sixwordstories | (no subject)

Does that pay well?

Reliably. Someone always has a cold, a concussion, a small accident with a skinning knife...

[His limited training is enough to make it a good fallback - or cover story, as required. It's well repaid the study time.]

That makes sense. Is it fun?

I'm not sure I'd call it fun, but it can be rather interesting. Depending on the customer.

What's the worse part?

I'm... not fond of anything that's been left to fester. As I'm sure you can understand. I'd rather leave that to someone more, uh, skilled.

[He gets enough of that in his regular work.]

No, that totally makes sense. ick.

Funny, I thought you said you were hired to deal with bandits.

And I thought you didn't want me advertising that. Had to explain myself somehow, didn't I?

[Touché. Robin narrows his eyes slightly.] Are you actually an apprentice healer? Matilda could use some help. She's the local healer in these parts. If you're planning to stay around for any length of time.

Good enough for an apprentice. At least where I'm from. [He rubs his jaw, thinking.] Suppose I could do with brushing up, learning a few things...

[It's not a bad idea. Gives him an excuse to stick about, for one thing. And in the kind of position he likes.]

I could take you to her cottage, if you like. She's been here for ages, and I'm sure she'd appreciate the extra hands.

[Felix tilts his head. That's terribly helpful of you, Mr. Bandit, sir. It's enough to make him wonder.]

I'd appreciate that. [He chuckles.] Matilda, eh? Fierce name.

[He's a nice bandit, and really, if he had his way, he wouldn't be a bandit at all.]

Oi! Just you wait until you meet her! You'll see just how fierce she really is! [Robin grins brightly, laughing lightly.] Honestly, she's amazing, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her.

[Well, that makes him brighten up for more than one reason.]

Patched you up a few times, has she?

[Sounds like exactly the kind of person he'd like to learn from. Good at her job, helpful to more than one side of the law...]

[Robin laughs and nods.]

That, and she brought me into this world.

Someone important, then. I'll mind my manners.

[It's a reminder of the odd situation hereabouts, though, and he gives Robin a curious look.]

See that you do.

[He arches an eyebrow at that curious look.] What?

You never told me how you got into this... job.

[Robin lets out a light chuckle and nods, licking his lips.] I stood up to the Sheriff. He's overtaxing the villagers, nearly to the point of starvation, and I challenged him. He was going to hang two of my people for stealing bread, which they were stealing because they were hungry. I couldn't let that stand, I freed them and he branded me an outlaw.

All over some bread? That is extreme.

[Or over more than that. A challenge to authority. Removing the one authority who might back up their complaints.]

So who were you before?

The Sheriff is a cruel, heartless man.

[He smiles softly.] Robin of Locksley, the lord of the manor.

[under his breath] Aha.

[Robin gets another look, this time reassessing. Things are starting to make sense now.]

That's quite a comedown to running about in the woods. Very nice woods, mind you.

It's certainly not quite what I expected when I returned home from the Crusades, but... [He shakes his head.] I couldn't just sit idly by while an injustice was committed against my people.

I will see this land free of Vaisey's tyranny or I shall die trying.

Edited 2013-06-06 20:04 (UTC)

I admire your sense of principle, but I don't quite see how light banditry's going to achieve that.