The Sheriff of Nottingham surveyed his assembled nobles through narrowed eyes. Not all were present. Someone was absent. Did they not know their presence was required here? Or were they just late?
"Gisbourne," the Sheriff barked in a clipped voice of command. "Who's missing from our little gathering, hmm?"
Sir Guy of Gisbourne scanned the anxious faces of those in attendance and took a mental count. "The young fool Aylesbury, My Lord."
"Ah! Aylesbury! Yes! I thought our little party looked somewhat shabby today! We miss his elegant finery, don't we, Gisbourne, hmm?"
Sir Guy folded his arms across his chest and sneered in reply.
The Sheriff stood and slowly paced behind the table where his throne held court.
"What do you think could have delayed him, hmm? A fitting with his tailor for his new doublet, perhaps?" Vaisey looked at the faces of his nobles, expecting them to chuckle at his humor. The sychophants among them smiled or laughed nervously.
Lady Marian spoke, in spite of her father's gesture to urge her to remain quiet.
"My Lord Sheriff, his wife is expecting a child. Perhaps he was delayed because of it. It is unlike him to be tardy." Unlike someone else, she thought, who was always late! She pictured in her mind his grand entrance down the staircase at his one and only Council with Sheriff Vaisey, late as always, yet seeming to mock everyone else for his interruption to the proceedings! How very like him, the arrogant fool!
Vaisey was quick to seize the opportunity Marian unwittingly provided.
"A child? How very gratifying! My, my, my! Aylesbury must be doing very well for himself to be able to support a wife and child in such splendor! Perhaps an increase in taxes is warranted! What do you say, Gisbourne, hmm? Perhaps an increase of, shall we say, threefold would be merited?"
Gisbourne grunted a sneer in assent.
"Very well then! And, why not add a little sweetener? A fine for his tardiness! Yes! I like it! This is good!"
There was an interuption from the Captain of the Sheriff's Guard.
"Excuse me, My Lord Sheriff."
"What is it, you blithering oaf?" the Sheriff bellowed. "Can't you see we're in the middle of an important meeting?"
"My Lord, it concerns Lord Aylesbury. His guard has arrived without him. It seems he was waylaid and kidnapped enroute...by Robin Hood himself!"
A gasp arose, and a hush descended on the nobles present.
The Sheriff approached his Guard. "Robin Hood?" he asked, his eyes popping from their sockets. "Robin Hood has kidnapped a noble? One of our own? Are any of us safe? A clue...no! Gisbourne! We must bring the outlaw to justice! I want all our men to seek him out in the forest! We shall hunt him down and capture him, once and for all!"
...
Deep in the forest, Robin's men were grumbling. Roy was more vocal than any of the others.
"I thought the whole purpose of us destroyin' the bridge was to send nobles our way,so we could rob them! We haven't robbed a single one! Instead, we're bringin them here to entertain!"
"Never you mind, Dunderhead!" Much was quick to defend his master. "I'm sure Robin knows what he's doing! I'm sure he has a plan!"
In spite of his brave words, Much was unconvinced.
Robin, meanwhile, a slight distance away, was continuing to taunt Martin of Aylesbury, who was suffering through the worst day of his entire life.
"So, Aylesbury," Robin said smoothly, "you mentioned 'tidbits.' Just what were some of these 'tidbits?' "
"Let me go, Hood, you fiend!"
"Oh, you're free to go. I'm not stopping you."
"You know I can't find my way out of this wretched forest!" Martin screamed like a little girl as he swatted at a flying insect. "What was that? A bee?"
"You never were much of an outdoor type, as I recall," Robin laughed. But then his smile turned deadly. "So, Aylesbury, are you going to tell me what I asked to hear, or would you rather make the aquaintance of my knife again?"
Martin shrieked. "What do you want to know?"
"I want to know whether you and Marian exchanged any more passionate kisses. Or anything else! Tell me how you convinced her to agree to be your wife."
"Alright, Hood, though I must say you've gone to a lot of trouble to get me to talk. I'd be happy to tell you everything, without you putting your grubby hands on me and holding me hostage!" He exhaled an angry sigh. "Hmm, let me think...oh, yes! Marian and I rode to Knighton Hall one day, even though it was snowing, and we enjoyed a tete a tete, so to speak, in front of a roaring fire." He paused for effect. "There was no one else at home. And I mean no one."
Robin's eyes were deadly. "That sounds cozy."
"It was! Oh, it was!" Martin's mood began to improve. "We talked...and kissed, of course."
Robin clenched his teeth and stared with unblinking eyes, remembering so many winter evenings he'd spent with Marian before the fire at Knighton. It hurt so badly he could taste it. "What else?"
"That's all. Isn't that enough? We weren't betrothed yet! I tell you, Locksley, I mean Hood, I began to question her virtue!"
With one quick fluid motion, Robin ran and delivered a swift hard kick to Aylesbury's gut. The noble doubled over in pain.