CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

It was full night when Alan-a-Dale and Kluck returned to the camp. They'd worked at their task of rubbing out the refugees' tracks until the dusk had so deepened that they could no longer see what they were doing, then headed through the dense woods to their current forest home.

"We brushed the path clean for about a mile out from the main branch, all the way past that and halfway to Egg Rock," the minstrel reported. "We can finish doing the rest tomorrow, soon as it's light enough."

"Aye, t'was hard on the back muscles, an' my wings feel like I used 'em to fly all the way here from London," the hen added, "but I'll wager dinner 'n' breakfast both that no villain'll be able to follow these good folks to us now."

"There's a lot more at stake than a couple of meals here, Klucky," Little John reminded her.

"Did you see any signs of Gisbourne or his troops at all?" Robin asked the two birds.

"Nay," Kluck answered. "If that scoundrel tried any pursuit t'all, he got too late a start. Our dear woods were clean of his foul presence!" Alan nodded in agreement.

"And I trust Klucky here didn't bother you with too many amorous advances while you were out there together?" Robin asked of Alan with a knowing smile.

"Auch, we were all business," Kluck maintained. "No time fer such foolishness when matters are serious. O' course, now that we're back where we're safe an' sound ... " She fluttered her eyelashes Alan's way.

"Uh ... is that cinnamon acorn bread I smell?" Alan-a-Dale asked of no one in particular, rushing off toward the camp's oven.

For the rest of that night, things were quiet at their hideaway. The displaced families were all tired from their long walk, their relief at finding sanctuary here tempered by the losses they'd suffered. Not even the young ones, most of whom were excited by the prospect of living with the famed outlaw, needed any extra encouragement to settle in for a long night's rest after dinner. Robin wanted to keep talk and activity to a minimum until Alan and Kluck could finish clearing all the tracks from the path, and until the nearer forest could be fully scouted to make sure Gisbourne hadn't ventured close to this spot.

The refugees found soft grassy tussocks or mossy patches to bed down for the night, clustering into tight-knit family groupings. Skippy seemed happy to be back with his mother and his thirteen siblings, snuggling together with them on the ground in a slight hollow near the thorn hedge barrier, while his turtle friend Toby nestled with his parents alongside the stone oven to bask in its radiating warmth.

Robin and Little John stood surveying the scene before turning in themselves. "Look at all those sleeping beauties," the big bear mused. "Gotta say, it's not as crowded as I though it'd be."

"But still crowded enough," said Robin. "After what they've been through, they deserve better than we'll be able to give them. How will we feed them all, and keep them clothed? And not every night will be as clear and mild as this one. We'll need a lot more tenting material for shelters - we might even have to build log-covered burrows for them, especially if they're still here come winter. I'm certainly not going to turn them away in their moment of need, but this might be more than we can cope with."

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Little John shook his head. "Rob, I'm surprised at you, forgetting our most important guiding principle!"

"You mean ... "

"Steal from the rich and give to the poor. If ever there was a time for that, this is it! And having so many of the poor living right here with us will make the job of spreading around the nobles' wealth all the easier! No more house calls!"

"Well, that's certainly the sunny side of looking at it. I suppose we've no choice now but to go back to our old ways. At least Will will be happy - he's been spoiling for some good old fashioned robbery ever since he got here!"

"It'll be good having him with us again," Little John said. "He was always nearly as audacious as you were, and every bit as crafty too. Working together, the three of us should be able to pull off some capers that'll go down in legend!"

"Yes, I'm sure we will. And I know just where to start!"

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On the day after Gisbourne's venture into Sherwood, Sir Guy strode down the central avenue of Nottingham with the Sheriff at his side and a phalanx of armed guards following on their heels. The townsfolk and merchants regarded them with equal amounts of fear and disdain, but all knew to stand well clear of the panther warrior. No villager on the streets that afternoon had failed to hear of Gisbourne burning five families out of their homes, imprisoning the Earl, expelling the nobles from the castle and fearlessly heading into the heart of the forest to confront Robin Hood. The fact that nothing had come of the last hardly mattered by this time; everyone in the shire knew what this beast was capable of, and most actually stepped back from the military procession as it passed, worried about attracting his malicious attention.

"Too bad y' didn't have guards watchin' those villagers who fled into Sherwood," the Sheriff said. "They coulda led us right to that no-good thief!"

"A missed opportunity," Gisbourne agreed. "But it might yet work to our advantage. I'll wager my throwing daggers that Robin Hood isn't equipped to deal with so many civilians, if they really did seek sanctuary at his camp. Having them there will strain his resources. He'll feel the need to protect and provide for them. And if he allows them to stay with him, that will make it much easier for us to find him. Five entire families? Living in the middle of the forest? They're bound to give themselves away sooner or later."

"I hope ye're right, Sir Guy. This is taking longer than I thought ... " When the panther directed a stinging sidelong glance his way, the Sheriff was quick to add, "Er, considerin' what a formidable warrior you are, that is. I'da expected you to have that rascal rounded up in two shakes, is what I meant ... er ... "

"Everything in good time, Sheriff. You were never able to catch Robin Hood using your methods, so we'll stick with mine for awhile. I am always willing to adjust to the enemy's tactics. But now it is time to turn the screws on his allies just a little bit tighter ... and here we are!"

Gisbourne halted their column before the Greenleaf Tavern, and stood there in the street for a few moments, gazing up at the two-story inn. Then he strode into the tavern, pushing the door open like an offending entity, and the Sheriff and soldiers trooped in after him.

Stephold the boar glanced up from behind his bar at this noisy intrusion, then straightened upon seeing Gisbourne. He didn't want trouble with the panther, but something in Sir Guy's face and manner told him that trouble was exactly what had just walked into his tavern.

Gisbourne stepped right up to the bar, placing both paws squarely upon the countertop, and turned a gaze upon the proprietor that bore into Stephold's eyes. "My good sir, it has come to my attention that Robin Hood and his otter accomplice sought shelter here prior to the attempt on King John's life. I suspect they may even have formulated their schemes right here, under your roof. If you were not involved in this conspiracy, then you were highly negligent in allowing it to unfold right under your nose. For this reason, I am shutting the doors to this establishment, confiscating your inventory, and seizing this property for king and crown."

Stephold threw down his damp dishrag, while his few midday customers sought to unobtrusively slip out of the building. "Now just you wait a minute!"

In an eyeblink, Gisbourne had Stephold by the collar, the boar's shirt bunched up in a strong black-furred fist. "Protest too much, my friend, and you'll leave me no choice but to conclude that you were indeed part of Robin Hood's conspiracy, and you will hang before sunset."

"But ... but ... this's my life an' livelihood! Me an' th' wife make our home here! Where're we s'posed t' go if we can't live here no mores?"

"You can go anywhere you please, as long as it's not here," Gisbourne replied without the slightest trace of empathy. "Perhaps you can join up with some of the untrustworthy nobles I've had to turn out of Castle Nottingham - there should be a number of them about these days, wandering the streets looking for a new castle to take them in. Now, are you going to leave peacefully, or do you want the kind of trouble that could well be your last?"

Stephold scowled at Gisbourne, but a healthy measure of visible fear tempered his anger; he'd heard the stories about Sir Guy too, and wouldn't put it past the panther to slay him on the spot, and then burn the Greenleaf down around his corpse. "I'll go peacefully," the boar said, resigned to this ill and sudden reversal of fortune. "Lemme get my wife, an' we'll be outta yer way right quick."

Sir Guy released the barkeep. "So glad you've decided to be reasonable about this. I'll have the Sheriff and two of his guards escort you to your wife, just to make sure you don't try to pull anything you'll regret, and then they will escort you both out of this building for the last time."

While the Sheriff ushered Stephold out of the main tavern room, Gisbourne and his other troops performed a quick sweep of the second floor, gracelessly evicting two tenants from their paid rooms; one glance at the sure paw resting on the panther's sword hilt was all the incentive they needed to hastily vacate their lodgings without more than token protest. Next, the force descended to the cellars and storerooms, conducting a cursory inventory of the tavern's food and drink stocks.

"Start piling all this on the cart outside," Gisbourne ordered. "We'll move it all into the castle, to make sure Robin Hood and his friends can't get their grubby paws on it." He turned to the Sheriff, who sauntered back into the barroom with the two guards. "Ah, did our boarish friends depart without a fuss?"

"Stephold's lady didn't need much bidding, once we explained th' situation to her," the Sheriff said. "The two of 'em left with just the gold in their purse and the clothes on their backs!" The wolf neglected to mention - because it didn't strike him as especially important - that Stephold had also used those precious moments to grab up his sword, bow, and a quiver of arrows. Many of the merchant class armed themselves thus when heading out on a journey, especially when carrying gold or accompanying kin and ladyfolk.

"Gold, eh? Perhaps we should have confiscated that too. No matter. I see our troops have things well tended here, Sheriff. Let us take the better half of our force and continue on our tour. We have many more stops to make this day!"

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Robin spent most of that morning with the newest members of his camp, taking time with each family by turns to find out more about them. Eager to repay him for his hospitality and protection, they did not hesitate to offer whatever skills and services they could. The outlaw fox accepted their offers most willingly; the influx of these refugees had so enlarged the encampment that it now stood as practically its own village in the middle of Sherwood Forest, and Robin knew that everyone would need to contribute, even those who'd been burned out of their homes and had nothing in the world left but each other.

The mole family looked to be the biggest godsend. Trammler, the burly head of that displaced household, boasted long experience in excavation and construction techniques, and assured Robin that digging out log-roofed, watertight shelters could be easily accomplished with available materials and labor.

"Could use a few more saws, maybe some other tools too," Trammler confided to Robin. "Ones that ain't all rusty-like ... "

"I'll see what I can do about that," Robin answered with a knowing grin.

Around midday, Robin had a quick word alone with Mother Rabbit, then bade Skippy to gather the rabbit courier's eleven brothers around them on one edge of the camp clearing.

"Okay, listen up, listen up!" Robin said from his seat upon a mossy log, with Skippy seated at his side. "It's time to make all of you an official part of my merry band! Now then - hey, settle down, settle down, how am I supposed to talk over so much cheering? - now, before I assign you your places, I want you all to have a clear understanding of just what your duties will be. Since it looks like we might have some tough times ahead, I'll start off with a little question: What's the best way to come out on top in a fight?"

"Sneak attack!"

"Yeah! Hit 'em while they ain't lookin'!"

"Pound 'em into th' ground!"

"Cut off their tails!"

Skippy rolled his eyes, mortified at this display by his siblings in front of his hero. "Kids," he lamented.

"No no no ... " Robin shook his head, then leaned forward as if imparting the world's most important secret. "The best way to come out on top in a fight is to avoid having one in the first place! And that's where all of you come in ... " He placed a paw on Skippy's shoulder. "For the past two years, your older brother here has served the Earl and King Richard well, running messages and dispatches all over the county, and now it's time for the rest of you to follow in his footsteps. We're going to put those fast legs of yours in the service of Free Sherwood! What we need most now are scouts, small and speedy, who can keep watch over all the nearer forest paths, and report back at once if an enemy's on the way here. So, what do you say? Are you up for this?"

The rousing chorus of "Ayes!" left no doubt that they were, to a rabbit.

"Now remember," Robin went on, "and this is vitally important: you are to be scouts, not fighters. I don't have to tell you that Gisbourne is a serious and dangerous threat. Even with all my fighting skills, I'd think twice about going up against him myself. And we know from what we've seen of him that he harbors no qualms about harming even the most innocent and defenseless of us. Being children will not save you from him, but your speed and stealth will. That is why, if you should see Gisbourne coming this way, your only thought must be to get back here as quickly as you can, without betraying yourselves to Gisbourne, to warn the rest of us. Can I count on each and every one of you to do this for me?"

Every white and brown head nodded, although their enthusiasm was not so boisterous as before now that Robin had invoked the hated name of their despised vanquisher.

He patted Skippy's shoulder. "Skip, I hereby appoint you Captain of the Sherwood Runners! All your brothers will look to you for guidance. You've served in the royal court and know how such things work, so I trust you to set a good example and use your best judgement. You'll be working with me, Little John and Will to make sure we keep all the approaches to our camp protected. Remember, what we want most is to avoid a fight, but whether we can or not, we'll still need to be warned, come what may."

Skippy snapped off the most somber and dignified salute that he could. "I understand, Robin sir. I'll not let you down! None of us will - I'll make sure of that!"

"I have every confidence in you. All of you." Robin stood and went to each boy in turn, shaking paws. "Welcome to my band! Now make me proud!"

There was no doubt that each and every one of them would strive their utmost to do just that.

"HarrrUMPH!"

Robin and the rabbits turned to see Sissy and her much younger sister Tagalong, who'd come up alongside their gathering during the outlaw's impromptu induction ceremony. The two girls stood paws akimbo, looking angrily at them.

"And what about us?" Sissy demanded.

"What about you?" Skippy asked, totally missing her point.

"Don't we get to be runners too, Mr. Robin sir?"

Skippy laughed, and most of his brothers joined in. "You?! Don't be ridiculous!"

"I'm not! I'm just as fast as you, Skippy! And Tag is older than little Brandon! We should get to serve too!"

Robin held aloft a paw to forestall further arguing, and crouched down before Sissy. "Well, my young lady, if you really are that fast, and so eager to lend yourself to our cause, I'll not turn you away! Keep in mind, you'll have to trade in your fine dress here for something far more drab." He fingered one sleeve of the orange garment she'd been wearing when Gisbourne burned down her home. "Scouts need to be able to blend into their surroundings and make themselves invisible against the forest."

"What about Mr. Scarlet?" she asked. "He wears bright red ... "

"Yes, that is something, isn't it? And yet my cousin always seems to find a way to keep from revealing himself. Never quite been able to figure out how he does that. But back to you. As long as you don't mind wearing green and brown, and as long as you promise you can take orders from Skippy, I'd be happy to have you as one of my Runners!"

Sissy made a twisted face. "Take orders? From Skippy?"

"Now, now. I already appointed him Captain of the Runners. If you can't accept these conditions ... "

"Oh ... all right! As long as I don't have to call him 'sir!'"

"I'm sure he'll not insist upon that." Robin smiled, and shook both Sissy's and Tagalong's paws. "Thank you for volunteering!"

Sissy batted adoring eyes at the fox. "Well, um ... thank you, Mr. Robin Hood, sir, for having us."

Robin stood. "Little John and I will be leaving on an errand as soon as Friar Tuck and Alan-a-Dale return from their own morning of lookout duty. Will shall be in charge of things until we return. Mind him and the other adults well, and be ready to help with whatever they need. I'll want to hear only glowing things about you when I get back!"

Leaving his new scouting brigade to themselves, Robin ambled over to the cave by the waterfall, where Will and Little John awaited. The red-garbed gray fox greeted his cousin with a vaguely forlorn expression of disappointment. "Wish I could be going with you. What if you two run into trouble? You'll want an extra blade or bow with you then."

Robin waved off Will's concerns. "This is going to be a quick caper, in and out as fast as we can and straight back here as soon as we're done. If there turn out to be a lot of guards about, or if I catch the slightest whiff of a trap, we'll not risk it. We'll need stealth to pull this off, not force of arms, which is why I want it to be just me and Little John. Besides, with the two of us gone, we'll need you here to run things in our absence. Alan and Tuck are dear friends and trustworthy allies, but neither of them has the outlaw pedigree or bandit's instincts you do. Everyone here will look to you and accept your leadership."

"Temporary leadership, you mean." Will glanced toward the gaggle of rabbits. "So, how's the Bunny Brigade shaping up?"

"I think they're going to work out just fine," said Robin, "and they'll be a huge help to us if they do. I was a little worried about dropping so large a responsibility on them, but they've all seen enough of Gisbourne's cruelty to realize what's at stake. And the rest of us will be out there too, helping them with the scouting duties. We'll not rest the entire task on their young shoulders."

"So, Rob," the big bear asked his old friend, "you ready for this little jaunt?"

"I'm the one who proposed it, wasn't I? A nice, leisurely trip outside the forest will do us good. Besides, it'll give me a chance to bring some flowers to my favorite gal."