Prologue

Robin Hood led Little John, Allan, Will, Djaq and Much along the crowded, dusty streets. Saturdays were supposed to be market days in Nottingham. The Sheriff ended that quickly with his preposterous taxes. The people were hungry, and hadn't a shilling to buy themselves some meat.

Will pulled his hood over his dark hair and crouched down near the little girl and boy sitting under a table in a dark corner of the street. He smiled and they backed away slightly. He held a finger to his lips and pulled out a silver coin. "Is your mum around?" The girl, who looked older, nodded and pointed to a woman trying to sell reed rugs a few yards off. Will put the coin in a small bag with more like it and handed it to them. "You run off and give that to her, alright?"

He stood up to see Robin and the gang were nowhere to be seen. He rounded a corner and saw that a great crowd had gathered. There was music and suddenly a huge flame licked at the sky. Pushing through, he saw his friends were watching street performers!

"What are you doing?" He hissed at Robin. "Where there's this much activity, the Sheriff or Gisbourne are bound to show up!"

"I know that, Will!" Robin rolled his eyes. "But have you ever seen a show like this? It's incredible!"

He turned and saw a man playing a whistle of some sort and a girl who looked about sixteen years old, was dancing in front of him. She was quick, and light on her feet. Will was about to ask just whythis was so great when suddenly she snatched up two small torches, tossed them high in the air and swallowed them.

Will gaped. The whole crowd exploded in applause and then gasped as the girl, still dancing, opened her mouth and blew out flames. She bowed and picked up a stringed instrument. She rested it on her shoulder with her chin on it and placed a wooden wand with horse hair tied to either end across it and began to play a fast paced tune. The man with the whistle kept up with her and soon the whole crowd was clapping.

Robin gave a nod and the gang left the crowd. Little John handed them all sacks. "We cover Tanner's street today. Hand these out among the neediest."

"John, you're with Much." Robin said. "Djaq, you go with Will and Allan comes with me."

Will tried to ignore him as Allan pulled a feather out of Djaq's hair and she laughed at him. "See you later." The dark haired girl kissed Allan lightly and turned to follow Will.

He didn't look at her and told himself not to be a dolt. You'll get over it soon enough, fool. She prefers Allan. Get over it. At least you never said anything. She thinks you're still a boy."

Dijaq looked at Will and saw how he'd set his jaw in his stubborn look. She sighed, "You've been acting like a dog stung by a porcupine all week, Will. What on earth is the matter?"

He looked over at her and smiled. "Eh? I'm fine. You've all forgotten my birthday though."

She poked him and laughed. "You can't expect us to remember if you never tell us! How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

He hadn't lied. It really was his birthday. Though, Robin and Much had remembered. You couldn't expect Little John to remember much, and Allan and Djaq were too caught up in themselves to notice much around them. He cursed himself. Stop acting like a girl.

"Ah!" Djaq caught his eye. "There you go all porcupine-ish again. What is really the matter?" Now she was serious. "Is this… Is this about Allan and me?" He kept walking but she stopped and folded her arms across her chest. "Tell. Me."

He turned to face her and suddenly laughed. "I'm fine! You're happy! I'm happy! It's my birthday!"

She grinned uncertainly. He was walking backwards. He walked right into a girl.

The girl cried out and the basket she was carrying spilled everywhere. Will quickly knelt down and began helping her gather her things. Then he realized that he was picking up torches, a whistle… He looked up quickly.

She was pretty. Not breath taking, but very, very pretty. Will noticed her hair first, the loveliest he had ever seen. It was gold brown with lighter gold streaks in random places. Dark, stormy blue eyes looked out at him and a few freckles were spattered across her nose. She stood. "Thank you, for bumping into me and then helping me clean your mess up." Her dress was dark purple, though shabby. It had many folds in the skirt for fullness - a performer's dancing dress. She laughed merrily. "I'm sorry for teasing you. I shouldn't tease people who don't know me. I've been called all sorts of names."

Will smiled. "My fault." He handed her a torch. "I saw you swallow fire."

She smiled wide. She swept a curtsy and nearly fell over in the process. "And what does this member of the audience think of the performance?"

He laughed.

Her façade vanished. "What?"

"I was jus' wondering how someone who can dance so fast, and swallow fire while they're at it, can be so-"

"Clumsy?" She shrugged. "I can't help it. I trip over everything. My own feet. Things I'm looking straight at. Once I walked straight into a wall which I waslookingat.I can only dance for fire."

"How do you do it?" Djaq asked.

She started away. "Now, thatwould be telling. A trick isn't impressive for its secret. The audience loves it because it leaves them wondering."

"Will, we have to hurry. The rest are waiting." Djaq waved to the girl. "See you later!"

"She thought you were cute." Djaq was trying not to laugh.

Will adjusted his sack on his shoulder and straightened. "What?"

"And you thought she was cute."

He looked quickly at her and then away, then behind him. "Maybe."

None of the villagers knew why the dark girl laughed the whole time she handed them gifts from Robin Hood.