An Honest Day's Pay
Is he mad? Allan stood, naked from the waist up, in the forest looking at three men who only two days ago he had never seen before. He glanced down at the half-rotted tree limb in his hand. Go after those big fellas with just sticks? He must be joking.
Allan A’ Dale had met some cagey characters in his day, but these men were unlike any he had encountered before. The noble one-Robin, he was called-had proved himself with a bow. Never had Allan seen anyone shoot an arrow like that-straight up and then, dead on target, landing in front of that pompous guard, driving straight into his saddle. That had been brilliant! This, however, was insane.
Had his lordship not seen the size of their leader? That man could take on two of them easily…with their weapons. Without their weapons, it would be useless. The other men weren’t small. Well, one of them was-the one who reminded Allan of a rodent, sniffing at Robin’s chest and trying to guess the “flavor.” Allan half expected him to take a bite with his pointy little rat teeth. Lavender…roses…who cared? Allan reckoned he might stand a chance against that one. Or, the taller one with the weasel face. Then, there was the mouthy one…the big fella who talked too much. Allan would have liked to beat the sarcasm right out of him, the cheeky sod! With only sticks as weapons, though, he didn’t fancy their chances.
If it weren’t for that damned ha’ penny, Allan silently fumed. It was his only ha’ penny as had been pointed out; all the money that he had. It was not the fact that it was his only coin that galled him, however. Purses could be snatched easily enough. Money quickly came and quickly went in Allan’s life without much thought about it or effort involved. This ha’ penny, though, had come at a price.
Allan A’ Dale had worked for it. Not by running a con. Not by stealing. Not by performing an illegal errand for a dubious merchant. By the sweat of his brow, Allan A’ Dale had earned an honest wage-the first of his life-to get that ha’ penny. She had said that he could not work an honest day’s labor. He had proven her wrong. Now, his proof was in another man’s pocket and he wanted it back.
“I’m in!” he shouted to Robin of Locksley.
“But, Master…” the one called Much protested. Allan realized that he had the better end of the bargain. At least, he had not lost his trousers in the deal. Grinning at the sheer insanity of it, and with only the forest to protect and arm them, the scantily clad foursome sped off to reclaim what was rightfully theirs!