Chapter 25 - United

Guy had to push hard to get de Lacy to agree to Will's ultimatum. He left out that the other Redgrave was Thomas' own son and instead just said that the threat was of a nature they couldn't handle with brute force. This had been de Lacy's favorite tactic. In the end it took a threat to tell the nobles that de Lacy had a chance to appease the thief that had made their coffers his own and didn't act on it. The payment they'd settled upon had been an amount of gold set aside to hunt down Redgrave.

Guy created an attachment of men to do business with the farmers, paying premium for their goods and guaranteeing them protection from brigands and bandits.

Years had passed. Six Beltains had come and gone and Thomas' rage seemed to subside on the surface but beneath, he still boiled with a level of animosity that poisoned his thoughts with an almost distracting amount of fantasy in regards to dismantling Guy and de Lacy. He'd grown his hair and beard out and taken over duties from an ailing fruit merchant. Thomas' hair covered most of his scar but because he was so delightful to customers, no one bothered to ask about his rather uncouth hair. He'd taught himself to stutter and spoke with an Irish accent. Over the interim, Thomas gained many friends in Nottingham proper and often gave away pieces of fruit to people that seemed down on their luck. His life on the farm seemed so distant but there was always that angry part that witnessed his burnt out home cast shadows of doom across the soil that used to be his yard. He hadn't seen Will since that day in the woods but he had heard that the school had grown into a secret academy. Thomas was proud. He thought about how his son had created his own legacy through sheer will and had done so by gaining the respect of people far and wide.

Thomas still kept an eye on the goings on at the castle. He'd actually been inside on official business as he was often asked to deliver fresh produce to the kitchen for the castle's use. Several times he'd been in the same corridor with Guy and de Lacy, safe in the fact that he looked like little more than a wild man delivering fruit.

On these trips, Thomas had been able to see his sister several times. Even she hadn't recognize him at first until he called her Matty under his breath. Now she would meet him and give him information in regards to Guy and de Lacy. This is how he knew that they had made good on their deal with Will. The allotted gold left out of Nottingham the first Wednesday of each month and went to Loxley and the other villages to purchase grains, stock and crafted items among other things.

The quiet prosperity was enjoyed by most. Sheriff  de Lacy was one of the few exceptions. He called Guy into his chambers.

"We've got a problem," de Lacy said to Guy as he entered. "Seems word of our prospering blackmailers has spread. Other counties are losing farmers if they don't meet the demands of this wretched bunch."

Guy hadn't thought about the effects the pact would have on the surrounding land holders. "How's that our problem? They can handle their own."

"Where do you think the snivelling vermin is migrating to?" de Lacy barked. "I've been given order by King John himself to eradicate the problem once and for all."

Guy began shaking his head. "You don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?"

"There isn't just one problem. Thomas was troublesome enough on his own. Now it's not just him but a group that conspires against us," Guy pointed at himself and de Lacy to punctuate the issue. "We are responsible for his need for vengeance."

De Lacy looked at Guy in disgust. "You sound like one of them," he said, "I've called for your replacement. I'll not have you working against me in this."

"I'm trying to warn you. If you break the treaty with the yeoman, the Redgraves will want blood," Guy's tongue slipped.

"Redgraves?" de Lacy asked. "There's more than one?"

Guy nodded.

"You've known this since when?" de Lacy asked.

"The treaty was Thomas' son's idea. He's more dangerous than Thomas," Guy was imploring de Lacy with reason. "One of them was impossible to track or even deal with when we got the drop on him. Two will prove to be a nightmare. His son wanted to stave off a war."

"I like a good fight," de Lacy muttered.

"They don't fight like we do," Guy reasoned further. "They fight like they see the future."

De Lacy arched his eyebrows at Guy, "you sound like a fan."

"They are brilliant," Guy couldn't deny what he thought. "They attack us without being seen unless they want to be seen in which case they instill fear in the men to the point that they break ranks."

"What?" de Lacy couldn't believe his ears.

"That day in the woods, Thomas' son killed several of my men before they knew he was there and the rest broke ranks and fled," Guy said. "The men see Thomas as demon made flesh. They won't want to fight two of them."

"Coward," de Lacy's tone was measured.

"Coward?" Guy couldn't believe his ears. "You've yet to meet them. You'll see how damned impossible it is to attack something that doesn't show itself."

Guy left de Lacy's chambers and went to see Marian. He was embittered and angry that he couldn't change what was to come.

In Marian's chambers Guy snapped, "how can he be so arrogant?"

"Who?" Marian implored.

Guy paused for a moment. "de Lacy. We've had a very peaceful six years and he wants to throw it all away because other counties are putting pressure on him."

Marian knew this was not good news. "Why are they putting pressure on him?"

Guy sat down. The worry lines on his face seemed to grow. "Farmers in the other counties are giving ultimatums and being met with force and are leaving and coming here. We don't have the funds nor the grounds to support more farmers." He looked up Marian. "He wants to break the treaty with the Redgraves and have them hunted."

As the night grew on, Marian pacified Guy by consoling him. Though Guy seemed more relaxed, inside he was a disheveled mess. He said goodnight to her and left her. She waited a while before venturing out into the square to the Wolf's Den.

Inside Thomas sat at the back of the tavern. When he saw her he stood up. He knew it couldn't be good news that brought her out of the castle like this.

"De Lacy is going to dissolve the pact and have you and Will hunted," Marian said. "Guy has tried to stop him but he's being replaced by week's end."

"Go back to the castle. I'll make sure de Lacy pays for wanting a conflict and breaking the pact," Thomas said.

Marian looked at Thomas. "Guy doesn't want a fight."

"The pact wasn't a stay of execution, just a postponement. He's still responsible for our loss."

Marian nodded slowly, "you're right. What about Will?"

Thomas got up from the table and helped his sister up, "I'll send a message to him. He'll be ready."

Marian headed back to the castle as Thomas went to find Bruce. Bruce had been the go between for Will and Thomas. He'd been a student and proven to be not just capable with Will's ideals and teachings but with a weapon and was also the fastest runner which made him the best for carrying messages. He'd run back and forth from the sanctuary to the inn, roughly three times a week and carry whatever news was pertinent. Thomas filled him in on de Lacy's goals and Bruce sped off. Thomas then went to his room and pulled his bow and arrows from under a loose board.

"It's been too long," he said to them.

By morning, Bruce had crossed the distance to sanctuary and now sat in the main room explaining to Will the vital message. Will was now eighteen and had grown into a stature similar to his father's. His red hair was pulled back into a tie. He wore the uniform for the school which was a deep crimson cowl and hood over a deep green tunic and leggings, knee high dark brown boots. Will called an emergency meeting.

At noon, the students came into the sanctuary. They crowded into the chamber under the sanctuary, waiting for Will's speech. There were thirty-two red hooded students and roughly twice as many green hooded. The green hooded were newer students that had been with the academy for less than four years. Many of the red hooded students were also teachers when Will was called away on some adventure or another.

Will held up his right hand, signaling the students to become quiet.

"I've just received word," Will began, "that after six wonderful years of peace, de Lacy has decided to reinstate the trophy on my father's and now my own head. We've always known that this day would come. We've prepared for this day. I had hoped that it wouldn't come to this. We must be ready for them."

He paused to let the students take in that information. The students all whispered to each other.

"They think there are only two of us. There are many! They think we are unskilled farmers. We are trained killers! They think we are ignorant and foolish. We are learned and crafty! We must show that we will not sit idly while they push into our homes and take what we've worked hard for. We must protect those that can't protect themselves. ."

The room was silent. All the students were focused on Will.

"Let us spend the rest of the day training. Elder students, divide the green into teams and continue the lessons. That is all."

The group filed out of the room in an orderly fashion. Will turned to John.

"Guy and de Lacy will be dead by week's end," Will said. "This will escalate."

"We're with you Will. We're all with you."