Part 18
"Well I take it you have not come to toast my health." Alistair said with a smile.
"We can toast your health after this is over. Do you know that the Sheriff is planning on killing you?"
"I would put nothing past him; his second in command is a nasty piece of work too. He comes here and tells me who I should be paying my taxes to, who my people should be bowing down to. I will not have it. I have not entertained his ideas in the past and I will not start now."
"I fear you have no choice, not if you wish to remain here."
"We could make a stand? Isn't that what you are here for? You and your men?"
"We are here to see you safe wherever that might be. But first we have business intercepting some money bound for Nottingham from Heartland Abbey. My men and I need to leave tomorrow. Today we wanted to warn you of the impending danger. You need to think of where you could flee to, if it comes to that."
"You think it might?"
"I know it will, unless you cede to Vasey's commands, they will kill you and force the boy to do as they see fit."
"The boy? My son? Aubrey? He is but a child still."
"It does not matter," said Robin with a shake of his head. "They will, enforce it. You, both of you need to leave soon, you have perhaps a week maybe more. My men and I will be back for you. There is however one thing I ask of you."
"Ask? Whatever it is I will grant you, if it is in my power."
"Marian, she is unwell, she will slow us down I ask that she may stay with you until we return."
"Consider it done my friend," the older man told Robin. "Now it is late I must be taking my leave and getting to my bed. There will be a room prepared for you."
He summoned Walter and bid Robin a goodnight. Walter showed Robin to his room.
"We drew a bath for you Sir, if there is anything more I can do."
"No thank you, you have done enough," Robin told Walter.
He eyed the still steaming water and made a quick decision as he had not bathed for months, five minutes would be all that he needed and in hot water too. He undressed and slipped carefully in, it was soothing, it felt healing, it was wonderful.
Robin jolted awake, the water was still hot, he couldn't have been sleeping for long. He pulled himself up and climbed out, drying and dressing himself. He needed to find the gang and then see Marian before he could think of sleeping for the rest of the night.