Snippet #932999

Robin stepped from the cover of the trees into the wide clearing. A doezen thatch-roof huts were littered around the clearing and a worn path through the grass marked the only visible road. In the distance there was a creek. In the deeper parts men were seen fishing and in the shallows women were washing linens.

Two men followed Robin toward the center of town where a large bonfire pit had been dug. People began to gather around them, which wasn't unusual when men returned from the hunt.

"Brought dinner, curtesy of His Majesty," Robin said with a cheeky grin as he cast a line of dead hares onto the ground. People began to cheer even as one of the men accompanying Robin set the body of a stag next to them. Two butchers quickly began to set to work on cleaning the animals and Robin looked around proudly. His own little empire right here in the middle of the King's Forest.

"It won't be enough," a rolling accent said from Robin's left. He turned, already knowing the look on Kate's face. The tall ebony skinned woman with emerald eyes was frowning so deeply there were lines on her face. "Six rabbits and a deer won't feed sixty people," she said in her thick voice.

"I know," Robin said in response. "It's never enough, but something is better than nothing."

"We need to send a party into town to purchase bread and vegetables. God willing we can even manage a piece of fruit. Elaina's youngest son came down with scurvy last night." Robin nodded. The fate of everyone in Sherwood Village plagued him as though their fate were his own. It was a heavy burden.

"I'll see what I can conjure up. Will is always good for a visit to town. We'll need to keep the party small or Nottingham's men will knwo something is up."

"And how do you expect to pay for this food?" Kate asked placing her hands on her hips. The arrogent and mischevious smile returned to Robin's face?"

"Pay?" he asked. "My dear Kate...who said anything about paying?" Kate rolled her eyes.

"You're a good man Robin of Locksely, but you'll burn in hell for all this thieving and murdering you've done." Robin took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"Ah but Kate you forget, I've been to hell already and wouldn't you know...all the rooms were filled. Perhaps once there is a vacancy." Kate couldn't help the small laugh and she pushed Robin's shoulder.

"Never mind you, I've got work to do, and you've got food to buy," she called even as Robin was already walking away.