Okay, everybody! I've gotten resounding cries of "update!" for the last couple of reviews, so here you go. Reasons why I don't update more often: Shakespeare, World Lit, Women and Minority Writers, Creative Writing, and Russian. I spend a lot of time reading and the rest of the time trying to figure out a foreign grammar! Sleep has become a thing of the past. Since it's Friday afternoon, I'm freeeeeeeee!! I can update!

Chapter 13

Dear Robin, the letter read.

I must say that I am quite pleased with your progress. Your teachers all praise you, and on the latest report they sent me they told me that you are a model student, a diligent worker, and that you challenge their teaching capabilities. Well done; I'm impressed. The nurse sent me a letter saying that you fell down the steps. Rushing to class, hmmm? Do try to be more careful; I don't look forward to getting a phone call one day informing me that you've managed to break your neck. I am glad that you wrote about your interest in horseback riding—it is different than the martial arts, but it requires the same amount of concentration, and sometimes more. In the martial arts, you have only yourself and what you do to worry about. With riding, you also have to worry about the horse. Just do me one favor--well, two, actually. Wear a helmet and don't get hurt. If you don't, I foresee that phone call about a broken neck just coming to me. I've enclosed some spending money for you, and don't you worry about taking money from me. You are more than welcome to it, and I would like you to have a good time at school, and how can you do that without a suitable allowance? It would look very bad if you were unable to treat your friends in town if they have already treated you, as I am sure they have done. According to what the guidance counselor has written, you have already made a few friends, and that you went to the village with them last week. Going to the village always includes a stop somewhere, I know, so now the next stop can be on you. Enjoy yourself, and keep up the good work. Perhaps when school has ended for the semester we can ride together—I keep horses at my maison de campagne in Brittany. Perhaps even spend some of the holidays in Paris or Avignon? Think about it. Remember our bargain.

Slade

Robin folded the letter up and slipped it back into its envelope. Did Slade have selective amnesia or something? The bargain was that he spend a semester at school without contacting his friends. If he toed that line, then he was free of Slade forever. Why on earth was Slade suggesting holiday plans in France? He wasn't about to do that, not ever. He was hopping the first plane out of here as soon as school was over, and it would be a hot day at the North Pole before Robin would voluntarily go near him again. Slade had to know that, didn't he?

Sighing, Robin checked the time. It was after ten o'clock, but he was sure that no one would care if he went down to the stables to talk to Jerry. Well, at least the other students wouldn't. Some of the prefects and teachers might, though. Shrugging, he dressed, pulled on a jacket, and headed for the barn.

It was quiet when he got there. He pulled on a helmet from the bin beside the door and headed to Jerry's office on the other side. The rule was that you had to wear a helmet whenever you walked through the barn, even if the horses were in their stalls. That way, if a horse suddenly went nuts and kicked his way out, your head would have a chance of surviving any encounter with hooves intact.

"Who's there?" Robin heard Jerry's voice say.

"It's Robin," he answered, stepping up to the door as it opened. "I was wondering if you had time to talk."

"Sure, I do," Jerry said, smiling. "C'mon in."

Robin plopped into the chair Jerry offered and thanked him.

"Hot chocolate?" Jerry asked, turning to the rapid boiler and switching it on. "I was just about to have some."

"That sounds awesome," Robin said as Jerry got the mix out. "I'm sure glad you're here."

"Likewise," Jerry smiled and pulled out a bag of marshmallows. "So, what brought you down here at ten o'clock to talk to me? It has to be something important."

"I'm kind of confused," Robin began. "It's about Slade."

"Your pseudo-parent?" Jerry asked.

"How'd you know that?"

"Mike told me. What is he, a court-appointed guardian?"

"No, nothing like that."

The water suddenly boiled, and Jerry switched the boiler off and began to mix up two cups of chocolate. "Then what is he?"

Robin considered this very carefully before answering. Part of the bargain was that he didn't tell anyone who he really was. Slade surely couldn't object to his keeping that part of the story back, could he? No, probably not.

"He kidnapped me, and he wants me to be his apprentice," Robin said quietly. "I can't tell you who I really am, but my parents are dead, and he wants me to take over after him."

Jerry stared at him. "Why you? You're just a kid!"

"I don't know," Robin said, sounding the slightest bit desperate. "He's told me his reasons, but they sound so stupid to me! He's told me that if I spend a semester here without contacting my friends from back home, then he'll let me go for good, and he won't try to take me again. That's why you can't tell anyone, okay?"

Jerry stared at him. "No wonder you look like you've got the cares of the universe on your shoulders, and no wonder you always sound a little bit hysterical when you're upset. He's put an enormous amount of stress on you, Rob. Are you sure about not telling anyone?"

Robin nodded. "I'm positive. This is my one chance to get away from him forever. I can't mess it up!"

"Is there anyone you'd like me to contact for you?"

Robin thought about this. Not saying anything, he picked up a notebook and pen, and wrote something down. Tearing the sheet from the book he quickly folded it up and handed it to Jerry.

"If anything happens, if he comes and takes me or anything like that, call this number. Just mention my name, and the person on the other end will listen to you. If Slade takes me, then he can probably find me. Don't look at it or call it unless something happens. Who knows? He's probably looking for me right now."

"Why don't I call it now and he comes and gets you?" Jerry suggested, slipping the paper into his shirt pocket.

"I will have broken the bargain, and Slade will know it. If that happens, then he'll never leave me alone."

"Rob, I don't think he'll leave you alone even if you kept up your side of the deal," Jerry said sadly. "You can't expect psychos to behave rationally, and you can't ever think that sadists will behave honorably."

"I have to take the chance," Robin said as he took the cup that Jerry held out to him. "Who knows?" he said after taking a sip of chocolate. "He might surprise us."

Jerry only nodded before taking a sip himself. "I won't call unless something happens, Rob, I promise you that," he said, trying to put the boy at ease. "But if anything happens, if he gives you the slightest hint that there's trouble ahead for you, you come and tell me, all right? I'll do what I can."

"I think he gets selective amnesia," Rob said, poking at a marshmallow in his cup. "He's already making holiday plans for when the semester ends. I won't be around long enough to carry them out with him, so why is he bothering?"

"What plans?"

"Oh, going to his country house in Brittany, or maybe going to Avignon or Paris. I'd rather be in school than spend time with him!"

Jerry chuckled. "It seems to me that you'd have more fun in school!"

After that, they talked of commonplace things, and it was when Robin's head began drooping that Jerry insisted he head back to bed. Robin murmured a sleepy assent, and barely registered that Jerry told him he would be taking a trip, so he wouldn't be there in the morning.