“What breeds criminals then, Father? A man who has nothing, with nothing to lose, will lie for your money. He’ll steal it when he can, will kill for it if he has to. Show me the pauper who ever turned his life around through honesty and virtue.”

“This is the very reason why it is our duty to help them!”

“And degrade all society! You help one man but you foster an environment that breeds thieves, and it hurts the country! You were the one that taught me not to place my own value over the greater good, you called it selfishness!”

“It is selfishness now too, Robin,” his father had said furiously, “no matter what you disguise it as! Have I raised such an ungrateful child that he cannot find the value of an action that serves another before himself? I’ve lost one child to madness already, Robin, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let you there as well.”

His father had eventually apologized, and cried when he did. Edmond was a topic they were not to discuss. Not his madness. His father could never do enough kindness to make up for Edmond. But he’d tried, and was still probably trying. It still terrified Robin, too, not understanding what had gone wrong in Edmond’s mind. Not knowing if he himself carried the same desire for violence. His brother, staring vacantly, softly repeating to Robin, “I saw red.”

“I saw red.”

“I saw red.”

These people in the woods, John Little’s people, were a threat to others and themselves. There was no knowing who might suffer if these thieves weren’t stopped now. The child Much was staring at him, reminding Robin of the mercy he had shown to Stabhappy in Acre. Letting that boy go had meant the death of the Earl of Derby. Letting this entire community stay in the forest, continuing to steal whatever they wanted … there was no telling how much more damage they would do. Sometimes with consequences halfway around the world.

“Damn it.” Robin already regretted his decision. “Are you familiar with Locksley Castle?”

An odd pause. “More than passing.”

“My father has long been a friend to those in need. Usually to a fault.” He hissed in sharply, bracing himself for what would be an awkward reunion. The absolute last thing his father would expect would be for Robin to show up at his doorstep with a flock of refugees in need. Lord Walter would be so damned proud it made Robin want to vomit just thinking about it. His only solace was that some of this group—the men, and Will Scarlet in particular—would still pay for their crimes. “Locksley isn’t far from here. Your people can set up in the lands around the castle, earn an honest living. No prison, no torches.”

Little didn’t move. He just looked at Robin and bit his lip.