Chapters (76)
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- PROLOGUE
- PART I
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- PART II
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- PART III
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- INTERLUDE
- PART IV
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- INTERLUDE
- PART V
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- PART VI
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- INTERLUDE
- PART VII
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- PART VIII
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- EPILOGUE
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- Newsletter Sign-up
Guy of Gisbourne leaned against the rough sandstone parapet, overlooking the castle’s training yard below, and was keenly aware that he looked spectacular. This was no vanity, but strategy. He had selected this position that the morning sun would hover behind him, that his men could see the imposing figure of their Captain reviewing their work. Nottingham Castle’s tan stones always looked warmest at dawn, like a lover’s blush, while the air was thick still with glowing dew. He hoped the image might impress them, that they might see this castle as something nobler and greater than themselves. Because an appearance of grandeur was the only thing he could offer them of late.
“I’m going to tell you a secret,” he said to Jon Bassett. His protégé’s ears perked up like the dog of his namesake, but his young face was hawkish. With angular features and shrewd, deeply set eyes—he was the very picture of scrutiny. “But first, look at these men down here, and tell me what you see.”
Bassett lazed his way to the edge and glanced over. “I see the tops of their heads.”
“I will throw you off the rampart,” Guy threatened flatly, but in truth he enjoyed Bassett’s arrogant swagger. His irreverence reminded Guy of himself when he was a fresh recruit in this very castle.
The Nottingham Guard generally attracted the dull obedient type, which was—in full selfish truth—the reason Guy avoided the recruits right now. He had already met most of them once, which was exactly one time more than necessary. Besides, the quartermaster Simon FitzSimon was busy with the men below, barking orders in his thick Scotsman’s tongue. Hopefully, many would drop out before noon. Eligibility standards for the Guard’s trials had dipped to include anyone capable of walking and blinking at the same time, and some of these recruits might still have to test twice.
Which, somehow, wasn’t even the worst of it.
“Damnation,” Guy stared at them, wishing life would occasionally surprise him by being easy. “Swear to me you won’t repeat what I tell you here, not to anyone.”
“I also see dirt,” Bassett added, intentionally unhelpful. When he received no reaction, he straightened his doublet and gave Guy his full attention. “Captain.”