Marian eased her horse to a brisk trot. The Austrian road had become rough, so she guessed she must be nearing Castle Aggstein. There! Recognizing Count Friederick's coach ahead, she readied herself to receive Robin's condemnation and rode toward it.

Robin's mistake, she knew, had been to instruct Djaq to free her only thirty minutes after he and the gang left Tegernsee. With Friederick travelling by coach, the gang was forced to ride more slowly than Marian could drive her horse, even taking into account she had needed to secure a nun's wimple for her hair as well as hire a horse. Luckily for her, the good natured Countess Ermegard had been helpful in both matters, providing her with black cloth and leading her to a livery stable. The countess had even paid for her horse and tearfully kissed her goodbye, almost smothering Marian in her embrace.

Reaching the coach now, she reined her horse. Marian believed the coach deserted until she opened its door to find the driver cowering inside, holding a knife to defend himself in a hand that shook from fear. He looked extremely relieved when he recognized her, sheathing the knife with a smile.

"Well, you're glad to see me at any rate," Marian said. "I doubt my husband will be."

"Was sprechen Sie?" the driver asked, not understanding her language.

Noticing the pile of monk's robes, Marian realized she was not too late. Pulling one over her head, she asked the driver, "Count Friederick?"

He answered her in a stream of German she could not understand. Luckily, she did not have to. She could hear the men returning, and she quickly turned her back to them while placing her makeshift wimple over her hair.

Her ears, trained by two years of spying, heard Allan quietly say, "Robin! Take in the ass on that nun! If the rest of her is half as good, I wouldn't mind being locked with her in a confessional, givin' her something to confess about! Oi! I'm only joking!"

Robin had recognized her, Marian knew. She spun around to face him, and saw Allan step back in amazement, then laughingly apologize. Lifting her eyebrows at her husband, she stated, "England needs me, Robin. Did you really think I would stay behind, and let you risk your life without me? If we are to die, I want us to die together. But our chances of success are higher, with me fighting alongside you."

None of the men were happy to see her, not even the count. She saw him look toward Robin, as if to take his cue from him. Already he was under her husband's spell! She couldn't help accusing him, "Another convert? I thought you, Count, would be strong enough to think for yourself."

"What I think, beautiful Marian, is you are foolish to have come. It is dangerous for you to be here."

"As it is for you. All of you." She began to grow nervous, feeling Robin's temper and exasperation toward her, especially as he remained silent. But she hid her misgivings beneath her dignity. "Anyway, I'm here now. You might as well include me, Robin, in your plans."

"Take that robe off," Robin said at last, seething with anger and frustration.

"Why should I? I'm the one who secured it."

"We need it for the king, so he can leave the castle undetected, after we free him."

Marian hesitated for a moment, seeing the validity of Robin's statement, but then stubbornly said, "I refuse. If you'd wanted a robe for His Majesty, you should have secured it yourself."

"Alright, Marian. You leave me no choice." Seizing her from behind, Robin began lifting the robe by its hem to pull it over her head. Marian struggled against him, finally freeing herself by jabbing her elbow into his ribs, a self defense move he had taught her himself. Robin folded over, the wind knocked out of him, while Marian stood proudly by, brushing off her hands.

"I can defend myself, you know," she stated proudly.

"No, you can't!" Robin shouted. "Go back to Tegernsee, Marian. Now!"

Count Friederick quietly asked Much, "Is she always so stubborn? I knew she was spirited, but this is another side of her entirely!"

"They both have their hands full, with each other," Much answered. "I, at least, am always by to help manage my master."

"It is not the same. He takes calculated risks, always thinking. She seems to want to rush in, without a plan. And she is a woman."

"Don't let her hear you say that!"

Robin began to pace, trying to think what he should do. He wanted to tie Marian up and leave her with the driver in the coach, but he'd used their rope on Odo. Besides, she couldn't defend herself if necessary, tied up. There seemed no course but to let her join them, risky as that was.

"Alright, Marian," he said, fuming. "You win. You come with us, but you swear to me first you'll follow my orders."

"I swear."

Robin knew, if they were lucky enough to rescue the king, he would give Richard his own monk's robe and separate himself from the group so the others could depart with the king, then he would try to escape any way he could on his own. But they had to get into the castle first, and they had better begin now.

"We've wasted time arguing here." He wondered whether he ought to tell Little John to go back and deliver another blow to Odo, to keep him unconscious longer, but decided against it. Instead, he began tossing robes to his men, reminding them, "Not a word, except of course for the count. Try to look meek and obedient." He threw Marian an angry look, which she ignored. "And you, Sister," he said snidely, "stay next to me at all times, until I tell you otherwise. I want you to be my shadow, do you understand?"

"I meekly obey, Brother Monk," she said. Then, just because she wanted to, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his scruffy cheek.

"Not bein' funny, but shouldn't we chant or something?" Allan asked.

"Shut up, Allan," Will said. "Robin told us Benedictines speak as little as possible, so they can hear God speak to them."

"Yeah, well I hope He says He's not eager to have us meet Him any time soon."

"I hate this," Much added.

"Shh!" the count warned them. "Look! Aggstein Castle looms ahead!"

Much grew even more anxious, viewing it. " 'Looms' just about sums it up! Master, how are we going to scale that mountain to reach that castle? Climbing? You know I hate climbing!"

"It's for the king, Much," Robin reminded him. "It's for England. Come on, Lads! King Richard needs us."

His confidence was inspiring. Marian felt a rush of excitement to be a part of his gang. She smiled at her friend the count, remembering a conversation they'd had on horseback, when she was leading him to Sherwood to meet Robin. "Remember telling me you wished your life wasn't always so safe?" she asked, understanding why he enjoyed gambling and love affairs, in spite of being fond of his wife.

"I take it back," he told her, only partly joking.