“My political allies will vanish if they think I am to be replaced by someone as insane as Longchamp. Nobody wants to be associated with the man whose head is next on the block, not with a man like that in charge.”

William’s gut twisted. A different sheriff might be more willing to entertain peace talks with the outlaws, or he could be a thousand times worse. It was not until this moment William even realized how lucky he was that a man like Roger de Lacy was currently in charge at all. He might have found a vengeful and cold sheriff, or a coward, or corruption. Roger de Lacy, stubborn though he was, was at least interested in other people’s opinions before he rejected them.

Losing him would make William’s job tenfold more difficult.

“Baron, I am here to represent the king,” he said gently. “If you want to secure your worth as sheriff, then help me secure the supply lines. Why not wrap things up with those outlaws, that we might focus on one problem at a time?”

De Lacy withered him with a stare, but his lips were a smile. “Found a vulnerability, did you?” He shook his head. “Forget about your peace talks. I gave you a seat here so that you might learn a little, not so you could parrot the same worthless idea whenever you find the smallest advantage.”

William clamped his mouth shut. He would get nowhere if he gave offense. Another day.

“It’s not Richard’s taxes England should blame for its troubles,” the Earl of Warwick was saying, “but Richard’s absence. We’ve been left with Chancellor Longchamp, who has all of Richard’s authority and none of his decency. Longchamp came from nothing, he purchased his office with three thousand pounds of war funds. Status and pedigree are meaningless before the great god of coin.”

A low grumble came from de Lacy, whose face was stricken with worry. A guilty lump rose in William’s throat. His first reaction had been to think of himself and his mission, while de Lacy’s entire life had just been potentially upheaved. Even still, his mind could only spare so much thought for the baron, as it still raced down empty possibilities for his own options.

Suddenly Robin’s half of their mission did not seem so bad. He only had to tame a handful of discontents, while William had to bring stability to an entire county that was in danger of losing its last sane leader.

Whatever discussion would have followed was interrupted by a swell of hurried footsteps from the corridor, earning all of their attention. The noise belonged to Hamon Glover, caroming down the hallway, red-faced and eyes bulging.

“Excuse me, Sheriff, but I bring important news.”

“That would be the theme of the day, apparently,” de Lacy moaned. “What is it?”

“Captain Gisbourne is back, your lordship.”