SORCERER'S CURSE by White Wolf

Chapter Three

The next morning, Tuck was the first one to get up. He had been awake since shortly before the eastern sky began to offer the promise of another beautiful day. He had hoped to catch a few more winks but couldn't. With a great sigh, he forced himself up.

As he had done during the night, he glanced at Robin, who was still sleeping. Something nagged at the friar. He couldn't manage to get a grasp on it. But, there was definitely something not quite right. Nothing seemed amiss, so after a moment's pause, Tuck shook his head and continued with his regular morning ritual.

As each of the others awoke, they also couldn't resist the urge to check on Robin. They each found him asleep just as the one before had.

Much was the last to get up. He looked at Robin and frowned. He went over and knelt down beside his sleeping leader. The misgiving he had the night before was nothing compared to the way he felt now. "Something's wrong."

Tuck shivered as if a cold shadow had brushed by him. Much had just confirmed his own feeling that something was off. "What is it?" he asked with more than a little dread.

"He hasn't moved," Much said. "Not a single bit. People move around even in a deep sleep, don't they? He hasn't."

Much was right. Tuck saw it now. That was what was amiss that he hadn't been able to pin down. The friar went over to Robin, reached over and put his hand on Robin's forehead. He felt cool to the touch, no not cool; he was cold. Tuck's heart skipped a beat. He thought Robin was dead.

By now everyone was gathered around. They had all heard the exchange between Tuck and Much, but they still didn't comprehend the significance of it.

"Tuck, what's going on?" Marion asked, beginning to get worried. She, too, felt of Robin's forehead. "He's cold," she stated, knowing it wasn't because of the cool morning air. Now, she was truly frightened. She quickly put her head down on Robin's chest. "His heart is beating, but I can barely hear it."

Tuck almost swooned from relief, though the worried look never left his face.

John called Robin's name and shook him but got no response. He looked at Tuck.

"I don't know," Tuck said helplessly. "I know I didn't give him too much," he continued, referring to the sleeping draught. "I measured it just right. I'm always very careful about things like that."

"Could you have given him the wrong thing?" Will asked.

"No," Tuck replied emphatically. "I know what I gave him, and I know how much I gave him." He understood their doubts, but he was adamant that he hadn't made a mistake.

Marion looked up at the friar. "No one is accusing you, Tuck. We're just trying to figure out what happened." She shot Will a warning look.

"We must figure out what to do for Robin," Nasir said as he realized arguing over whether or not Tuck was responsible wasn't going to get them anywhere.

"Tuck, is there something you can give him to wake him up?" John asked, then turned a stern look on Will before he could say anything about Tuck being the one who gave him the sleeping draught in the first place.

Will was about to make that very statement. He shut his mouth and clamped his lips together.

Tuck shook his head. "No," he had to admit.

Much, who hadn't taken his eyes off of Robin said, "Gulnar did this."

"How can you know that?" Will asked dismissively, unable to keep his mouth shut for long.

"I just do. I can't explain it. Gulnar knows Robin didn't kill us." Much spoke as if he had just finished discussing the whole situation with the sorcerer. "He won't kill Robin, but he will make him pay." Much looked up as a thought dawned on him. "Just like the old woman said."

"You can't know that, either," Will protested. "That's daft."

"You don't have to believe me. I know it's true." Much would have given anything to be wrong.

"We believe you, Much," Marion defended the young man as she glared at Will. "So, Robin will be all right?"

"I don't know," Much told her. "I only know Gulnar won't kill him. He has something else in mind. Maybe, it's like Robin said; Gulnar wants him to kill himself."

Marion studied Much's distraught face. "There's something else, isn't there?"

"Robin won't wake up. Not until Gulnar is ready for him to." Much was on the edge of tears.

Marion's heart began pounding as she listened to Much's words. She was convinced that every word he said was true. A quick glance at the others told her they also believed Much's words.

Six helpless people looked down at their young leader. What now? Wait for Gulnar to make the next move? What else was there for them to do? What could they do for Robin? Nothing but questions plagued their minds. No answers came with them.

Marion laid her head down on Robin's chest. He was so cold she had to remind herself that he wasn't dead. She could barely detect his breathing. She put her hand on the side of his neck, so she could feel his pulse. It was weak but steady.

"Are we going to just sit here and do nothing?" Will asked, jumping up and swinging his arms. It was clear he now believed what Much had said.

"We're open to suggestions," John replied.

"Why can't we go after the old woman like we planned to do? Or, we could go after Gulnar himself." Will said it triumphantly, as if saying it would make it easy to accomplish.

"What do you plan to do with Robin?" Tuck wanted to know, "Let him just lay here until we get back and set him free?" Tuck spoke with uncharacteristic sarcasm.

"What would Robin do?" Much asked.

"The same thing I just said," Will answered quickly. "Last night Robin said we'd go find that old woman. It seems to be even more urgent now."

"That was before this happened," John said as he nodded toward Robin. "We can't do it without him."

"Why not?" Tuck asked. "Robin's always doing something for us. Why can't we do something for him?" It made perfect sense to the friar. Having Robin with them would certainly make their plan easier to carry out. Robin was always two steps ahead of most people when it came to using his head. But, the rest of them were fully capable of accomplishing this mission. At least, he hoped so. He was willing to give it a try.

"I'll go," Much said. "I'll do anything to help Robin."

"So will I," John said. "Naz?"

The Saracen nodded.

Marion had a vague feeling that her friends were discussing something important she should be a part of, something to do with Robin. Yet, all she could think of was being close to him, trying in vain to warm his cold body.

"Marion will stay with Robin," John said. He glanced over at her. "I don't think she'd leave him even if we wanted her to."

"Aye, that was an easy decision," Tuck laughed, though there was no humor in the sound. "Now, we have to make a serious plan, one that will give us the best chance to succeed."

After a lengthy discussion, Tuck walked over to Marion. He reached down and touched her on the shoulder. "Marion, we need to talk to you a moment."

Marion reluctantly got up and followed Tuck. She looked at each one of the faces around the campfire. She wasn't sure what it was she read there. She soon found out.

"We've decided to go looking for the old woman." John began. "She's the key to finding Gulnar and reversing whatever he's done. We want you to stay here and look after Robin," he concluded.

"Of course, I will. I couldn't leave him even if I don't know what to do for him." Marion smiled and offered encouragement and a word of caution. "You must all be careful. When Robin wakes up, he'll be very unhappy if something has happened to any of you."

"Don't worry, nothing's going to happen to anyone but that madman, Gulnar, and maybe that old woman," Will assured her.

"How will you find the old woman?" Marion asked.

"We'll go to Wickham and see if Edward knows her," Tuck said logically. "If he does, we can track her from there, we hope."

"We'll get her," John said. He wasn't sure if he felt as confident as he sounded, but anything less than total commitment could prove fatal. Gulnar wasn't someone to trifle with. John knew they would need all of their resolve.

* * * * * * * * * *

Edward saw the outlaws coming toward him. He smiled and greeted them before he realized Robin wasn't with them. "Robin didn't come with you," he stated.

"No," John told him. "Can we go somewhere, so we won't be overheard?" It was impossible to know who to trust, although, John didn't really believe there was anyone in Wickham that would betray them to Gulnar. Still, it would be prudent not to take any chances. The sorcerer could have bewitched one of them to use to betray the outlaws. There was too much at stake to be too trusting at this point. It never occurred to him that Edward might have been turned into a spy.

Edward was frowning as he led them to the edge of a vegetable garden. There was no way anyone could get close enough to hear them without being seen.

John began telling Edward what had happened and what they planned to do about it. Several times during the narration, one or another of the outlaws would add a comment. "So, we need to know anything you can tell us about the old woman," John finished.

"From the description you've given, I don't recognize her." Edward said apologetically.

"We're convinced Gulnar's behind what's happened to Robin." John looked at Edward. "Will you look in on Marion for us and make sure she's all right?"

"I can get a wagon and bring Robin here," Edward offered. "We can look after both of them."

John shook his head. "It's too risky. The Sheriff or Gisburne might show up. We don't want to put any of you in danger."

"It also wouldn't do much good to save Robin from Gulnar and then have him captured by the Sheriff," Tuck reasoned. "But, thank you, Edward, for offering."

John led the outlaws away from Wickham. "I guess the only thing to do now is go in the direction the old woman headed in when she left us."

"East," Nasir said.

It was a long shot, and Will was beginning to get the feeling that things were going to be more difficult than they believed, and that was bad enough. There was only an outside chance they were heading the right way. However, they had to start somewhere, and there didn't seem to be anything else to do.

When they reached the outskirts of the village of Pemberton, John held up his hand. "Come on," John said. "Someone here may know something." He led the way into the village.

A crowd began to gather around them. Simon, Edward's counterpart in Pemberton, approached them.

John decided to tell Simon only as much as he needed to in order to get the information they sought. "We think Gulnar is behind a trick that's been played on Robin. We need to find him. Do you know an old woman, so high?" John held his hand in front of his stomach. "She has long gray hair worn loose. Two days ago she was wearing an old, worn blue dress with a yellow shawl."

"I know her," Simon answered warily. "What has she got to do with Gulnar?"

"That's what we hope to find out." John answered. "Does she live here?"

"No. Some say she's a witch. Most think she's just mad." Simon began to think maybe the old woman really was a witch, especially if she was connected with Gulnar. Simon became a little more cooperative. "Folks call her Old Bett. She lives in an old wreck of a house in Bridgeton Wood."

"How do we find her?" John inquired.

"You'll find her house on the western side of the Wood, near the Priory Road. What do you plan to do with her?"

"That depends on her," Will answered. His tone said he had his own ideas of what he wanted done with her. "But, you don't have to worry about it."

John gave Will a warning look. He turned to the town leader. "Thank you, Simon. We'll find it."

Simon smiled at every one but Will. He never really liked him anyway. He was too much of a firebrand, speaking his mind regardless of who it offended.

"That was easier than I dared think it would be," Tuck said. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Nasir passed the friar to take the lead. Being an excellent tracker, he could, hopefully, find Old Bett's house quickly. He also wanted to be able to scan the trail for any sign of trouble before they walked into it.

John had the feeling something very unpleasant waited for them all, and he wasn't so sure they would be able to get out of it in one piece. But, the thought of Robin lying so still and cold and unable to be awakened renewed his determination to find Old Bett, then find Gulnar and free Robin. At least, that was the plan. How it would play out was anyone's guess.

Will was feeling the same trepidation. His eyes darted from one side of the road to the other. He was half expecting Gulnar or some kind of devil to jump out at them. In a way, that was preferable. Not knowing what was going to happen was far worse on the nerves. He wanted to know exactly where he stood and what he would be required to do to get the job done.

When Nasir said, "We're close," Much jumped, so intent was he on searching the woods nearest them. He immediately felt embarrassed. How was he going to acquit himself well, if he jumped at the words of a friend?

Tuck smiled sympathetically. "We're all a little jumpy. We just have to keep in mind why we're here." No one noticed that he was clutching his crucifix tightly.

Much nodded. They were there to save Robin. He knew better than any of them what was at stake. He had been the one to tell them about Robin's condition. He had told them it was up to Gulnar to wake Robin. That was true as far as it went. What he hadn't told them was that Robin might never wake up. That may have been the sorcerer's plan all along. As sure as Much was of the other facts, that was the one he wasn't certain of, which was why he hadn't said anything about it. Why worry them needlessly? He was worrying enough for all of them. Yet, if his very life depended on it, he couldn't have explained how he knew any of it.

"This way," Nasir said as he turned left and entered the trees along a narrow and little-used path. He moved with purpose, picking his way as he carefully studied the trail and the nearby underbrush.

The path wound all around, sometimes crossing over itself. Nasir was able to sort it out after a while. He bypassed several of these criss-crosses and only once got off on the wrong trail. He quickly reversed himself and continued on.

In less than fifteen minutes, Nasir stopped at the edge of a clearing. In the center sat a ramshackled little house. It looked abandoned, but Nasir had no doubt that this was the home of the old woman they sought.

"It looks just like I expected it would," Tuck said. He refrained from saying it gave him the shivers. Looking around at the others told him they all felt the same way.

When confronting Robin, Old Bett had seemed like just a bitter old woman intent on inflicting emotional pain. This place reeked of an evil that was almost palpable. John also noticed there were no animal sounds nearby. It all set his teeth on edge.

"Do we go straight in?" Much asked.

"Yeah," Will said. "Let's get her."

"Wait. We have to be careful," John cautioned.

Will frowned at his big friend. "What good is that going to do? She probably already knows we're here. Waiting will only give her more time to prepare."

"She's prepared. You can count on it," Nasir said with assurance. He drew both of his swords and started forward. The others drew their own weapons and followed him.

Just as they reached the front door, it opened. It wasn't Old Bett that was standing there facing them. It was Gulnar. "Welcome. I've been waiting for you." He stepped aside and swept his left arm toward the inside of the house as an invitation for them to enter.

John, closest to the door, hesitated but then decided that inside or outside, Gulnar was in control and could overpower them any time he wished. They couldn't get away if they tried. He boldly walked in.

When everyone was inside, Gulnar turned and smiled at them. "I'm sure you were expecting to find Old Bett. She isn't home at the moment. Besides, all you wanted from her was to find me. Here I am," he said, spreading his arms wide. The cold glint in his eyes betrayed the smile on his face.

Will, not wanting to waste time, said, "What have you done to Robin?"

"It will be my pleasure to explain it to you," Gulnar said with an even broader smile. "Robin has caused me a great deal of trouble. I want him to pay for it."

"You're mad," John couldn't resist saying.

Gulnar laughed. "So I've been told. It's the curse of those who command special powers. I use those powers to get what I want. Wouldn't you in my place?"

"How?" John asked simply. He was sure he wasn't going to like the answer. He was also sure it would be the truth. The sorcerer was too anxious to let them know what he had done.

"I originally planned to have Robin kill all of you and then kill himself," Gulnar began.

"Robin figured that out already and kept himself from doing it, even though he couldn't stop the attempt." Tuck felt the need to inform Gulnar how hard it was to manipulate Robin.

"Yes," Gulnar continued. "I must admit I underestimated Robin's affection for all of you." H e made a face like someone who had just bitten into a bitter apple. "Then I realized that if Robin killed himself, his suffering would end too quickly. I want him to suffer a long, long time."

"How did you do it?" Tuck inquired of the sorcerer.

"Old Bett. She 'does things' for me from time to time. She's a witch, though a minor one. But, with my help, she cast the spell on Robin when she looked into his eyes and touched him." A prideful grin crossed Gulnar's face. He was clearly enjoying this.

John fought the urge to give in to the rising fury he felt. He took a deep breath to steady himself, and in a calm voice, he asked, "What's your plan?"

"Robin will wake up soon after you get back to him. He'll continue to look like he's asleep, but he'll hear and be aware of everything that goes on around him. No matter how hard he tries, he'll be unable to communicate in any way."

No one spoke. Gulnar knew they believed him, but he also knew they weren't going to give him the satisfaction of telling him that.

The sorcerer smiled and continued. "Can you think of a more fitting revenge?" Gulnar laughed. "He's cold, too, isn't he? Just an added bit of discomfort. He'll be constantly cold, and nothing will warm him up. " Gulnar couldn't help but gloat. "He'll be screaming in his mind to get out, but he can't. He'll suffer like that for years. Just think of it. It's so perfect." Gulnar laughed again, loud and long.

John closed his eyes and shook his head. It was far worse than he could have imagined in his most dreadful nightmare. Thinking of Robin suffering in that condition was too horrible to think about.

"He'll die without food and water," Tuck pointed out logically, thinking for a brief moment that he was pointing something out that the sorcerer hadn't thought of.

"Not under this spell," Gulnar replied, dashing Tuck's hopes. "It suspends everything but the mind. He won't be able to sleep, either. He'll be forever awake. What do you think?" Gulnar asked, obviously overjoyed with the brilliance of his plan.

Will raised both hands and lunged for Gulnar's neck. John grabbed him and pulled him back before he could touch the sorcerer. John held on tight to his friend, who struggled to get free.

"Don't worry, I won't turn him into a pig, though I'd like to. I want every one of you to think of Robin spending the rest of eternity trapped in his own body, never able to get a moment of relief. And, an added benefit is: he'll also suffer knowing each of you is suffering, too, because you can't help him. And, even after you all die off, one by one, he'll go on that way. Beautiful, isn't it?"

"What do you want from us?" Much asked from the edge of the circle. He was willing to give anything, even his own life, to save Robin. So, he risked the sorcerer's wrath and boldly moved forward.

"Why, nothing," Gulnar said surprised. "None of you have anything I need or want. Even if you did, it couldn't possibly be worth Robin's punishment. He's suffering and out of my way for good. I'll have my final revenge."

The outlaws were crestfallen.

Gulnar looked at the sad little group. "I'll let you go, if you leave now," he hissed.

There didn't seem to be anything else to say. There was no chance to make a bargain with the sorcerer. He had made that perfectly clear. Their mission had been a failure. Finding Gulnar had not helped Robin at all. The only thing it had accomplished was to make them feel a whole lot worse about the situation.

Gulnar waved a hand toward the door. "The offer will not last long. Go!" The smile had quickly turned to an angry scowl.

The outlaws turned and walked out of the little house. The misery that permeated the group was oppressive.

"One final thing," Gulnar called after them. "Herne can't help,"

The five men trudged along, putting one foot in front of the other. It was a chore; their devastated minds making their legs feel like lead.

Finally, when they left the woods and were back on the road, Much said, "He can't be right about Herne. It was Herne who saved Robin when he was dying from that poisoned arrow. He can save him now, can't he? Gulnar just said that to upset us more. Right?"

"I don't know, Much" Tuck said sadly. "I just don't know."

"After we go check on Robin and Marion, we'll find Herne," John said. "I refuse to believe he can't do anything." He felt as adamant about Herne's ability to help Robin as Much did.

Nasir was the first to start toward their camp. He had been tortured as a young man in his homeland. He knew the agony of physical pain. But, he couldn't begin to imagine the kind of torture Robin would be forced to go through under the sorcerer's curse. Nasir tried to shake the feeling of helplessness that flooded through him.

Much was feeling the same sense of helplessness. It was as if someone had told him Robin was about to die, and no one could stop it. He may be physically there, but everything that made him Robin would be gone. Much continued to stumble along behind the others.

John, Will and Tuck were totally defeated. There was no other word for it. They had set out with high hopes of finding Gulnar and reversing his spell. They failed. Failure spelled defeat. Defeat meant they couldn't save Robin from the hell he was destined to endure. Herne was Robin's only chance.

Marion heard someone coming through the trees. She looked toward the sound and jumped up happily when she saw it was her friends. A second later, her face fell when she saw their expressions. They didn't have the answer. "You didn't find the old woman," she stated before any of them could speak.

"We found Gulnar himself," John informed her.

"For all the good that did," Will added bitterly. He forced himself not to look at Robin. He couldn't bear it right now. He stomped over to a log and slumped down on it.

John continued. "He's the one behind this just like Robin thought. He got that old woman to cast one of his spells on Robin. We tried to bargain with him, but he said this plan of his was worth more to him than anything we could give him."

"What plan?" Marion asked. She was even more puzzled when John motioned her to the other side of the campfire, away from where Robin lay. He wasn't sure if Robin was now awake, as Gulnar had promised.

"He told us that Robin would wake up---inside."

Marion turned a questioning look up at John. What on earth was he talking about? "Inside?" she questioned.

"That devil said Robin will be able to hear everything we say. He'll know what's going on around him. You know he can't move or communicate in any way. Gulnar says he'll remain that way for..." John had to stop and clear his throat before he could make the next statement. "For eternity. And, he'll always be cold, never able to warm up or to sleep."

Marion stood horrified. Her own mind was reeling. She couldn't possibly have heard John right. As the full horror of it hit her, she felt faint. John grabbed her and eased her into a sitting position on the ground. "It can't be true, John," she whispered. "It can't be true." When her mind finally grasped the meaning of John's words, she began to sob uncontrollably.

Much was sitting down near the fire, his head in his hands. He had shut the world out and was lost in his own misery.

Will thought back to the time they spent in Cromm Cruac. He shook his head to clear the thought. The only good thing that came out of that experience was that the devil that almost took their lives was destroyed for all time just before he was able to destroy them. Gulnar fell into the flaming pool and should have died. Then, after the fiasco with Fenris, the sorcerer's man-beast creation had turned on its master. Gulnar should have died then, too. Now, it was time to send the sorcerer to Hell.

Tuck started to say something to John, when he said, "Look."

They all turned to see Herne standing at the edge of the trees.

Continued --