Chapter 6

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"Elrick please, what have you decided," Maeve took hold of the older man's tunic in her desperation. "Somewhere he has a mother Elrick, if you kill him...,"

"We haven't killed him woman, he's through there," he gestured to a large meeting house in the centre of the village.

"We haven't decided what we're going to do with him, we're having a meeting tonight. You might ask your husband..."

She was gone through the doors before he could finish. Men sat by the fire drinking home made ale and talking about the cruel, cold weather. She ignored them as she bustled up the stairs. She found Much on a straw bed being tended to by an old woman.

Much was glad to see her, his eyes lit up to see a familiar face.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Much nodded. "It don't hurt as much,"

His boyish face took on a worried frown.

"What are they going to do with me?" he asked.

"Now don't you go worrying none about that, you just get yourself better. Herne will protect you," she tucked blankets around him as if he were one on her own. Outlaw or not he wasn't much more than a child .

~o~

The morning was spent hunting in the great forest. Despite the urgency of the situation they had to eat and they had just about run out of provisions. Robin tracked with the rest of them and managed to fall a great stag with a single shot. He slung his bow across his shoulder and limped over to the dead animal. He tried to heave the animal up to sling it over his shoulders but with the first effort he winced with pain. The others approached, John patting him on the back.

"That was a fine shot lad," he said. Before Robin could intervene John hoisted the animal over his shoulders and began walking back to camp. They all nodded their approval at Robin's efforts and headed back resisting the urge to help him as they knew he would not welcome it. He limped behind the rest trying to ignore Marion's worried glances.

~o~

The meeting house was full to capacity. Every man living within a ten mile radius came to hear the fate of the outlaw boy. Some were genuinely worried, lest the sheriff got wind of it but most were curious and eyed him as if he was a fair ground freak. Marcus of Antrim paced the floor ranting out his opinions as if they were the only ones that mattered.

"Look at him, butter wouldn't melt in that mouth, make no mistake if he had a knife in his hand he'd cut you from ear to ear." He pointed.

Much sat stiffly on a bench staring up at him. They had determined that he should be present considering it was all about him but he was exhausted and in pain and could just about hold himself upright.

Marcus eyed him with disdain. Every year he paid out hefty taxes to the sheriff, his family barely getting enough to eat. Why should he suffer under an unjust regime when this whelp half his age lives freely in the forest eating as much venison as he pleases. Why should they help him.

"Do we not deserve some small compensation." Marcus went on "Extra provisions for our families. Extra wood for our stove. Winter is fast approaching friends. This ruffian could be the answer to our prayers. All in Nottingham would be quick to show us their gratitude."

"Marcus, you would be putting the boy to death as much as if we had thrashed him ourselves. Food served up from such a bargain would stick in my throat." Mathew spoke quietly.

"What, you would see children starve in another harsh winter and let this villain go free?"

Marcus marched over and grabbing hold of his tunic he hauled Much to his feet. The others grumbled their disapproval at this.

"Put him down Marcus," Elrick growled. "We don't need dramatics, we need a practical solution. He can't stay here and he's too ill to be moved on. Oh for heaven sake put him down."

Marcus shoved Much downwards so hard he missed the seat and landed heavily on the ground.

"There's no need for that," Mathew roared at him.

"There's every need." Marcus looked about the room, his face flushed in rage.

"You will live on and suffer in silence, not I. Here now is a chance to curry favour with those who matter and I mean to avail myself of it. I will return with sir Guy of Gisborne and the Sheriff."

He ran from the meeting house before they could stop him. Seconds later he could be heard on horseback galloping off into the forest.

"Fool, damn fool," Elrick growled. "Does he think the sheriff will favour us in some way."

Mathew frowned "with all respect Elrick, we have more pressing matters." He bent and helped Much to sit up.

The village elder nodded and hauled himself to his feet. "Brother Marcus has given us little choice, we must take the boy into the forest and hope his friends find him there. To keep him here in the village would mean death to us all."

Much bristled at this news but he knew they had little choice. As much as he dreaded being left defenceless in the forest he could not let them suffer because of him. At least some of the bravery of his older brother had rubbed off on him.