Chapter 19
Sherwood Forest
"Wait. Stop. Stop" Much gasped running towards the gang. "Price John and his men have set up camp just down there."
"What? Well how many are there?" Robin asked concerned.
"Thousands." Much stammered.
"No." John gasped.
"Well hundreds. I don't know, I didn't stop to count." Much said. "I can't actually count."
"Much." Adam scolded. Horses began neighing in the distance and then two mounted guards appeared galloping along the road towards them.
"Quick let's go." Robin said and the hang darted quickly away from the riders and deeper into the forest.
Outlaw camp
"Well what are they doing in the forest?" Allan asked.
"Once they break camp they will use the north road to head to Nottingham." Robin replied.
"Why is he coming?" John asked angrily.
"He's visiting all the nobles has been for the past 2 weeks now to grease their palms." Robin answered. "He's trying to buy their loyalty before king Richard returns. And every noble he buys will bring us closer to civil war. A war between Richard and John will tear England apart."
"I heard he's running." Adam piped up from his corner which he was sat in.
"Running? Running from what? He's the prince." Allan laughed.
"It's buzzing all around the villages. Apparently two or three weeks ago there was an attack on the tower of London. 2 people broke into the Prince's vault and stole some of his money. Knocking out 4 guards in the process. Then they went to the battlements and painted a messaged on the side of the castle before setting it a light. And they did it all undetected. Not a single alarm was raised until they were gone from the castle and they've been following him up the country ever since." Adam said.
"Nonsense. How could two people break into the tower of London? These elite guards don't miss a thing." Allan countered.
"What did the message say Adam?" Robin asked intrigued.
"Long live the King. The following night those same people were seen handing out parcels of money to the poorest streets in London."
"And they walk around as bold as day."
"No they are disguised. From the descriptions I've heard it seems very similar to how Marian used to dress as the night-watchmen." Adam looked at Robin and saw his eyes darken.
"Don't." Robin warned.
"But Robin. What if…" Adam started but Robin cut him off.
"I said don't, it's not her Adam." Robin stared at him. Adam sighed,
"Fine then."
"Wait if he's been travelling through England that means he's got money." Allan said. "A lot of money."
"Well, let's stop him stealing the crown by stealing his gold." Robin smiled. He grabbed his knife and began drawing out a map in the soil. "So the best place to launch an attack is here, just outside Locksley but we are going to need some more men. Which means you…" Robin paused and pointed to Adam. "Need to rally some more men."
"No problem," Adam smiled. "Let's do this."
Sherwood forest
Later that day the gang were hidden in the forest waiting to ambush the prince's convoy. Adam and Allan were stood next to each other, "You know Adam." Allan whispered, "I think you're on to something."
"What do you mean?" Adam asked confused.
"About the whole Marian thing?" Allan confirmed, "I reckon you could be right."
"Robin's right, she died in the holy land, you all saw it."
"Yeah but, you know Marian, she's died like a thousand times over. What if she did survive it and what if she is on her way home?"
"What's your point Allan?"
"I'm just saying, I think you could be right. And with this new Isabella around. We need to an eye on old grouchy."
"You don't think he would?" Adam gasped.
"Look it's no secret Robin's a ladies man and have you seen the way he looks at her?" Allan said. "I'm just saying, we need to watch him, just in case it is Marian." Adam agreed and nodded his head. "Beside if it is Marian she'll be home in a few weeks if not days, we won't need to keep him out of trouble for long."
"True." Adam said.
"What are you two talking about?" Robin said appearing behind them. Adam froze, but Allan quickly spun him a tale.
"We were talking about Adam's love interest in Knighton. I said I'd keep him out of trouble for now." Allan laughed. Robin smiled, smacked Adam's shoulder playfully and then regained his position.
Just as Robin reached his position, the prince's guard emerged around the corner. The outlaws and villagers they had gathered surrounded the guards, battling fearlessly. Robin and Little John reached the carriage and dragged the Prince from inside. The gang continued to fight whilst John raided the cart for money. Robin defended him whilst still holding onto the prince. Adam was fighting with a guard and successfully knocked him out, he spun to the next guard but stopped when he felt a sudden pain in his side just under his rib. He looked down to see a dagger protruding from his body. He staggered a little way towards the gang who had gathered around the prince. He made a few steps before falling onto the floor unconscious.
"The gold." John smiled. "Yes, this has to be the gold." He opened the chest to find it empty. "Noo." John cursed kicking over the empty chest.
"Well Prince John is a coward. This isn't the prince." Robin scoffed pushing the man in the shoulder. "If it was the prince then he would be grovelling and trying to bribe us with money. And his guards would not have left him."
"True." Allan said. "So if its not the prince who is it?"
"Ahh let me explain." The man said. "I am Benjamin Palmer. The prince's physician." Robin raised his eyebrows menacingly. "Neither his supporter, nor his apologist." The young man smiled timidly.
"Wait, where's Adam?" Much asked. The gang looked around and saw Adam lying on the floor a little way away. Robin dropped his stuff and ran over to him kneeing down next to him.
"Adam, Adam." He said tapping his face gently. Adam did not move or murmur. The gang quickly followed and so did the physician. Robin looked up to Benjamin. "Can you help my friend please?" Benjamin kneeled on the ground next to Adams body.
"I need the bark of an elm tree and some nettles to grind. Quickly." Benjamin said. Robin nodded to Allan and Much who quickly took off running. Benjamin pulled the knife from Adams side. "I will force the blood back into his body, you will need to grind the poultice. He will be fine."