AN: Gatewatcher, I researched it a bit and made up at bit.
Part 20
The skirmish at Clun had left them feeling drained. Cornelius' men had ransacked several of the cottages by the time they arrived and they had a battle on their hands to eradicate the soldiers and restore peace. Robin had been anxious about Marian fighting but it proved to be necessary and without her included in their number, many more peasants would have been killed and Much would have been injured. The two Nottingham babies were given to Robin and the gang, as the families who had taken them in pleaded with Robin that the lives of all of them had to be spared. Robin offered to give these two families money for the means to start new lives outside the confines of Nottinghamshire and the gang were pleasantly surprised when the two families agreed taking the orphaned infants with them.
The gang arrived back at the camp tired and ready to drop into their beds but the sight of the state of the camp, threw all notion of that aside.
"What?" Much said open mouthed as they regarded the overturned camp with stunned expressions.
"Who would do this?" asked Will.
"Gisborne," suggested John, his face like thunder.
"For what purpose?" asked Much.
"For the Pact," said Robin, coming to life and he entered the camp to see if it had been taken from its hiding place.
As he ruffled through, the gang followed him and were horrified to discover that this was so. All their money and jewels that were in the safe still remained only the Pact was missing. Robin let out a frustrated groan, his expression broody and dangerous.
"How did he know where the camp was?" Djaq asked finding her voice first.
"I do not know," Robin replied, looking to the rest of the gang for answers. Much looked at Allan intently.
"Don't look at me. I never told him where it was ever!" he protested.
"Except that time you almost led him here," Much commented, in a tone which told all of them how he still felt about Allan.
"But we didn't get here did we? And I have said I am sorry for all of that, when will you believe me?"
Much shrugged and replied. "When we know you are telling the truth."
"I am I swear."
"Stop bickering, it is not helping," Marian intervened. She fell silent and then a wave of recollection crossed her features.
"What?" Robin asked sharply, then softly added. "Marian!" Looking at her for answers, if anyone had insight into Gisborne it would be Marian or perhaps Allan.
"When we saw Durham…. Guy wanted to bring all the Black Knights together to discus how the plan to overthrow the King would continue.…. Durham told him to find the Pact, and then bring it to the Black Knights to decide their course of action." She explained, it all coming back to her now. She had forgotten about it during her convalesce and journey back to Nottingham.
"So Gisborne wants the Pact to take to the Black Knights," surmised Much.
"And now he has it," added Little John looking grim.
"That reminds me," added Allan looking sheepish.
"Yes?" Robin asked.
"Well when I was living here on my own. He came upon me on the Lower Road one afternoon. Asked me if I knew where it was. I said I didn't and it was true."
"Did he believe you?" asked Djaq.
"I don't know to be honest. He did almost break my nose and gave me one hell of a shiner and headache for a couple of days though."
"Did he follow you here then?" asked Will.
"No, no."
"You could be lying," Much said.
"I'm not."
"No Allan has to be telling the truth," said Marian.
"Why is that?" asked Much, annoyed that she always stood up for the traitorous one of the gang.
"Because if Guy knew where the camp was over a month ago, he would have ransacked it and discovered the Pact then."
"Alright you have a point," Much conceded. "But it does not help what we are going to do now."
"Yes it does," replied Robin with a grin.
"Now what?" Much asked, rolling his eyes heavenward, his master obviously already had a plan.
"Now we think about where they will meet for their summit. Before Vasey died Nottingham was in the middle of where all the other Black Knights hailed from. Now we have to think where the next central town is, which is a home to one of the Black Knights." Robin mused.
"Oh right," muttered Much.
"What do you think Robin?" asked Djaq waiting for an answer.
He looked ponderingly and shared a glance with Marian, their eyes locked as if they were transferring information and ideas telepathically. Finally Marian suggested. "Lord Buckingham. Durham and Rotherham are further north and Spencer and the others are further south."
Robin nodded biting on his lower lip and replied. "Buckinghamshire it is lads."
"But what if they are not there? Then we might be too late." Much said, pessimistically.
"We can not be wrong they have to be there. They will meet somewhere between all of their estates and Buckinghamshire is the only rational place." Robin told him.
"Let us not tarry then," declared Will. "We have a King and his country to save."