Chapter One

The next day, the outlaws awoke to the sound of horse's hooves and men's voices. The voices were singing a rambunctious lewd song at the top of their lungs.

"That's our wake-up call, lads" said a jovial Robin.

Allan moaned, but eventually decided to wake then, if only so he would not have to cook breakfast for himself later. "What's the plan, Robin?" he asked.

...

The four outlaws lay in wait in the surrounding trees of a clearing. The voices were getting more distinct as the seconds trickled away. Suddenly, a large group of men appeared with a carriage with bars set in the windows. A pale face could be seen through them. A man clad all in black rode in the penultimate position, with another following who was wearing leather. Robin's face hardened, his arrow knocked on the string.

"Now!" he cried.

Suddenly, a volley of arrows flew from the trees and embedded themselves in the ground around the men.

"Yield!" cried Robin Hood"

"Hood! I knew it was you. Still upset over your little leper friend, your little Marian?" jeered the sheriff.

"I can't kill you, but I can make you suffer. For her suffering!" shouted Robin.

"La-di-da-di-da. Look around, Hood, There are 136 soldiers here. How many are you?"

"Four," he answered defiantly. "Should be about even then!"

The gang let loose another volley of arrows and Robin vanished, the sheriff intent on seeing the source of the deadly hail. Suddenly, he ordered a retreat.

"We can get you later Hood." He jeered. "Maybe when you come to get what is yours, what we have here in this little cage," he said.

Robin was caught off guard. "What do you have Sheriff?" he asked.

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough," he answered.

Robin returned to his gang. Whatever he has can't be important. It was a big cage, what could he have of ours that fits into a large cage?" he asked them.

"We need to find out" interjected Much.

"I know," Robin capitulated.

"No need," said Allan. "I know. We need to get them back, now."



"Them?" asked Robin.

"Will and Djaq," answered Allan.

"We GO to Nottingham," said Little John.