"Do you guys like coffee?"
The outlaws started at Halt wide eyed and uncomprehending. "Well?" he asked again. The men all mumbled a confused yes.
"It's obvious that you won't try to rob us again because if you do I will shoot you." His lips formed a straight line, dead serious once again. The phrase 'I will shoot you' must be his personal motto Robin thought.
"Also, all our money is Araluen currency, so it wouldn't exactly be useful." Will Treaty pointed out hoping they wouldn't realize they could melt it down and then added hastily, "And I personally wouldn't mind a hot cup of coffee."
Halt turned his stare on Robin. "I know you already untied yourself, so why don't you untie your gang as well and save my apprentice here from the extra work."
Robin still looked suspiciously at Halt, but did as he was told and shrugged, making the rope that bound him fall around his ankles. Much gaped at him. He carefully stepped out of the circle of rope and went to free his friends, all the while keeping an eye on Halt, still unsuccessfully trying to figure him out.
Everyone crowded around the seemingly small campfire as Halt brewed a pot of coffee, and then another. Because the rangers only had the two mugs, they were passed around the oblong circle.
By the time everyone had some hot coffee, the mood had considerably lightened and Will had untied his mandolin from Tug's saddle.
"Don't tell me you're going to play something on that insufferable flute." Halt said.
"First of all it is a mandolin, a string instrument, while a flute is a woodwind. Honestly, has Lady Pauline taught you anything about being even somewhat cultured? And secondly, I know just what to play!" Treaty exclaimed excitedly.
"I will shoot you." Halt stated, as serious as ever. No one doubted that he meant it. Halt's threat didn't appear to even faze Will.
Much looked up from his mug startled and glanced at Robin questioningly as if asking whether Halt was serious. Looking especially worried Much stammered, "Maybe you shouldn't…"
"But Halt," Will said cutting Much off without even considering the suggestion, "you don't even know what I was going to suggest."
"I know exactly what you were going to suggest and like every time you play it, there is the very real chance that I will shoot you." Halt added more honey to his second cup of coffee from a small jar he always took with him when he traveled. By now all of Robin's men were interested in what this song was that could possibly make someone want to put an arrow through the singer.
Will thought it over for a moment and said, "I'm going to risk it." He went on to play four verses of Greybeard Halt while Halt glared at him the entire time.
After the festivities, and feeling much more friendly, Robin told the ranger's how he had become the famous outlaw that he was. Then, the two rangers explained their generic role in the kingdom of Araluen, not giving too much away, and some tales from when Will was an apprentice.
After the story of Halt and Will's first adventure, Little John mentioned some of the strange happenings in Nottingham. Mysterious massive creatures had been sighted around the villages and despite professional hunters sent by Gisbourne, not one of them had been captured. The outlaws had yet to have an encounter with the elusive creatures but they had started to attack and kill livestock within the boundaries of some villages. As Robin explained this, Halt and Will listened in intently.
Halt had the sneaking suspicion that the creatures the outlaws described were Wargals. He had thought that Morgarath was spreading out to other kingdoms and this new evidence proved him right. It was for this reason that he had requested to come to Nottingham and investigate for himself. Obviously, this was a two-man job, and Will's fief had been quiet recently so he had invited his former apprentice to join him. Halt had another reason for asking Will to come along, Halt had been missing the energy and endless strings of questions that always came when he spent time with Will. Will had already guessed this, but Halt would never admit it.
Halt described the Rangers' plan to the outlaws. "King Duncan sent word to the Sheriff of Nottingham, telling him that the Rangers corps could help him with the creatures. The sheriff has offered to provide us with any materials we might need to capture and kill the animal and proposed that we meet him and the man you call Gisbourne in the castle in six days' time, which will be tomorrow, before we go off to hunt the Wargals."
Halt elaborated on how he and Will were on their way to meet with the Sheriff and exchange information. Robin warned the two about the Sheriff and Gisbourne.
"They are liars and they will try to manipulate you in every way if they think that it can help them. Be careful of what information you reveal to them."
Djaq spoke next. "No matter how aggravated you are with them, do not kill either of them. If will not end well for anyone. Prince John has made a deal with the sheriff that if he should die an unnatural death, all of Nottingham will be destroyed and everyone will be killed."
"What about Gisbourne?" Treaty asked. "If this Prince John made the deal with the sheriff, does it apply to Gisbourne?"
Robin answered, "No, but he is useful." Allan made sure not to expose Marian, in the case that these men were not as trustworthy as they seemed.
The sun had set by this time and the rangers said farewell to the outlaws as they headed back to their secret camp in the woods. Halt and Will let the fire die and let Tug and Abelard roam the area to eat before they all settled in for the night.
"Do you think we can trust what they said about the sheriff? And if the deal with the prince only applies to the sheriff, then why haven't they killed Gisbourne? How is he useful if he helps the sheriff? It just doesn't make any sense." Will was doing that thing where he asked a string of questions without answering any of them. Halt smiled the slightest bit to himself, making sure he was turned away so his apprentice wouldn't see.
Halt sat at the edge of their camp to take the first watch as Will fell asleep. Tomorrow they headed off to meet the sheriff of Nottingham.