1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Twenty-six

Kate sat alone in the forest, thinking. Just about fifteen minutes ago did she became an outlaw. She hated saying goodbye to her mother and her sister, but she knew it was for the best. John went to sit next to her.

"Homesick?" he asked.

Kate put a strand of hair behind her ear before twiddling her fingers. "No, it's fine," she said. "I can handle it. I'm not just some stupid girl."

John looked to Kate. "Yeah, I know you're not."

Kate sighed. "Maybe I'm a bit homesick," she admitted.

"It gets easier, being an outlaw," promised John.

"But do you ever get used to being apart from your family?" asked Kate.

"No," he replied grimly with a shake of his head. "You don't get used to that."

Kate sighed and looked down. "That's what I thought."

"Whatever happens, you're not on your own, Kate," John promised once more.

Kate and John exchanged a look. She gave a small smile and a nod before looking down again. Tuck and Robin were arriving.

"Sounds like a good plan," said Tuck.

"Yep, but we need to leave now," Robin responded. The two of them went to sit down next to Kate and John. "So... I know what we're going to do."

"We're going to kidnap the tax collector," said Tuck with a grin, "scare him silly."

"And get rid of him... for good." Robin grinned.

Kate returned the grin. "Let's do it."

*****

Vaisey sat on the desk in the money room, hands on his head. His mind was racing, and it was nonstop torture. The door opened, and Rufus arrived, Linda behind him.

"Special delivery!" she announced, but Vaisey only grumbled in response.

Rufus slammed the chest of money on the table.

"Aah!" Vaisey cried in surprise.

"Taxes," said Rufus. Vaisey opened the chest and gasped. "Adding a little happy to your day."

"Yes," answered the Sheriff. "Oh, yes, very good. Very good. You have a distinct talent for this." He gave the bags of coins to Scrope one at a time.

"Well, as long as you're happy. As long as the Sheriff gets what the Sheriff wants," said Rufus.

Linda raised an eyebrow suspiciously. There was something about Rufus that seemed familiar... and dangerous.

Scrope dumped out a bag of coins and looked at them in awe. He then started counting. Rufus walked around the room.

"Did I ever tell you two that my father lived in Nottingham?" Rufus asked with a whip of his head.

"Did he now?" asked Linda, her interest piqued by this sudden question.

"He lived here is whole life," said Rufus.

"How very pleasant for him," said the Sheriff as he examined a sack. He gave it to Scrope.

"I didn't respect him much, but he was kind," continued Rufus, and Linda could see the scowl forming on his face.

Vaisey kept handing the bags to Scrope, oblivious to what Rufus was saying.

"Not a single day when I don't think about him," Rufus finished, and he scowl showed itself.

"Oh, how very moving," said Vaisey as he opened up a pouch. "La-di-da-di-da."