Chapter 13; Rain

The last thing Guy remembered was searing pain in his back and firm hands tossing him back into the cell he came from. Everything else had been one big blur. His mind was constantly fading in and out of consciousness. And the pain. The unbearable pain. Every second, every breath, every heartbeat sent a fresh wave of pain rolling across his body. It felt as though someone had pumped oil into his veins then set him on fire. 'Am I going to die here?' Guy wondered. It felt like he was going to slowly bleed away in this hell-hole. But for some reason, a part of him refused to die, refused to accept death. The sheriff was still alive. Guy needed to kill him. He didn't care how, he just needed that man to die. 'But what will you do, after Vaisey is dead?' A part of him argued. After the sheriff's death Prince John's men would most likely come and tear the place down. So the wisest decision would be to run. And that would mean turning his back on the people of Nottingham, leaving them, as Hood said, homeless.

And what about William and Derry and Grandpa and Marge? They had sheltered him for a night, risking their own necks at the same time. And now he was going to abandon them? Grandpa wouldn't last a day in the forest, that was for sure. He needed a plan.

"For Godsake, stop moving." A voice Guy recognized as Nazeem growled. Guy couldn't help letting out a hiss as Nazeem placed a damp cloth on his back. "Let me whipe away the blood at least." Guy bit his tounge as Nazeem did his work. "How bad is it?" Guy dared ask. "I don't know. I can hardly see nothing in this blasted darkness." Guy sighed. "Did it hurt?" Arthur asked. "It did hurt and still does hurt." Guy growled. "Ugh. Someone must've got up on the wrong side of the floor." Arthur chuckled at his own joke. "Wrong side of the bed, but you slept on the floor. Get it?" Arthur explained, still giggling. "There is no end to your wit, now shut up or I'll smack that grin off your face." Guy threatened. "Oh come on. Pen had the skin ripped off his back and he's fine."

"Actually I didn't." Pen corrected. "You see, I merely pickpocketed the sheriff when he wasn't looking, then bribed the jailor with a quarter of the money, leaving me with... six shillings in total."

"Great. All you need to do is get past these iron bars, dodge the guards, hop over the wall and you're fine." Gwyneth hissed sarcastically. "Oh and bare in mind our execution is in a couple of hours."

"What?" Guy broke in. "You heard. The sheriff's gonna kill us all in roughly an hour." Gwyneth informed. "All of us?" Arthur asked. "Yep. The sheriff loves a good execution." Pen answered. "But I didn't do nothing." Arthur wailed. "Do you think the sheriff cares? A clue; no." Penderyn snapped. "But I- I can't die. I'm too young. I got stuff to do."

"Glad you took your father's place now, eh boy?"

"Pen, shut up. He's just a child." Gwyneth growled. "I am sick of being treated like a child. I'm fifteen." Arthur yelled. "And I'm Pen. Nice to meet you."

Guy wasn't paying any attention to the bickering. Slowly, and painful, the former knight stood up, his blue eyes scanning the ground. "Where is it?" He whispered to himself. "What are you looking for?" Nazeem asked. Guy didn't answer. His eyes did a dozen scans as he wandered around the cramped cell. "What are you looking for?" Nazeem repeated. "A knife. My knife." The outlaw answered reluctantly. "Oh this little thing." Nazeem stated, holding up the knife. Guy immediately lunged forward causing more pain, but failed to snatch it. "Easy. You could do a lot of damage with this little thing." Nazeem said, the attention focusing on the pair. "I swear, if you don't give that here I'll-"

"What? You'll kill me? Some gratitude I get for saving you. Do you even know why I'm in here?" Nazeem snapped. "I thought you were an assassin." Arthur answered shyly. "Keep out of this, boy." Pen warned.

"Let me guess, you tried to kill the sheriff." Guy hissed. "Aye. My client isn't happy with me as it is, so I need to get the job done."

"Well, I've got news for you. I am going to kill the sheriff and escape from this mess whether you like it or not." Gisborne snarled, taking the knife and sitting down. "And how d'you plan to do that? You'd never make it past the portcullis. Not on your own." Pen hinted. "What are you suggesting?" Nazeem asked. "Well, I'm just saying; if we use the knife to cut the ropes, pass it along or whatever, then we can all attack at once and escape."

"But what about the guards and the executioner. They have swords, we don't." Arthur asked. "Firstly," Guy explained, "I know the executioner. He throws up at the sight of blood and can barely lift an axe, yet alone swing it. And secondly, we also have the element of surprise. If we time it just right, we can use it grab the guard's weapons, or disarm them at least."

"So you'll go along with this plan?" Pen asked. Guy didn't replie. He weight up the pros and cons in his head. They were right; he'd never make it out alive without their help. He had nothing to lose here. Yet accepting help from outlaws was something his pride wouldn't allow. 'So, it's a matter of your tattered pride, over your life?' Part of him questioned. Guy went to give his answer, but another voice replaced his; "Glad to see you're all wide awake." Vaisey boomed with a menacing grin on his face. "So, did you all enjoy your final moments on this earth?" The sheriff continued to gloat. "Aww, what's the matter, little boy." Arthur's head shot up, tears plowing a clear path through the dirt on his face. "You can't kill me."

"Aw why can't I?" Vaisey continued to mock. "It's against the law." Arthur hissed. "I AM THE LAW!-"

"Unless you don't pay those thousand crowns by the end of this month." Guy added. "Another word, Gisborne, and I'll have your tounge cut out. Now then, chop chop."

Two guards marched in and with a click, his chains fell to the ground, but were replaced by ropes threatening to crush his bones. Guy and the others marched single file down the corridors. Slowly, the outlaw reached with his fingers and grabbed the knife, which cut through his ropes like fish thorough water. He glanced over his shoulder. "Arthur." Guy whispered. Little Arthur hung his head in despair, trying to hide the tears that stained his face. "Arthur." Guy whispered again. He raised his head, and Guy saw his face light up with hope as he saw the dagger. "Ready?" Guy asked. Arthur merely nodded. The moment he dropped the blade, Arthur stumbled to the floor. "Get up you miserable sod." The guard yelled, kicking him. "I'm getting, I'm getting up." The boy protested. They continued to march to their doom.

Guy spared another glance over his shoulder. 'If the boy hasn't got that knife...' The hopeful look from Arthur was enough to tell him that it was working. A door swung open. Light flooded into the dark castle, temporarily blinding them. Even though it was a cloudy day, the sun still somehow managed to penetrate through the wall of clouds. Apart from the guards, the courtyard was empty. Then Guy looked beyond the portcullis. Every man, women and child were clawing at the metal, desperate to get a good view. He prayed it wouldn't affect his plans. "Raise the portcullis!" A guard shouted. Within seconds people covered every inch of the cobblestone floor, all of them pushing and shouting and jeering.

"People of Nottingham!" Vaisey yelled over the mob. "Where's the knife?" Guy hissed at Arthur.

"From this day forth-"

"Pen had it." Arthur replied. Guy saw Pen throw the knife to Nazeem, who caught the blade in his mouth, then dropped it over his shoulder. "-This man, who has terrorised and beaten and killed your loved ones, will be no more. Did Hood spare you from his tyranny? No. But I will."

Guy glanced over his shoulder again. Gwyneth had the knife.

"And, as promised, you may have the remains. Chop chop, executioner." Vaisey finished. The crowd turned into a frenzied mob, pushing the guards to their very limits. One of the guards came up to Guy, grabbed the back of his neck and forced him down to the chopping block. "Where's the knife?" Guy worried. The executioner, who looked sick to his stomach, took a deep breath, and with a colossal effort, he managed to life the axe. Guy dared raised his head. The executioner stood still, the axe wobbling in his hands and a knife poking in his chest, then collapsed to the side.

"Now!" Guy yelled. The outlaws shot up and went for the guards nearest them. Guy looked around wildly for a weapon. There was the knife stuck in the executioners chest and the axe. A guard came running up to him, sword drawn. Guy lunged for the axe and swung it with all his might, sending fresh pain shooting down his back. The axe logged itself in the guards ribcage. Guy took the sword and assessed the battlefield. The people who were pushing and shoving to get a clear view were now scampering away like rats, screeching and clawing at each other. Guy couldn't blame them. A pile of corpses surrounded Nazeem as he fought with two short swords. Pen and Gwyneth were fighting back-to-back, also up to their eyeballs in blood. Little Arthur stood their holding a spear, his whole body shaking, too scared to move. This was no place for someone as young as him. And finally Guy found what he was looking for. The sheriff.

Confused. Shocked. Panicking.

Those were the emotions written across his face. Gisborne raced to him, killing anyone who dared the cross his path. He was like a wolf; once he had locked eyes on his prey, nothing would stop him from bringing it down. Guy forgot everything. There was him, and the sheriff. Nothing more, nothing less. Only they were important to him. Unfortunately for the outlaw, Vaisey spotted him as he was a couple of yards away.

"Don't do this, Gisborne." Guy took another step forward. "I was always fond of you. Not overly fond, but fond all the same." The sheriff's words seemed nothing but a faint whisper on the wind. "You represent everything loathsome in a man." Gisborne snarled. "I thought that's why you liked me." Guy swung his sword at the sheriff's neck, but Vaisey merely took a few steps backwards, out of range. "Who put you up to this, Gisborne? Prince John? Your uncle? Do you hear me? This is nothing but sport. Childishness."

"I'm not doing this for anyone. This is for me. I will be rid of you."

Guy attacked again, but his sword was deflected by the sheriff's steel hand. Vaisey drew his dagger and they both exchanged blows, nothing fatal, yet. "You're the reason why Marian's dead, you poison everything." Guy snarled, lunging forward trying to stab the sheriff, but he step-sided the blade and punch Guy hard in the ribs with the spiked ball. Guy cried in pain as he staggered away, trying to regain his balance.

"All this for a women?!" Vaisey yelled, attacking his former master-at-arms with renewed vigour. Guy blocked one of the attacks, but failed to evade the spiked ball connecting with the back of his hand. Guy's sword clattered to the ground as pain erupted throughout his arm. And now he was weaponless. His blue eyes searched desperately for anything that could be used to defend himself. Vaisey leaped forward, causing Guy to jump back. Too focused on finding a weapon and defending against the onslaught, the outlaw tripped over a corpse. "You know I loved you like a son," Vaisey coaxed, "and you loved me like your father once. I know you did."

'So this is it.' Guy thought, as he lay there. 'This is how I'll die.' It wasn't a bad way to die. He was going down fighting, trying to kill the sheriff. And he was defeated. He lost. Game over. And now he was going to die. It was simple. Yet still, a part of him was annoyed, annoyed at himself for making such a simple error. The sheriff took a step towards him, picking up his sword. "You dropped something." Vaisey mused. His heart rate accelerated. 'Supose it could've been worse.' Guy thought, but he struggled to see how it could have been worse. Guy focused his gaze towards the sky. The wind sent clouds dancing across the sky. He felt the tiniest amount of water slither down his cheek. Another came. And another. Until millions at once launched a relentless attack on the ground. Within seconds he was soaked to the bone, his hair, a flowing river, his shirt, saturated with moisture.

'What was taking so long?' Guy wondered. He risked a glance. Vaisey dropped to his knees, his face jewelled with droplets of water. The sword clattered to the ground, causing a small splash as it landed in a puddle. To say Guy was confused was an understatement. And then the sharp edge of a metal blade bit into Vaisey's neck, and tore through to the other side.

'Was this happening?' The outlaw puzzled. Or had he died, and was merely fantasizing things? The sheriff's head rolled off his shoulders, landing in the water with a splash. Guy couldn't believe his eyes as blood poured from where Vaisey's head was, mixing in with the rain. He sighed deeply, a smile playing across his face. It was done. He was dead. Guy lay in the rain, letting that thought sink in. It was almost as though he could feel a weight being lifted off his shoulders.

"Are you trying to drown yourself in this blasted rain or what?" Nazeem said, looming over him, covered in blood. Guy still couldn't take what was going on. After what seemed like an eternity to him, Guy got up and sprinted out of Nottingham.

The outlaws- Guy, Nazeem, Arthur, Gwyneth and Pen stopped running. They had been running since they killed the sheriff, (which still hadn't properly sunk in), and were footsore, and in need of a rest. None of them were sure what would happen next. None of them had any real plans after their escape. On the positive side, the rain had subsided.

"Do any of you know which direction Locksley is?" Little Arthur asked, daring to break the silence. "Are you mad? You've just made it onto Nottingham's most wanted." Pen imformed. "So, then... this means I can stay with you guys?"

There was a chorus of 'no, yes and whats.'

"Who said anything about staying together?" Pen argued. "Would it not be wiser, if we work together to take down bigger prey?" Nazeem suggested. "Name ya terms." Gwyneth command. "Well... um..." Nazeem looked to sky as if searching the clouds for guidance. "Whatever gold we get, we split equally. A portion of the money should go to food and equipment, unless we hunt the food." Guy stated, all eyes falling to him.

"So you're joining us, Giz?" Arthur questioned, raising an eyebrow. "I never said I was joining and don't call me that." Guy snapped. "Call you what? Giz?"

"Yes." Guy growled.

"But it suits you. It's like a sound a wild animal makes when it's angry. And you're always angry."

Everyone roared with laughter at the remark. "It's idiots like you that make me annoyed. Now, you can go and catch some food," Guy ordered, pointing at Arthur, "and get some firewood."