38The sound of scraping metal echoed in the stone church as Robin drew out his sword, his breathing heavy enough for Allan to hear it at the other end of the aisle. "Jesus," he muttered as he rushed forward, his hand clutched tightly on his own hilt, but refusing to draw it instinctually. "Whoa, Robin," he shouted, "Not in a church." He heard running footsteps behind him, the gang rushing forward to surround the commotion as well. Allan found himself back to back with the Sheriff, staring into the suspicious faces of Will and Djaq, their friends completing the circle.
John placed a heavy hand on Robin's shoulder, grunting disapproval. "He's right, Robin," Djaq encouraged, her R's rolling softly, but her stare hard and cold at Allan's eyes.
"We can't just let him get away," Robin spoke through gritted teeth, "We have him here. Unguarded and alone!"
The Sheriff tutted, "Oh, Hood. Do you ever learn? I never go alone."
Robin shifted his weight between his feet, his look assessing the Sheriff's honesty, bluffing, or boasting. "Don't trust your right hand man's right hand man, do you?"
"Of course I do," he snickered, "But why just settle for the secondary support?"
Looking around, he nodded for Will and Djaq to follow him to the door. Will squinted out from the crack between the thick panels, nodding that it looked clear out there; Djaq leaned in close to Robin, whispering in his ear, or so Allan could observe from the direction he faced. He only hoped it was his warning from before—then they may have a chance to escape the ambush that the Sheriff must be alluding to. Robin nodded, casting a glance in Allan's direction, a slight curl to the edge of his lips as he returned to face the Sheriff.
"Alright, Vaisey, this is what we will do. In three days, we will meet again. You will release whoever it is you're harming, you will stop sending me bits of," his face tightened, as if in pain, "this person, and in exchange we will bring you your Pact."
"So quick to accept my offer, Hood. Anxious to part with the document, or anxious to save another suffering soul?" the Sheriff taunted.
"Anxious to be done with you. Get them out of here. Their horses are tied up just outside of town," Robin crossed to the chapel door. "We shall personally see you off."
Much grabbed Allan's arm on one side, John grabbing the Sheriff's beside him, escorting them through the door. Just outside the town, Allan thought he heard the nicker of a horse again, somewhere close, somewhere ahead of them. And the Sheriff chuckled again from beside him, "We're almost there Hood. You could let us finish our way on our own, you know."
"Never," came Hood's reply from over his shoulder.
Shaking his head once, the Sheriff murmured just loud enough for Allan to hear, "Don't say I didn't warn you."
There must be an ambush around their horses, Allan processed. His thoughts swirled around his mind as they continued to walk. Why should it bother him if Robin blamed him for an ambush? It really would never be his fault. And even if it were, he was only fitting his loyalties to the one side that didn't abandon him and threaten to kill him. But he still owed it to them as his friends, and to Marian…
Marian, he thought. That sure looked like her hair, and her eye before that. Could the Sheriff be tricking him? Up till now, he thought that impossible, a seasoned trickster himself. But come to mention it, he really hadn't even seen Guy leave with Marian, or Marian leave at all for that matter. And judging just how badly the Sheriff wanted the Pact, he'd play every trick he knew to get it back. What if… what if…
At that moment, arrows came flying from all around them, and Much and John released their grips, running after Robin and the rest, following Robin's shouts to go for the horses. Allan only could watch as they grabbed the animals, struggling to fit five people on just the two horses, all under a shower of arrows. The Sheriff smirked beside Allan, folding his arms in front of his chest and watching his prey trying to escape. Horses and riders approached from over the hill, and the Sheriff flagged the captain over, ordering him to dismount.
"Climb on, boy," he ordered, and Allan stammered some beginnings of a reply. "Just get on and help your former friends," the Sheriff shoved him the reins.
"But… the ambush?" he asked, hoisting himself into the saddle.
The Sheriff's eyes glinted up at him, "I told you, I have no interest in capturing them today. Go, grab the odd man out and ride on back to their camp. Come back when you're good and ready."
"What do you mean, Sheriff?"
He simply laughed, "I spy with my little eye… a spy in my favor. You know the drill, you've done it before. I just want to keep an eye on their activities. Make them trust you, and keep an eye on my Pact. That's all I care about of course." With that, he slapped the horse's haunch, sending the beast racing off into the fray.
Allan struggled to grab the reins, steering the galloping horse towards Robin, who was still standing, shoving his friends on horseback off towards Sherwood ahead of him. Racing ahead of all the guards, Allan reached a hand out for Robin to climb up quickly. Robin's green eyes narrowed in distrust, but Allan shouted for him, "Come on, hurry up, Robin."
Hoisted behind Allan in the saddle, Robin drew arrows from his quiver, covering their escape from behind. The arrows sang past the edge of Allan's ear, each one seemed to stab his conscience with guilt. Leave it to the Sheriff to turning helping his friends into spying on them. But, he'd done that before.