On King John's command, all convicted male felons from England's jails are being sent to fight in France. Word reaches Nottingham Castle that the King's Chief Recruiter is paying a visit, and the Sheriff orders Sir Guy of Gisburne to gather a few men from each local village to make up the numbers. Gisburne has recently become enraged by a young boy's ritualistic chants to Herne the Hunter and vows to capture him for this very purpose.Robin is angered by this new people tax... but his rage is nothing compared to that of Will Scarlet when he hears the chief recruiter's name: James D'Marelle.For Will and the recruiter have met before... many years ago...