PART FIFTEEN
The guards at the gate exchanged puzzled glances at the sight of the wounded man.
"He's not well," chorused Robin, Loxley and Scarlet. Gisburne would have cringed visibly if he wasn't playing the part of the wounded man. Instead, he groaned on cue as Loxley elbowed him in the side.
"We were attacked on the road and these two men were good enough to help us," spoke Robin, starting to spin out his tale. "My companion was badly wounded. He must be attended to by a physician immediately.
"Physician?" questioned one of the guards as if it was a foreign word. The other one reached through the grille of the portcullis and lifted Gisburne's head to study his condition.
"Ugh! He looks terrible!" Robin suppressed a laugh, knowing that Gisburne wasn't that good an actor. He hid the grin that was tugging at the
sides of his mouth and tried to display some semblance of seriousness.
"We must see your master at once. We carry an urgent message from the King," said Robin. This bit of news caught the guards's attention, though they still remained wary. With a war looming in Wales and threats from Llwelyn for siding with England, they had been ordered to remain extra cautious. Robin read the doubt behind their eyes and hardened his tactics.
"If my friend dies, the King will have your heads! This man is His Majesty's most trusted servant and favourite messenger. If the King ever heard of this outrage you are committing--" The portcullis began to rise and Robin prudently desisted. They passed through the gates and followed the guards through the courtyard.
"Favourite messenger!" grumbled Gisburne, as Robin fell back into step with Loxley and Scarlet.
"Shut up," hissed Loxley. "You're supposed to be mortally wounded."
"Oh yes, that load of berries you smashed into my tunic was deadly!" replied Gisburne.
"Shut up!" whispered three fervent voices. The guards turned around.
"He's delirious," Robin piped up quickly. "If we could take him to a quiet chamber where we might tend to him ourselves..." They were soon guided to one. It was small and quite dark, with only the smallest of windows to conduct any light. It was just the room Robin had been looking for.
"Thank you," he said, flashing a polite smile to the guards. "This will suit us very well."
"You? What are you doing here?" drawled Gulnar, glaring up at Marion from the floor. She had stepped into his chamber of spells, discovering easy access into the castle after dropping Gulnar's name and speaking a few menacing incantations. It also hadn't hurt to have John and Nasir forming a strong wall of support behind her. She now gazed at Gulnar, observing the circle of runes and stone pebbles.
"You mean you weren't expecting me?" she questioned, discerning that what lay on the floor was one of the magical devices he used to aid his powers of sight.
"Oh, I was expecting you, Marion," he replied. "I just didn't know if you would have the audacity to appear."
"Audacity?" she trilled in amusement. His eyes narrowed to slits.
"You tried to betray me."
"Me? You ran off, not me!"
"You joined sides with Herne's son."
"What?" cried Marion, proclaiming her innocence. She turned to John and Nasir, who silently urged her on. "Do you really think I would be foolish enough to work with that wolfshead, Gulnar?" She drew a huge sigh as the sorcerer still regarded her cynically.
"Let me explain..." began Marion.
"Is this really necessary?" asked Gisburne, coughing as Robin rubbed chalk dust on his face.
"If we plan to fool Owen of Clun, it is," answered Robin.
"Someone's coming," warned Loxley, hearing the sound of approaching footsteps in the corridor.
"Do you know your part?" questioned Robin.
"Yes, yes," said Gisburne impatiently. Robin handed Guy his sword and joined Loxley and Will in the excellent shadow provided by the dank, little chamber. However, it was hardly necessary for them to disappear. When Owen of Clun entered the room, he only had eyes for the figure by the window.
Gisburne certainly could be dramatic at times. He had to give him that, Robin decided, watching as Guy turned ever so slowly from the window to face Clun. Owen did not recognize Guy's face at first, but when he did, the look of terror he held was fantastic.
"You-you...you're dead!" protested Clun. Gisburne simply stared back at the Marcher lord and said nothing. Clun's reaction had startled him a little at first. Guy wondered if he had blanched that much himself when he had come
across the men of this time who were supposed to be dead. He hoped he hadn't, yet, at the same time, he still felt a thrill pass through him. He saw the kind of power he exerted over Clun by just looking at him, the power he had to
terrify the Marcher lord.
Guy raised his sword, swinging it around casually for a bit, then tossing it from hand to hand. Clun continued to gape at him then, seeing a possible interval to escape, started to back out of the room slowly.
"Stay where you are, Clun!" barked Gisburne, and the Marcher lord froze in panic.
"What-what do you want from me?" gasped Owen.
"I want what was taken from me," answered Gisburne, carefully placing the coldest edge to his voice. Owen began to tremble, fearing that Guy meant to kill him because Grendel had taken his life. Gisburne must have read his expression,
for he smiled twistedly.
"Get the girl," he commanded.
"The girl?" questioned Clun.
"You know. Margaret, my...my sister," said Guy, somehow managing to work his mouth around the word. Clun hesitated and Gisburne raised his sword again, moving a step closer. Owen drew back in fright.
"Bring her to me, Clun. Now," spoke Gisburne, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"It...it shall be done...I swear it!" exclaimed Owen, before catapulting himself from the room.
"Well?" questioned Guy to his audience.
"Good work," admitted Robin, and Loxley and Will gave their praise begrudgingly.
Gisburne gloated, making no attempt at modesty. It was almost a pity that none of his other performances ever ended so successfully.
"Can you handle this alone?" Robin dared to ask.
"Of course," replied Guy haughtily.
"All right then. After Clun delivers Margaret to you, get her out of this castle and take her to safety. Take her back to Huntington."
"Huntington?"
"Yes. I'll meet you there once we've found the Arrow."
"You'll meet me outside of this castle. Do you really think I'm stupid enough to leave here without you?" Robin studied his new ally, knowing that this was an issue of trust, not loyalty. Gisburne didn't trust him to keep his word and help him return to their proper time.
"Your concern should be for Margaret," stated Robin. Then he sighed and relented. "We'll meet outside the castle once you've gotten Margaret to safety."
"Fine," said Gisburne, though the thought of safeguarding this woman didn't really appeal to him. "You'd better go. Clun will be coming back soon."
"Come on," Robin told Loxley and Will, "we'd better. Give my best to Margaret," he spoke encouragingly to Guy. The knight scowled, then coughed as more of the chalk dust started to tickle his throat.
"I think we should follow Clun," said Robin, once they were outside the door. "Ghost or no ghost, I don't trust him to keep his word. I don't think he would give up Margaret or an alliance with my father that easily."
"You don't think he'll give her to your brother."
"Oh, he'll bring her to him. It's a question of whether he'll let Guy leave the castle with her alive."
"But he thinks your brother's a ghost, doesn't he? And he's not going to kill your sister," spoke Will.
"He thinks Guy is a ghost for now, but even he can't be fooled for long. Guy isn't that good an actor."
"You don't trust Guy to play his part?" questioned Loxley.
"I don't trust Clun and his men to remain a faithful audience. That's why I have to make certain that Clun keeps his promise: so that Guy can finish his performance."
"All right," agreed Loxley. "You and Scarlet must see to it that he gets your sister out of the castle."
"What about you, Loxley? Aren't you with us?" inquired Will.
"I must find the Arrow. I am its guardian. It is my duty to protect it. I can't allow Marion and the others to risk their lives for it. I must find it and return it to Herne myself."
"So, you're telling me that Robert of Huntington and Robin Hood and his men are heading towards this castle?" questioned Gulnar.
"Yes," replied Marion. "You must go to your master and warn him at once that Robert of Huntington has brought a thousand men from his father's castle!"
"And why should I believe you?" commented Gulnar dryly. "How do I know that you haven't joined sides with young Huntington and that this isn't a trick?"
"Oh, I have joined sides with him," she answered. "At least, that's what he thinks. He doesn't know that I've really come here to warn you."
"Why warn me? Why betray Huntington?"
"Why? Well," mused Marion, taking a moment or two to consider, "one reason for not siding with him is because I know your master will defeat him."
"I thought he had a thousand men," Gulnar reminded her.
"Who will be crushed by Lord Owen now that you know of their plan. Your master
would reward you well, Gulnar, if you saved him and his castle from destruction," said Marion.
"Why are you telling me this? What do you hope to gain?" asked Gulnar.
"Power."
"You think you can gain this by siding with me?"
"I know I can," stated Marion. "We just have to find Guy of Huntington and we can continue with our plans as if nothing happened."
"Isn't Guy of Huntington with his brother?"
"They had a quarrel. They act like enemies around each other. We could easily draw Guy out. If we both worked together, we could help each other."
"You mean, I could help you. What would your demon Azael do to you if you failed him?"
Marion shut her eyes and tried to control the trembling of her hands.
"I...I do not know...I fear them so..." She looked at Gulnar imploringly. "I could not...I can't describe what they might do to me," she whispered. "I fear they will destroy me." Gulnar grinned, finding her terror amusing.
"I must speak to my master," said Gulnar. "Wait for me here." The sorcerer headed for the door, casting another look at Marion and snickering. She waited until he was well out of earshot, then turned to John and Nasir.
"Search for the Arrow!" she cried.
"Where is she?" shouted Owen of Clun, confronting Gulnar wildly as the sorcerer
entered Margaret's chamber. The sorcerer observed his master's bloodless face, wide eyes and trembling form with some trepidation. However, he kept his voice level and calm.
"My lord, you ordered the women to prepare her for the blood games this afternoon."
"I must find them," stated Owen earnestly.
"Why, master? What is wrong?" questioned Gulnar, speaking in a smooth, gentle tone.
"Everything! By Thor's thunder, everything, Gulnar!" he exclaimed. He pulled a wine flask from his belt and, with trembling fingers, took a drink.
"My lord, I cannot help you unless you tell me what has happened," spoke Gulnar. "What is it that has frightened you so?" Clun dropped the flask and faced Gulnar with a growl.
"I am not afraid of anything!" he yelled. "God's teeth, Gulnar! You are the man with the gift of sight! You should have seen this! You should have warned me of this!"
"My lord?" inquired Gulnar politely.
"Guy of Huntington! I have just seen his spirit in this castle!"
"What?" exploded Gulnar, his eyeballs almost diving out of their sockets.
"It's true, Gulnar. I spoke with him myself," responded Clun, watching the sorcerer frown in heavy contemplation. Gulnar, unlike his master, knew that it was quite possible for Guy to be there. In fact, he had been expecting
him to end up at the castle sooner or later.
But he had not expected him to arrive at the castle at the same time as Marion, or Herne's son, who had to be close to them now. Gulnar had suspected that Marion's story had been false. Now, he knew it was so. His enemies were
not waiting in the valley to attack them. They were already inside the castle...His master was in danger. He had to act quickly.
"My lord, you must order your men to search this castle at once," spoke Gulnar.
"Our enemies are close to us. They have tried to trick us both, but we are too clever for them. We will hunt them down and they shall be vanquished! Make haste, master. Do the deed before it is too late!" cried Gulnar when he saw that his lord was still rooted to the same spot.
"What about Guy of Huntington?" questioned Owen fearfully.
"You need not concern yourself, my lord. I know ways of dealing with spirits and this spirit I mean to destroy."
"Oh, Robin, it's you," spoke Marion in relief. Her fear of being discovered by Gulnar had been intense enough to jolt her when Loxley had entered the room.
"Have you found the Arrow yet?" he asked, moving to her side.
"No!" she whispered in despair. "I think he must be the best sorcerer I have ever seen if he can make the Arrow disappear completely."
"Sorcerer or street conjurer?" teased Loxley with a smile. "Oh, Marion, it's too important to be tossed aside that quickly. It's hidden somewhere in this castle
and we're going to find it, even if we have to search this place from top to bottom." Marion looked up at him, noting his use of her given name for the first time.
"You're certain that the Arrow is in this castle?" she questioned, suddenly feeling a little shy around him.
"Oh, yes. I can feel it."
"Feel it?"
"I am its guardian. I swore an oath to protect it."
"And do you feel this way about everything you have sworn to protect?" Loxley's jocular smile vanished and he became quite serious.
"Yes," he answered. "Yes, Marion...yes." She was met with the full brunt of his emotions. They were so strong that she believed she might be swept away by their force if she continued to stare at him a moment longer. But she let him hold her; she didn't want him to let her go.
"My lady." Loxley's eyes released her and Marion felt her cheeks flush. "My lady," repeated Nasir, his quiet voice actually sounding excited. Loxley's hand closed in around her arm as they both walked to where Nasir and John were crouching. Nasir had pushed a loose tile of stone aside revealing the perfect place for hiding treasures...
Both hands fell upon the loose stone at once. This time both Loxley and Marion blushed as their fingers touched. Their eyes met again.
"You are its guardian. You must find it," spoke Marion, trying to pull her hand away from his. His grip tightened and together they sought the Arrow.
Robin and Will headed down another corridor in search of Margaret. After hearing Owen's uproar over what they believed to be her disappearance, they thought they could save some time and trouble for everyone if they found Margaret themselves, especially if she had somehow managed to escape from her captors.
If they had stayed a little longer outside Margaret's door, they would have heard the conversation between Clun and Gulnar and realized that the danger
they now faced had increased tenfold. Their presence in the castle had been detected. At that moment, they were walking into a trap.
Gulnar stepped lightly into the room, waiting eagerly for the figure at the window to turn.
"Where have you been, Clun?" demanded the figure, hearing the sound of feet sweep the floor. "I've been--"
"You've been waiting for me to come?" Gulnar gave Gisburne a friendly leer. "I've been waiting for you. I knew you would come. You had to." Gisburne raised his sword in defense but, with the simplest movement of his hand, Gulnar sent it crashing against a wall. The knight's eyes widened and Gulnar laughed with quiet menace.
"I warned you, didn't I? I said I controlled you completely and you did not believe me."
"I still don't believe you," rasped Gisburne, his anger outweighing his fear.
"Don't you?" Gulnar laughed again. "You will, Guy. Oh yes, you most certainly will!" The sorcerer moved towards him and it took every bit of willpower Guy possessed to prevent himself from fleeing the room. It would have been better if he had but, with Gulnar blocking his escape, he had no choice but to remain where he was. Gulnar was so close now that he was practically standing on Guy's toes.
"I'm going to destroy Herne's son, Gisburne, and you're going to help me do it," he commanded. The knight struggled, feeling Gulnar's eyes as they bore into him.
No, thought Guy desperately. No, no, not again!
"Welcome to Clun Castle," stated Grendel. Robin and Will halted in their tracks. About twenty men drew around them, swords and daggers bared. "Drop your weapons," ordered Grendel. "Now!" he added, observing that the two were reluctant to oblige. Finally, they dropped their swords and the men closed in.
"Lord Owen of Clun has asked me to escort you to the blood games. You are to be his guests."
"Guests?" questioned Robin.
"Oh yes," replied Grendel, with a sudden grin. "Until your services are needed in the blood games, of course. Take them away," he told his men.
* * * *
Retrieving the Silver Arrow had been harder than Loxley and Marion had first anticipated. The loose part of the floor had become stuck. It was only with a combination of one of Nasir's swords and John's strong fingers that the Arrow had revealed itself at all.
Marion had the honour of lifting it from its hold. Then, the Silver Arrow was lying in Loxley's hands.
"Let's find the others and get away from this place," spoke Marion as if she could feel the chill of Gulnar's breath on the nape of her neck. Loxley nodded and both John and Nasir agreed willingly. Loxley shoved the Arrow into his tunic, then led his friends out into the corridor. They had only managed to travel as far as the next few chambers, when Loxley spotted someone.
"Get back!" he hissed. They all retreated into a recess in the wall.
"It's Gulnar!" whispered Marion.
"And see who else," said Loxley.
"Guy of Huntington!" she gasped. "But what is he doing with Gulnar?"
"That's something we'd all like to know," stated John.
"What does he think he's doing?" questioned Loxley angrily. His companions didn't have time to answer. They drew in a collective breath and were silent as Gulnar and Gisburne passed.
"Oh no..." began Marion.
"What?" asked Loxley, concerned by the unpleasant tone of her voice.
"Guy of Huntington has been possessed."
"Possessed! How do you know that?"
"Didn't you see his eyes? We've got to warn Robert."
"Warn Robert?"
"Yes! Oh, Robin, you don't understand. With Guy of Huntington in his power, Gulnar might be capable of anything."
