Chapter 4

Tyrell finally reached his destination. He stopped in front of this gnarled looking cottage squashed between two trees and knocked on the door. Robin was sure that that action would cause the cottage to collapse. The two of them stood there and waited until the door of the cottage swung open, revealing the gruff looking occupant. The man that opened the door had a muscular build. He looked to be about fifty or so. His knotted gray hair ran well past his shoulders and the ragged beard on his face made it hard to see where his mouth was when he spoke.

"Tyrell! You're back!"

That was when the man caught sight of Robin who still stood behind Tyrell. Robin could feel the man's beady brown eyes studying him.

"You brought the boy back here alive!"

Before either of them realized it, the man reached out and slapped Tyrell across the face. Tyrell clutched the side of his face in pain.

"I told you to bring him back dead!"

Robin knew that he probably wasn't supposed to hear that.

"I think that he'll be an asset Lumer! Trust me on this one!"

"Well, I know I didn't raise you to be daft," said Lumer as he looked Robin up and down, evaluating him. "But that doesn't mean you won't make mistakes."

"This is not a mistake," insisted Tyrell. "Trust me. Have I ever given you reason to not trust me, Lumer?"

"No, I suppose not," grunted Lumer in consent. "Bring the boy inside before anyone sees him."

Lumer backed up so that Tyrell and Robin could enter. Robin and Tyrell entered the cottage. The cottage smelled like tobacco smoke and made Robin reel backward for a second. Lumer shut the door and turned to look at the two of them as Tyrell asked, "Where's everyone?"

"They're out doing who knows what," said Lumer with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Now Tyrell, tell me. Why did you keep Robin alive?"

Tyrell looked over his shoulder at Robin who was examining the dismal state of the cottage. Tyrell took a deep breath and looked back at Lumer, saying, "I can't tell you. All I can tell you is that I need him for something."

Lumer was angered by Tyrell's response. He grabbed him by the collar of his cloak and shoved him up against one of the walls off to the side. Lumer leaned in close to Tyrell's face until his mouth was just inches away from his face; his rancid breath causing Tyrell to wince.

"What did I teach you about individual gain, huh? What did I teach you?" growled Lumer in a silent, deadly voice.

"You said that I should be concerned for everyone's welfare and not just my own," said Tyrell.

"Right," said Lumer. "So you saying you need Robin for something indicates that you are only looking out for yourself."

Lumer released a hold of Tyrell, thrusting him at the wall. Tyrell's back hit the wall and a momentary flash of pain crossed his face.

"Lay off him will you?" asked Robin.

Lumer turned to look at Robin while Tyrell looked at him out of the corner of his eye giving him a look that read, Don't do anything rash.

"What did you say to me?" asked Lumer.

"I told you to leave him alone," said Robin again. He wasn't about to let this man intimidate him.

Instead of lashing out at him, Lumer just laughed. He let out such a jovial laugh that Robin looked at him in confusion for a minute. Lumer turned to look at Tyrell, who was slowly approaching them, and said to him, "I see why you kept him alive. He is just like you in his stubborness."

That caused a flash of anger to cross Tyrell's face. He didn't like being compared to Robin.

"Take care of that friend of yours," said Lumer. "We will deal with him later."

With a consenting grunt, Tyrell grabbed Robin's arm and hauled him toward a bedroom off to one side. He pushed him forward into the room and then slammed the door shut behind him. Robin threw himself against the door in an attempt to escape, but to no avail. It was locked.

"It's useless," said a voice behind him. "I've already tried."

Robin slowly turned around and that's when his jaw dropped in shock. These were the last two people that Robin was expecting to see.