The band split up into prearranged groups: Robin and Marian, Will and Djaq, Much and Tuck, and Kate, Archer, and Little John. Each carried small bags of gold and food.
Robin and Marian strode through the busy streets of Nottingham, having already been to Clun and Nettlestone. When they reached the butcher's shop, they entered.
"Buy some meat?" A thick-fingered man was at a chopping block, his eyes on the slab of venison he was slicing.
"Not today." Robin smiled as then man looked up, the familiarity of the voice apparently enough to signal the relief that the outlaw brought. "I've got something for you and your wife. I know that she's been having quite the time with the new baby and the boys." He put a bag of money on the counter.
The man chuckled. "Eh, she can hardly get our eldest to come inside to eat his dinner. Eleven years old, David. He thinks if he doesn't stop shootin' that bow of his, he'll be the best marksman in England by the time he's twelve! Better than Robin Hood, he aims to be!"
Robin smiled. "Well, I'm sure that won't take him long."
Outside they heard a disappointed groan. "Is that David out practicing now?" Marian asked, peeking out a back window.
The man nodded his head, grinning. "I don't even have to look to know."
Saying goodbye to the butcher, Robin and Marian left the shop. A few yards down, they spotted Djaq and Will conversing with a young couple.
A passing guard knocked into an older woman, dumping her small basket of food to the ground.
Marian made a sound of disgust as the guard continued without a glance at the poor woman. "I'm going to help her. You go on." She went over to the woman and knelt beside her, starting a friendly conversation as she helped gather her things and place them back in the basket. The old woman smiled gratefully.
Robin watched them with a smile of his own for a moment before he heard another groan. He turned back and glanced around the corner of the shop.
There stood the butcher's son, David, who held a small longbow with a white-feathered arrow. Robin watched the boy take a deep breath and pull back the string. The arrow fell short of its target.
A second boy, who looked a few years younger, stood next to David. "That's your best shot? You'll never be as good as Robin Hood."
"Shut up, Matthew! I'd like to see you do better!"
"All you need to do is pull the string back further." Robin stepped forward, his hood over his eyes.
David looked at Robin, pausing for a moment at the sight of a stranger. Then he notched another arrow onto his bow and pulled it back.
"Like this?" He had obviously decided that if this stranger could help him improve his shooting, he must not be so bad. Robin chuckled.
"Oh, come on now. You're a stronger lad than that! Further! Let your fingertips touch the corner of your mouth."
David moved the string, his arm shaking slightly with the effort. When he reached the proper length, he released the arrow.
It streaked forward, hitting the target in the third circle from the center.
David lowered his bow, his eyes still wide with amazement. "I hit it! Thank you, mister!" He turned to his brother with a huge smile. "See, Matthew? By the time I'm twelve, I'll be as good as Robin Hood!"
Matthew's eyes were narrowed skeptically as he stared at the quivering arrow. "Lucky shot! I bet you can't do it twice!"
David picked up another arrow and fitted it to the bow. He pulled back the string just as far as last time. He let his fingers slip from the string, sending the arrow flying, hitting the target a hairs width closer to the center than the previous arrow. David gave Matthew a smug look.
Robin nodded. "There's no doubt about it. You'll certainly be better than Robin Hood if you keep shooting like that."
Marian came up to Robin's side and touched his arm. "Robin. Are you ready?"
David's eyes widened as he stared at Robin, who grinned and winked at them before he turned and walked back to the front of the shop onto the road. Robin heard David shouting behind him, "Dad! Mum! I saw Robin Hood! He told me how to shoot my bow! I hit the target!"
"It looks like you've got some competition." Marian teased.
"Oh, I don't have to worry yet. Apparently I've got a whole year until he's twelve, and then he'll be better than me."
He glanced over the where Will and Djaq had been. The couple they had been talking to was still there, but the carpenter and Saracen had moved on.
Marian and Robin continued the deliveries, freely making stops to assist where help was needed. Once their sacks were empty, they went towards the outer gate, standing casually by the wall, waiting for the others to join them.
After a while, Robin and Marian were joined by John, Kate, Tuck, and Archer. Kate had just sighed in impatience when Much came up to them.
"Alright, let's get going. After seeing all this food we've given away, I'm starving."
"You're always starving." Kate said.
"Where are Will and Djaq?" John asked.
"Oh, I don't think we'll be seeing much of them tonight." Much replied. "I saw them in the marketplace, looking at the wares in one of the carts."
Robin shrugged his shoulders. "So?"
"The owner was selling honey." Much nodded his head firmly.
Robin rolled his eyes. "You and your euphemisms."
"What? It was! I'm just saying--"
"Oh, come on already. You're not the only one that's starving!" said Archer, taking a few steps closer to the outer gates of the town, waiting for the rest.
"What about Will and Djaq? Are we just going to leave them here?" Marian looked mildly concerned.
"Don't worry. Djaq is with Will, they'll be fine." Robin watched Archer stride down the road.
"It is not Djaq I am worried about. It's you men that always get into trouble."
Robin raised his eyebrows at her in question. "Men? You were always the one causing trouble in the castle."
"Me? You caused all the trouble, I simply informed you of where to make it."
"Well—"
"Can you two stop fighting? A few of us are starving here!" Much's hyperbole was not lost on Robin, whose look was skeptical. At his look, Much paused."...Well, I'm hungry."
Robin grinned, shaking his head. "Come on, lads. Let's go make trouble elsewhere."
