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Chapters (76)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. PART I
  6. ONE
  7. TWO
  8. THREE
  9. FOUR
  10. FIVE
  11. SIX
  12. SEVEN
  13. EIGHT
  14. NINE
  15. PART II
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. PART III
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. INTERLUDE
  35. PART IV
  36. TWENTY-SEVEN
  37. TWENTY-EIGHT
  38. TWENTY-NINE
  39. THIRTY
  40. THIRTY-ONE
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. INTERLUDE
  45. PART V
  46. THIRTY-FIVE
  47. THIRTY-SIX
  48. THIRTY-SEVEN
  49. THIRTY-EIGHT
  50. PART VI
  51. THIRTY-NINE
  52. FORTY
  53. FORTY-ONE
  54. FORTY-TWO
  55. FORTY-THREE
  56. FORTY-FOUR
  57. FORTY-FIVE
  58. INTERLUDE
  59. PART VII
  60. FORTY-SIX
  61. FORTY-SEVEN
  62. FORTY-EIGHT
  63. FORTY-NINE
  64. FIFTY
  65. FIFTY-ONE
  66. FIFTY-TWO
  67. PART VIII
  68. FIFTY-THREE
  69. FIFTY-FOUR
  70. FIFTY-FIVE
  71. FIFTY-SIX
  72. EPILOGUE
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  75. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  76. Newsletter Sign-up

“I’ll always wonder,” Ferrers’s voice said, “if you would have killed him without being poisoned. It’s supposed to amplify your emotions, so the bishop said. Something like being drunk, I understand. I’m sad I’ll never know.”

The world shrank and constricted, only to balloon outward again with no warning, William rolled onto his belly to crawl. He had to get to Ferrers, he could not let this go unpunished. He could fight this, he could survive it.

“What would I do if I were Sheriff?” Ferrers continued, walking closer, but William could not convince his hands to work together. Ferrers swept his hand down to peel a slip of paper from the floor. William lunged for his legs but fell tragically short. Robin’s sword was nearby, melting into the cobbles. William heaved his body to claim it but it vanished, floating into the sky, replaced by a weightless piece of fabric, the gauze that Ferrers had brought. “Here you are,” Ferrers said, dropping the gauze into the blood, soaking up the surrounding gore. “My father isn’t actually the Earl of Derbyshire anymore. He was killed in the Crusade, in Acre, you know. I don’t say that casually. You knew my father was killed, and you never told me. I was only just informed a little over a week ago. That makes me the new Earl of Derbyshire, and Chancellor Longchamp assures me I have his support in leading Nottingham as well.”

No, William couldn’t allow it, but his body was no longer his to command. The world ceased its new fluid form and changed now into daggers. His arms and legs seized, he twisted onto his back as his muscles fought back—a thousand pains coursed through his body as his bones quivered. He could do nothing, he could say nothing. All his effort was worthless, all his life was worthless.

You could marry the King himself, and you’d still be worthless.

She was right.

His eyes alone still worked, and Ferrers leaned over him to speak.

“As per this edict, the last official act of Sheriff de Wendenal before he was slain by Robin Hood, the Sherwood Forest will be razed to the ground. Commencing tomorrow morning. To end this rebellion once and for all.”

William sputtered, red mist flying into the air. The ceiling cracked and rent, the walls stabbed down into him. He was dimly aware of Ferrers, tipping the portrait of Roger de Lacy off its mount to fall into the blood. He almost did the same with the metal wreath, but instead tucked it under his arm and turned to leave. His last act was to pour a glass of wine down onto William’s face. The world at last calmed, William could feel the wine splash and pool in his eye sockets. He could not blink, the world was red.

EPILOGUE

KYLE MORGAN

SHERWOOD FOREST
MONDAY, 2ND DAY OF DECEMBER 1191