This was what William was truly combating. This was the quality of character left to rule in the England that the war left behind. This is what Arable had meant when she begged him to stay. Intelligence had become a commodity rarer than coin.

“Forgive me,” Lady d’Oily spoke again. “I feel I may have become distracted earlier, and missed part of the conversation. When you gave that babe his lesson in politics, you spoke of the farmer and the duke. You said the farmer used to trade his food for security. He no longer has security. That is something only a duke can give.” She looked importantly over at the Lord Oughtibridge, who seemed to like it very much. “Might that not be something of which you could … remind them?”

The same pregnant pause hovered over the room. But with Ferrers’s idiocy preceding her, it had been a perfect opportunity for her to speak. William noted the calculated manner of her speech, how she had put forth her own idea without implying she knew better than the men in the room. That had been quite a gamble, but it seemed to work.

“It’s a fine point,” said the Baron of Maunsfeld. “These miscreants give out one coin for every two they steal. If we can’t stop the thief, we can certainly stop those that profit from him.”

“And that ought to be a public enough demonstration,” Oughtibridge belched. “That says to fuck off.”

William was mortified. It was the opposite of a good idea. They weren’t interested in actual results, they only wanted the illusion of action. He had just discovered he was trying to play chess in a game of checkers, and had no idea how to reorient himself.

“Indeed,” Roger de Lacy cleared his throat. “Let’s be pragmatic then. Lord Gisbourne, put together your men. Break into groups. Visit the smaller villages, the communes, the forest dwellers. Make them pay. Supplies, foodstuffs, anything of value.”

William couldn’t believe what he heard. “You’re going to take food directly from the people?”

“They’ve already been paid for it, William. Your boy Robin has given them the money. Our money. And if the thieves are indeed gone, as you say, this will keep them from coming back again.”

William stammered to respond. This was not what he intended at all. This wasn’t justice, this wasn’t logical. De Lacy was simply placating his feuding lords. Because he knew how to play the game.

“This is wrong,” was all he got out, feeling like a child. And they had already kicked one from the room.