stared at him, then the castle, my mind ticking over slowly. Too slowly, because the connections it made seemed too good to be true. Again and again, I halted the process and went back to the beginning to piece his hints together.
Nottingham. Castle. A vacant lordship…
Whoa. Wait. Was Daniel actually helping me?
He shrugged and spoke into my mind. Not sure why, but yes. We could use a reasonable lord around here. Assuming you don’t abandon us to ride off to the Crusades.
I shook my head vehemently. A wise knight taught me about just causes. So, no. My place is here.
My father had once clapped me on the shoulder and said something along the lines of, You’ll know the day you become a man, my boy. You’ll recognize it when the moment arrives.
