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Chapters (76)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. PART I
  6. ONE
  7. TWO
  8. THREE
  9. FOUR
  10. FIVE
  11. SIX
  12. SEVEN
  13. EIGHT
  14. NINE
  15. PART II
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. PART III
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. INTERLUDE
  35. PART IV
  36. TWENTY-SEVEN
  37. TWENTY-EIGHT
  38. TWENTY-NINE
  39. THIRTY
  40. THIRTY-ONE
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. INTERLUDE
  45. PART V
  46. THIRTY-FIVE
  47. THIRTY-SIX
  48. THIRTY-SEVEN
  49. THIRTY-EIGHT
  50. PART VI
  51. THIRTY-NINE
  52. FORTY
  53. FORTY-ONE
  54. FORTY-TWO
  55. FORTY-THREE
  56. FORTY-FOUR
  57. FORTY-FIVE
  58. INTERLUDE
  59. PART VII
  60. FORTY-SIX
  61. FORTY-SEVEN
  62. FORTY-EIGHT
  63. FORTY-NINE
  64. FIFTY
  65. FIFTY-ONE
  66. FIFTY-TWO
  67. PART VIII
  68. FIFTY-THREE
  69. FIFTY-FOUR
  70. FIFTY-FIVE
  71. FIFTY-SIX
  72. EPILOGUE
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  75. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  76. Newsletter Sign-up

“That’s not my point. You’re leaving, so you have nothing to lose. Use that. Don’t sit by and let the wrong things happen if you have the ability to change them. I’ve seen this growing, from every side, and it’s not going to balance out on its own. There are a lot of things that Roger can’t do, because he has to represent the city. You don’t have that problem. You don’t have to get his permission for everything.”

He reached down for her hand, their fingers interlocked. The pieces started to take shape in his mind. “He won’t take action against the outlaws, because he doesn’t want to legitimize them. But if they were to disappear on their own…”

She was watching him, a private smile ready to bloom, ready to push him to the natural conclusion of his own thoughts. De Lacy could claim that victory. And in so doing, maybe even hold on to his sheriffcy.

“Arable,” he rubbed her fingers to warm them. “Do you suppose de Lacy would let me have you for the entire day, tomorrow?”

THIRTY-ONE

ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY

SHERWOOD ROAD

THEY DIDN’T EVEN MAKE bets anymore, is how bad it was.

At first every carriage heist was a gamble, not knowing if there would be an armed escort or some heroically spirited driver who might challenge them. Some of their targets surrendered easily, some made agitated displays, and only a few tried to escape, which of course Robin allowed. Eventually patterns emerged, based on the number of travelers, their speed, the breed of the horses, or any number of other details. So the thieves would make bets on how each encounter would play out, and then surreptitiously attempt to influence that outcome. There was never real danger. They never stole anything large enough to get in trouble, and Robin generally thought he ought to pat himself on the back for a job well done.

The stranger evolution came when some of their victims began to enjoy it.

There were horses with bells, there were colorful banners, there were audience members riding atop certain carriages who would hoot in ecstasy upon seeing Robin’s crew. It was the pinnacle of surreal theater. When Robin waltzed out from behind a tree with an arrow nocked loosely in his bow, he received—of all the unfathomable things—applause.

And now it was so predictable, they didn’t even make bets.

“Do we look like a bear?” asked John Little.