Sherwood Rogue

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Little John and Will Stutely both woke at the same instant and were beside me in moments, talking over one another.

"Poison?"

"How?"

"What happened?"

I told them how I had found the man on watch dead, and how I had come to tell Robin and found him like this.

"It had to have been an inside job," said Little John. "No one else could have gotten close enough to a guard to kill him without making a sound."

Stutely glared at me, but Robin cut him off from making an accusation. "Not Kay," he groaned. "Eric . . . ." Then he passed out.

"Which Eric?" I asked. There were three. Eric of Chester, Eric O'Leary, or Bran's man Eric.

My question was answered as Much ran in. "Eric O'Leary is run off. Cedric the Smith saw him, but he didn't think anything of it. What's wrong with Robin?!" he asked, catching sight of Robin's supine form.

"Poison," said Will Stutely, venom in his voice.

"Where are we going to go for help?" asked John, at a complete loss. No one answered. We all just looked at Robin.

"Kirklees Priory," I said at last, biting my lip in misery as all doors but one closed on Robin's fate. "They'll know what to do."

I had thought it all out, thought I could change the future and save Robin's life. I should have known it wouldn't work. I was living proof that it couldn't work.

"Aye," agreed Much. "I think he's got a cousin or something who's taken vows there."

"But that's in Yorkshire, almost twenty leagues from here!" exclaimed John.

"We can't take him anywhere closer. Soldiers will find him. If this was planned, they'll be watching. It has to be Kirklees." Much backing up my statement was a bitter affirmation of what I remembered about Robin's final days.

"I'll meet you there," growled Stutely. He ran out of the cave, stopping only to grab his knives and sword. I could guess where he was going and almost felt sorry for Eric O'Leary when Will caught up with him. Almost.

"Let's pray we can get him there in time," said John, covering Robin with his blanket. "Kay, can you get a cart and horse?"

"Aye."

"Get it and bring it to the Lincoln-York crossroads. We'll meet you there."

I went out of the cave and thought for a moment. Then I woke Will and Paul. I told Will what had happened and what I was doing as I pulled a warm coat and cloak over Paul's sleepy form. He would help with the disguise I had planned.

We arrived at Anne's without incident a little before noon.

"Come inside. Quickly!" said Sydney, ushering me into the house and looking outside to see if I was followed before shutting the door. "It's not safe for you to be here."

"I know," I said, setting Paul next to the fire and opening his coat to the warmth.

"What's happened? Has Will been . . . ?" asked Anne, fear showing in her wide eyes.

"Will's fine. It's Robin. I need a cart and a mule. The rattier the better." I opened my cloak to the warmth. It had been quite a trek through the snow. I had to carry Paul most of the way, and it was near freezing with the little wind that had picked up.

"Robin?" asked Sydney.

"He's been poisoned. We have to take him to Kirklees Priory."

"Can't you bring him here?" asked Anne, reappearing with the baby, William, in her arms. The child had been a big reason Sydney wanted to marry Anne.