Deep in the castle of Nottingham, on the other side of the forest, the sheriff was being briefed on a civilian uprising. Roger de Lacy was a stern and wily sheriff . He loathed civilians and the lower class but knew that without them, there would be no upper class. There's no elite without the non-elite masses to define them.
His first lieutenant, the newly appointed knight, Sir Guy, was explaining the matters of a small band of brigands that had damaged military items and stolen weapons and gear from a supply caravan the previous week. Something of an embarrassment if it should come to light.
"It would seem that they hope to push your area of control further south from their community, which is just north of Loxley," Guy had surmised.
"They'll find that I have the might of King John backing me," Sheriff de Lacy declared. "We need to curtail any uprising from forming deep within Nottinghamshire county. I will not have my men be made fools of by brigands, bandits or any other such filth. The only way I can see stymieing this rebellion is a show of absolute force."
The sheriff unrolled a map of northern Nottinghamshire. "Where was the attack, exactly?" he asked Sir Guy.
Guy studied the map before pressing his finger to a spot just north of the village of Loxley. The sheriff looked the area over.
"Farmers?" de Lacy said, surprised at the notion. "My men were made to look like buffoons by a group of farmers?! Sir Guy, this is not good. This is not good at all. If word gets back to the king that I can't keep a couple of uppity farmers from terrorizing my men, I'll be laughed out of my position." He paused to punctuate his next statement. "They'll make me wear a fools hat and force me to entertain!"
Guy was unamused. He didn't like the sheriff's pompous attitude but to speak out loud about it would incur the wrath of the monarchy. "What do you suggest, Sir?"
De Lacy looked at the map again. He wanted to make an example of these brigands.
"Take a garrison of men and scout the village of Loxley. I'll get permission from the king to commandeer one of the farms as an outpost. Farmers don't attack farmers. They think like thieves, don't they? We'll set up the outpost and keep a regular unit there for support while we find whoever is in charge of this pathetic rebellion."
Guy had a feeling he knew the answer to his next question but he asked it anyway, "What then, Sir?"
De Lacy smiled. "A public hanging is a good way to send a message, isn't it?"
"I suppose, Sir," the knight said.
"You suppose? Do they teach leniency in Gisbourne?" the sheriff didn't want one who wavered amongst his men.
"My apologies, Sir," Guy began, "I meant no foul. My supposition was in agreement, not opposition."
"You are dismissed," de Lacy announced.
As Guy left the sheriff's presence he passed Matilda in the hall. "Maid Marian, the lady is lucky to have you at her beckon call."
"The lady is not as sweet as you, Sir Guy," Matilda said as she politely excused herself. She thought he was handsome and sweet but reminded herself that the help wasn't allowed to even think such notions. He was a noble and as such, would take a noble for a wife.
Matilda made her way down to the courtyard. Her brother was due any moment and she missed him so. She looked forward to seeing young Will, too. As she entered the courtyard she could see her brother's wagon on the far side. He wasn't allowed to bring it up into the actual courtyard so she made her way over to see him.
"How's my brother, the wolf, been?" she asked.
"I'm doing well," Thomas said. Will ran up to hug her and Thomas waited his turn. He hugged her tightly. "There's been trouble up near the farm. Farmers from the next village clashing with officials. It's a big headache, really."
"Sounds like it," she said.
"I'm gonna be a big brother!" Will let out. He looked up at his father. He wasn't supposed to tell yet.
"What?" Matilda said.
"Yeah, that's why neither Mary nor mum made the trip," Thomas said happily, "she's got a little bump."
Matilda looked down at Will. "How old are you now?" she asked.
"I'm eight," he said holding up and wiggling all eight of his fingers. "Papa says he's gonna show me how to hunt with a bow."
"Is that right?" she said, smiling, "You're getting so big. You're papa was ten before he was even shown the bow."
"Well, he's a bit more advanced than I was at his age," Thomas said. "Takes after his grampa."
"So, another baby," Matilda started, "if it's a girl, name it after me."
"If it's a boy, I'll name it Mathias, name it after his aunt and uncle both."
The three of them had dinner together. It was the first time Thomas and Will had a type of meat other than small game. It was venison and Thomas had a hard time believing he was actually eating it.
Their visit came to an end and Thomas and Will climbed back into the wagon. Matilda passed her brother some coins in a purse. "Get this wagon fixed up or get a new one," she said, I don't want you to not visit me because the wheel breaks."
He looked into the bag, inside were two gold, five silver and ten copper.
"I can't accept this," Thomas said. "You worked hard for this."
"They pay for everything for me here. I eat free and they supply the bed and clothes. The money is incidental. You can take it and you will. I owe you my life and a wedding present."
"Thanks, Matty."
"You're welcome."
Thomas and Will rode back home. They sung folk songs about fighting and farming. They sung the song that they made up about a fox and a wolf.
Comics, "Alan Moore", "Captain America", "Robin Hood", "Ivanhoe", "Green Arrow", "Kevin Smith", "Tarzan",
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