Alan Dale at age 13 is caught stealing a meat pie. He will either lose a hand or hanged as is fitting for a thief. However, the speedy Alan runs home and his mother takes him to see Robin Hood to beg for his safety. Robin agrees and Alan's life as an outlaw begins with education and training. Since he has a beautiful voice Robin encourages vocal training as well as handling weapons and fighting.

Fortunately, Alan manages to escape the slaughter of those in the outlaw training camp with his music teacher, Bernard, an alcoholic, and Goody, a girl who saw her parents murdered. They flee into the snow, encounter their pursuers and flee again. Their refuge is a great hollow tree where they huddle over a small fire. While they have no food, they welcome a stranger in furs who tries to kill them. Goody kills him. Wolves come and attack. Robin and some of his followers arrive just in time to save them.

Life goes on for Alan, he grows, develops skills and becomes attached to Robin. When he meets Marie-Anne, Robin's sweetheart, he believes he is in love. The novel combines romance, fighting, adventure, torture, and friendship in an interesting manner. While I enjoyed it and would rate it between 3 and 4 stars, I prefer Stephen Lawhead's take on Robin Hood.

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