Chapter Text
«Did not receive, so buy crooked threshold covered with moss...»
Bergtorа
«It must be very beautiful when the lit arrows shoot up into the sky and fall into the lake. They say that Loxley came up with this - somewhat pagan - rite ... Although what else to expect from him? Holy Mass?
A peculiar manifestation of mourning for the dead comrades and other victims ... of the conquerors. Now they are undoubtedly free, because no one will chain them up, throw them into prison, make them endure humiliation and abuse for a piece of bread and a roof over their heads for themselves and their families. Whether this is actually so is not important to anyone, everyone wants a fairy tale and an illusion.
And this, God forgive me, the King of Sherwood gives it, he does not care about the rest. However, this is his business, and I have mine here. Although there is no lake, but also a kind of commemoration».
A man with a bow stood almost at the very edge of the forest and watched the house and outbuildings burn, along with the barn, into which the grain harvest had just been brought. It was impossible to see his face under the hood, especially from such a distance. Although there was already no one to see his face ...
Two months ago
The thought came to Guy not immediately. Far from immediately. Despite the fact that he had already been in those places on business in the service of the abbot. And he didn’t seem to think anything like that ... But gradually he began to catch himself wanting to once again ride past, and then turn off the road and admire the view. And then one day, standing at the edge of the forest above this picturesque valley, Guy suddenly realized: he would like to live here. Have a home, but not like the family had in Stancliffe. Real home. A place where he will feel free and ... himself! A vague desire turned into a clear intention, but for some time he had no idea how to carry it out.
Until he saw a small house in the middle of this beauty, and a little later he made acquaintance with its owner - Godric Bradmoore.
Not to say that the house looked like a manor - more like a fairly neglected farm near the ruins of the castle: the Bradmoore family had long lost their former well-being, and the Jews willingly helped them in this. And with the death of the last of the sons in the Holy Land, the clan itself ended. But the house and buildings could be repaired, and over time, the donjon with other fortifications could be restored. If only Sir Godric agreed to cede this estate to him. For whom to store, if nothing is left of the family? After the death of Lord Bradmoor, everything went to the main creditor - the Jew Benzion with a very unusual surname. Either Schneckenschneider, or Stekenschreiner ... These are the names that are intricate in the German lands - you will break your tongue! In general, one such person lived in the Jewish quarter opposite the shop of some Talmons, either merchants, or jewelers, or also moneylenders, the devil will sort them all out ... So after the death of old Bradmoor, he received all the real property with a personal part of it . Rather, it was the crown that received the lands and the manor through him, and the Jew himself - only a couple of slaves, a horse with harness and weapons, and could then resell for a profit. But this is if someone else does not buy up the debts, of course, with all the official duties attached to the land. And for Guy, everything fell into place.
He pondered for a long time, figuring out this way and that, how things could be arranged to the general satisfaction. After all, old Bradmoore, having sold the manor, might not want to remain living in it on the rights of a life-long maintenance, when another one will host there. And Guy could perfectly understand him. So, it was necessary to find a suitable alternative for Sir Godric, both a place of residence and a livelihood ...
The main problem was that Guy did not have his own money. Borrow them? But to take from one Jew and give it to another Jew... Guy definitely did not like this scenario of events, because the alignment did not inspire confidence - he had already seen this, and it did not end in anything good. He had to figure out where else to get the money. Ask his lord? But such things... it is done personally and therefore he needs to go to Gloucester - and for a long time.
And he will not get such a vacation, given that a certain Son of Hern and a Hooded Man wound up in the royal forest. More precisely, the escaped poacher and the most ordinary robber Loxley called himself this, but the state of affairs did not change from this. And Guy was obliged to attend his new position. But no one freed him from the old one either, and he was simply torn between both services. And it doesn't matter that all the plans that the sheriff came up with to catch this impudent Saxon reptile invariably failed, and Guy had to deal with it. He is paid money for this. Which ones, it is better not to specify - a painfully sad story will come out.
In the end, the idea of contacting Abbe Hugo didn't seem so bad to Guy. And the fact that he was favorably listened to inspired confidence in the correctness of the decision made. The churchman agreed to lend, but demanded that the signing of all papers take place in the abbey, because he did not want to take the money to Nottingham. And he won't give them to Guy, he'll just deduct half of his forester's salary until the required amount is reached. Guy was not delighted with this - the condition greatly jarred him - but after a little thought, he realized that the abbot was right. And that would be the best thing indeed. And safer. It remains to persuade the sheriff. He, of course, had a lot of fun when Guy told him about the abbot's condition, and especially about the situation regarding money, but graciously agreed to come and draw up the papers.
A conversation with this same Benzion What-His-There the next day was also quite successful: the Jew turned out to be ready to sell debts, although, on reflection, why would he resist? However, he still made an attempt to raise the price. But then he wouldn't be a Jew if he didn't try. It remains to talk with Lord Bradmoor himself.
With this offer, Guy arrived a couple of weeks before Midsummer at Bradmoor Hall. He did not yet know, and even in a nightmare he could not dream how it would all end. But it started well, because the old man agreed to consider his proposal, and Guy was ready to discuss possible conditions.
They were sitting under a canopy in the garden behind the house and talking. A hunched slave woman hobbled over to bring them ale, freshly baked scones, and sheep's cheese. Lord Bradmoore apologized for not being able to arrange a proper meal and reception, but Guy didn't care whether he saw steins of ale on the table or silver goblets of French wine. And it doesn't matter who filed all this - a young maid or an old woman with rickety legs with a face covered in wrinkles and scars.
The main thing for him was something else - Sir Godric was not at all against the alternative proposed by Guy: after signing the papers, move under the care of the monastery. The old lord said that this was a great opportunity in the quiet of the monastery to take stock of his life and prepare for death.
They parted, to meet again a few days later, and leaving Bradmoor Hall, Guy went up the hill and stopped his horse once more. Admiring his future home from the edge of the forest, he was happy. From that moment on, he lived only in anticipation of the day when he would enter there as a rightful owner..
It took a couple of weeks to clarify the details of the contract and other trifles, among which was the condition that, upon taking possession of Bradmoor Hall, Guy undertakes to set free all the remaining slaves of Sir Godric if they want to receive this freedom. He agreed to it, as he would have agreed to something else. However, nothing special was required.
The signing of all the papers was to take place on St. Peter's Day in the abbey, where Guy and de Rainault had arrived the day before. In addition to them, quite a respectable audience, who had arrived at the monastery for the feast, had already gathered in the monastery hotel. It remained only to wait for Lord Bradmoor, but Sir Godric did not arrive on the appointed day. He did not show up the next day either.