Illusions 3
Guy had seen how Marian had flinched at his comparison with a whore, but hadn't she acted as one? He ignored her and turned away, lying down and pretending to sleep but rather staring at the dark wall. He heard the rustling of the chains and her soft moans
It was an irony of fate that Vaysey had been right in one point. You couldn't trust women…God, he had learned his lesson. What good had it done to him to fall in love with Marian? But what should he do with her now? It had been a mistake to take her with him. He had been blind with anger and disappointment, but now that his rage had faded, he only felt hatred, cold and deep. He should make up leeway; he should kill her and he hated himself for being so weak because he knew he couldn't do it.
Marian shivered with cold; of course, Guy didn't care that she was soaked through, freezing in the thin, wet garment. For all intents and purposes, she should be relieved that the hide and seek was over. But when she looked at the sleeping man, she only felt bad. She knew that he had loved her and that he would have done everything for her, even sacrifice his life. She tried to push this thought away. Guy of Gisborne was a cruel man, who had killed people at a whim, who had committed heinous crimes, who had even tried to kill the king. But what had he meant by his cryptic remark about being on the right side? She wouldn't think about him; he was the enemy. It had been right what she had done; she had done it for England and for Robin….Robin, who would probably dead by now.
Marian closed her eyes; she was exhausted but could not sleep. The rain was pouring down on the roof, and then the drops were falling down with a constant sound…drip, drip, drip…and the wetness and the cold were creeping in her bones. Eventually, she dozed off, but after a short time which could only have been minutes, she heard a sound and, startled, opened her eyes.
Guy had pulled on his still wet coat and was fastening his sword. At the rattle of her chains he looked at her, the scorn in his eyes tangible. "I have to go," he said hoarsely. At once she realised that he had only spoken of himself. Would he leave her alone in this hut, chained to the walls? She swallowed. He couldn't do that, no, he wouldn't…She would die for sure. Never would she be able to get rid of these chains…she'd starve to death.
Guy didn't even seem to notice her anguish. He was standing in front of her and still appeared indecisive. Then his mien changed and she saw his hurt. "Why couldn't you love me, Marian?" he asked. „Why not?"
„Don't you understand, Guy? I could have loved you!" Marian shouted and then whispered. "And this scared me."
Guy stared at her for a moment. "It doesn't matter any more," he said wearily and took the key for her chains out of his coat. Without looking into her face, he opened the lock and then turned around and left the hut without another word….Some moments later she heard the clip-clop of hooves….silence…she was alone.
Something was wrong. He'd always had a sixth sense for things which went awry. Vaysey cracked an eye, the first rays of light shone through the window and everything was silent. What had woken him? He rubbed his eyes, and suddenly he knew what was wrong. Where was Gisborne? It was not that Gisborne was not on his bed, – this was not unusual – but who took his coat and sword with him to go out and relieve himself?
Vaysey got up and his piggy little eyes scrutinised Alan, who was sleeping soundly. Until now the boy had not proven that he could be of any use. Instead, he was running after Gisborne like a little black shadow. Vaysey snorted, amused. Why, he was indeed a comely laddie.
Then he pursed his lips; there were more important things than the boy. Damn, where was Gisborne? Maybe he was in the stables. If Gisborne didn't pay attention, the stupid tart might string him along again.
Vaysey took his sword and poked the pommel hard into Alan's ribs.
"What the…!" Alan awoke with a start and looked into Vaysey's angry face. "Get up and search for, fetch him, but don't wake anybody up," the Sheriff grouched without preamble, and Alan hurried to obey. Hastily, he pulled his boots on and staggered out of the room. He swore under his breath, while he was walking across the yard. What was all this fuss about so early in the morning? Sure, Guy must be nearby. Only a short time later he knew why the Sheriff had been so nervous: Guy was nowhere to be found, his stallion and Marian were missing, too. Damn! He could picture Vaysey's reaction when he got this news, and of course he knew who would have to bear the Sheriff's tantrum. On the other hand this might be the chance he had waited for. If he could convince Vaysey that he had not known anything about Gisborne's plans that on the contrary he would do everything to capture him, he might become Guy's successor.
Alan grinned at the thought of Robin. This should bring him down a peg or two, Guy escaping with Marian. Obviously, she didn't care as much about Robin as he had thought, but he'd never understood what she'd seen in him. He was a vain show-off. Everybody look at the great Robin Hood! He had never cared about anything but his own reputation.
Even before Alan came back, red-.faced and embarrassed, Vaysey knew that he had not found Guy of Gisborne and that, along with his former confident, two bags of gold were missing. This undid his plans for the time being. Without the gold he didn't have enough means to travel to the holy land and to smooth his way there; he had to return to Nottingham. If he ever got hold of Gisborne again, he would make him pay dearly and he already had some splendid ideas for this punishment.
The Sheriff had been eerily calm when Alan had told him that Guy had disappeared without a trace, and had turned to the wall so that Alan could not see his mien. He didn't say anything and this scared Alan more than the fit of rage he had expected. In private, he had often ridiculed the Sheriff, the way he always puffed up and the jokes nobody thought funny, but now Alan realised that Vaysey was more dangerous than ever. He swallowed and looked at the ground. "My lord…if I…you can count on me…"
Eventually, Vaysey turned around and looked at Alan, musing and with narrow eyes. "Boy," he hissed. "I don't count on anybody…We will return to Nottingham at once." He curled his mouth in a sneer. "Gisborne was a maudlin idiot and I hope on your behalf that you are not. Not a word to anybody about the circumstances of Gisborne's disappearance. Let them believe that he went away on my order and that Lady Marian….disappeared, never to be seen again." Then he leered at Alan and stepped toward him, grabbing his chin. "You should always be aware that women…" he downright spat the word. "….are lepers, Alan…lepers. Avoid them…..It will not be to your disadvantage," he purred.
Alan nodded and hurried to prepare for the departure back to Nottingham. It seemed as if the Sheriff would give him the chance he had always wanted, but Alan was not so sure anymore whether he was willing to pay the price the Sheriff expected him to pay.
It was a mystery to him, however, what Vaysey expected of spreading this cock and bull story about Gisborne's disappearance. Everybody knew that Gisborne would do everything for Marian, and of course the soldiers, who had accompanied them, would talk. Be it as it might, he would be silent as a grave and prove to Vaysey that he had found a capable new right-hand man.
When Alan had left the room, Vaysey smiled. Despite the failure with Gisborne, he had something or rather someone he was looking forward to: Robin Hood. By now he would enjoy his new chambers in Nottingham Castle, the dungeons.
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