Marian
Robin, had, indeed set off in search of his love. She had never really adapted to the hard forest-dwellers life, and had returned to Nottingham, soon after their marriage. She had dedicated herself to care of the sick, and although still skilled with weaponry, never imagined she would have cause to need to use it again.
The Sheriff still pursued her after a fashion, but she was careful not to spend too much time in his presence. King Richard had left her with a retinue of Ladies in Waiting and Guards and they served to inform the king of her progress. The Sheriff dared not offend her in their presence, although she still lived in the castle.
The night of Robin's departure, she found herself willing him to her anyway. She was distraught at all the death she had witnessed, and sat by the window feeling utterly alone, and helpless to prevent the suffering. Apart from the curfew, other changes had taken place in the town.
Now there were an order of Monks resident, who never spoke, and wore black robes with hoods so deep you could not see their faces. The sheriff was grateful for their presence reasoning that extra clergy were useful with so many requesting the last rites. Yet Marian had not seen them do any works of good…they were at every house where death could be found, but no-one remembered what they had said or how they had helped. Most of the victims died at night and the Black Monks did not observe the curfew for this reason, but their presence made Marian uneasy, and she resolved to find out more.
She called her maid, Hannah, to her.
"Hannah, if you are not about to seek your bed, I would have a word."
"My lady?"
"Knowest thou the origin of these holy men who have lately come to tend to our dying?"
" I heard tell they were at the Priory of Kirklees before they came here, my lady."
"And what did they there?"
"None can tell, my lady, and I, for my part, don't like them."
"You are not alone in that, Hannah. What doth my cousin the Sheriff say?"
" He says that they remain here until the worst of the plague is gone."
"As I thought – but – do they answer to him?"
"Nay, My lady, they say they only answer to God."
"Oh, so they do have tongues, do they? I wish I could tell what it is that unsettles me, but, thank you Hannah, you may go –except, will you bring me a cloak of the same nature as these monks robes?"
"You cannot think to go out after the curfew!"
"Now, Hannah,"
"Yes my Lady, but I pray you, do take care!"
Hannah scuttled out, and returned a few moments later with a cloak. Marian wrapped it around her and lifted the trapdoor under her bed which afforded her an exit from the castle known only to herself.