"Are you ready, Gisbourne, hmm, for my little treasure hunt?"
Sir Guy of Gisbourne nodded. "Let us hope Hood is ready as well, My Lord."
"Oh, Gisbourne, he'll be ready! He'll fall nicely into my little trap! And then, once he's mine, what do you think I'll do with him, hmm?"
"I'm sure you've thought up something, My Lord."
"You know me too well, Gisbourne. I have indeed! BRING OUT THE BAIT!"
A covered cart rolled into the courtyard, pulled by a horse. The Sheriff could barely contain his pleasure. He jumped up and down, clapping his stubby fingered hands in glee.
"And how many children are bound and gagged in that cart, Gisbourne, hmm?"
"A half dozen, my lord, as you requested."
"Good, good. Very good! And are the clues written, all ready to go?"
"Yes, My Lord, they are ready to be posted on each body, indicating the location of the next victim."
"Excellent! I want Hood caught by sunset!"
"You shall have him, My Lord."
"Oh, this is good! This is good! Carry on, Gisbourne!"
...
Allan and Will ran breathlessly into camp, carrying a screaming, bleeding child they had discovered in the forest. They set the child's body on the ground, while Robin summoned the newest member of the gang, Djaq, to have a look at the girl.
"I need water, and clean cloth to bandage her wound," Djaq ordered.
Robin handed Djaq his flask of water, while Much set off in various directions to find some clean linens, something extremely scarce in the forest.
"Never mind," Djaq decided, using the vest on her back as a bandage.
"Tell me your name," Robin said kindly to the child. "I am Robin Hood, and my men and I want to help you."
"Hawise," she answered faintly. "Are you really Robin Hood?"
"Yes I am. And this is Djaq. Tell me, Hawise, who did this to you?"
"Sheriff's men."
While Robin took it in, his eyes glowing with rage, Djaq handed him a note that had been fastened to Hawise's gown.
"Robin, you should read this," she instructed.
Robin unfolded the note, and read aloud,
"My dear Little Robin Red Breast,
Since you seem so eager to collect my treasure, I, Vaisey, Sheriff of Nottingham, do cordially invite you to participate in a little game...a little treasure hunt of our own. You will find clues attached to children, with increasing damage done to each child as you progress through the game. Each clue will lead you to the next victim...I mean child, until you discover all six, and uncover the treasure. And be warned, Hood, should you choose not to play, the children will still be waiting, in pieces, on pins and needles, so to speak, for you to rescue them. So, let the game begin!
Clue Number One: Get ready to say your prayers, Hood, where you said them when you were a child.
Good luck, and happy hunting!
Your Sheriff, Vaisey."
"I hate the sheriff," Will said passionately, through gritted teeth.
Robin tried to decide whom to take with him. Someone needed to stay here with Hawise. He needed Djaq through the entire game, to tend to the children's wounds. There were six outlaws, and six children. So, he needed one additional person, at least near the end, unless they could get the children to families who could help. Unless, of course, that would put the families in danger. Damn Vaisey!
He decided to make Little John stay at camp with Hawise. John was fatherly...children liked and trusted him. Also, there was bound be be a lot of country to cover during this "game," and John was older and tired more easily than the rest of them.
"Come on," he told the others, "the next child's either in the church at Locksley, or Roche Abbey. I say we head to Locksley first. This is obviously a trap, but we need to rescue the children. Who's with me?"
All of them nodded their heads to him, and they set off towards Locksley.
...
Marian slowed Vesper as she neared her home, and suddenly had the distinct impression she was being watched. It wasn't a fearful feeling that sent chills up and down her spine...more an exciting burst that sent butterflies dancing about her insides. She could actually feel his eyes upon her, and she turned and peered into the trees. She drew a startled breath when she spotted Robin staring back at her, his blue eyes on fire to catch her attention. She jumped down from Vesper's back, led her horse to the treeline, tied her reins to a trunk, and stepped into the brush.
She was surprised to find Robin not accompanied by Much. Instead, he was with a small Saracen youth, and a smaller hurt child. She immediately forgot her curiosity about the Saracen in her desire to help the child.
"Robin! What happened? What can I do to help?"
"Sheriff's scheme to catch me. He's injuring children and leaving me clues to find the next one, like a treasure hunt. This is the fifth child out of six. Djaq has bandaged his wounds, but I need Djaq to come with me to assist with the final child's injuries. Can you possibly take the child? I can't leave him here alone."
"Of course I can, but Robin, you mustn't go! It's a trap! I heard the Sheriff mention it yesterday, and Gisbourne implied he would use children to get to you!"
"I have to go, Marian. I can't let the child suffer. Every child we've found has been hurt worse than the last one."
"You can't go. Let me go instead."
"What?"
"Let me go instead. You say you have a clue leading you to the next child. Tell me what you know, and I can stumble upon the child accidentally, and provide help. The Sheriff won't suspect, and even if he does, he has no proof it was you who told me. Please, Robin! You can't walk right into the Sheriff's trap!"
"I can't let you walk in, either!"
"I'll be fine. Now, tell me, where is the last child?"
Robin hesitated. If anything were to happen to Marian, he would never forgive himself. He gasped when he felt Marian put her hand over his, sending his heart to his throat.
"Trust me, Robin," she pleaded, her gorgeous blue eyes appealing to his, making his heart pound so loudly, he was sure she could hear it.
Djaq spoke up, surprising Marian by speaking English, though in a heavy accent. "The child is in Nottingham Castle, in the aviary, where the sheriff keeps his hawks. Do you know how to get there?"
Marian was already untying Vesper's reins. "I'll think up an excuse for visiting the aviary on my way there. Don't worry, Robin! I'll be fine!"
She rode off, relieved to have saved him, and excited by doing her part to save one of the sheriff's victims. This would certainly give her something wonderful to think about while she otherwise suffered through her dinner engagement with Guy of Gisbourne tonight at Locksley!