Part 7

Robin and his depleted gang reached the city of Durham with its imposing castle.

"Here we are," said Much, with a sigh wondering how the day was going to end this time.

"What are we going to do? Go and confront Durham?" asked Djaq.

"If we have to, but first let us ask about see if Gisborne has actually been here," Robin replied.

They put their horses in some nearby stables, here they found they were not known or recognised and they moved about freely asking about Gisborne and a lady he might have been travelling with. They met up behind the stables an hour or so later to exchange information.

"Anything?" Robin asked, Little John, Much and Djaq.

"Yes, they have been here." Djaq informed him. "I spoke with a man who said the Earl of Durham took them on a tour of the city. He said that the man clad in black leather…."

"Gisborne," said Much unnecessarily.

"…..Was in deep conversation with Durham, while Marian walked behind them looking more bored."

"John?" Robin asked.

"He left in a hurry and without Marian."

"A lover's tiff some said," added Much, then asked his master. "What did you glean?"

Robin shrugged, sighed and said. "More of the same. Durham will know more, we need to find where Marian is, she could still be here."

"How do you suppose we get in then?" asked Much.

Robin scratched his face and answered. "We are going to walk up to the front entrance and request to speak with Durham."

"You are joking?" queried Djaq, having a horrible feeling that he wasn't.

Robin shook his head and began walking. Djaq shared a look with the two men who shrugged, looking as pensive as she felt and followed.

No one was more surprised than the gang when they were permitted entrance through the front door and were taken to Durham's private quarters. They were lighter and airier than Vasey's in Nottingham had been. He kept no birds but did have a large rough looking dog and Much looked at him with distaste, he and dogs did not get along well.

"Lord Locksley," Durham said in a mocking tone. "What can I do for you? I seem to be having a run of visitors from Nottinghamshire of late."

"Yes I want to talk about your guests." He said darkly and although Durham could see that Robin was not in the mood for chit chat or to be taken for a fool, he decided to toy with him a little.

"They have departed."

"Where did they go? I have reason to believe they did not leave together." Robin told him.

"They did not," Durham said, sitting back lazily in his chair and enjoying the moment of torment. "Lady Gisborne left with a scruffy young man, Sir Guy as you can imagine was furious that his new wife fled and went in search of her."

Robin looked at Durham trying to digest the words that the Black Knight had uttered as Much twittered, "Marian…..Gisborne….married…."

"They were married?" Djaq asked unbelievingly.

"So Sir Guy informed me. She did not look that happy about the arrangement however." He put in, which seemed to bring Robin back to life.

"Tell me about the man she left with," he demanded his mouth a grim line, his face a myriad of emotions of which they were so intense Durham could not distinguish one from the other.

Laughing at Robin's distress Durham said. "He was younger than you, tallish, dark hair, dressed as a serf. Nothing distinctive, except I don't know how he gained entrance to the castle it was not by the main door."

"Will?" whispered Djaq as the others gave her a passing look.

"When did she leave?" asked Robin.

"Do you not think I have provided you with enough information, you a wanted man by the crown?"

Robin walked round the desk to Durham catching him off guard and held his knife to the Earl's throat. "I want answers."

With a nervous laugh Durham said. "You the man who failed to find the Sheriff of Nottingham."

"He did not fail," Much put it, "We were just too late, he was already dead."

"Which means Nottingham has gone?"

"As you remembered it yes," answered Little John with a pained expression in his eyes and the sights and sounds haunted him for a passing moment.

"It will be greater I am sure, although the loss of Vasey is a little disturbing. I am convinced the Black Knights can still win over the King."

"You," said Robin dangerously, "are evading my questions."

"Your questions?" he said. "Which question was that?"

"When did Marian leave?"

"Several days ago, as far as I am aware she and her travelling companion were on foot. Gisborne took his horse with him." Durham explained, now the fun was over he wanted Hood out of his home; it would not be good for business if the other Black Knights found out.

"Where was Gisborne heading?" Robin fired before he let go of the hold he had on Durham.

"To find her, he wanted her back."

0o0

The gang sat on the outskirts of the city. Robin was very quiet and the other three spent most of their time looking at one another, gauging each others reaction as to whether someone should say something and when.

He finally ran a hand across his beard looked at them in turn and said. "I can not expect you to come with me, but I have to find her. Find out if it is true."

Even Much did not dare ask what was true, he knew. Robin seemed to have died a little since they left Durham and he wondered what was going to become of his master now, especially if Durham's words were true and she was married to Gisborne.

"Marian is one of us. With you I will go," Little John confirmed to Robin.

"I will go with you." Djaq told him. "I think the man she left with could be Will. Don't you?"

Robin nodded and said. "Yes, it seems the only rational explanation." Shaking his head he added. "But we have to get to them before Gisborne does, and what if he has already found them?" He sighed again, a sigh of man who was troubled far more than they would ever know.

"Then we must make sure we….we do find them…whether Gisborne has found them or not, they need us." Declared Much, as the others all united agreed.