Part 25
"The plan has changed," he replied to Much's question.
"To what?" asked Alan.
"We camped here to make a base, to then come back to if the Sheriff had not attacked Markwick, but we are too late. Now we move north in the morning."
"North?" said Alistair unsure.
"You are still not safe."
"I do not wish to live in the north of England they say some are barbarians."
"And they are not here?" Marian asked. Thinking of one or two herself.
"I was not thinking of direct north. I was thinking more…….Belgium."
"Belgium!" exclaimed Much. "How are we going to get them there?"
"I have no money," said Alistair. "All we have are the clothes on our backs. Marian encouraged to take with us warm clothing and anything perhaps of value, I for one did not listen to her, I thought we would retain my lands my home."
"No matter," said Robin with a smile, "we can help."
"You have money?" asked Aubrey.
"We were successful intercepting a great deal of money which was to be share between the Sheriff and Brother John. The poor of Yorkshire have a good deal of it and tonight, Djaq, Will and Little John will distribute bags to the survivors of the battle of Markwick. There is money to see you across the North Sea and set you up in Belgium, perhaps not to the comfort you are used to, but it will be enough for you to build on. What remains we will distribute in Nottinghamshire," Robin explained.
"You have thought this out well," Alistair said.
"I try to; sometimes a plan is thwarted and flawed. I am flawed," Robin admitted.
"Are you leaving us to go on our way tomorrow?" Walter asked.
"No we will see you to the nearest port, there is a small port on the east coast."
"Grimsby" said Alistair nodding. "And we have to start again."
"Yes."
"Father," said Aubrey suddenly. "I know this isn't the kind of thing Lady Marian meant when she said to take something of value but I took this."
He pressed something metal into his father's hand. Alistair held it over the fire to examine it better; it was the family crest, something they could take to the new land, for the beginning of their new life.
"This was the best choice son," he replied, ruffling his hair and the boy smiled.