Threats More Subtle Than Swords, Part 6
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The bedroom door opened and Gunilda came out, carrying a chamber pot. Allan wrinkled his nose, and Gunilda smiled at him before continuing down the stairs. Of course Djaq couldn't come out to the privy, Allan thought as he slipped inside the room, there was always the chance of her being seen by one of Gisborne's guards. Only the servants knew that she was there, and because they had worked for Robin long before Gisborne had come along, it hadn't taken much for Allan to convince them to keep quiet now about one of Robin's friends. It was hot and humid in the bed chamber and there was a strong smell of herbs which made Allan inhale deeply in appreciation. Marian lay quietly, looking too much like a corpse for Allan's comfort. He wouldn't even have been sure she was still alive if her breathing hadn't been audible. At least she wasn't coughing so badly.
"How is she this morning?" he asked Djaq, who was stirring something in the pot over one of several braziers that had been set up around the bed.
"She is still feverish," Djaq replied. "But I think her lungs are clearing, just a little. I hope they will clear some more soon."
"That's good," Allan said. "Right? That's good?"
"It's good," Djaq said, smiling up at him. He smiled back.
"I've missed you," he said impulsively, and Djaq shook her head at him, still smiling. "I do not believe you, Allan a Dale. Gunilda has been telling me how much attention you give her. And how much attention you give one of the horse girls at the castle – Elewisa?"
"I just show them a few tavern tricks," Allan protested. "To pass the time. It doesn't mean I don't miss you!"
"Perhaps you show your tavern tricks to a girl in every village?" Djaq teased.
"I don't!"
The door opened and Gunilda came back in. Much to Allan's chagrin, she shot him a happy smile which Djaq did not miss.
"And speaking of the castle, do you not have to go there this morning?" Djaq asked pointedly.
Allan gave her a suspicious look. "You trying to get rid of me?"
"Why, because I remind you of your work the minute a pretty girl steps into the room?" But then Djaq smiled as well. "No, because you are distracting me. Go on now."
Barely mollified, Allan went out to the stables to saddle his horse.
He'd barely ridden into the castle courtyard when Laurencia pelted down the steps like a starving man towards food. "Allan! How is Sir Guy?"
"Fine," Allan replied automatically, then remembered that Guy was supposed to be sick in bed. "I mean, as fine as can be expected. I'm sure he'll recover soon."
"I'm pleased to hear it." Laurencia smiled in relief. Thinking that she wasn't so bad looking when she did that, Allan smiled back. Laurencia's shyness returned and she lowered her eyes, blushing under his gaze.
Lady Prospera appeared at the top of the stairs and descended them gracefully. "You're one of Sir Guy's men, aren't you?"
"Yes, m'lady," Allan replied.
"How is he?"
"He's doing as well as can be expected and he will recover soon," Laurencia gushed before Allan could even get his mouth open.
Lady Prospera gave her a tolerant smile. "Ah, to be young again, swooning for the first time for a handsome man, not knowing or caring about the heartache that comes later."
"Mother …" Laurencia protested, but softly. Her blush deepened to a fevered red and she glanced about as though looking for a well to throw herself down.
"My daughter speaks of nothing else but Sir Guy," Lady Prospera went on. "Perhaps she could prattle about him to you instead, and give me some relief. Why don't you two find a market to visit?"
She opened a small leather bag and pulled out a coin. "Don't spend it all in the same place, but have fun. Take your time, don't come back too soon."
"Mother! So generous! Thank you!" Laurencia took the coin and gave Allan such an enthusiastic look that his heart sank. Allan liked going to the market, or rather, to the taverns that were well-populated on market day, but having to spend all his time shopping, with no ale and no tricking men out of their money, was going to be sheer torture.
"I just have to check in with the Sheriff," he said, pointing in the general direction of the great hall and hoping that the Sheriff had some other task for him. Unfortunately, the Sheriff was more than happy to let him go, and Allan rejoined Laurencia feeling only slightly better than a man who had been condemned to death.
xxxxx
Blindfolded again, Guy stumbled through the forest behind Robin, and was gratified to hear the outlaw yawning. Guy himself had fallen asleep only moments after Robin had tethered him to one of the bunks. Using all his other senses to make up for his lack of sight had been unexpectedly exhausting, and he hoped that Robin had stayed awake until dawn, just waiting for him to try to escape
But then Much asked, "You went to Locksley last night, didn't you, master?"
"Yes, Much," Robin replied, and Guy was certain that he spoke a little bit more loudly and clearly than was necessary. "I spent the entire night with Lady Marian."
Guy had a sudden, violent urge to make Hood spend the entire night in the dungeons of the castle. He was just preparing to head-butt the outlaw from behind when Much asked, "And how is she? Lady Marian?"
There was a long silence, punctuated only by soft rustling sounds, and Much said, "Master, why are you making those funny signs with your hands?"
Guy was close enough to hear Robin's sigh. "Because, Much, I do not wish to discuss Lady Marian in front of Gisborne!"
"Oh," said Much, then asked, "Are you worried she might die? Because we're all worried, too—"
"Much!"
"Sorry, master," Much replied. "Sorry, sorry." He hesitated, then added one last, "Sorry."
At any other time, Guy would have laughed, but the idea that Marian might be dying while he was being dragged around in the forest made Guy clench his hands to fists. He wanted to hit Hood for having news of Marian and not sharing it. He also wanted to beg the outlaw to tell him what was going on at Locksley Manor. Finally, Guy settled for sneering, "I assume she's still alive, otherwise you'd have brought your pet Saracen back already."
"Hey!" Will said from behind, pushing Guy so that he missed a step. "She's not our pet!"
"Leave him alone, Will, we don't have time to fight to-day," Robin announced firmly.
They must have reached the road then, because Robin stopped and tied Guy's arms to a tree branch overhead, the way he'd done the day before. Guy assumed that Lady Prospera hadn't shown up yet, because Robin sent Will in one direction and John in the other, to check for traps. There was silence, and then, in a soft voice, Much asked, "So … how is Marian?"
Guy stood very still to listen and was rewarded by hearing Robin reply in an equally quiet voice, "She settled down a bit, right before dawn. But before that, she was delirious. Calling out for her mother and her father."
"Did she call out for you, master?" Much asked. Guy wondered the same thing, and if Marian had called out for him, even if only to complain about the leeches.
"No," Robin admitted with a sigh. Guy almost sighed as well, glad that his rival had not got that little bit of satisfaction at least.
"Just for her mother, really, and once or twice for her father," Robin went on. "But Djaq was doing everything she could."
"If Djaq can't save her, then no one can," Much said.
"Djaq can save her," Robin replied firmly. "Don't forget, she's got all the servants to help her, and the cook knows a few things, too. She'll save her."
"Right," said Much. There was another silence, and then Much asked suddenly, "This Lady Prospera, do you think her daughter knows what she's doing?"
"She must know," Robin said. He sounded as though he were about to say more, but just then, hoofbeats sounded, coming closer, and Robin announced, "That'll be them."
Running footsteps came from Guy's right, and John panted, "No sign of the Sheriff's men."
"Right," said Robin, and Guy heard bowstrings being stretched. "Let's go."
"Ah, there you are," came Lady Prospera's voice, clear enough even from a distance. "Here is a necklace that I think the Sheriff will recognize – he gave it to me many years ago. And just in case he doesn't, here's the dress I wore yesterday. Let him think you're keeping me half-naked in the forest, it might make him laugh."
There was a silence, and Guy could imagine the outlaws exchanging amused looks.
"And when you tell him I'm dead, you can send him this as well. Dip this end of it into some blood, that should make it more realistic."
"Your hair?" Robin asked wonderingly.
"I've wanted to cut it for years; it takes forever to dry. Now, last but not least, here's your money, and we'll be off."
"If I might ask, my lady, where are you going?" Robin asked.
"That's really none of your concern," Lady Prospera stated haughtily.
"Not to Durham by any chance?" Robin continued.
"What on earth would I be doing in Durham?" Lady Prospera asked, and Guy could hear the scorn in her voice.
"Just checking," Robin said. "We thank you for the money, Lady Prospera. It will feed many poor families this winter."
"Thank you for helping me."
The horses trotted away, and the outlaws came back. Robin loosened the rope so that Guy could lower his arms, then shoved a bundle of woolen cloth at him. "Here, hold this."
It had to be Lady Prospera's dress. As they walked, Guy wondered what it looked like, and if he could give it to Marian. She'd wanted a dress that day she'd gone to Nettlestone. Would this one suit her? Would Marian even live to wear it? Hood had come from Locksley only a few hours before, and he was still worried. Well, if Marian died, Guy would hunt down the outlaws and kill them, very slowly. He only had to decide which one he'd start with first; Djaq or Hood.
Part 7
The bedroom door opened and Gunilda came out, carrying a chamber pot. Allan wrinkled his nose, and Gunilda smiled at him before continuing down the stairs. Of course Djaq couldn't come out to the privy, Allan thought as he slipped inside the room, there was always the chance of her being seen by one of Gisborne's guards. Only the servants knew that she was there, and because they had worked for Robin long before Gisborne had come along, it hadn't taken much for Allan to convince them to keep quiet now about one of Robin's friends. It was hot and humid in the bed chamber and there was a strong smell of herbs which made Allan inhale deeply in appreciation. Marian lay quietly, looking too much like a corpse for Allan's comfort. He wouldn't even have been sure she was still alive if her breathing hadn't been audible. At least she wasn't coughing so badly.
"How is she this morning?" he asked Djaq, who was stirring something in the pot over one of several braziers that had been set up around the bed.
"She is still feverish," Djaq replied. "But I think her lungs are clearing, just a little. I hope they will clear some more soon."
"That's good," Allan said. "Right? That's good?"
"It's good," Djaq said, smiling up at him. He smiled back.
"I've missed you," he said impulsively, and Djaq shook her head at him, still smiling. "I do not believe you, Allan a Dale. Gunilda has been telling me how much attention you give her. And how much attention you give one of the horse girls at the castle – Elewisa?"
"I just show them a few tavern tricks," Allan protested. "To pass the time. It doesn't mean I don't miss you!"
"Perhaps you show your tavern tricks to a girl in every village?" Djaq teased.
"I don't!"
The door opened and Gunilda came back in. Much to Allan's chagrin, she shot him a happy smile which Djaq did not miss.
"And speaking of the castle, do you not have to go there this morning?" Djaq asked pointedly.
Allan gave her a suspicious look. "You trying to get rid of me?"
"Why, because I remind you of your work the minute a pretty girl steps into the room?" But then Djaq smiled as well. "No, because you are distracting me. Go on now."
Barely mollified, Allan went out to the stables to saddle his horse.
He'd barely ridden into the castle courtyard when Laurencia pelted down the steps like a starving man towards food. "Allan! How is Sir Guy?"
"Fine," Allan replied automatically, then remembered that Guy was supposed to be sick in bed. "I mean, as fine as can be expected. I'm sure he'll recover soon."
"I'm pleased to hear it." Laurencia smiled in relief. Thinking that she wasn't so bad looking when she did that, Allan smiled back. Laurencia's shyness returned and she lowered her eyes, blushing under his gaze.
Lady Prospera appeared at the top of the stairs and descended them gracefully. "You're one of Sir Guy's men, aren't you?"
"Yes, m'lady," Allan replied.
"How is he?"
"He's doing as well as can be expected and he will recover soon," Laurencia gushed before Allan could even get his mouth open.
Lady Prospera gave her a tolerant smile. "Ah, to be young again, swooning for the first time for a handsome man, not knowing or caring about the heartache that comes later."
"Mother …" Laurencia protested, but softly. Her blush deepened to a fevered red and she glanced about as though looking for a well to throw herself down.
"My daughter speaks of nothing else but Sir Guy," Lady Prospera went on. "Perhaps she could prattle about him to you instead, and give me some relief. Why don't you two find a market to visit?"
She opened a small leather bag and pulled out a coin. "Don't spend it all in the same place, but have fun. Take your time, don't come back too soon."
"Mother! So generous! Thank you!" Laurencia took the coin and gave Allan such an enthusiastic look that his heart sank. Allan liked going to the market, or rather, to the taverns that were well-populated on market day, but having to spend all his time shopping, with no ale and no tricking men out of their money, was going to be sheer torture.
"I just have to check in with the Sheriff," he said, pointing in the general direction of the great hall and hoping that the Sheriff had some other task for him. Unfortunately, the Sheriff was more than happy to let him go, and Allan rejoined Laurencia feeling only slightly better than a man who had been condemned to death.
xxxxx
Blindfolded again, Guy stumbled through the forest behind Robin, and was gratified to hear the outlaw yawning. Guy himself had fallen asleep only moments after Robin had tethered him to one of the bunks. Using all his other senses to make up for his lack of sight had been unexpectedly exhausting, and he hoped that Robin had stayed awake until dawn, just waiting for him to try to escape
But then Much asked, "You went to Locksley last night, didn't you, master?"
"Yes, Much," Robin replied, and Guy was certain that he spoke a little bit more loudly and clearly than was necessary. "I spent the entire night with Lady Marian."
Guy had a sudden, violent urge to make Hood spend the entire night in the dungeons of the castle. He was just preparing to head-butt the outlaw from behind when Much asked, "And how is she? Lady Marian?"
There was a long silence, punctuated only by soft rustling sounds, and Much said, "Master, why are you making those funny signs with your hands?"
Guy was close enough to hear Robin's sigh. "Because, Much, I do not wish to discuss Lady Marian in front of Gisborne!"
"Oh," said Much, then asked, "Are you worried she might die? Because we're all worried, too—"
"Much!"
"Sorry, master," Much replied. "Sorry, sorry." He hesitated, then added one last, "Sorry."
At any other time, Guy would have laughed, but the idea that Marian might be dying while he was being dragged around in the forest made Guy clench his hands to fists. He wanted to hit Hood for having news of Marian and not sharing it. He also wanted to beg the outlaw to tell him what was going on at Locksley Manor. Finally, Guy settled for sneering, "I assume she's still alive, otherwise you'd have brought your pet Saracen back already."
"Hey!" Will said from behind, pushing Guy so that he missed a step. "She's not our pet!"
"Leave him alone, Will, we don't have time to fight to-day," Robin announced firmly.
They must have reached the road then, because Robin stopped and tied Guy's arms to a tree branch overhead, the way he'd done the day before. Guy assumed that Lady Prospera hadn't shown up yet, because Robin sent Will in one direction and John in the other, to check for traps. There was silence, and then, in a soft voice, Much asked, "So … how is Marian?"
Guy stood very still to listen and was rewarded by hearing Robin reply in an equally quiet voice, "She settled down a bit, right before dawn. But before that, she was delirious. Calling out for her mother and her father."
"Did she call out for you, master?" Much asked. Guy wondered the same thing, and if Marian had called out for him, even if only to complain about the leeches.
"No," Robin admitted with a sigh. Guy almost sighed as well, glad that his rival had not got that little bit of satisfaction at least.
"Just for her mother, really, and once or twice for her father," Robin went on. "But Djaq was doing everything she could."
"If Djaq can't save her, then no one can," Much said.
"Djaq can save her," Robin replied firmly. "Don't forget, she's got all the servants to help her, and the cook knows a few things, too. She'll save her."
"Right," said Much. There was another silence, and then Much asked suddenly, "This Lady Prospera, do you think her daughter knows what she's doing?"
"She must know," Robin said. He sounded as though he were about to say more, but just then, hoofbeats sounded, coming closer, and Robin announced, "That'll be them."
Running footsteps came from Guy's right, and John panted, "No sign of the Sheriff's men."
"Right," said Robin, and Guy heard bowstrings being stretched. "Let's go."
"Ah, there you are," came Lady Prospera's voice, clear enough even from a distance. "Here is a necklace that I think the Sheriff will recognize – he gave it to me many years ago. And just in case he doesn't, here's the dress I wore yesterday. Let him think you're keeping me half-naked in the forest, it might make him laugh."
There was a silence, and Guy could imagine the outlaws exchanging amused looks.
"And when you tell him I'm dead, you can send him this as well. Dip this end of it into some blood, that should make it more realistic."
"Your hair?" Robin asked wonderingly.
"I've wanted to cut it for years; it takes forever to dry. Now, last but not least, here's your money, and we'll be off."
"If I might ask, my lady, where are you going?" Robin asked.
"That's really none of your concern," Lady Prospera stated haughtily.
"Not to Durham by any chance?" Robin continued.
"What on earth would I be doing in Durham?" Lady Prospera asked, and Guy could hear the scorn in her voice.
"Just checking," Robin said. "We thank you for the money, Lady Prospera. It will feed many poor families this winter."
"Thank you for helping me."
The horses trotted away, and the outlaws came back. Robin loosened the rope so that Guy could lower his arms, then shoved a bundle of woolen cloth at him. "Here, hold this."
It had to be Lady Prospera's dress. As they walked, Guy wondered what it looked like, and if he could give it to Marian. She'd wanted a dress that day she'd gone to Nettlestone. Would this one suit her? Would Marian even live to wear it? Hood had come from Locksley only a few hours before, and he was still worried. Well, if Marian died, Guy would hunt down the outlaws and kill them, very slowly. He only had to decide which one he'd start with first; Djaq or Hood.
Part 7