Little John couldn't shake his uneasy, nagging feeling that, under the influence of forest mushrooms, he and Allan had done something wrong. But, for the life of him, he couldn't remember what it was.
"Don't lose any sleep over it, Big Man," Allan advised, wearing his sunny, lopsided grin. "Whatever we did, I'm sure I've done worse."
"That's no help," John grumbled.
"Alright lads," Robin's voice rang cheerfully out, interrupting their private conversation. "Work to do!"
"What, again?" Allan good-naturedly complained. "Not bein' funny, but didn't even The Man Upstairs take a day off, once in a while?"
"On the seventh day, He rested." Much, who loved his Bible stories, was happy to inform them all. "After He created, you know...everything."
"Everything?" Allan repeated, unable to resist a chance to goad Much. "Even..." His grin widened as he choose Much's own word for waste. "Even poop?"
Will frowned, tired of his friends' immature arguments when Robin was offering them another opportunity to help the poor and right injustice. But Robin understood that Allan would be more eager to help after he'd enjoyed a bit of fun at Much's expense. And so, the rightful Lord of Locksley watched and waited.
Much was so shocked by Allan's blasphemous charge, he could only sputter unintelligible syllables, exploding them from outraged lips. "You are revolting!" he finally managed to say.
"It is a brilliant system of elimination," Djaq calmly informed them.
"What?" Allan scoffed. "S# *'s brilliant?"
"Yes. Only an intelligent Creator could have designed such a perfectly complex system for taking in, using, and eliminating fuel."
"You see!" Much proclaimed, pointing triumphantly at Allan. "Wait a minute!" he realized, looking crestfallen at Djaq. "You're not...you're not..."
"Didn't you learn anything in the Holy Land?" Robin teased his loyal friend, with affection.
"I learned to empty my boots of scorpions and spiders, before I stepped into them in the morning! I also learned to manage you, when you were in one of your moods."
Chuckling, Robin was swift to redirect the conversation. "Muslims and Jews share our belief in the same benevolent Creator, Much," Robin reminded him. "Djaq's faith isn't that different from ours."
"Then why are we fighting so much?" Much exploded. "Not Djaq and me, or even him," he said, pointing at Allan, who objected with an, "Oi! What did I do?"
"You know what you did," Much scolded. "I was talking about Muslims and Jews and...and us."
Clapping a hand on Much's shoulder, Robin tried to explain. "It's complicated."
His tone turned somewhat sad, as he wished everyone could be as simple as his pure-hearted best friend. "Let's just keep praying for peace." Brushing aside his wistfulness, he brightened and told his gathered men, "We collected quite a stash in Nottingham yesterday, and the sooner we get it into the hands of people who are hungry, the better. Prince John's raising taxes on the villages again, and so..." Dropping several bags of divided money at his men's feet, he continued, "This should cover the increase and put food on their tables."
As well as keep the money out of the sheriff's grubby little hands, Robin was thinking, wondering again what Vaisey might be planning. He decided it was time to call on his beautiful spy, to see if she knew anything. With a light, eager heart, he routed himself east, toward Knighton.
...
Marriage banns. Marian chided herself for a sinking heart when she spied the newly posted marriage banns on a pillar in Nottingham, right next to a wanted poster of Robin. Don't be a fool, she scolded herself. It's wonderful news, for the people about to be married. I'm sure the bride wasn't forced to accept, under duress.
The all-too familiar tread of heavy footsteps accompanied by a jangle of spurs informed her that her intended, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, had seen her ride into town, and was quickly approaching. She continued stroking Vesper's nose, refusing to turn and greet the man who mistook obsession for love.
"Hello, Marian," Guy greeted her. "Have you seen the marriage banns?"
At that, Marian couldn't ignore him and spun around. Why would Guy show interest in marriage banns? Surely, he hasn't posted ours, setting a date and time for the wedding? A dreadful panic gripped her heart.
"Looks like Hood still believes he's a member of society, instead of a filthy outlaw," Guy gloated, sniffing. "We caught the girl, and have her locked in the dungeon. Won't be long until she tells us where Hood's made his camp. Either that, or he'll walk right into the sheriff's trap, trying to save his bride."
"Bride? Guy! What are you saying? What bride?"
"You haven't read the banns? They're posted everywhere. I suggest you read for yourself."
Taking his advice, Marian approached the newly posted bann, resisting the urge to once again gaze at the image of Robin on his wanted poster. Anyway, the drawing didn't do him justice. Instead, she quickly ran her eyes over the jaw-dropping words on the marriage bann, getting one of the most unlikely surprises of her life.