by Jaleta Clegg
Chapter 11
Will took me to a storage cellar built into the side of a hill. It was surprisingly dry and clean inside. Barrels and baskets of food lined the walls. Stacked chests filled the center of the room. Will lit a candle, sticking it in a holder on the wall. He rummaged through one of the chests, pulling out a dress the color of spring grass. He held it up, then shook his head. "Too big. And the wrong color."
I folded my arms as he stuffed the dress back into the chest. "I thought you were going to tell me about Robin."
"Robin Goodfellow." Will sat on his heels, his hands full of purple lace. "Most worlds have their own version of his legend." He put the dress inside, then slammed the lid of the chest shut. He moved on to a larger trunk. "Robin Goodfellow is one of the more common names. Rogier of the Green, Robin of the Hood, Robert Greene, even George Longshanks. None of them ring a bell for you?"
I shook my head.
"The plight of education today." He pulled out a pink dress with huge bows tied across the front.
"I would rather die than put that on." I shuddered at the fluff of ribbons.
"I think it's lovely."
"Then you wear it."
"Robin might question my sanity if I did." Will tossed the dress on top of a barrel. "To get back to the story—"
"You haven't started it yet."
He grinned. "I can get Big Robert and a couple of his friends to put you in the pink dress if you aren't nicer."
"I'd like to see them try."
"Is that a challenge?"
"It's a statement of fact. Just tell me who I'm supposed to impersonate tonight."
"Maid Marian, part of the elite. She's aristocracy in most versions. She gave away everything to help Robin bring justice and equity to the downtrodden poor."
"She sounds stupid to me." I shifted my bare feet on the cold floor.
"Don't let Robin hear you say that. He takes the story very personally. Someone will become Maid Marian and help him lead the people of Dadilan to freedom and peace. He thinks it might be you."
"I'm not planning on staying on Dadilan long enough to bring anything to anyone."
"Then what are you doing in the middle of a Patrol investigation?"
"I told you. It was an accident."
"According to the tenets of most major religions, accidents aren't accidents. They're fate."
"And I'm the Emperor's mother. I didn't plan any of this. I'm just trying to survive."
"I could make some very deep observations about your choice of words and religious motifs involving wheels of life, but I won't. You wouldn't appreciate them."
"More slurs on my lack of education?"
He stirred through the chest once more before slamming it shut. "Why is that so touchy to you, Dace? I was under the impression that the Patrol Enforcers required their agents to attend at least a few years of college level education, if not obtain a full degree in some field."
"I am not Patrol."
"Ha! I got you to admit it. Now explain why you're with Tayvis."
"Like I said before, I ran into him in the woods. Nothing more."
"And your education? You've got me curious why you're so touchy about it."
He opened another chest, rummaging again. I stayed silent. My educational credentials were none of his business.
"You may as well answer, Dace. If you don't, it will be lots of ribbons." He pulled out a pouf of yellow satin.
I looked out the door, watching a man in green saunter through the bushes. "How do you know Tayvis?"
"I don't, except by reputation. I really am a graduate student, here to earn a degree. I just happen to be helping out the Patrol in a small, insignificant way. How about you?"
"I crashed here. I had no idea Dadilan even existed."
"Now we're getting somewhere. Keep talking."
"You were the one who promised to tell me a story."
He waved at the fluffy ribboned dress. "Think pink, Dace. Tell me enough of the truth and I'll find something much more suitable for you."
"Do they teach this kind of torture to all undercover operatives?" Anything to stall him, anything to avoid answering. I wanted Will to like me. He'd called me pretty.
"The pink dress torture is reserved for very senior agents." Will kept a straight face. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing."
"Then why won't you answer?"
I shifted my feet again, looking down at the stone floor. "Because I don't want to."
"That's an intriguing answer." He pulled out a white blouse with a delicate wreath of flowers embroidered around the top. "There's a skirt to match."
"You don't have a flight suit and a pair of boots in there, do you?" I couldn't help the plaintive note creeping into my voice.
"Robin would never approve." He held out the blouse and a dark blue skirt.
I took them reluctantly. The soft fabric smelled of herbs and the wood of the chest.
Will studied me. "Would it help if I turned around?"
"I'm supposed to change now?"
"Change is a lifelong process. Change comes to us all," he said in a fruity voice. "Embrace the change and it will embrace you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Was he flirting?
"I honestly don't know. One of my professors used to have it hanging on the wall in her office. I always meant to ask her, but I never found a good opportunity. I'll be right outside when you're done."
He sauntered out of the storage room, stopping just outside the door. He put his hands in his pockets and whistled, bouncing on his toes.
I pulled off my dusty dress then slipped on the blouse. The sleeves were long and full. The cuffs had flowers done in pale lavender and blue. I fingered the embroidery.
"Are you finished yet?" Will asked.
"No." I quickly pulled the blue skirt up and tied the waist.
"Women take forever to change their clothes. Are you going to spend an hour on your hair next?"
"You don't have any shoes, do you?" I stepped out of the storage room into the sunlight.
Will looked me up and down, his eyes lingering. "Not quite Marian, but it suits you."
"Shoes?" I asked.
He looked down at my feet. "Sorry. Anything we've got is probably too big. The bare feet work with the outfit."
"I'm not worried about fashion, Will. It hurts to walk."
"I believe you. I really don't have anything even close to your size."
He lifted his gaze to my face. I shifted nervously.
"What?" I finally asked.
"You still haven't answered my questions." He folded his arms over his chest, all trace of teasing gone.
I wrapped my arms around myself, a gesture of protection. "I really did crash here. I was pilot on a trading ship." I hesitated. The rest of my past wasn't important.
"Yes?" Will wasn't going to let it go.
"I grew up on Tivor. I was sixteen when I left for Eruus. I spent two years learning enough to pass the entrance exams to the Academy. I didn't have time for stories."
"That explains a lot." Will uncrossed his arms. "Do you want an afternoon snack or are you good until dinner time?"
My face flushed.
He laughed. "You only ate enough for three at lunch. I'm assuming you have a very high metabolism and need to eat frequently."
"I haven't eaten a full meal in days. That was the first real food I've had in several weeks."
"They didn't feed you on your trading ship? You haven't been on Dadilan that long or I'd have heard about you."
"I couldn't afford to buy more than cereal. All my cash was tied up in the cargo."
"I'm a little confused. You said you were the pilot."
"And captain. And owner. It doesn't matter. My ship is dust now. Along with all my cargo."
"And all of your cash. I was paying attention."
"I don't see how any of it matters."
"What was the name of your ship?"
"Star's Grace."
"What's your connection to Shomies Pardui?"
"What?"
"You heard me. What's your connection to Shomies Pardui?"
"I don't have a connection to her."
"Then what were you doing with her in Gragensberg?"
"Trying to get away. I was stupid. I had a few drinks with one of her men at the inn. He told her about me and she kidnapped me."
"What did you tell her?"
"As little as I could. You can tell Tayvis everything I've said. It's the truth." Tayvis must have sent Will to question me.
I pushed past Will. I ducked my head and just walked. Anywhere was as good as nowhere.
He followed. I stopped on the bank of the stream. He put his hands into his pockets, standing close enough to send the message he was still my escort.
"You are working with Tayvis," I said. "Are you his partner?"
"Me? No." He shifted closer. "As far as anyone on Dadilan knows, you're his partner. I'd watch my step. Most of the people who know what the Patrol is will try to kill you."
"Thanks for the warning."
"You're welcome."
"Are you going to follow me everywhere?"
"It's my duty and my pleasure."
"Then show me where the bathrooms are." I expected him to blush. His grin grew wider instead.
"Right this way, my lady." He pointed off to his right.
I spent the afternoon wandering around with Will. We toured the whole camp, every single insignificant detail. He showed me the sanitary facilities and the laundry area. He demonstrated the water filtering system. We toured all of the huts and the cooking area.
Will took me to the upstream end of the camp, telling me it was where they caught fish. He handed me a pole with a string and a hook attached to one end. We sat on the bank, dangling hooks in the water. I dipped my aching feet into the cold water.
"So what do you think?" Will asked.
"Of the camp? I'd trade it in a heartbeat for my ship."
"It's state of the art for Dadilan." Will watched his string intently, bobbing it up and down in the stream.
"Tayvis said Robin was in trouble for interfering."
"Noninterference policy? True. Robin's trying to teach the people a better way of life. It is stretching the terms of his research grant." He shrugged. "Who's going to enforce it? Patrol noninterference keeps them in their compound. They can't interfere if the natives aren't complaining."
"But they don't know where to complain."
"Now you're catching on."
"Patrol Command sent Tayvis here to gather enough evidence so they could justify interfering." My string twitched.
"You've got a bite. Pull back on the string." Will grabbed my pole. The string jerked, then went slack. "You lost it. It was too small anyway."
"How do you know?"
"It got away, you can claim it was as big as you want. The fish don't seem interested. Shall we tour—"
"No. I don't want to see it, whatever it is. Tell me about Robin Goodfellow, the whole story."
He lay on the bank, looking at the leaves dancing on the branches above us. Just when I thought he wasn't going to answer, he started his story.
"Robin Goodfellow was a thief and a liar. He stole and cheated and made himself rich on other people's money. Then one day, he held a merchant at knife point. The man begged for his life, he had nothing to steal but food. Thieves had driven the ruler into raising an army. The local ruler taxed his village into poverty, then took whatever crops they could grow. It wasn't the ruler who suffered, but the innocent peasants. Guilt overcame Robin. His band of thieves were at fault. He let the man go, vowing to change his ways. Two days later, the ruler's mansion burned to the ground. The villagers found gold and gems on their doorsteps. Robin Goodfellow stole only from the rich from them on. He gave away his ill-gotten fortune to help those who needed it the most. He fought against the unjust rulers. He was a champion to the poor, their defender.
"He lived a simple life in the woods, recruiting other men to his cause and teaching them the ways of truth, justice, and equity."
"And hygiene?" I couldn't help asking.
"What is it with you and hygiene?" Will tucked his hands behind his head. His fishing line trailed forgotten in the stream.
"It was an obsession with the orphanage director where I grew up."
Will closed his eyes. "To get back to the story, several years later Robin relocated to Sherwood Forest. The local ruler spent years traveling abroad. His brother mismanaged affairs so badly even Robin took pity on him. The ruler returned to find his coffers empty, though the peasants prospered. His brother blamed Robin and his thieves. The ruler turned his anger on Robin, raising an army to hunt him.
"When Robin heard, he decided to teach the ruler a lesson. He crept into the man's house one night to steal his treasure. He found the man's daughter instead. She was as beautiful as a sunrise, her hair the color of gold, her skin as fine as silk, her eyes like sapphires. You get the picture."
"Marian."
"Maid Marian, yes. Robin carried Marian off to his forest camp. She was kind and gentle and believed him when he told her about his mission to bring justice and equity to the poor. She helped him defeat her father. He fell in love with her. In some versions she refused his offer of marriage and broke his heart. In others, they married, but she was killed by her father. None of the versions end happily."
I sat, resting my chin on my knees. "So why does Barricion Muir want to live Robin's story? Why pretend?"
"He started using it as an example, a story people could relate to. It grew out of control. He almost believes he is Robin Goodfellow now. He wants to find a Marian for his Robin. Someone good and pure, true and virtuous. Someone beautiful and gracious."
"Then he doesn't want me."
"Don't be too sure, Dace."
I stood abruptly, yanking my string out of the stream. I dropped the pole on the bank next to Will.
"Done fishing?" Will reeled in his string.
"Are you?"
"I think I've got everything I need from you, yes." He stood, tucking both poles under his arm.
I walked into the camp. Will followed at my heels.
"I believe you should rest before the feast tonight," Will said. "Your hut is this way. Or if you prefer, I could give you the long version of the tour."
"I'll pass on the tour." As charming as Will was, he was still trying to pry information out of me. I'd given him more than enough. And my feet hurt.
He led me to a bushy hut, bowing as I ducked into the cramped interior. He sauntered away after warning me to stay put.
I sat on a blanket inside. I picked dirt from my bare toes and thought over what I'd learned from Will. For all his talking, he hadn't told me much.
Sweat crawled down my neck, sticky and hot. The air hung too close. I crawled to the entrance, peering out between leafy branches. I saw two men carving sticks with knives. The others must have found somewhere out of the afternoon heat, leaving the camp deserted. I crawled from the hut. The two men didn't even glance my way.
I wandered towards the stream, finding a secluded spot where two bushes grew next to the water. I lay down in their shade, trailing one hand in the water.
"She isn't what you think." Will's voice came from the far side of the bush. I froze, straining my ears to hear.
"She's dangerous, to both of us." Tayvis' voice was softer and deeper.
"I don't think so. I think she's telling the truth."
"How do you know?"
"Her story sounds implausible, true."
"Try completely unbelievable, Will. No one could possibly have strung together that many coincidences. I want to know what she's hiding. I want to know who she really works for."
So much for trusting me. All of Will's flirting had been a trick, a way to get me to talk, to tell him the truth. It hurt.
"I'm telling you, she's not lying." At least Will believed me.
"She's lying, she has to be. She'
s too young to be anything except a plant, a ringer for the syndicates."
"Your paranoia is legendary, Tayvis, but this time I think you're wrong. She's exactly what she says."
"She has you convinced. What did she do? Smile at you? Your reputation as a fool for anything in a skirt is legendary, too, Will."
"She didn't even try." The bush rustled. "I'll get Commander Nuto at the base to pull her records. What are you going to do about her?"
"I really don't know. I want to keep her where I can watch her."
"You could leave her here."
"Not a good idea, Will. If she's working for Shomies or Leran, you're only giving her a free pass to spy on Robin. She's either telling the truth or she's very good at acting. I can't figure out which."
"So you're taking her with you. Where are you going to wait until you know?"
"I can wait at the base. I've got time."
"Maybe. Rumor has it Leran is pushing his influence. He's working up to something big. The number of men in his pay tripled over the last two weeks."
"I'll keep an eye on him. Thanks for the warning."
"Tayvis, it isn't that simple. Leran and Pardui have both been building a power base."
"So has Robin."
"He's not smuggling shara. They are."
"Give me proof, Will. I can't arrest them on suspicion or I would have already."
They moved away, their voices fading into indistinct murmurs. I stayed on my belly next to the stream. So Will believed me but Tayvis didn't; no surprise. Maybe I could convince Tayvis to leave me here, in Robin's camp. I could live with that as long as it came with a ticket home. But if Robin was breaking his research terms, he wasn't going to leave Dadilan, not unless the Patrol arrested him. All of his students were stuck here with him, which meant they weren't leaving Dadilan, either. If Will worked for the Patrol, he could get me away, he believed me. But he said he didn't work for them.
It was like a giant knot. I could pick at it for hours and still not unravel any of it.
I stayed by the stream, thinking in circles, until the sun dropped behind the trees.
Will found me when I emerged from my busy hiding place. He smiled brightly, but with an edge. "There you are. I've been looking for you."
"It was hot in the hut. I went for a walk."
"Really." Suspicion lurked in his eyes. "Robin wants you at the campfire."
I waited for him to lead me. The silence between us stretched uncomfortably.
"Which way, Will?"
"You didn't find it when you were out for a walk?"
"I went to the stream and rested there." I studied my toes.
"You should be more careful, Dace. Not even Robin can keep you safe."
If he meant it as a warning, it was a strange one. Will smiled blandly as he led the way to the eating area.
Robin held court at his table. He frowned when he saw me. "Will Scarlet, I thought I told you to find her something suitable."
"The dresses didn't fit. This was the best I could find."
Robin looked me over, standing to study every detail. He clucked his tongue and shook his head. "Your hair is much too short and too brown. I'm afraid you just won't do, Dace. You aren't Marian. No, you won't do."
Relief mixed with indignation. I was relieved not to have to play Marian, but his comment still stung.
The plentiful food tasted even better than lunch. I ate as much as I could. I ignored the looks from Robin's men.
Robin waxed eloquent on the subject of governmental reform and the mythical importance of Robin Goodfellow. I had enough when he started lecturing me on the symbolism of wearing green.
"Green is the color of the common man," he said, after spending at least fifteen minutes telling me it represented a fresh beginning and agriculture and half a dozen other unrelated topics. "We wear green to symbolize our kinship with the common man. Just as Robin in the legends."
"Maybe his men wore green because it was easier for them to hide in the woods."
Robin blinked very slowly. His eyes narrowed as he digested my comment. "I see that you truly do not understand. I am surprised. A researcher with a prestigious university such as Tourens should be more versed in symbology."
"I never claimed to be a philosopher. Will said that."
Robin ignored me the rest of the evening. I didn't mind.
