Emeline: A Gisborne Tale

Chapter Six

With supper over Guy was ready to leave, but he wanted to speak to Emeline first. He approached her as she rose and excused herself from the table.

"All will be well soon, my lady. After you are fitted for your gown you will return to Locksley. The carriage is still here to take you home." She nodded and pressed his arm. Guy half-smiled, then turned and acknowledged Prince John, "I'll say goodnight and thank you, Sire." He bowed slightly toward Lord Emery.

The Prince and Emery both nodded and Guy exited the Great Hall.

As his horse followed the well-beaten track of road, Guy was aware of the familiar sounds of the flapping of wings and the whisper of the wind as it swept through the bushes. Then the woods fell eerily silent.

'Huntingdon!' Guy thought. He moved carefully along the road, listening for any movement.

Suddenly, from out of the trees, several men in armor and mail lunged at him from all sides. Guy pressed his knees to his horse's side and swerved to avoid the first man, slashing with his now unsheathed sword. The man rode past Guy, hefted his shield, and bore down on Guy, ready to strike. Finding an exposed part of the man's side, Guy turned and stabbed his attacker, sending him sprawling to the ground. Almost immediately, Guy's horse ran into another attacker. Guy tried to catch his breath only to find himself besieged from behind. Guy whirled and ducked, a sword whooshing over his head, but he slashed with his sword in return before running the man through.

It was at that moment another group of men entered the fray and took to fighting with the armored men as Guy continued to fend off attackers.

As Guy's attackers started to fall dead one by one at the hands of the newcomers, the rest of the men in armor took flight and disappeared into the trees.

Robin Hood and his men were sheathing swords and throwing quivers across their shoulders.

"It's customary for one to thank one's rescuers, Gisborne." Robin mused with an insolent grin.

Guy scowled. "You sent those men!", he snapped accusingly.

"Why would I do that? Why would I send men to kill you and then fight them off for you? Seems like a waste of time and resources." Robin replied.

He was right and Guy knew it. "They were wearing a uniform of green with twin ravens. Have you ever seen that standard before?" Guy asked, his irritation palpable.

Robin cupped his chin in thought. He had never seen such a uniform either here or in the Holy Land. He shook his head. "No.," he said. "Any of you?" he questioned his men.

They all shook their heads.

"Then the question is, why would they want to kill you, Gisborne? Not that you've made any enemies in your life." Robin said, sarcastically.

Guy sneered and spurred his horse onwards, turning his back to Robin and his men as he resumed his journey. "Go back to your trees, Huntingdon, before the sheriff's men catch you.", he warned.

Robin called after him. "You're lucky we came when we did!"

"I'd already killed two of them before you arrived." Guy shot back and rode on.

Robin threw up his hands in mock frustration. "Come on, men. Let's get something to eat. I saw a deer before we saved our worst enemy." He laughed as they headed back into the forest.

Guy was irked that Robin and his men had been the ones to help him run off his attackers. Who were those men and why were they trying to kill him? Huntingdon was right. He had made plenty of enemies but not with a king from another country. Maybe some high ranking lord sent his household troops, but whose? Then he had an idea.