Things at the De Noir house were tense. Robin decided that he'd stay for the minimum amount of time possible and get back outside, into the open air.
He had a very quick bath – just enough to get rid of the grime of a few busy days. He changed into something light enough for horse-riding and made sure he had something to look after himself and Maria with. A knife, stolen from the kitchen drawers, would serve that purpose nicely.
Robin was walking back through the corridors of the De Noir castle, on his way to the stables, when he nearly walked into his father.
"Robin! Off out again so soon?" He asked, walking Robin back towards his room. Robin stumbled along, bitterly wishing he'd missed him.
"Yes, father. I promised Sir Benjamin that I'd take Maria into the village."
"Is the princess not capable of taking herself into the village?" His father asked. Robin felt something was wrong and chose his words carefully.
"Sir Benjamin appeared to mean that Maria was heading somewhere dangerous and he feared for her safety."
"Why must she go, then?" They reached Robin's room and Couer De Noir ushered him through the door. He closed it behind them with a thud.
"Apparently she is to meet a young girl who is afraid of everyone else." Robin was scrambling for ideas and excuses, afraid of being caught. "I'm to wait outside the house while Maria tends to this girl."
"It all sounds rather dodgy to me. But what say do I have in the matter? You're twenty of age now, anyway. You're a grown man and free to do what you wish. Especially now that we're at peace with the Merryweathers." Robin's father sat down on the bed, looking up at Robin who stood awkwardly by the closed door. "Why exactly were you so eager for peace between our families, Robin?"
"I wanted to be able to walk through the forest without her trapping me in my own animal snares." Robin laughed honestly. His father laughed too, a booming and deep laugh that shook the room.
"You spoke the truth there, Robin." His father seemed satisfied and stood up, stretching. He smiled at Robin. "Thank you for that."
Couer De Noir swept Robin out of the way of the door and opened it swiftly. He stepped out, into the corridor, and shut the door behind him. The door clicked shut.
"Robin?" his father called through the wood. "Stay away from the Merryweather girl."
Something scraped in the lock on Robin's door. It took him a moment for him to realise he'd been locked in and by then his father had walked away. This didn't stop him from calling after him, though.
"Father! Father!" He hammered his fists against the door, eventually kicking it too. This was ridiculous.
What would make his father do that?
Robin sat on his bed, frowning deeply. He ran his hands through his hair and laid back on the bed, closing his eyes.
It had to be Pike. Him, or Tanner. Maybe Wren.
Oh, god. Robin thought to himself. It had to be her.
Robin opened his eyes again and stared at the ceiling. There had been paint on it at one point, but it had long since flaked away. This left the plaster looking speckled and blotched like an old man's skin. He blinked slowly.
What would he do?
Something had to be done with Wren, that was certain. But he also had to find a way of telling Maria what had happened. There was only a tiny window in his room and he could hardly reach it, even when he jumped.
He realised with a sour taste in his mouth that he'd been imprisoned, much like Maria a few days earlier.
He sat up and found his knife where he had stored it under his belt.
With a smile, he formed a hopeful idea.