Anna's New Home

[Roe]

Roe was not one to back down from a challenge, epecially one that began as a staring or glaring contest. He had, after all commanded his share of men toward the end of his tour in the Crusades. He would prefer hi two long-swords, but an axe had sufficed in a pinch in the past. As he looked at the faces of the villagers, and their looks of undisguised fear, it was obvious this was a man of considerable power, if not compassion. Could this be the man who had heard ome villagers muttering about, Sir Guy?

"No, I would not do such a thing over such a trifling thing as an amount that is expected of me. I have a feeling that resisting might give you some measure of enjoyment that I don't care to indulge you in on this day. I'm afraid I am a newcomer here ... or at the very least one who has returned to his home village after the passage of some years. I have served as a soldier and an officer in the Crusades these past 15 years."

"I found the amount and the suddenness of the tax to be ... curious .... and questioned it more out of ignorance .... I beg your pardon .... Sir Guy,?" he said as more of a question, than a statement, and with deferential dip of the head, but with the slightest of wry smiles as well. "I trust that you are not challenging me, given that I just have this axe for carpentry," he asked.

[Sir Guy of Gisborne.]

Of course, Gisborne was interested in a fight, if there was one about to occur. He was not worried... However, the stranger's words were clear and strong. He was obviously new around here, as hardly anyone dared stand up to Guy. He was feared throughout Nottingham...

"I too served in the Holy Lands... My friend..."

His voice was clearly cold and challenging, not wanting to address the man as he did so.

"Then your ignorance is to be kept to yourself. Give the money to my guards."

He did not pick up on the statement of his challenge to Roe.

[Roe]

This man, Sir Guy, apparently was not too averse to having the opportunity to fight. As much as Roe abhorred the Crusades and all they represented, it had been too long since he had had the opportunity to exercise the fine martial arts he had learned as a soldier. The flash of an expression in the Guy's face indicated to Roe that his response to Sir Guy's demands was a bit of a surprise, and not the kind of response that was generally generated. From the attitude of the other villagers it was obviously feat was the most common emotional reaction.

Sir Guy's response about having served in the Crusades was given matter-of-factly, and not necessarily as a challenge it seemed, but Roe judged, he was quite ready to take him on if need be, much as Roe felt. However, the time and place didn't seem right to Roe. He didn't know enough about the existing situation in the shire yet. He needed to find out more, but he was not willing to do a complete retreat in this man's presence .... that was not his way.

"Very well, Sir Guy, I am sorry that I was not aware of my responsibilities. My apologies sir," he said, once again nodding in deference to Sir Guy, "I will go inside, and get the required amount." He went inside, took the required amount from a sack, but also armed himself with his 2 long-swords, and a hatchet under his cloaks, and returned, more properly armed. He called out to a pair of Guy's guards and went forward with the money in hand.

[Sir Guy of Gisborne.]

The guards, clad in their black armour, snatched the money from him, dropping it into the sack in the back of the carriage that had accompanied them. They mostly did not make eye contact with him, moving on to the next occupants of the village, without another glance back to Annabella and Roe's places.

Gisborne, however, was less content to allow the man who had verbally defied him to be 'released' so easily. He pushed past the guards, sword drawn as he opened the door of the house, glancing around.

He settled his eyes on Roe for a moment, standing there as well, although caught his eyes for no more than a moment, beginning to almost stalk around the small dwelling, his dark, almost black eyes running almost scornfully across the surfaces and items within the rooms he could see into. He was unaware of the new weapons that Roe now sported, merely concentrating on smirking to himself inside his own consciousness, at exactly how much he had, that these villagers did not. It made him smile to see that he was so well off, and there were other people who could barely scrape together enough taxes to pay, without being carted off to the Sheriff, and others who were starving themselves, so that their children would not go hungry... It was a cruel world for the weak, Gisborne decided. And he, most definitely, was not the weak...

[Roe]

Roe still thought that this whole process seemed quite extra-legal, even for the times that these village folk were having to endure. As they snatched the coins from him he thought to himself that at least Guy's guards seemed tomatch their master's compassion. Seeing that they were no longer concerned with him, or paying attention to the weapons that now protruded from the back of his cloak, he went inside his home. It still needed a lot of work, but he was making progress.

Suddenly, he heard a commotion outside his friont step and the sound of solid foot falls nearing the entry to the home he had claimed for his own. Sir Guy burst in, once more invading Roe's personal space. With any other individual, who would might have done such a rash thing, Roe would have been likely to cut him down where he stood. Instead, he simply rotated his body the right, spreading out his feet in a distributed fighting stance, waiting to see what Guy would do next.

"Well, of course Sir Guy, welcome to my humble abode. Since you have acquired the required taxes, is there something you desire, a spot of tea perhaps. Oh drat, me arriving so recently from the continent I'm afraid my supplies are running a tad low," he said with a sly smile in careful anticipation of what Guy would do or say next.

He found it interesting that Guy was so interested in what was in each of the rooms. he thought to himself, undoubtedly how much he might be able to get in taxation out of him the next time .... probably a special carpenter's tax payable by dawn tomorrow, he smiled to himself. "Looking for anything in particular, Sir Guy? ..... like some outlaws stuffed in a closet perhaps, or might you be looking at some ideas for re-decorating the castle? I'm afraid this is just a carpenter's shop and home, something which I'm hoping to once more make active. Unless of course you have other plans for this home or myself," he said with a decidedly cold stare and smile.

[Sir Guy of Gisborne.]

Gisborne did not even turn around as Roe spoke to him, even in the scathing tone that seemed to be apparent. However, he would not pick the other man up on it, until he had said that which he wanted to say.

"This is the Scarlett's house. Before they turned outlaw..."

He recognised the house from many previous vists to Locksley, although he had barely ventured in there previously. He looked around the room, taking in the meagre furnishing of the place.

"There might be outlaws hiding here."

He snarled coldly, in a vague attempt to protect his honour, as he had been accused of merely scoping the house for barely any reason whatsoever. He turned around suddenly, his glare coldly apparent as he stared him right in the eyes.

"The only plans I have for you and your future is at my hands in the cells... If you continue to disrespect your superiors as such, peasant."

[Roe]

It was a dangerous game that both were playing, especially Roe. They were essentially testing each other, seeing how far one could press the other. The problem was, of course, that neither would know they had gone too far until the other drew their sword, and then it was too late.

"Of course it was their house. It was a carpenter's shop once and it will be again, as it was when I knew them. As far as them turning outlaw I have never heard something so ridiculous. They were one of the most law-abiding families that you could have run across .... a model for others to follow .... unless of course they were forced into such a life," he said looking coldy, but still smiling, as he waited for any sign that Sir Guy was about to make an offensive move.

Roe laughed at Guy's suggestion about the possibility that there might actually be outlaws in hiding there. "Yes, I think you should really check out all of the secret compartments that are under these floorboards. You never know what you might find."

"Well .... such a decision of course is a decision for you to make Sir Guy, since you are apparently in a position of authority here. However, despite all of the advantages that you have here, you should avoid making too many assumptions .... for example ... about me. First of all .... I am no peasant ... at least not an ordinary one. I'm the son of a nobleman, and a knight .... just not one by an English king. As such I have a natural expation to have my spaces respected and not invaded, as you have just done. If you wish to come to blows with me that is your own decision, but I don't seek conflict, unless you give me no other recourse. I've come here to build, not to destroy. However, I must say that you have not made me feel entirely welcome. So .... what is it to be .... the cells ..... or some other end of your choosing," he asked, somewhat suspiciously.

[Peter the God]

Peasant Peter is lost. He wonderes into a cosy looking house thinking it's his house.
He looks around and spots a handsome fellow
"Have you come for some naughty fun?" he asks