Chapter 1

Lost

It was ten by the time I finally got home. As usual, dad asked me what took me so long and as usual I replied that it had been a long day. He hugged me and said "Go get some food."

I had just worked at the shop. Everyone has to work to pay taxes to Prince John. Being thirteen and having to work isn't odd here. In fact I don't know where it would be odd. My dad's hand got cut off after he shot one of the king's deer and no one will give him a job. So I work to feed us and pay taxes. Lately Prince John has raised taxes so I can barely get enough money to buy food. This explains my late night excursions.

Our house is small; when you walk in the house we have a small kitchen area and a fire place where we cook the food. We also have a small rocking chair and a chest for the keep sakes we did not sell. There is a curtain separating the kitchen and living room from a bedroom containing one bed. We sold all the other furniture for food. I slept in the hay loft in the barn.

I went over to the pot that was sitting over the fire. "Is this all the food we have?" I asked. My father nodded. I looked away from the pot and looked directly at my dad his black hair had grey streaks I hadn't noticed before. "Dad have you eaten?"

He looked down. "No, Kathy you eat first." I took out two plates then took out the piece of meat it was the size of my fist. I put it on the first plate and cut an eighth of it and put it on my plate. "Father, your food's on the plate." I picked up my plate and left before he could call me back.

I walked to the hay loft. When I got there I ate fast and put my plate by the door to take in later. Tonight was not going to be one of the most exciting of late night excursions.

I pulled up an old floor board revealing a cloak and a dagger. I put the dagger on my belt and put the cloak on. It helped me blend in to my surroundings as I slipped into the dark night.

I watched as Kevin the Blacksmith locked up his shop. I went farther down the street to the butchers shop.

Outside stood a young, medium-sized man about two years older than me. "There you are Kathie, I am sorry but this is all the scraps I could sneak. The butcher almost caught me." He held out a bag he had been holding. I sighed and took it. "thanks Dan I really appreciate it."

Dan smiled "Your Welcome. It's the least I could do. After all your father saved me from slavers and got me this job."I looked in the bag it was half full of meat scraps. It will last a few meals I thought to myself.

There was something shining at the bottom. I reached my hand in and pulled out a one crown piece. I gasped. "Were did you get this?" I demanded Dan shrugged. "A noble man came through town, I helped take care of his horse and he gave me that."

"Dan Arlington." I narrowed my eyes as I spoke "are you lying to me?"

Dan's voice softened "Kittyanna Marigold, would I lie to you?"

"Well in that case, I cannot accept this." I handed the coin back to him. "Well then." He said "If you will not accept it, I will tell your father about how you came by the blankets and the food." I glared at him. "fine!" I took the coin and spun on my heels and walked away. I glanced behind me to see Dan grinning. I didn't look back the rest of the way to my barn.

When I got home I hid my outfit and bag under the floor board. I was about to go up the loft ladder when I heard a thumping noise. Swiftly I climbed the ladder and unsheathed my hidden dagger. Slowly I looked around and spotted a man lying in a far corner of the loft, near the wall. I put my dagger to his throat. "Don't move." I hissed "or I'll slit your throught."

His eyes opened he didn't look at all scared. "What are you doing here?"I demanded. "Oh I was just taking a nap." He said in a sweet voice. "You're a drunk aren't you?" I asked without waiting for an answer I stepped back yet keeping my dagger at hand "I should kill you right now but I won't. Leave now and never show your face around here again."

He stood up and brushed himself off "I am not a drunk, In fact." He said "you might know of me."

I looked him over. Blond hair, Looked maybe five years older than me and light blue eyes "I have never seen you in my life." He rolled his eyes. "I said you might know OF me, not that you would know me."I was getting angry. "Than who are you!" He smiled. "My name is Robin Hood."

I frowned "I have never heard of you before." Robin frowned "your father has never mentioned me before?" I looked down. "My father doesn't talk much about his past." We stood there for a moment in silence. I looked at him. "You may stay the night up here in the loft but I expect you to leave in the morning."

I went down the ladder with a pile of hay in hand and laid it on the ground. I got a bag of feed from the store room and used it as a pillow. I lay down and closed my eyes and immediately fell asleep.

The next day I woke with a start. it felt like someone kicked me in the side. As my vision cleared I saw Robin. A finger held to his lips. "Shhh," he whispered. He was looking out the barn doors. I was about to ask what he was looking at when I saw two of the sheriffs horses outside the house.

I started to stand up to go to the house but Robin held me back. "No, we need to wait." I looked at him alarmed. "My father's all alone." Robin looked down at me "I think your father can take care of himself."

I tried to pull away but he held on tight. "How would you know if he could take care of himself or not?" I asked. "I used to know your father when I was a boy." I narrowed my eyes. "My father has never talked about you before." Robin shrugged. "He probably tried to forget those times." He hesitated. "I know I did."

"What happened?" I asked full of interest. Robin let go of me. "The sheriffs men are gone we should probably go talk to your father. I stood up remembering what had just happened. "Yes." I agreed "you go ahead I need to feed the horses first." He nodded and headed for the house.