The sun was only beginning to rise when Isabella silently entered her brother's room. Seeing Guy asleep, face down on the bed, filled Isabella with hatred.
"I could kill you now," she said quietly under her breath, "and you could never retaliate against me."
She longed to bring Guy's own sword violently down through his back to pierce his heart. But she knew she needed to resist that impulse. She remembered again that final day she had spent with Robin before he'd broken off with her, recalling how he had stopped her then from killing Guy, placing his warm hand over hers while gently warning, "Isabella, once you do it, there's no going back."
"Thank you, Robin Hood," she whispered now, licking her lips as she pictured him. "If I'd killed Guy then, who would help me now to murder your beloved Lionheart?"
As much as she wished him dead, she knew she needed Guy to help her remove King Richard and put Prince John on the throne of England. Yet there was no way Guy would share in King John's gratitude...she would see to that. She hoped Guy would save her the trouble of concocting a lie about his involvement and instead be caught by Richard's soldiers here...after he wounded him with her poisoned arrow, of course. But the deed had to be done immediately, now that Robin and his family had arrived at the convent. Once Guy discovered Marian's presence, he would likely become too distracted to accomplish Isabella's aims.
"Wake up, Brother," she hissed, wanting to kick him hard in his ribcage.
Guy uttered a groan then lifted his head quickly, reaching one arm to the floor where he'd hidden his sword the night before.
"Relax, Brother," Isabella sneered. "You're not being arrested. I'm not King Richard's soldiers."
Guy climbed out of bed, sheathed his sword, then stood towering over his sister. "What do you want, Isabella?" he sneered back at her.
"I hope you didn't wet the bed," she mocked. "I'm on duty this morning to oversee that the bed linens be washed."
"Shut up," he roared.
"You shut up," she sniped back.
"What do you want?" he repeated.
"It's time," she told him, growing serious. "Time to enact my plan." She handed him a single arrow, its point already seeped in poison.
"Now?" Guy asked, trying to master his fear.
They both knew that should he make one false move, his life would end. He was a wanted man with a bounty on his head, and if King Richard's soldiers captured him, he would be swiftly brought to trial, found guilty, and hung. He deserved worse for having tried to kill the king twice before...he deserved the traitor's death of being hung, drawn, and quartered, but King Richard was against using such "barbaric" systems of justice.
Guy wanted to kill the king...he knew it was his pathway to gaining Prince John's favor, earning him power, position, wealth, lands, and even a title. "Earl of Huntington" would do nicely, he thought with relish, for how long would Hood hold that, once John was crowned? He had hesitated from breaking into the king's camp to stab him before, knowing the risk was too great. But Isabella's plan enabled him to kill the king from afar. It wouldn't matter if his skill with the bow was less than perfect. All he needed to do was have his arrow strike somewhere on the king's body. His sister's poison would do the rest once it entered his bloodstream. But still, Guy faced risk of capture, and he felt a cold dread of fear steal over him.
"Alright," he agreed. "But first, before I make the attempt, I need to make confession."
Isabella was aghast. "No amount of absolution can save you from Hell, Guy, after all you've done," she sneered. "And you had better set your mind for success! Don't even think the word 'attempt,' do you hear me? We have one shot to put Prince John on the throne. Or to be exact, you have one shot. Don't bungle it, the way you've done before."
"Get me a priest!" Guy bellowed.
"Get your own priest," she shot back. Then, recovering, she decided to use the hold Sheriff Vasey had over him, when he was still alive. "I'm an actual nun now," she lied. "I shall give you absolution. Get on your knees before me, and let me speak the words over you."
"I will never get on my knees before you!" Guy roared.
"Nevertheless..." She made the sign of the cross over him, taunting, "What was it your mentor the sheriff used to say? Oh, yes, I remember. Blah dee blah dee blah, you are now absolved from your sins."
With satisfaction, she watched Guy turn pale. She knew she had been successful at forcing Guy to go now on his deadly mission without delay. "What would the sheriff think of you," she asked, "being so weak and deluded, asking for a priest?"
"Shut up," he barked, before turning on his heel and leaving his chamber.
Isabella wasted no time gloating. The sun was up, and the convent herb garden awaited her. All types of plants grew there, and she wanted to make another special potion that would create further delightful mischief.
...
Outside the convent walls, Robin was kissing Marian goodbye.
He never wanted to let her go, but he knew he must. Holding her still after the kiss ended, he let his eyes drink in her loveliness, thinking himself the luckiest man alive to be her husband.
"Be careful," he reminded her, not wanting to leave her under the same roof as Isabella. "Remember what I told you."
"You be careful," Marian responded, her heart full of love. "Return to me this time unscathed."
"I doubt King Philip's army will attack a second time while I'm visiting the king."
"And if it does, you'll charge into battle again. I know you, Robin."
"Don't worry about me. Watch out for Isabella's tricks."
"I will. I'll keep the girls away from her."
"Keep yourself away, too. Promise me, Marian."
"I can handle Isabella, Robin!"
"Do as I say, Marian! You can tell her about meeting her mother after I return. While I'm away-"
"Alright. I'll stay away."
"Good." Robin studied his wife, suspicious about how readily she gave in to his commands. But he felt he needed to trust her, so he kissed her again before mounting his horse and galloping away to see the king.