Chapter fifty: The challenge
Meg awoke due to the cold. She turned slightly on her side to find Guy gone. She bolted upright with a gasp. "Guy? Where are you?" No answer. Meg stood up, the blood running cold in her veins. "Guy? Please!"
"Meg?" at the sound of a female voice, she held her breath. "Meg, is that you?"
Meg exhaled as she recognized Marian's voice. She stood up and called. "Marian! I'm here!" Meg hurried up the hill towards the road, spying Marian on a horse, she waved at her. "Marian!"
Marian kicked her horse in her direction; fortunately, she'd had the sense to bring two horses. "There you are! Robin and I have been looking for you."
She exhaled. "Guy must have covered his tracks well." Her eyes widened. "Guy!" she hurried towards Marian. "You've got to get me to the castle. Guy's gone there, I'm certain; he's going to kill the sheriff."
"He can't! He'll put all of Nottingham in danger! Prince John has threatened a scorched earth policy against the whole of Nottinghamshire should Robin kill the sheriff."
"But you said it yourself, if Robin should kill the sheriff, not Guy. In addition, if Guy willingly stands prepared to pay for his crimes, there is nothing the prince can do. But I am not willing to lose my husband this early in our marriage. We've got to get to the castle Marian, now!"
Marian nodded. "We've got to find Robin first."
Meg shook her head. "There's no time for that! You go find him." Meg swung herself up onto the extra horse. "I'm going to the castle!"
Guy held his breath as he made his way along to the sheriff's chambers. There were no guards outside the door. He had to knock out quite a few to make it here undetected, but it was doable. Honestly, he had no idea how untrained his men were until he wanted to get something done that was devious.
Guy pushed the door open to the sheriff's quarters, but paused at the sound of feminine laughter. However, he noted that the female laugh sounded familiar. "It's not funny Maria." The sheriff bit out. "Honestly, you're the only female I know that laughs in the midst of danger."
"That was one thing you loved about me." Maria giggled, if it was possible for a woman of her age to giggle. "Honestly Vaisey, you can put on such pretenses. I know you of old, true, it's been an age, but I still can read you."
Vaisey chuckled. "And it'll be another….age before you read me…again." The pause in the sheriff's voice caused Guy to hesitate about opening the door. "Get off me Maria."
"Why?" she laughed. "Give me a good reason Vaisey."
Guy couldn't stand it and pushed the door open. However, the sight of Maria straddling the sheriff's lap was far more than what he wanted to see. He shook his head and tried to clear the offensive sight from his eyes. The sheriff had a firm grip of her head, his fingers tightening in her hair. "And why…should you be willing to do this for your niece?"
She smirked. "I want her happy."
"Well," he sniffs. "your niece corrupted Gisbourne, she made him week, predictable and vulnerable to human emotions."
"Says the man who begged me to marry him before I got on a boat to return back to Ireland. You actually followed me there."
"Yeah, if you had told me that you were in love with that simpleton Thomas, I could have saved me a boat fair."
Maria nods. "I agree. I just recently came to know that he was in love with my sister, that's why, he never saw me." He thought he saw a trace of sympathy in the sheriff's eyes, if even for a second. "So, I wasted my whole life wanting a man who didn't care anything about me. I probably lost the one who loved me truly. I've got wealth, fame and position, but I tell you Vaisey, it's a bitter substitute for love."
Guy pushed the door open and the door creaked. Maria and Vaisey's head whipped towards him and Maria tilted her head and waved cattily at him. Vaisey groans. "Manners Gisbourne, didn't anything I taught you sink into that empty skull of yours?"
Guy smirks as he closes the door behind him. "Only the vital information. After all, I know it isn't required that you announce your presence to an enemy when you're going to kill them."
The sheriff gripped Maria around her waist and plopped her onto the table. He stood up and glowered at Guy. "You don't have the guts Gisbourne."
"Oh believe me, I do." He snarled as he approached him, pulling the sword from his sheath. "And it will, be a pleasure for me to kill you."
"Really? And what will your wife say about that?"
"She knows."
Maria spoke up. "Guy, can't you just wait a day or two? Thomas is going to be back tomorrow, I'm certain of it."
The sheriff frowned. "I thought you had nothing to do with him."
"I don't. I'm looking forward to punching him when I see that face of his." Maria crossed her arms over her chest. "Either way Vaisey, I suggest you either leave or let Guy kill you. You see, Thomas went to have you removed from office." Guy closed his eyes and groaned at her words. "Guy, will be taking your place."
Vaisey glowers at her and spits. "If he gets it."
"Oh, believe me, he will." She smirks. "Thomas and John were the younger brothers. Can you imagine what they've been talking about? How much they've hated their older brothers for all the things they did? Believe me, their connection will be a lot stronger than you can realize." The sheriff's face went a bit pale before it went red in anger as the words sunk in. "He and Thomas were very close when they were growing up. Guy unwittingly married into a powerful family and now, you will lose everything you held. You'll be lucky if he doesn't order your execution. You see, Thomas has no trouble lying to silence a person forever, and I assure you, as he loves his niece, he will tell whatever tales are necessary to protect her. Everything you worked for, killed for, lied and stole for….will be gone."
The sheriff turned to her, rage boiling in his eyes; he let out a shout and lunged for her, his hands going around her throat. Guy let out a roar and lunged at him just as Maria stabbed Vaisey in the arm with her hairpin. He let out a shout and released her. She shook her head. "Manners Vaisey."
"Your quarrel is with me, not her." Guy reminded him as he approached him, pointing the sword at his throat.
The sheriff held up his hands, in mock surrender. "Prince John is as stupid as donkey's behind if he thinks you'd make a good sheriff."
"Oh, I could do far better than you. You represent everything that's loathsome in a man."
"I thought that's why you liked me." Guy swung his sword at the sheriff. "I was always fond of you Gisbourne." Guy swung at him again. "Not overly fond." Guy swung at the sheriff's head, but he ducked, his sword striking a pillar. The sheriff popped up and smirked. "But fond."
The sheriff reached for a flaming torch up on the wall and advanced, waving it at Guy. Guy took a step back, getting into a better position to strike. But the sheriff was prepared and he blocked the blow with the metal part of the torch. He then grabbed a hold of Guy's wrist and swung the torch at his head. Guy ducked and punched the sheriff hard in the stomach. The sheriff flew backwards through the open door and Guy advanced towards him.
The sheriff let out a shout as guards advanced towards them. "Stay out of this!" He shouted. "I will have no one interfere!" He snarled at Guy. "I will kill you myself!"
"You may try!" Guy shouted. "But you won't, because I'm better!"
"Really? That woman's made you weak!"
Guy grabbed a hold of the sheriff and threw him down the stairs. The sheriff let out a roar as he tumbled down the stairs. Guy felt someone push him in the back and he tumbled down the stairs after the sheriff. Guy hit his head on a brick and his head spun as the sword flew from his grip. By the time he shook off the dizziness, the sheriff was standing over him, breathing heavily as he picked up his sword.
The sheriff was breathing heavily as he pointed the sword at Guy. "Did that little witch…. put you up to this? Thinking you'd get my title and all?" Guy pretended to cower as he waited for the sheriff to put himself in a vulnerable position for Guy to attack. "This is nothing but sport for her. Putting both of us against each other." He dropped his sword away from Guy's throat. "Unity Gisbourne."
Guy reacted by kicking him in the lower part of his stomach and he was certain his heel caught the sheriff in a very sensitive part of his male anatomy. The sheriff let out a screeching shout as he doubled over. Guy jumped up and grabbed a hold of his shoulders. "This isn't for Meg!" Guy slammed him into a wall and punched him into his lower back, before slamming his back into another wall. Guy pulled him up from the ground, enjoying this far more than he should. "This is for me!" He punched him in the jaw before throwing him to the ground. Guy picked up the sword and pointed it at the cowering sheriff. "I will be rid of you!"
The sheriff backed up against the stairs and Guy grabbed a hold of him. "Quickly Gisbourne," he pleaded through gasping breaths as Guy laid the sword alongside his throat. "I beg you, be rid of me."
Guy exhaled, blowing the hair back from his face so he could watch the sheriff's face. "You have no idea how much pleasure this is going to give me. You're gonna die slowly, and I'm going to watch the venom drain from your body as you die."
Maria spoke up with a snap. "You heard the sheriff orders! You will not interfere in this scenario!"
Guy refused to look back; he could feel the soldiers were moving towards him. "Gisbourne, please," he begged. "don't disgrace me." Against his will, Guy felt the slightest display of compassion for him. "Kill me quickly." Guy drew his hand back to strike the sheriff when a searing pain stabbed into his left leg. The soldiers let out a cheer as the sheriff kicked Guy in the face, sending him onto his back and revealing that the sheriff had stuck a dagger into his leg. He forced himself up onto his feet, yelling at the pain that flowed through his leg. He held onto the blade, preventing it from cutting deeper. He couldn't pull it out; he'd lose far too much blood.
The sheriff picked up the sword and swung it at Guy. Guy sidestepped his thrust and punched him in the stomach. The sheriff pulled free and kicked Guy backwards. "Humanity is a weakness Gisbourne." The sheriff spat as he approached him, the sword aimed at Guy's throat. "It's always been your failing," Guy lost his balance and fell backwards on the steps. "I tried to teach you and now…it's too late."
The sheriff drew back his sword as a female screamed. Guy and the sheriff turned to see Meg being dragged down into the dungeons. The terror on Meg's face caused his heart to stop. What was she doing here?! "Meg?" He didn't want her here for this.
"Oh Guy!" She shook her head as her eyes widened in horror. "Why?"
The sheriff chuckled. "Touching. Hold onto her tightly, she's going to need something to hold her up when I draw and quarter her husband on his own blade!"
