“Quiet,” she snapped at him.

But his jaw was dropped. “You’ve been directing them this whole time?”

“Of course,” she answered, shocked he had to ask.

“I thought you were here because I asked you to stay, not because…”

“Well, I can’t help the things you think, Robin.” She didn’t mean to offend him, but there were more immediate concerns. “I probably shouldn’t be here at all. I’m normally able to protect them through my connections, stay abreast of any information. I didn’t know about these raids, though. I could have known, could have done something.”

“Marion, it’s too dangerous.” Robin took her by the elbow and brought her away from the fire, as if she were some doll that might get burned. “If anyone were ever to find out about this…”

“Everyone knows about this.”

“Everyone?”

“My house was openly against the new taxes,” she said flatly. “Your father stood at our side. It’s no secret which side of things we’re on.”

“What if the Sheriff were to come after you?” he whispered.

“Why? And how? He can’t. King Richard is my cousin. As long as he’s king, I am well protected. If Sheriff de Lacy tried to arrest me, the political ramifications would decimate him.”

Robin just gaped, with nothing substantive to say. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

At another time she might have laughed at his ignorance, but now it struck her as an insult. “I thought it was obvious. It is obvious. But you … you just don’t see me that way, I suppose.”

“How have you not heard?” John asked, loud enough to remind Robin they were all still listening. “All the villagers talk about Robin Hood and Marion’s Men.”

“Marion’s Men? I did hear that,” he mumbled. “But I thought … I must have heard them wrong, I thought they called you Merry Men.”

Little coughed. “Merry Men?”

Will burst out red. “Do I look fucking merry to you?”

“This is unbelievable.” Robin shivered. The matter should have been over, but before Marion could return to her previous thought he exploded. “So why am I here at all, Marion?”

“Don’t be like that.”

“What am I doing here? You’re just using me for my family’s name, for my father’s name? What did you want from me? You needed my father’s son for them to rally behind? You needed a Robin Hood? Well, I’m not Robin Hood. I don’t even know what the hell it means. Here.” He pulled the leather cowl off his head and shoved it angrily into Alan’s chest. “You. You’re Robin Hood now. Me? I’m done.”

“You’re more than that, Robin.” Marion moved after him. “We need you.”

“Do we?” Robin threw his arms out, staring at the others.