Chapter 5

"I say we head for Sherwood," John said as the rest of the outlaws began getting their gear together. "Some trips are doomed to fail and I think this is one of them."

"We can't offload these items back in Sherwood John and besides, don't you think that would perhaps send off the wrong signal. We go scurrying off back to Sherwood."

John had to agree with Robin despite himself. That was some attack the previous evening but to head back to Sherwood with their tail between their legs would send a message to other opportunists.

"What is it Nasir?" Marion asked as the Sarason came into camp, a worried frown on his dark features.

"The boy is not here," he told her.

"Much, he's probably just gone off to do his business," Robin shrugged.

"Do his business," Will laughed. "you really were born in a castle."

The usually quiet Nasir talked over them all. "He is not gone for that reason, he has been gone for some hours."

That had them all on their feet.

"Are you sure Nasir?" Robin asked.

The Sarason only nodded in reply.

John rounded on the rest of them. "it's those outlaws. They must have come back. We need to get after them."

"No I've seen the tracks, the boy went alone." Nasir told him.

Marion looked to Robin. "Why would he do that, it's not like him. This doesn't make any sense."

"Does to me." Will muttered. "This is my fault. I'm going after him."

"How is this your fault?" Robin asked, turning to him.

"Anna's death. I as much as blamed him for not getting her under the cover of the trees."

John rounded on him. "How could you blame him. You know he's not good in a fight."

"I know that...I was bitter, I didn't know what I was saying. I thought after Elaine I could never love anyone again and then I met Anna. When she was taken from me I just….i couldn't handle it. I shouldn't have said those things. I just..."

Wills speech ended abruptly. A darkness came over his face as he spoke and as wrong as they felt he was in this situation no one said anything. They couldn't make him feel any worse than he did.

Robin eventually spoke up. "I'll go and find him. I have a fair idea I know where he went."

"No I'll go, I got him into this."

Robin put a hand to Will's shoulder. "I need you to go with the others. Those outlaws may strike again and I'll want you to protect Marion."

"This is madness. We should all stay together." John put in.

"No we can't do two things at once. We need to off load that merchandise and get supplies to the villages. Besides this is as much my fault as it is Will's. I should have noticed something was wrong. He was so much quieter than usual. I will go alone and meet you back in Sherwood when I find him."

John shook his head. "Wait until I get my hands on him, I'll kill him."

Robin smiled. "Well let's first get him back in one piece...then you can kill him."

~0~

There was nothing left but a ruin of moss covered stones. Much shivered as he sat alone in what was left of the old mill. He hadn't been back here since it happened. He could never bring himself to come back here before but now he felt he deserved the pain it brought him. Hadn't his parents died because he had brought down one of the kings deer and that foolish action had set a whole path in motion. Robin had died up on that hill.

Why did it never occurred to him, Marion had to tell him his brother was gone. Much could never forgive himself his lack of judgement on that faithful day. He told himself time and again that he should have stayed. He had dreams where himself and Robin defeat the Sheriff's men together. He should have stayed on that hill.

Much heard them long before they arrived. He had long since been trained to pick out the sounds of approaching horses. He got stiffly to his feet and went outside. The horse men soon came into view.

Gisborne could clearly see him standing alone but he put a hand up to halt the other horsemen.

"This could well be a trap." He told the horseman directly beside him. "move on ahead and see if he is alone."

The man gestured for two others to follow him. They rode up to where Much was standing and slowly got down from their horses.

One peered into the ruin half expecting someone to jump out at him. The other took his place behind Much and pinned his arms behind him as the third man drew his sword and held it to Much's chest.

"Where are the others," the man holding the sword asked.

"There are no others I'm alone here."

The man stuck his sword in the ground. He quickly searched the boy looking for concealed weapons. He then turned to Gisborne and signalled that all was well.

"Are you quite sure he's alone," Gisborne asked as he looked around.

"Quite sure sir, it looks as though he may have had a falling out with the other outlaws. Maybe they decided they don't want him no more." The other smiled.

Gisborne shook his head. "I wouldn't be so quick to believe that Ferris, these outlaws are not beyond schemes and tricks. No doubt they have left their weakest member here for some reason which will become known to us."

Gisborne slowly walked to where they were holding Much. Much tried not to tremble as the taller man stood before him.

"Where are the others?" Gisborne asked in a deceptively quiet voice.

Much only shook his head.

Gisborne reached back and smacked the young outlaw hard across the face. As he straightened up Much could already feel his left eye begin to swell up but he kept his composure.

"I see you have become as brazen as Will Scarlett himself. Ironic that you should follow in his footsteps considering that you shall die at a young age while he shall live on."

The boy was silent. Gisborne was surprised there were no pleas for his life and mildly disappointed. It was torturous tramping through the countryside in this foul weather, capturing something like this weak puppy could be diverting sport. But he clearly wasn't playing the game.

Gisborne had a sudden urge to ask him what was wrong, not for reasons of compassion. Gisborne could never feel compassion for such a low born creature but he was curious.

Gisborne turned to his second in command.

"Ferris. We will make camp at Wicham tonight. I don't want to take him on to the castle until we have all of them."

"But my lord, are you suggesting that we take on all of the outlaws. There are but five of us and the outlaws are well adept at fighting in among the trees."

"They will no doubt come looking for him. There will be no compromises. This time they will all die."