“Well, I didn’t know if you were awake,” the Guardsman repeated, as if that explained his rudeness. “It’s just, well, there may be something going on. We thought we’d check in on you.”

“If there’s something going on,” Marion rolled her eyes at his vagueness, “you ought to investigate. It’s certainly not going on in here.” Two guards were always posted on the other side of her door. It must have been a coveted position for its sheer eventlessness.

This one took the suggestion as an insult, as well he should have. “We’re here for your protection, my lady.” Marion knew quite well what they were there for, and it was difficult to pretend otherwise. Her protector nodded his head bluntly toward the window shutter. “We should probably keep that closed.”

“Are we afraid I’ll jump out of it?”

“Just please close the window,” he repeated, turning to leave. “There may be something going on.”

If he thought that explained anything, he had failed twice. Marion wasn’t actually interested in looking out the window again, but she did so anyway just to enjoy the act of willful disobedience. The day promised very little else she could enjoy.

The gallows made a bleak outline, like some great skulking beast looking down into the bailey for something to hunt. She was distinctly aware of how easily she might find herself standing on that platform. Ironically, if it were not for her sudden engagement to William de Wendenal, she would likely be forced to hide in the Sherwood with John Little and the others. There were many who might choose to label her as co-conspirator, and it took little creativity to imagine she was involved in de Lacy’s assassination. If the right person were to make the accusation, she might easily share tomorrow’s stage with Will Scarlet.

Scarlet. His very name agitated her.

Tomorrow’s grim spectacle would at least turn the page on him.

That maddening boy had always found too much enjoyment in their more criminal exploits. She’d been foolish to think a motherless runt from the wharf-scraping gangs would find anything in common with families struggling to feed themselves. But John Little had fought for them, and Marion had allowed it. There was a morbid silver lining that Scarlet and Elena would not be able to hurt anyone else after this. Marion had agreed to Robin’s plans to rescue them because of the victory it represented for the people, but not for their sakes. She would have had to punish them once they were back, a conflict she had not looked forward to. This outcome, at the very least, would deter others from following their reckless lead.

Their decision to kill Roger de Lacy had marked the end of Lord Walter’s dream.