"Master, no!"
Much ran to stop Robin's brutal attack on Martin of Aylesbury. The rest of Robin's gang followed closely behind.
"Master, what are you doing?"
"Stop, now," Little John commanded.
Robin turned to his men, smiled his disarming smile, then spun around to deliver one final blow to Aylesbury's surprised face.
"Take everything. And I mean everything," he smirked.
"But Master, why?"
Robin patted Much's cheek. "Because, my friend, he lied." Laughing, he turned and sauntered off, concealing his rage behind his cockiness.
His men stared after him, then at one another, baffled by their leader's fury over this helpless, pathetic noble.
"Everything?" Will asked. "He can't mean..."
"Not bein' funny, but I don't undress men."
"Come on," Roy said, already on his knees seizing at Aylesbury's clothing, "you heard him! He wants us to take it all. Fine rags like these are bound to fetch a worthy price!"
"I do not wear rags! Unhand me, ruffian!"
"You know, Much," Roy continued, "it's a good thing you never got to be a lord after all! He talks exactly like you, if you was a high and mighty noble."
Allan caught Martin's purse Roy tossed his way. "Good one!" he laughed, opening the purse to count the silver.
"He does not!" Much protested. "I'll tell Robin what you said, and you'll regret your...your..."
"Shut up!" Little John growled.
"What are we supposed to do with him?" Will asked. "We can't leave him naked in the forest! He'll never survive!"
"Heartbreakin'! Do we care?"
Roy stopped. Martin was naked, save for his boots and his underpants. His fine linen under garments were embroidered all over with his family crest.
Allan began to laugh. Little John and Roy joined his infectious laughter. Will cracked a smile, and soon, even Much was laughing heartliy along. "Oh, very good!" Much gloated.
"How dare you laugh at my misfortune?" Aylesbury cried. "I cannot believe this!"
"See?" Roy said. "What's so different between what he said and your 'unbelieveables?' "
"I do not speak like Aylesbury!" Much huffed.
"And I do not speak like a common serf!"
"He's no longer a serf." Robin had returned, and surveyed the hollow chest of Aylesbury in his boots and embroidered undergarments with satisfied amusement.
"He's not Bonchurch, either!" Martin yelled. "And you're not Locksley! We all should have known, years ago, that you would throw away your peerless pedigree, Hood! Consorting with serfs! All of us raised our eyebrows and wondered at your friendliness to those lower than us. You've always preferred them, haven't you?"
"I'll have you know my master was boon companion to His Majesty, King Richard!" Much refused to hear Robin criticized.
"And who are his companions now? You, of course, the miller's idiot son he took pity on when your family couldn't keep you...a village peasant boy who should have been hanged for stealing flour, two ruffian outlaws living on the run in this wretched forest, and a smooth talking pickpocket petty thief whose lying tongue may get him into many a woman's bed-"
"It has," Allan confirmed.
"-but can't keep him away from the gallows."
"Well," Robin said coolly, "that may be so. But who's the prisoner now?"
"What are you going to do with me now, Hood?"
Robin smiled his devilish grin and chuckled mischieviously.
Much looked triumphantly at Aylesbury.
"You had better watch out, Fancy Pants! I know that look, and it always spells trouble!"