Chapter 6

"Aye, where you going Tyrell?" slurred Lumer as he brought his head up off the table once more.

Tyrell stood rooted in his spot for a second. Archer and Robin each had one of Guy's arms thrown over their shoulder so that they could help him to escape.

"This bloke is drunk mad," said Tyrell nodding his head at Guy who was strung between Archer and Robin with his head down. "He needs some air."

Lumer reached for a mug that stood on the table, visibly empty. He put the mug to his lips and tried to drink the nonexistant liquid. When Lumer, as drunk as he was, realized that the mug was empty, he threw it across the room in frustration. It clattered against the wall and hit the floor. Lumer turned his bloodshot eyes on us and said, "Sit Tyrell. You are far too serious. Have a drink or two."

"I'm good Lumer," said Tyrell.

Robin knew that Tyrell was trying to get them outside and that they wouldn't get past Lumer unless they played alog with his plan.

"Play drunk," hissed Robin in Guy's ear.

Guy lifted up his head slightly and looked annoyed for half a second before grunting in consent.

Guy lifted his head up briefly to make sure that he had eye contact with Lumer before bending his head back down and pretending to vomit on the floor.

Lumer studied Guy with curiousity for a minute, but, since he was drunk, he let them continue on their way out the door. He was too drunk to see through Guy's charade.

"I'm telling you Tyrell," slurred Lumer as they started to step outside. "One of these days, you'll have wished that you were less serious."

Tyrell paid no heed to Lumer's words and quickly shut the door behind him once they were all outside.

"This way," said Tyrell as he headed off into the woods in the distance. "You three better not be slow. We don't have time to waste."

The forest at night was filled with life. The stars overhead twinkled in all their majesty; sheding their rays of light down on the party of four as they wove through the skeletal trees. Archer and Robin helped to carry Guy through the forest, but it was slow going. Guy didn't have the use of his legs so he wasn't very much help. Tyrell would yell at them to pick up the pace which would get Guy in an even more irritable mood. Maybe it was a good thing that these twin brothers had been kept apart.

When they finally came to a stop at a cave, they were all thankful for the rest. Even Tyrell, who hated to show his relief. Archer and Robin helped to lower Guy down onto the rocky ground inside the cave. Once Guy was situated, Robin looked back at the cave enterance where Tyrell stood with his back to them.

"I'll have to start a fire apparently if we want to stay warm tonight," grumbled Archer as he stood up, arching his body forward in order to stretch.

"I'll be there to help you in a minute," said Robin as he walked toward Tyrell.

"Aren't you going to come settle in?" asked Robin as he stood next to Tyrell.

"In a moment," replied Tyrell.

Robin didn't know what else he could say to Tyrell to make him come in so he said, "I'm going to take a small walk around the woods."

Tyrell turned to focus his gaze on Robin; trying to gauge whether or not he could trust him.

Tyrell released a sigh and said, "Fine, but stay close to camp. If you try to run off, I will kill your two friends in there."

Robin nodded his head and consent, saying, "You have my word."

Robin felt bad that Tyrell couldn't acknowledge the fact that Archer and Guy were actually his family. He pitied Tyrell as he climbed the nearby ridge and looked at the valley of the forest below him. The ridge that Robin was now situated on gave him a clear view at the main path that ran through Sherwood forest. This late at night the path would normally be vacant. Yet tonight it was littered with the horses, bearing the flag of Prince John. Robin crouched down on the ridge to avoid being seen and continued to watch the procession. At the rear of the procession was a cart that was surrounded by four guards. That must mean that Prince John was among them.

Robin's heart dropped in his chest, with a sickening realization.

Prince John was headed toward Nottingham.