Chapter 1—The Hero's Return

The University of Nottingham had a beautiful campus owing that quality, in part, to the acres of deep green, rolling hills and a scenic lake. The historic (some dating to the medieval era) buildings completed its picturesque appearance. Despite its seeming isolation, Nottingham was a large school—some 15,000 students were enrolled.

It was to this that Dr. Robin Hood, a professor of medieval history, was returning on a pleasant early spring day accompanied by his diligent, if not brilliant, graduate assistant, Much. Said companion was slightly uneasy as Hood had a tendency to speed—especially when late for work. He double checked his seat belt and tried to calm himself.

"What's the matter Much? Aren't you happy to be back home?" Robin had a tendency to emphasize the "u" in "Much" in a way that convinced the assistant it must have been exaggerated.

"Of course I'm glad, Professor, but I can't say I feel the same about your driving!" Hood smiled puckishly and let go of the wheel. When Much gasped, he laughed and once again took control of the car. The two seemed often at odds, but they were close friends and had accomplished quite a bit while studying the Crusades in the Middle East. Hood planned to publish a ground breaking book with his findings while Much hoped to write a smashing doctoral dissertation with his. After a year's absence, even the parking garage was a welcome site to the two itinerants. Robin drew out his parking pass as they approached the entrance. He waved it past the sensor, but it was instantly rejected.

"Oh well, I suppose I should've expected that". He instead withdrew a ticket to be paid upon his exit of the garage. He tossed it to Much while he scouted for a parking space.

"£15? I don't remember it being so high", Much added after inspecting the ticket.

"£15!? That's highway robbery! I'm getting that pass renewed before we leave. I could feed myself for at least a week on that". Much decided not to correct the hyperbole. The pair made their way toward the Humanities College. Much endured another ten minutes of Robin's righteous indignation—the latter only stopping to hastily text Marian.

KNIGHTON HALL

The Humanities building was quite a large structure featuring five floors and numerous departments including history, philosophy, literature and art. Marian Knighton sat in her smallish yet pleasant office (named for her grandfather a renowned logician). Now, both Marian and her father, Edward, who was once the head of the entire humanities department, graced the department. Kinghton Hall contained all of the philosophy offices and was in unpleasantly close proximity to Locksley Hall—the history department. Marian was busily grading quizzes and composing the upcoming final exam for her Kantian ethics course. In addition to all of her teaching responsibilities, she was also working on her PhD thesis (having just recently acquired her masters in ethics). As one might imagine, she was far too focused to notice the text messages accumulating on her phone from Robin. Not that she would have read them anyway. The two had had something of a falling out when Hood abruptly took the opportunity to work in the Middle East without mentioning the plan to Marian.

A polite knock interrupted her train of thought. She found herself automatically saying "Come in, Guy". She had long since been able to recognize the man by the sound of his approach. He often wore heavy biker boots, but it was the spurs that gave him away.

Professor Guy Gisborne (his parents must have had an affinity for alliteration) had taken over Robin's teaching duties when he went on sabbatical and was one of the reasons Locksley Hall had become unpleasant to her. He was always civility itself to her, but Marian did not approve of the way he treated the undergraduates or anyone else for that matter. She was also becoming uncomfortably aware that Gisborne had feelings for her which she did not and could not reciprocate. Guy opened the door upon her command and ducked slightly to ensure that his tall frame made it safely through the door. She smiled a little when she saw him—he was once again wearing a dark black suit with a black leather sport coat and a bright (and not altogether tasteful) yellow tie. The dark ensemble made his fair complexion seem pallid and his piercing blue eyes appear icy. She knew he must have come for some purpose, but he always managed to be struck dumb for a few moments in her presence.

"Have you had a haircut?" She asked, noticing his coiffure had changed slightly.

"Yes I have" he responded.

"It suits you" she courteously observed.

"I'm glad you approve. Marian, I--"

"Yes?" She hoped her glance would make it clear to him that she had no intention of accepting another lunch and or dinner invitation. He nervously moved closer to her desk.

"I was wondering whether or not you'd like to join me for lunch" he finally managed to say.

"Guy," Marian said as she gestured towards the stack of papers she had to grade, "I really just don't…" She was completely prepared to use her workload as a convenient excuse until she noticed the numerous text messages from Robin on her phone. Lunch with Guy was better than the inevitably awkward reunion with Robin.

"Marian? Is everything alright?" Guy ventured after a considerable silence.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine." She rose from her seat. "Where did you have in mind?"

"You choose; I'll pay," Gisborne happily responded.

"Are you sure? This could be a very expensive afternoon for you," Marian jokingly added trying to lighten the tone. He smiled and held the door for her. The two headed towards the garage. Marian attempted to start a very normal, non-awkward conversation which was always a challenge with Guy. Her efforts proved unnecessary when a timid student, a young man, approached Gisborne.

"Dr. Gisborne,"

"Yes?" replied the annoyed professor.

"I'm not going to be able to turn in my essay today."

"And why not?" Gisborne's tone expressed annoyance and rising anger.

"I've just recovered from pneumonia and I just didn't—"

"Just didn't what?' he practically shouted "didn't have time?" Gisborne swiftly closed the distance between himself and the student. "Perhaps your grandmother suddenly perished as well?" The student was alarmed, as was Marian. Guy seemed as though he might strike the student. "There is a reason these policies are in place. If the essay is not on my desk by 4pm this afternoon you will receive a failing grade." He paused and continued a little more quietly, but no less menacingly, "Is that clear?"

"Failing!? It's worth 35 of the grade!" The student's shock drew him from his silence. "Professor, I just need a little extra time even a day would be enough."

"I am not on campus tomorrow,"

"I can email it!" The student eagerly entreated.

"I do not accept email submissions and if you argue with me any further I will drop you from the course," Marian was about to play the diplomat, but the scene was interrupted by the approach of Robin and Much. The student saw it as a convenient opportunity to retreat.

"Hullo there!" Robin said, a smile spreading across his face, "I suppose you received my messages and came rushing to greet me?" Marian was amused and agitated at once. Robin seemed to have changed very little during his absence. His appearance, at least, was not remarkably different: the same reddish hair messily framed his handsome face and light eyes. The only remarkable difference was the un-manicured facial hair that made him appear slightly feral. Robin noticed the browbeaten look of the exiting student. "Is everything alright?"

"Hood, it's pleasant to see you back. Was your research successful?" Gisborne stiffly, and formally inquired ignoring Robin's remark concerning the student.

"Yes, in fact it was most successful," Robin made no attempt to hide the annoyance in his voice. He and Gisborne were never friends.

"I think you will approve of how I have managed your classes during your absence," Guy added a self satisfied smile creeping onto his face.

"Oh, I don't doubt it," Robin sarcastically replied, "I wonder, though, if the students would agree?" Gisborne was obviously annoyed by the remark.

"Students always have complaints, Hood".

"Yes, and I thank you for your troubles. In any case, I will take the courses off your hands when the next quarter begins which is quite soon I think". Before Guy could make any answer, they were interrupted.

"Gisborne!!" A short, abrasive man shouted from the opposite end of the hall. The voice was instantly recognizable as belonging to Dr. Vasey, a professor of avant garde art and the acting head of the entire humanities department. He rapidly approached the group. Vasey's closely cropped white hair and goatee adorned his sharp, chiseled features. When close, he repeated his entreaty which admitted of no rejoinder, "Gisborne," which sounded like "Gizbun" whenever Vasey said it, "I want to see you in my office now!!" With that, he left as hastily as he'd come. Guy was startled and irritated. Vasey was a domineering and unpleasant man. He was known by most of the faculty and student body as the "Sheriff of Nottingham" due to his extreme fund raising tactics and borderline sadistic classroom policies. Gisborne was Vasey's willing protégée in academic politics. It had earned Guy the distasteful moniker of "side kick", or when people were in slightly more charitable moods, or more convinced of his power, he was called Vasey's "leftenant".

"Marian, I apologize, but I must excuse myself. Perhaps we can have dinner this evening instead?" Marian glanced at Robin and accepted Guy's invitation. Robin was annoyed and a little hurt by Marian's action, but adopted a demeanor of nonchalance. Guy hurriedly joined Dr. Vasey leaving Marian alone with Robin and Much.

"Dr. Gisborne?" Robin laughed "Please tell me you are not dating him".

"No, Robin. We are just colleagues…In any case, I need not explain my personal life to you" Marian responded a little more bitterly than she had intended. Much was getting concerned.

"I didn't mean to intrude—I had just hoped we could meet for dinner and catch up".

"Well, we'll have to do it some other time." Marian allowed, determined to be more civil. "Robin, Much, I am very glad you have safely returned. I'm sure the whole humanities wing will look forward to hearing about the trip. Now, I'm sorry to leave you, but I have quite a bit of work to do," she turned to leave, but Robin gently held her arm.

"You weren't in such a hurry to work just a moment ago." His eyes expressed a shade of regret—something Marian had never seen them do before. She drew away her arm and headed for her office.

VASEY'S OFFICE

Vasey was a little more agitated than usual. "Gisborne, did you know Hood was returning today? Hmm?" He pressed as he took a seat behind his desk.

"I had no idea, I assure you." Guy relied, crossing his arms in a somewhat defensive gesture.

"Well, it's not the end of the world", Vasey replied in an almost happy ton as he switched on his massage chair, "but it will certainly hurt revenues next quarter." Vasey and Guy had worked out a quite successful moneymaking scheme during Robin's absence. The history department gave out numerous scholarships funded by wealthy benefactors across England. If a student were to lose said scholarship, the money returned to the department coffers. Rarely did a scholarship need to be revoked, but since Gisborne started teaching Robin's popular classes, it was happening frequently. The resulting funds were immediately skimmed by Vasey and Gisborne. It was hardly their chief source of capital, but it was an effortless way to produce funds.

Guy was often disgusted and or amused by Vasey's abnormal behaviors, but he was not in the mood to appreciate it. "Excuse me for seeming impertinent, sir, but you assured me that I would retain Hood's chair in the history department." Gisborne saw Hood's prestigious position as a convenient way to acquire tenure which had long eluded him. He was still, officially, only an "assistant professor". He felt especially cheated since Hood was five or more years younger than he.

"Stop acting like a woman Gisborne—I believe you spend too much time with that coquette from the philosophy department." He switched off the chair and jumped up sprightly. Guy ignored the entirely inaccurate characterization of Marian and began to pace. "Oh relax. Hood will not be a problem. It will be easy enough to have him removed. For the time being, though, you must carry out the original plan. Try and be a little more subtle this time, Gisborne. I think the students were catching on last quarter."

"I will ensure that one or two of the original recipients retain their scholarship." Gisborne offered becoming less concerned, but more dour.

"Yes, and be certain the smartest one keeps it. The others will just think they weren't up to snuff." Guy nodded and turned to leave.

To be continued…