Count Friederick was as good as his word. In the morning, he spent time with Robin discussing Aggstein Castle, and pointing out other Austrian castles on a map.

"Here," he said, indicating a river. "Here flows the beautiful Danube. This is Aggstein, on the right bank. Travel east toward Wien, or Vienna as you English say, and you'll find many, many castles. Of course, the Danube is not the only place in Austria where there are castles. There are hundreds."

"Should be easy then," Allan remarked sarcastically, sharing a look with Much.

"Tell me briefly about the ones you think Duke Leopold might use to hold the king," Robin said.

The count pointed a finger on the map. "This is Ruine Hinterhaus," he began. "It has a romantic story behind it, which I hope will entertain Marian."

Marian was looking pale but lovely in another gown belonging to one of the count's former lovers. Her head ached from last night's wine and she felt sluggish. But she gave the count her small half smile, saying, "The name sounds bleak. I am not familiar with German, but it sounds like a ruin far from everything."

"We're not interested in stories," Robin told the count. "What we need are facts."

"But it will only take a moment!" Count Friederick was determined to please his beautiful guest. "Ruine Hinterhaus is said to be haunted by a beautiful but treacherous woman."

"We know one of those," Allan joked. "And I'm not bein' funny, but I can see her haunting Robin if she dies first, floatin' on top of him and flickin' her tongue in and out."

The count took up his story. "The castle is said to be haunted by Adelheid, the first wife of its builder, Henry the Iron. Her ghost walks the castle by night, a beautiful misty being. She is said to have killed her husband for remarrying so soon after her death. Beautiful, you see, but treacherous."

"I don't like that story," Much said anxiously. "I hate ghosts!"

"Tell me about another castle," Robin said. "Just the facts this time. Which are the strongest holds...the ones most difficult to breach?"

"That would be two," the count answered. "Aggstein, and this, Durnstein. Both are on heights above the Danube, and both were built by the same family. Durnstein, you see, is closer to Vienna."

"Good," Robin said, thinking. "If Richard isn't in Aggstein, we try here...Durnstein."

"I would try Durnstein first," the count advised. "Aggstein will be impossible to approach. Do not even think of travelling there by boat. Hadmar Kuenringer of Aggstein, the father, uses an iron chain stretched across the river to commandeer any boat travelling its otherwise peaceful waterways."

"A pirate as well as a robber," Robin said, his eyes gleaming.

"Oh, no," Much worried. "I know that look. That look means trouble!"

Grinning, Robin patted his friend's cheek. "That means more wealth we can steal to buy our king's freedom. Don't worry, Much. You remember how easily we handled those pirates on that ship, coming home from war." *

"There was nothing easy about it! And what I remember most was that beautiful young wife of that older merchant on board ship, who snuck into our cabin and into your bed when her husband was asleep."

"What?" Marian asked. "What beautiful young wife? How many stories of women have you kept from me, Robin?"

"I shouldn't have said that," Much realized.

"Nothing happened, Marian," Robin told her. "I suppose she was attracted to me, but I didn't do anything other than kiss her once or twice."

"Not with Much in the same ship's cabin, lookin' on," Allan said, laughing. "You could of told him to walk the deck awhile, while you had your fun."

Marian rolled her eyes impatiently.

Robin wanted to return to talking business. "Tell me more about this Hadmar Kuenringer. You say he and his sons are called robber barons. How many sons are there, and how many men fight for him?"

"There are only two grown sons, Siegfried and Odo, but they are vicious. And the castle is impregnable. You will not get in, I assure you, unless they capture you to hurl you over their battlements. It is their chief occupation."

"They must have a lot of sins to confess," Robin said, a slow smile creeping across his face.

"Even the clergy keep away from Aggstein," the count told him.

"Do they speak French? I doubt they know any English."

"Only German. They are barbaric."

Robin mused a moment, realizing he needed to be more charming toward the count, just as Marian had told him. "We're going to need your help then," he said.

"I offer you my help, for Marian's sake. But I will not approach that devil's hold."

"Do they know Latin?"

"No."

"Then we can't free the king, without your help."

"Please, Friederick," Marian gently pleaded. "Just listen to my husband's plan."

"For you, I would do anything."

Robin pushed aside his jealousy and began. "My plan is this." His gang eagerly gathered closer to listen. "We borrow robes from the monastery and disguise ourselves as monks. We've been living with a friar, so we ought to be good at imitating holy men. We approach the castle, offer to hear confession, and offer absolution. That's our way in, but we can't do it unless one of us can communicate."

"And if they threaten us off their land?"

"We fight our way in. Marian tells me you're a good fighter."

"Ah! She remembers! I, too, remember every moment we spent together." The count noticed Robin's intense look, so he asked, "Then, assuming you gain admittance, how do you expect to find your king?"

"While you're listening to their confessions, we search. If he isn't there, we steal whatever wealth we find."

"You make it sound so easy."

"It won't be easy, but we'll make it work. Will you help us?"

The count thought hard, then turned to look into Marian's pleading eyes. "For Marian. I agree to help you, Robin Hood."

"Thank you," Robin said sincerely. "Once again, England will forever be in your debt." Grinning now, he asked his men, "Who fancies a visit to the monastery, to get robes?"

"Any nuns there?" Allan asked.

Robin shook his head no.

"I'm out," Allan said.

Only Much volunteered to go.

"Alright then," Robin said. "Come on, Much! We'll need six robes." Smiling tenderly at Marian, he said, "Take care of yourself. I hope you'll feel better, by the time we're back."

"Six?" she asked. "Why only six robes, Robin?"

"Goodbye, my love." He thanked the count again, then quickly dashed away with Much at his heels.

"Ah! Alone at last!" the count said, kissing Marian's hand. "Allow me to spoil you, while your husband's away. I know a wonderful cure for headaches."

"A gentle rubbing of the temples?" she asked, remembering how he'd tried that on her before.

"That, and more," he said, smiling charmingly.

...

* (Robin's adventure takes place in my story Robin and the Pirates.)