by Paul Kane
The robed figure did as he was told, rising and calling to the other members of his order. There were at least twenty of them, and they came tentatively out of hiding. It was only now that Tanek, and probably Bohuslav too, realised that they could have gone on fighting for hours and not got them all, they were too good at concealment.
What The Tsar was proposing was preferable to the conflict. A truce and a joining of forces. "We can… help each other," The Tsar explained to the spokesman.
"Whatever you say," he replied. He still wasn't able to look The Tsar in the face.
Later on, when Tanek had the chance to ask The Tsar about all this — and discover why he'd made the trip personally across the sea ("Like Richard the Lionheart in the Holy Land, I wished to see the 'conversion' of this country myself. And bring some additional firepower with me.") — he understood that the man hadn't quite anticipated that reaction from the cult leader.
"I was never in any danger. Apart from the twins, I had ample soldiers covering me. So I thought I might offer a proposition. I never knew they would mistake me for…"
For Satan? thought Tanek, finishing off what The Tsar couldn't bring himself to say. In your red uniform, bringing fire and destruction with you? It wasn't much of a stretch. But it did do them a favour.
It also meant that progress would be even quicker than they had anticipated. Soon they would be at Nottingham, at the castle's doors in fact. Tanek had persuaded The Tsar that the location was ideal for striking out at the rest of the country. It was what De Falaise once had in mind.
Soon, Hood and all those who followed him would be dead, and Tanek would be back where he belonged.
Perhaps then, his former leader's ghost would be able to rest in peace.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Robert had talked to Dale, who in turn had talked to the men, laying the groundwork.
Then, as Jack had suggested, Robert spoke to them all. He'd requested that as many Rangers who could be spared gather in the castle grounds first thing that morning. A transcript would be circulated for those who couldn't be there, and Jack was even recording it on the battery-powered tape player. Those present who could remember when he'd given the speech the night before the battle for this place, felt a certain amount of nostalgia. Tate knew their leader had been reluctant to say anything on that occasion too but, as now, he recognised that it was time to motivate.
Time to lay everything on the line.
He stood in front of the crowd of fighters, and it was obvious that looking over the swell of heads made him uncomfortable. They could see it was having another effect on him, too. The way his chest was puffing up, his eyes glassy; it could only be pride he was feeling when he looked at his loyal brigade. It made some of them, those who'd been complaining about how much work they were doing, feel more than a little ashamed.
Robert was casting his eyes down the rows, looking for someone. All those closest to him were there: Jack, Mark, Tate. All except one. Mary.
He began anyway, his voice cracking as he said his first few words: "T-Thank you all for listening to me today, I do appreciate it. In fact, even though I don't say this as often as I should, I appreciate everything you do, and have done, not only for this… well, I suppose some might call it a peacekeeping force… but also for the people of this area and beyond. Many of you probably know already that I didn't want this mantle of command, and don't even really see myself as your chief — or whatever you want to call it. Everyone's equal here, everyone's got something unique to offer. Some of us may be more inexperienced than others." Robert made a point of looking at Mark when he said this. "Some of us want to make an impression." Now he found Dale out in the audience. "But that's fine. As someone once said to me: we're a family. And I like to sort out any problems within that family.
"Now, I know that you're tired, that some of you are doing the jobs of three or even four people. A consequence of this new world we've found ourselves in, sadly, is that it takes time to build something. To find the people we need or for them to find us. And, believe it or not, we are building something truly special here. Something that's already being talked about throughout the country, and maybe even further afield. We're keeping ordinary folk safe from the likes of the Morningstars, from thugs and murderers and rapists. I don't know about you, but I'm quite proud of that."
There was a rumble of agreement from the crowd.
"The problem with gaining a reputation," Robert ventured on, catching Adele's eyes briefly where she stood not far away from Jack, "is that from time to time people are going to come and challenge us. People like the Frenchman we took this castle from; people who would destroy our homes, kill our loved ones. I'm standing up here today to tell those of you who don't already know — because I realise the rumour mill must be going into overdrive — that there's one such mobilisation heading our way. They landed about a week ago on the coast, and I'm not going to sugar coat this for you: we have it on good authority that they're well armed and in great numbers."
The rumbles turned into mumbles of shock and fear, as the troops in front of him turned to one another — some nodding at the confirmation of what they'd already suspected, some hearing it for the first time.
"They will reach us sooner or later, and countless innocents will die — are already dying as they make their way to Nottingham. The question is, do we meet them head on, attempt to stop them before they can slaughter anyone else, and before they reach the places and people we care about?" Robert paused to take in not only the faces of the crowd, but also the people who'd brought him out of Sherwood in the first place. As he did so, he saw Mary standing right at the very back. Their eyes met and from that moment on he was really only talking to her. "Do we do the right thing, or hope that someone, somewhere will do it for us? Personally, I believe we are the only ones who stand a chance of stopping them, of kicking them back to where they came from and making sure they never try anything like it again." He nodded. "Yes, I know how thinly stretched we are — mainly due to the threat the Morningstars have become. But if we wait, this could escalate further."
"The best defence is a good offence," Jack called out from the crowd. "That's what they always say back where I come from."
There were more murmurs from the crowd. Nobody wanted to face an enemy of this kind, but if they hid away behind the castle walls then they would have to at some point anyway. Was it better to pre-empt them?
"None of you are here because you have to be," Robert said once the crowd had quietened a little. "My way is not the way it was with the Frenchman, as some of you who served under him have discovered over the time you've been with me. I said this once before, but I've made my decision and I have to stick by it. I'm riding out to meet the convoy. How many of you choose to join me on this mission, I'm leaving in your hands. I've said this before, too. It'll be dangerous and there are no guarantees that anyone will be coming back." The pause this time was because Robert could see the tears welling in Mary's eyes, and his began to mist up in response. "So I wouldn't blame anyone for not coming. In fact some of you I want to stay behind to defend the castle, just in case we fail. But if you really wanted to leave us altogether, the door… well, actually the gate, is over there."
For a good few moments there was silence. No mutterings from the crowd at all, probably because many of them were trying to make up their minds about what to do. Divided between their loyalty to a man who'd given them refuge, given them a home, and their terror at facing what was to come.
It was Dale who broke this silence. "I'm with you Robert. Where you go, I'll be there." Azhar, at his side, put a hand across his chest and bowed. Then Dale turned and looked at the other fighters, in the hopes of shaming them into saying something. It seemed to work because they began to nod their heads and a buzz of positive noises filtered through. That buzz became a wave, which washed over the heads of those present. It wasn't long before some of the Rangers were holding up their swords and waving them in the air. Some might change
their minds later, or opt to stay at the castle, but for now it seemed like the majority of Robert's men were on his side.
He thanked them and stood down, relief etched on his face — possibly because he knew he now had the support he needed, or even because he'd finished speaking in public.
Whatever the case, Robert knew that the hard work was only just beginning. If they were to halt the progress of this new army, they had to leave soon. And he had more than a few loose ends to tie up first.
He scanned the crowd for Mary as it broke up, but she'd vanished again. Before he could go and look for her, he was being pulled in several different directions at once. Being asked a million questions about the mission.
Though they weren't too happy about it, Robert insisted that Jack and Mark stay behind at the castle. "I need someone I can leave in charge here," Robert told Jack. "Someone I can trust." The fact that he'd seen them both dead in his dream also had something to do with it.
"I should be out there with you, Robbie," Jack complained, but when Robert asked him again, adding a firm 'please', the larger man relented.
Mark was more of a hard sell. "You're still not ready for that kind of combat," Robert pointed out, which wasn't the smartest thing to say.
"But you're taking Dale?"
"Yes."
"Because 'where you go, he goes,'" said Mark, mimicking the youth.
"Because I want you to stay and look after Mary and Sophie."
"Mary can look after herself. You know that."
That was true. "And Sophie?"
Mark thought about this for a moment. "I think she'd prefer to have Dale looking after her."
"You might be surprised." Robert looked him directly in the eye. "If anything happens to me, and the troops break in here, get Sophie and Mary out. Do you understand? You'll know where to go. That's the most important thing you can do, son." He gave Mark a tight hug, and when he pulled away again he could see the boy was fighting back tears.
Robert said the same thing to Reverend Tate when he spoke to him, that he should help to keep Mary, Sophie and Mark safe. "Plus Gwen and the little one," Tate added. He'd sent word to the woman at New Hope, letting her know about the army that was heading towards them, promising supplies if she would come to the castle to collect them. Word had it she was on her way with Clive Jr, and when she got to the castle Robert knew Tate was going to try and get her to remain there until the danger had passed.
"She won't stay, you know," Robert told him. "She'll want to be with her people. I have to say I can understand that."
Tate agreed. "All I can do is try."
"You do know I can't let her have any weapons?"
"I wasn't specific about what the supplies were."
"But that's what you've let her think."
The Reverend heaved a weary sigh. "Just as you do what you must, so will I. You know, I wouldn't normally be the one to say this, but are you sure you shouldn't take some of those things along yourself when you meet this army of yours?"
Robert tutted. "You're advocating the use of firearms now, Reverend? You sound like Bill."
"They were used in the battle for the castle," Tate reminded him.
"We'll do okay without them. Isn't that what you're always telling me, to have faith?"
"There's a difference between that and suicide."
"We'll be armed. Just not in the way they'll be expecting. The men have been trained well, and we'll have a few surprises for our friends."
Tate gave a tip of the head, then said finally: "Remember the story of David and Goliath, Robert. I think it's probably an appropriate one."
That just left Mary.
Robert tried to find her, but he knew that if he chose a quiet spot, she would eventually come to him… if she wanted to talk. That quiet spot was down in the stables as he was feeding his horse. They'd been through quite a bit together, and he'd be asking quite a bit more of the animal in the days to come.
When he heard the footsteps behind him, he hoped it might be Mary — so when he turned and saw Adele, he couldn't hide the disappointment on his face.
"You were expecting her, weren't you?" said the woman. "I'm sorry."
"That's okay."
Adele came a little closer. "It's just that, well, I figured I might never see you again. And I didn't want you to go before… That is, I really need to tell you something, Robert."
He pressed his face up against his horse, closing his eyes. "Adele, look-"
"No, let me finish. Please." He heard the woman come closer, now only a couple of feet away from him. When he opened his eyes he saw there was a figure just over her shoulder, her cheeks red from the cold, hair tied back. Mary. He was frightened that she would run off again, get the wrong impression about what was going on. But she didn't. Instead, she coughed politely, causing Adele to start.
"Jack's looking for you," Mary notified her when she turned around.
"But I was just… I needed to talk to Robert for a moment," she said, facing him again, in the hope he'd back her up.
"You should go and find Jack," Robert advised her.
Adele looked like she was going to say something. Instead she gave an almost imperceptible nod and left the stables. Mary watched her go, a mixture of concern and resentment in her expression. Then she focused on Robert.
"I…" he began, but realised he didn't know what to say. But he didn't really need to. Mary walked over, quickening her pace the nearer she came. Then their arms were open, and they held each other; grabbing on as if they felt the other person might just float away if they weren't anchored down. Robert thought about making a nervous joke, something along the lines of: 'You're not going to drug me this time, are you?' but thought better of it.
The time for jokes, the time for talking, the time for arguing and recriminations, was long over. They knew they may not be together again.
As they kissed, the world fell away. Both Robert and Mary wished that this moment would never end. She took his hand, and led him up to the entrance of the castle; then finally up the stairs to their room, where they would try and make the next couple of hours last an entire lifetime.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The army was using open ground to travel between urban locations, that much they'd been able to ascertain from radio messages. And they had a rough idea of where they were, too: somewhere between Doncaster and Gainsborough.
Robert had sent out advance scouts to get a proper sense of the route this war machine was taking now that they'd regrouped and were heading for Nottingham. It had allowed him and his men to lay in wait, to prepare for the confrontation to come. But, as dawn broke and they watched from behind a scattering of trees not unlike those he'd left behind in Sherwood, it would have been easy to mistake this for a normal winter's morning in the English countryside.
Holding up the binoculars, Robert scanned the horizon. There was nothing to see yet. He glanced over his shoulder at the division of men with him, some sitting on horseback, others standing leaning on their bows. He knew there were more ringing these fields, spread out to cause the maximum amount of confusion when the Russian troops arrived. Robert was just about to put the binoculars up to his eyes again when he heard Dale on the left of him say: "Listen… Do you hear that?"
Not only could Robert hear it, he could feel the vibrations coming up through the ground. Something was coming, something big. No, as he brought the binoculars up and focused on the spot he'd been watching, Robert realised that many big things were coming.
The jeeps were first, cresting the hill, bringing with them men swarming like ants — each one wearing a grey uniform and carrying a machine gun. Then came the back-up: tanks. More than De Falaise had dreamed of. More than Robert had ever seen, and there'd been a fair few at the Frenchman's command. But that wasn't all. Armoured personnel carriers and other armoured vehicles, some of which could be mistaken for tanks themselves were it not for the wheels instead of caterpillar tracks and shorter cannons. Then there were the mot
orbikes, their drone almost drowned out by their larger companions. They nipped in-between, churning up the grass beneath.
"Jesus," said one of the men behind Robert. "How are we supposed to fight… that?"
Robert had to admit, although he didn't show it, he'd expected something slightly smaller; more in keeping with what they'd dealt with before. A part of him was now wondering if he'd made the right decision, bringing these men — some of them only boys, like Dale — out here to face what appeared to be insurmountable odds. And Tate's words came back to him:
"I wouldn't be the first one to say this, but are you sure you shouldn't take some of those things along yourself when you meet this army of yours?"
Those things, those reminders of De Falaise and his rule… But when you were fighting men like De Falaise, shouldn't you meet them on a level playing field — even the odds as much as you could? Robert shook his head. That wasn't the way — he was sure of it. Old Eric Meadows had been sure of it… He just had to have faith that his plan would work, that they could catch bigger prey with the same methods he'd used back in the forest (keep well out of sight, always let them come out into the open — then deliver your surprise).
"We'll fight them," Robert said in answer to the man's question. "And as long as we stick together, we'll win. They won't be expecting an attack like this one."
"Too right!" said another Ranger. "Who'd be crazy enough to do it?"
Robert looked over his shoulder once more and grinned. "We would. Now ready yourself."
"Time to get up on stage and do our thing," Dale ran on, though all the usual cockiness was gone from his voice.
"Time to do our thing," agreed Robert.
If it was going to happen, it would happen here. Bohuslav was counting on it.
As he rode in the lead jeep, he surveyed the area in front of him, not with a pair of binoculars, but with his hawkish and unnaturally sharp vision. They were out there somewhere, he was certain. Did they not think that their little attack would be anticipated? Far from being herded into this stretch of countryside, he and his men were actually hoping to bring Hood's forces out into the open, let them do their worst, then wipe them from the face of the Earth. They'd allowed themselves to be seen, allowed the radio messages to get through without interference purely for this purpose. Hood's scouts had even been spotted trying to determine which direction their army was heading.