The Journey To Acre

Chapter 8

The departure from France went off without a hitch.

Guy had never been more grateful.

There were glum faces on the Mary Peel, but Guy's was not one of them, not even with Vaisey back on board.

If the Sheriff was happy to see that his lieutenant had not deserted him, he didn't show it, but then Vaisey had never been known to value what he had, when he could lament what he had not.

"Thought the day would never come. Was beginning to think we'd be stuck here forever. King Richard will have died of old age by the time we get there."

Guy felt his temper rising on behalf of the crew, who, after a reluctant start, had gone on to get the ship in good order in record time. If the dirty looks being directed at them from the men are anything to go by, then Vaisey's remarks aren't appreciated by them either.

Luckily, Archie makes an appearance then, distracting them from any uncharitable comments they might make about their ungrateful guest. Unluckily, there was no let up in the tension because the sheriff was a veritable font of sarcasm and the new arrival merely gives him opportunity to shift focus.

"Oh look Gisborne, it's your fleabag friend!"

He takes one step towards the feline and one step only, because every man in the vicinity, including Guy, instinctively moves to block his path.

No words are spoken. No fuss is made. The message is crystal clear: under no circumstances is he to approach the cat. Under no circumstances whatsoever.

With that out of the way, Sully threads his way through the crowd to the centre of this impromptu confrontation, casually picks up his beloved feline, and with a wry smirk bids the sheriff a good evening.

Vaisey isn't able to reply. He's that dumbstruck. Indeed, by the time he's come to his senses and thought up an appropriate comeback, the crowd has dispersed and all he's got to respond to is the broad expanse of his lieutenant's chest.

Have you all lost your minds?

He's still trying to get his head round the fact that the men dared oppose him in favour of a fluffhead, when Guy announces he has errands to attend to and departs.

It's just as the tall frame disappears from view that his brain catches up, "Wait, Gisborne... What errands?"

I didn't give you any...

He realises then, that a shift has occurred in his absence and that the loyalty his right hand man has always so exclusively bestowed upon him, is perhaps not so exclusive after all.

A reminder was clearly in order. A reminder of who was in charge here.

Fortunately, he has a fair idea how to go about it.

**********

"D'yer know, I think your boss is a goin' a bit strange," Cleggy announces, plonking himself down next to Guy and helping himself to the wine being shared amongst the crew.

Guy is not surprised at this sentiment; that somebody should find his employer strange is nothing new, so he merely responds with a nod to signal that Cleggy should continue.

"I mean, who goes asking for shears when they're bald as a coot?"

The question hangs in the air a moment before the giggles start and Ingram, never one to waste a good cue, doesn't miss a beat,

"P'raps he's got a sheep in his berth, have you ever thought of that!?"

For a second, all is silent, then Cleggy creases up. The mouthful of wine he'd been about to swallow comes spurting out from between closed lips, showering all in its path and he'd apologize, but it isn't happening whilst he's at the mercy of a laughing fit.