Chapter 22

The sorcerer exulted. All of his poisoned arrows hit the target. He managed not only to captivate the soul of his nemesis, but also to turn it inside out, exposing old wounds and bringing out from the depths of consciousness hidden fears and doubts. Loxley stood slumped, head down and breathing heavily like a wounded animal. He had just performed a magical act and didn't even realise it. The oracle obeyed him obediently, and the warlock, smiling slightly, noted it to himself with satisfaction.

This guy is definitely talented. And now he is completely in Simon de Bellem's hands, body and soul. His pure, powerful natural gift was left to be polished and channelled. The goal is almost achieved. But the Baron had at first doubted that he would be able to curb the proud temper of the forest brigand and make him doubt his purpose. Too fervent and too fierce a resistance to the influence of the dark forces of Loxley. But finding his pain points wasn't so hard. A final, decisive blow remained to be struck to sever forever his connection to the one who opposed the dark mage and his powerful patron.

- Hearn has deceived you, my boy. - whispered the Baron.

The sorcerer tried his best to make his voice sound as soft as possible, with notes of genuine fatherly concern.

- He has convinced you that you are the chosen one, that you are an instrument of justice, but in reality you are just an innocent victim of his pride, and of his inordinate ambition. There is no higher justice, just as there are no pure and noble goals worth fighting for and risking not only your life, but the lives of those you love. Sooner or later everything you believed in will be betrayed, trampled, destroyed, and will fade into oblivion, just like you. And this horned scarecrow, who calls himself the Lord of the Trees, will forget about you the moment you breathe your last breath in agony, and will immediately find a new victim, declaring him the new Son of Hearn. And so on ad infinitum. Are you ready to break this vicious cycle, son of Elric? Are you ready to restore true justice by getting what you really deserve and what you deserve?

Loxley raised his head. His face had changed strikingly. His features sharpened, his lips tightened, and sweat appeared on his pale skin. But the creepiest thing was his eyes. There was darkness in them. Darkness spilled through his veins, fuelled by rage and pain, and the Baron could clearly see it.

Robin himself had no idea what was about to happen to him. His blood pounded in his temples, fog floated before his eyes, and his fists clenched tightly, until his joints ached. The anger that had been slumbering in the most secret corners of his soul for so long finally broke free and completely took over his mind. It was as if someone had tossed a pile of resinous twigs into a quietly smouldering fire, and the flames roared upwards, threatening to destroy all life around them.

Bonfire... Flame.

"Marion!"

She is chained to a pole and the fire is already getting to her feet. He has to save her! He has to.

No, that's not fire. It's her hair, golden in the sun like a copper, sparkling cloud. She has a wreath of wildflowers on her head, smiling gently at him...

Though no, here she is standing in the chambers of a luxurious castle, holding an infant in her arms... Their son. This castle belongs to him, Robin. Why? He can't remember.

There is still Marion, reaching out her bound hands to him in desperation, there is Marion under the jets of a forest waterfall... Visions whirled through his head, succeeding each other. He was completely confused by the swirl of these images. Which one was real? What is real and what is an obsession? Where is the dream and where is reality? One thing he knew for sure, Marion was in danger. She, and all his mates, have been betrayed by someone, and that someone is bound to pay for it. Cold fury made Loxley clench his fists even tighter and grit his teeth.

The Baron's voice brought him out of his stupor.

- Are you ready to follow me, Robin of Locksley? Are you ready to change your destiny and save those you love?

- Yes. What do I have to do? - Loxley said in a muffled voice.

His own voice seemed quite alien, unfamiliar to him. De Bellem turned round and beckoned to Robin to follow him. It was as if time had slowed down. The blood was still pounding rumbling in his temples and his ears were noisy. He felt quite like when Jennet of Elsdon had drugged them with the poisonous potion. He felt like he was being poisoned.

"Poisoned by the Darkness."

These words, as if coming from outside, flashed through his mind and immediately disappeared.

They approached the altar. It was the same altar on which Robin himself had been writhing and convulsing only a short time before. Two men were now lying on it, bound and with sacks over their heads.

Loxley immediately remembered Lilith's words, "The sacred altar will soon quench its thirst"

- This is the moment of truth, Robin," said the Baron, "Your release is at hand.

The black mage nodded to the guards while making a strange gesture with his hand in the air and muttered something quietly to himself. A sack was pulled off one of the prisoners, and Loxley saw his face.

It was Calwinton's village leader. Robin almost groaned as he recognised him. "Nothing is forgotten!"

He seemed to recognise Robin too, as his eyes went wide. He tried to say something to Robin, but couldn't because of the gag in his mouth, and only mumbled something. Meanwhile, a sack was also removed from the head of the second captive, a rather large man.

Out of the corner of his eye, Loxley caught the same gesture from the Baron and heard him mumble inaudibly. The second prisoner also turned out to be a resident of the village of Calwinton. One of those who stood silently watching Robin and his friends in need of help being driven out of the village by the headman. Wait a minute though... Loxley's eyes narrowed. It was the same young man who, in his vision, was putting kindling on the fire prepared for Marion's burning! Loxley remembered his face well, and a wave of hatred boiled in his blood.

The guy's eyes bulged, he mumbled something loudly through the gag, as if swearing, and he twitched desperately, trying to free himself. The ropes snapped, but they held. Robin watched him indifferently. Their fate was indifferent to him. Something seemed to have happened to him since he had returned from the realm of the dead.

"You have succumbed to the Darkness, Robin of Locksley."

I think it was Hearn's voice. Or was he imagining it?

- Robin of Loxley is dead," whispered the Sherwood archer.