Chapter 19
In the niche was a huge, human-sized piece of obsidian, perfectly polished so that Robin could clearly see not only his reflection, but everything around him. The Black Mirror. The Devil's Oracle. As the beliefs went, it could take the soul of whoever looked into it. Robin had never had the opportunity to see himself from the outside before, and he regarded his reflection without a shadow of fear, but rather with curiosity.
Where's the ragamuffin from Sherwood Forest? On the smooth surface of the stone he saw a young man of obvious noble birth, dressed from head to toe in black and silver, the colours of power and authority.
De Bellem approached noiselessly and stood at his right hand. Glancing at the Baron's mirror reflections and his own, Robin suddenly realised how similar they were now: both of them seemed to be made of darkness and moonlight, and he didn't like it.
- Look, Loxley," said the Baron, "Look carefully.
With these words, the sorcerer passed his hand over the surface of the stone, and the reflection suddenly blurred, as if it were covered with mist. Robin watched mesmerised as something else, something unrelated to reality, gradually emerged through the mystical haze. The vaults of Baron de Bellem's gloomy castle suddenly expanded into pompous, light-filled royal chambers. He, a beggarly forest robber with no family and no tribe, marches in his luxurious garb through a lively corridor made up entirely of nobles. Noble gentlemen, dukes and counts, members of the clergy, and the rest of the dressed-up public bowed their heads in awe before him, and he, disregarding the murmurs of admiration behind him, walked along their motley ranks with his head held high.
He sees familiar faces in the crowd. Here the sheriff's brother, Abbot Hugo, bows to him subserviently. Here comes Sheriff De Renault himself, cowardly hiding his eyes, bowing his head. Gisborne stands beside the sheriff, not daring to look at Loxley. Where did Sir Guy of Gisborne's hubris go? Robin vividly remembers how that pompous turkey had slapped him in the face with his ringed gloved hand during their first meeting in the woods just because Robin had dared to call himself a free man.
Robin sees his friends as well. They are all here, dressed as befits important guests at a reception, cheerfully greeting him. In the centre of the hall, the king himself awaits him. Robin kneels before him, and the monarch personally knights Robin, touching his shoulders with the blade of his sword.
- It's impossible," Robin whispered, shaking his head negatively. - It can't be true. Back under the royal banner? Oh, no. I know how treacherous he who is clothed with power can be, and how easily he can betray someone who was willing to serve him faithfully.
- To betray a vagrant and outlaw - perhaps," said the Baron. - But not a descendant of an ancient family of sorcerers, patronized by forces far more powerful than the power of a monarch.
- A descendant of an ancient family? - Loxley asked incredulously.
Instead of answering, the sorcerer again passed his hand over the magic mirror, and a new vision appeared.
Robin is standing on the fortress wall of a high castle. The wind flutters the billows of his black cloak with a silver hem and flutters his hair. With his face to the wind and his palm resting on the hilt of the sword in its ornate scabbard strapped to his belt, Robin surveyed his surroundings. The castle stands on top of a hill and from it the area can be seen for miles around.
- All that you see, all this land as far as the horizon, it can all be yours.
The Baron's voice sounds as if from far away, but Loxley hears every word clearly.
- The king's generosity has no bounds when you know how to approach him. You can see for yourself if you want to. To gain power is to gain true freedom by getting rid of your enemies and everything that hindered you in life forever.
- And at the same time get rid of the things I cared about," Robin grinned. - For wealth and power, betray everything you believed in and become one of those you fought against? Yes, a truly twist of fate...
He nearly laughed out loud.
- Have you forgotten who you're dealing with, Simon? Do you think that if you dress up a forest robber in luxurious rags, give him enough to eat and drink, show him beautiful pictures, he will humbly fall down before you? I know that you need me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have given a fortune to buy my body back from the sheriff. And he wouldn't raise me from the dead. I don't know what it is about me that's so valuable to you, but if that's really the case, I have one condition. You let Marion go, and then we'll talk. One on one.
Loxley stared firmly into the black mage's face, realising he was playing a dangerous game. He was in no position at all to set conditions, but for the sake of saving his beloved, all means were good.
The Baron smiled, though his gaze remained cold and fixed.
- You were never stupid, Loxley. I wouldn't bring you back if I wasn't sure you deserved it. You don't have to believe me, but listen to your heart. Sometimes it is wiser than reason. Listen to it. Perhaps it will tell you the truth you so stubbornly refuse to see.
Again the sorcerer's hand swung, and a new vision appeared in the black pool of the mirror...