Her mouth opened and closed quickly again. Guy felt genuinely wretched. The way he had threatened her, assaulting her in the bedroom, it was a despicable thing. But he needed to push her far over the edge, to give her no choice, to force her to leave the castle that night. He had arranged for Marshall’s interruption, had dropped his keys for her to find. They had given her every hint she needed. The worst part had been playing the role of someone sinister enough to say such heinous things in earnest.

“I thought for certain you saw through my ruse. I’m both relieved and extremely sorry you didn’t.”

She only stared at him. “How did you know I would go through with it?”

“I didn’t,” he admitted. “I didn’t think Elena Gamwell would go through with it, either. Made a botch of it, obviously, but still.” Why the poison had worked so quickly, he did not know. He would have to take that up with the Bishop of Hereford once everything settled.

Arable backed away from him. “You’re a monster.”

That hurt. He tried to prove otherwise, by ignoring it. “As I say, I apologize. You will not be held accountable for your actions tonight, and are welcome to return with us. Nottingham owes you its thanks.”

But she kept backing up. “I’m not going back there.”

Guy lowered his head and winced. He had been afraid of this. She was reacting emotionally. Surely if she were calm she would see the folly of leaving the city’s safety.

“You will be going back,” he said sternly, for her own sake. “You can choose the manner. After all, there are two stories I could tell when we return. The first, the truth, is of a loyal handmaiden who played her part in avenging the late Sheriff de Lacy. The second is of an insolent girl who released two murderers and betrayed her country. Which would you prefer?”

“I can’t…” Arable shook her head. “You … I never…”

Guy couldn’t believe it. He had more important things to do than coddle a servant girl into caring about her own life. “You’ll come with us, and someday you’ll recognize the kindness I’ve shown you. Alright, men, let’s take them all into custody.”

At his command, the circle of Guardsmen constricted. Then froze. Will Scarlet had risen from where he knelt beside Elena’s body, the lone discarded sword back in his hands. Whatever was left of him was gravel.

“Come and get us.”

Against all sanity, Robin of Locksley walked forward and joined Scarlet, even though he had no weapon to carry. John Little put his hand at Arable’s waist and urged her to hurry behind them. Then he stepped forward as well, because nothing was ever easy. “Now’s as good a time as any.”

Fortunately, and despite recent precedent, Guy was not an idiot.