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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

“It only takes one mistake, you know.” He tried to sound worried. “And besides, maybe it’s time they tend to themselves. Rather than give all this coin out. Prepare the Oak Camp for winter. There’s a lot of work still to be done in that regard.”

“That’s true.” Marion turned to the rest of the group, who were debating whether Much should be allowed a swig of the wine. “But there’s still plenty of time.”

“Do what you want.” Robin put his hands out, trying to play it off as innocently as possible. He didn’t like manipulating her, but he was also fairly certain he knew how to do so. “But you asked me to stay so I could advise them. This is my advice. I know it’s hard to stop while things are going well, but the alternative is to wait until things are bad and then regret it.”

Her mouth closed, a silent admission that she had no rebuttal.

It probably wouldn’t matter. If Robin could divert their energy for even another week, it would give William whatever victory he needed to finish his work in the city. Once he left, he had no doubt Will Scarlet and John Little would get straight back to making poor choices, and the consequences would be entirely on them.

There was no reason in the world Robin ought to feel guilty about that.

Not a single one.

Apparently against his will, Much took a sip of the wine.

THIRTY-TWO

WILLIAM DE WENDENAL

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE

ROGER DE LACY GRUMBLED without purpose, his fingers clasped over his eyes. “Let them in,” he ordered, and Hamon Glover wobbled off to see it done.

Today they were at the long table rather than de Lacy’s tiny office in the high keep, his bony frame dwarfed by the tall narrow walls. In his office he could be a giant, and perhaps it made decisions easier when the world seemed small. From where he stood by a glazed window, William could see the gathering of lords and their retinue in the training yard outside. Five of them, though they represented dozens now, all protesting their monthly assessments. From this distance, the only one identifiable was the elephant Oughtibridge. Soon enough Hamon would join them and invite them up, so that de Lacy could answer their demands in person.

William could tell how much the Sheriff wished to be elsewhere, his fingers parted just wide enough for the light of his eyes to shine through and beg for mercy.