黑箭 Chapter 01

[00:00:00.10]CHAPTER ONE
[00:00:02.20]The Letter
[00:00:05.30]The bell of Moat House Castle at Tunstall rang loudly one spring afternoon.
[00:00:12.90]The people of the village looked up at the castle.
[00:00:17.20]'What's happening?' asked one man.
[00:00:20.10]'I don't know,' said another.
[00:00:22.90]'A messenger brought a letter for Sir Oliver Oates, the priest, half an hour ago.
[00:00:28.10]It was from Sir Daniel Brackley.'
[00:00:30.80]'But why is the bell ringing?' asked an old man.
[00:00:37.00]Suddenly a handsome young man appeared on his grey horse.
[00:00:43.30]He was about eighteen years old and had brown hair and blue eyes.
[00:00:50.20]He had a bow and arrow on his back.
[00:00:53.50]His name was Richard Shelton and he was Sir Daniel's ward.
[00:01:00.40]Richard Shelton looked at the people around him and said, 
[00:01:04.40]'There will be a big battle soon! Sir Daniel wants everyone to fight.'
[00:01:09.90]'Another battle!' cried an angry woman.
[00:01:15.90]This is terrible! Our men go and die in battles, and their wives and children are hungry.'
[00:01:23.20]'We pay high taxes to Sir Daniel and we don't have any money for food,' 
[00:01:29.20]said a young mother with three small children.
[00:01:33.30]'Who is Sir Daniel fighting for today?' asked a tall man.
[00:01:38.30]Lancaster or York?' 'I'm sorry, I don't know,' 
[00:01:42.60]said Richard, and his face became red.
[00:01:48.00]Sir Daniel Brackley was not a loyal man and the people did not like him.
[00:01:55.40]He seemed to always change his mind: 
[00:01:58.90]sometimes he fought for Lancaster 
[00:02:01.90]and sometimes he fought for York.
[00:02:06.20]A big man on a black horse appeared.
[00:02:10.20]It was Bennet Hatch, Sir Daniel's best friend.
[00:02:15.20]He was about forty and had dark hair and an unfriendly face.
[00:02:21.70]'All of the men in the village must go to Moat House Castle and get ready for the battle!' Hatch cried.
[00:02:30.40]Then Hatch looked at Richard and said, 
[00:02:33.60]'Let's go to Nick Appleyard's house.'
[00:02:36.90]When they arrived Hatch said, 
[00:02:40.00]'Nick Appleyard, you must go and defend Moat House Castle because Sir Daniel is going to Kettley to fight.'
[00:02:48.60]While the two men were talking, 
[00:02:51.20]a black arrow suddenly hit Nick Appleyard in the back and killed him.
[00:02:57.90]'Oh, no!' cried Richard.
[00:03:00.60]'Appleyard is dead! 
[00:03:02.20]Someone in the forest shot this black arrow.'
[00:03:05.30]'Look! There's a message on the arrow,' said Hatch.
[00:03:09.50]'What does it say, Richard?'
[00:03:12.20]Richard took the arrow and read, 
[00:03:15.20]"For Appleyard, from John, to make things right." What a strange message!'
[00:03:23.00]'It's dangerous here, let's go to the church,' said Hatch.
[00:03:28.50]There were about twenty men on their horses outside the church.
[00:03:33.40]They were ready to fight.
[00:03:35.80]'Sir Daniel will be pleased with these brave men,' said Hatch.
[00:03:40.80]'Look at the church door,' said Richard. There's a letter on it!'
[00:03:45.80]'A letter on the church door,' said Sir Oliver, surprised.
[00:03:51.40]He was the priest of the village and Sir Daniel's good friend.
[00:03:56.30]'Young Richard, please read it.'
[00:04:00.40]Richard took the letter off the door and read it aloud.
[00:04:05.30]I have four black arrows.
[00:04:08.00]The first arrow killed Appleyard, 
[00:04:11.20]the next one will kill Bennet Hatch, 
[00:04:14.40]because he burnt Grimstone House.
[00:04:18.00]Another arrow is for Sir Oliver Oates, 
[00:04:21.90]because he killed Sir Harry Shelton.
[00:04:25.30]Sir Daniel will get the fourth arrow.
[00:04:29.40]From John of the Green Wood and his men.
[00:04:33.70]P.S. Remember we have other arrows for your men!
[00:04:40.00]'We live in a terrible world! I'm a good man.
[00:04:44.70]I did not kill Sir Harry Shelton!' cried Sir Oliver Oates.
[00:04:49.90]'We know you're a good, honest man, Sir Oliver,' said Hatch.
[00:04:55.80]Then he whispered something in Sir Oliver's ear and looked at Richard.
[00:05:01.40]Sir Harry Shelton was Richard's father.
[00:05:05.10]Richard saw this hut he said nothing.
[00:05:09.70]'I must write a letter to Sir Daniel 
[00:05:12.40]and tell him what happened,' said Sir Oliver.
[00:05:17.20]When the letter was ready he said, 
[00:05:20.40]'Richard, take this important letter to Sir Daniel immediately.
[00:05:25.90]Be careful on the road because it can be very dangerous.'
[00:05:31.50]Richard took the letter and went to get his horse.
[00:05:36.30]Hatch followed him.
[00:05:38.50]'Richard,' he said quietly, 'you're a brave, honest young man.
[00:05:44.70]Listen to me, be careful of Sir Daniel.
[00:05:48.80]Don't trust him and don't trust Sir Oliver.
[00:05:53.90]They're dangerous men.'
[00:05:56.60]Richard was surprised and started thinking.
[00:06:00.10]'Thank you, my friend,' he said.
[00:06:03.50]Then he got on his grey horse and galloped away.