So they waited, longer, and longer, as Will Scarlet heaved over his poisoned lover. The world had no pity for her regrettable fate. She had once placed a blade to Guy’s throat, but grown to see the greater good over her own selfishness. Hers was the only heart here that had shown a glimpse of redemption, only to end so tragically.

Still longer, they all stood.

Guy had two dozen men from the common ranks with him, as well as the entirety of the Black Guard. They had silently encircled the outlaws, who finally started to twist nervously at their presence. When Guy spoke, he did everything he could to keep his voice quiet, respectful.

“I am genuinely sorry it came to this.”

Arable gulped air in shock. “You followed me?”

“As I said,” Robin told her, emptily, “you led him right to us.”

It was hardly that simple. It was impossible for thirty of them to follow Scarlet’s escape unnoticed. Instead they relied on Eric of Felley’s tracking skills to keep their trail. Guy had also posted men disguised as peasants in strategic places, anticipating their flight toward the Sherwood, but even still Eric had almost lost his quarry several times. Avoiding nearby Bernesdale had been particularly tricky, and its village full of poorfolk who still blamed the Guard for their troubles. But the gamble had paid off—Guy already held two of the thieves captive, catching them drinking from a cask of ale by the road. There were only ten left to apprehend, none of them visibly armed.

Still they stood. Will Scarlet seethed, but most of the outlaws bore defeat from head to toe, and Guy’s men were prepared. Tempers would settle. The horror story of Robin Hood ended here. And, with Locksley as his prisoner instead of dead, Guy could still get what he needed to end Wendenal’s reign as well.

But first, he had amends he needed to make.

“Arable, I owe you a profound apology.” Guy moved to her, lowering his voice, desperate to rid himself of the torment he’d put her through. “I have treated you beyond unkindly. I took no pleasure in scaring you as I did.”

She stammered for words. “You used me?”

Will Scarlet had rejected Guy’s proposal in the end, but convincing Elena to return to the Sherwood and poison Robin of Locksley had been surprisingly easy. The hard part had been to orchestrate their escape in a way that left Guy plausibly uninvolved.

“I needed to protect myself, Arable, in case it went poorly,” Guy explained, searching her eyes. “You can see that, can’t you? I had to compel someone outside the Guard to set them free.”