Chapter 25
"Remember who you are, Robin of Locksley," came Hearn's voice, low and deep in his mind. He suddenly saw his old self. Not in luxurious clothes, but in rags. Not well-fed and well-groomed, but ragged and half-starved. Who is he really? An outlaw. A wolf's head. Definitely not a saint, but not an executioner.
Loxley shook his head, slowly lowered the knife and straightened up.
- Fool! - shrieked the Baron - You don't realise what you are condemning yourself and all those you care about!
And for whom? For a couple of brainless peasants who stabbed you in the back once! You think they won't do it again?
Peasants from Calwinton. A moment ago Loxley had been ready to slit their throats without much regret, but now he was scrutinising their faces.
"The darkness is insidious and cunning, Robin," Hearn's voice came again, "Everything is not what it seems Remember that!"
Everything is not what it seems? What does that mean?
The Sherwood archer's gaze wandered confusedly until it stopped on Lilith. The wizard's maid froze with her mouth open and didn't move. But Loxley's attention was caught by what she held in her hands. A silver bowl, it glimmered in the torchlight, reflecting those who lay on the altar. The reflection was distorted, elongated, but what Robin saw in it made him freeze in place. On the smooth surface of the silver bowl, Robin saw the black curls of the Saracen and the rugged beard of Little John!
Robin closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head.
-Things are not what they seem," he said quietly, opening his eyes again.
On the altar still lay the bound peasants, but one of them showed with the fingers of his right hand, numbed in the tight fetters, the sign of the English archers. Slightly bent fingers index and middle fingers like the letter "V". In battles with the Normans, English archers were better off not being captured, lest the enemy strip them of their toes. So as a challenge the brave English showed the enemy a slingshot of fingers, "My fingers are there, come and get them if you can"
Robin looked again at the reflection on the silver bowl. Nazir looked at him in reflection and shook his head. Shifting his gaze to Lilith, Robin swung his hand sharply. The steel blade soared into the air and, with a loud gasp from Lilith, came down sharply, Robin's razor-sharp blade instantly cutting through the ropes that bound Nazir's hands. Lilith shrieked in surprise and dropped the silver bowl from her hands.
- What are you standing there for, you fools, grab them! - the Baron shouted in a furious rage.
The soldiers were already rushing to fulfil his order. The frightened monks scattered. Robin and his friends were surrounded on all sides by armoured thugs.
- Kill everyone but the ringleader! - The sorcerer commanded, "I want Loxley alive!
- Simon, stop!
Robin's ringing voice sounded like a bell.
Before the soldiers could attack him, the archer turned to face the Baron, and the latter, realising what Loxley was up to, made a sign to his soldiers to stop.
The mercenaries froze in place with swords in their hands, still ready to attack at the black mage's first signal.
The warlock froze, staring fixedly at the gunman opposite him. Locksley's hand was still firmly gripping the knife, but the shining blade was pointed at Locksley's chest.
Nazir was in a desperate hurry. When he got rid of the gag, he quickly managed the restraints on his legs and began to untie Little John.
- I'll be damned! - The giant blurted out with emotion as soon as Nazir pulled the gag from his mouth - Robin, are you alive?! Oh, for crying out loud, what's going on here?!
- It's all right," Loxley answered him calmly, not taking his eyes off the sorcerer.
- What the hell- - Little John started to say, but Robin interrupted him abruptly.
- No time to explain, mate. Just trust me.
Nazir, as usual, did not utter a word, it was clear to him.
- You're crazy, Loxley! - The sorcerer hissed through his teeth, unable to take his eyes off the blade of the knife, "Do you realise what you're doing?
- Judging by your bewildered look, I'm doing the right thing," Robin said with a grin - Order your men to drop their weapons and stand back, otherwise...
- Otherwise what?" the black mage hissed hatefully.
- Otherwise, you and I will die together.
The sorcerer's chin twitched involuntarily, and Robin realised he had hit his target.
- Yes, I know your secret, you lying bastard. Some not-so-clever little birdie told it to me when she was trying to seduce me.
When Lilith heard this, she shrank backwards, trying to get into the shadows, away from the Baron's eyes. But de Bellem did not care for her now. It was the first time he had ever been in this position when, his completely stupefied victim suddenly released his claws and literally clawed at his throat. He really regretted not believing his frightening vision. He hoped he could easily tame the timber wolf, outsmart it. But now the sorcerer realised that he had been greatly mistaken. The situation was such that he had been outsmarted, and now Simon had no idea what to do about it.