Robin spoke through his fingers. “Are you sure? Do you know who did it?”

“Will Scarlet. At least, that’s the name he gave. The same one that attacked us in the forest, fiery little thing with blond hair?”

Robin nodded. “That’s him.”

“And his girl, too.”

“Elena? Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. We caught them trying to escape.”

Robin’s voice caught in his throat. “They’re dead?”

“No,” William said, and Robin seemed oddly relieved. “They’re in the prison. They killed two Guardsmen on watch and took their uniforms. The castle was nearly empty, the entire contingent was out collecting taxes. They must have walked right in. We made it damned easy for them, but that’s our fault.”

That’s Gisbourne’s fault, really. Those would be the sort of tunnel-vision mistakes a Sheriff Gisbourne would make on a daily basis.

“Those idiots,” Robin whispered to himself.

“It’s best you’re not with them anymore. Your name is nearly synonymous with their movement at this point. I don’t think I could have protected you.” The best thing for Robin now was to get out of the country as quickly as possible, before he accidentally became an actual outlaw. “Do you remember how to get to their camp? It would save the Guard quite a bit of time, and probably a lot of lives.”

“Yes, of course, I’ll draw it out on a map. They have markings all through the Sherwood, if you know what you’re looking for.” He stood up, then stopped. “How will you get this to them? Is there someone with you?”

William clenched his jaw. “You’ll have to go on without me.”

“Don’t be silly,” Robin laughed, “I can wait here another day. Until you come back.”

“I can’t.” It was all William could say. “I still have work to do. You’ll have to go back to King Richard and inform him what’s happening here.”

“What? No … William,” Robin climbed back up the staircase, “we said we can’t get entangled here. I know it seems important, I know. But we’re not even supposed to be here. Richard needs us. Peace or no peace, remember?”

“I remember.”

It was so tempting. They could just get on their horses and leave, just as they’d promised, back to the beautiful simplicity of the war. Richard would thank them with promises of lands and riches he would never actually give. Already, away from the city for just a few hours, the events of the last month felt less immediate. More like a story or a dream.

“They killed the Sheriff.” Robin shook his head, eyes wide with curiosity. “Huh.”