Merlin crouched beside Leon in the thick undergrowth. The day was hot and sticky, and his robe was hotter than he would have preferred. "How's it feel to be on the other side of the ambush, sir knight?" he muttered.

"Shut up, Merlin," Leon said, but his lips twitched. "We have come a long way, haven't we?"

A crow cawed.

"That's my signal." Merlin brushed himself off and made his way onto the road. Someone must be coming. He leaned on his staff and did his best to look weary and harmless.

Horses came thundering down the hill. The men wore the sheriff's colors. And what do you know - The sheriff himself was in the lead.

He waved his staff to get attention, choking on the dust they'd stirred up. "Wait! Help!"

The sheriff reluctantly turned his horse towards him. "What is it?" he asked, as if the words were distasteful.

"Robbers, milord," he said. "Dressed all in green. Archers, the lot of them. They carried off my horse and everything on it."

"Robin Hood," the sheriff hissed.

Merlin widened his eyes. "Do you really think so, milord?"

"Where did they go?" he demanded.

"I - I don't know, I - "

The sheriff slapped him, his ring cutting into Merlin's cheek. Merlin glared at him reproachfully.

"That was uncalled for," Robin said mildly.

The sheriff spun. So did the rest of his men. Robin and his band had surrounded them, bows aimed and ready to fire.

"You!"

"Me," Robin agreed. "I'm surprised you fell for it this time. You should know I don't attack just anyone by now."

The sheriff was glaring at him fiercely. "One of your men, is he?"

Robin's mouth twitched. "More or less."

What was that about?

"Take him," the sheriff ordered.

Everyone sprang into motion. Robin, arrows flying true as ever, Little John watching his back and defending it with pure brute force, Leon watching for

Merlin, who was sliding between the sheriff's men like greased lightning, making men stumble and weapons fly out of grips with quick flashes of his eyes, rapping knuckles and hitting stomachs with his staff. He even sent a tree branch flying for old times' sake.

They won, naturally, and marched the sheriff's men off to a "feast". Merlin stayed behind for a moment, looking at a dagger he'd been forced to pull at the last second mournfully. One of his spells had caught it by mistake and it was irreparably ruined.

"Queen Mab gave that to me," he complained to Leon.

"Did she?" Robin asked with amusement.

Merlin jumped. "Robin! Why aren't you with the others? Where's Will?"

"I sent him on." Robin looked at him thoughtfully.

"Oh. Um, about that - It was nothing. Inside joke."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

" . . . Yes?" He swallowed hard.

"You're really not one of mine, are you?"

His heart twisted. "I would never betray you, Robin. You know that."

"Oh, I do," Robin reassured him. "That's not what I meant. You're loyal to the band, but . . . Someone else comes first, don't they? Your king."

"I've never even met Richard."

"He's not your king," Robin pointed out. He clapped Merlin on the back. "I've no quarrel with you, Tuck. You fight well, cook better, and tell good stories. You're a good fighter, good man, and a good friend."

"But?"

Robin grinned. "But you also talk in your sleep. Come on, let's go eat . . . Merlin."