The thought of who else waited back at the camp pushed into my head, and I rubbed my knuckles. “Why would John kiss me, Rob?” It just jumped out of my mouth. I looked at him.
He crossed his arms. “Aren’t you two—” He closed his mouth sharp. “The other night, you were sleeping together.”
I blushed hot. “It weren’t like that. I were shaking, and he were trying to warm me up.” I felt his eyes on me, but I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t think he believed me. He saw how black my soul were—why wouldn’t he think my virtue were easy as they come?
“He likes you, Scar. You shouldn’t toy with him.” The words were awful sharp, and I looked up.
“I’m not toying!” I snapped back. “And just ’cause he wants me don’t mean I want him.”
Rob’s eyebrows went skyward. “You don’t?”
I wrapped my arms around my stomach. “Not sure.” There were so much more to the thought that I wanted to tell him, but I just swallowed. “I’m not the sort of girl that goes with a lad.”
Rob smiled. “So what, you’ll swear off men forever?”
“It’s worked so far.”
Rob looked surprised, but before I could ask why, he said, “Well, what about babies? You looked awfully thrilled with Mary’s son.”
“You think I have any right to bring a baby into my life? I’m a thief and an outlaw and a poor example of a girl. You think I could be any sort of mother?”
He looked away at that, and I felt it again, that ax of hurt in my belly. I didn’t much like saying it out loud, but it were worse that he agreed.
“If you want a man, Scar, for marrying or not, John’s the best you can come by.”
I know it sounded nice, but to me it were a pretty insult. Like it or not, I would never deserve a man like Rob, and John were the best I could do. I knew it were true, but hearing him say it like that, so careful, made me feel hollowed out like a dying tree. I didn’t want him to see, so I smiled big and gave a little laugh. “That’s not fair true. John’s a charmer.”
Rob shrugged. “Well, if he charms you, that’s enough, isn’t it?”
I shot him a look and didn’t say nothing.
“As to babies, don’t fool yourself, Scar.”
Shame filled my face and I looked down. I weren’t the sort to fool myself, to be sure.
“You’d be an uncommonly good mother,” he said.
I looked up, blood filling up my cheeks ’stead of shame. He looked fast away from me, and I stood, wanting this chat to be over. “Let’s go.”
When we came to the cave, the lads were around a small fire under the rock overhang, and they both stood up. I crossed my arms, feeling like I ought to apologize for something, but I weren’t ’bout to. Much laughed with surprise and ran over to hug me, and I gave him a little smile and hugged back.
When he let go, John were standing behind him, and he looked at me with a smile. “So, you’re back.”
I laughed. “Not for you, John Little.”
He looked like I slapped him.
“Just because you kissed me don’t mean I’m your girl none,” I told him.
I heard Much chuckle, and John stepped closer to me. “Maybe I wasn’t asking you to be my girl.”
“I’m nobody’s bit of fun either,” I told him, right serious ’bout that. I went toward the fire, and John threw up his arms.
“What does that mean, Scar?” he asked me.
“I guess we’ll have to see.”
Rob and Much both laughed at this, and John glared at them. “Will one of you talk to her?”
Rob shook his head. “I don’t get on the wrong side of a lady thief.”
“Well, how am I supposed to get on the right side of her?”
I leaned back in front of the fire. “Try harder, Little John.” Much laughed and John grumbled and sighed, and I looked across the fire to Rob, hiking my chin higher. Never would I have a man saying what or who were best for me, and that were all there were to it.
The next morning we all took some bread and hoofed it to Nottingham; the sheriff had been bandying ’bout that he had an announcement to make, and though I figured it were ’bout Ravenna, we still all wanted to hear.
We got to the town center, where market would often be, and instead of shops, there were a raised dais and a scaffold. Three nooses hung empty, swinging in the wind like the bodies that would swing later. The guards were keeping people off the two structures, but the sheriff weren’t there yet, and neither were Ravenna.
People were crowded into the town square, and it weren’t hard for us to blend in. The trumpets began to sound, and a procession from the castle began.
The sheriff were flanked by many men in black and silver, but he were on foot, not horseback, which were fair surprising. He never liked to mix with the common folk. Gisbourne were on one side of him, and at the sight of him I stepped back.
Robin caught my arm. “Scar?” he said, soft in my ear.
“Fine,” I said, shaking him off, blushing, and tucking my hat down.
Ravenna were on his other side, and she looked beautiful. Undeniable, she were the prize of the shire. She had long black hair curling down all around her, and she were wearing a white dress with gold bits on it. Her family walked behind them, and they were fair beaming. Even Godfrey looked happy.
The sheriff reached the dais, and he helped Ravenna to her seat. That were when the prisoners were marched out, and I felt like my gut had been sliced: it were Lena and Mark Tanner and Thom Walker. I grabbed Robin’s arm. His eyes hit mine and I looked to the side. He nodded.
“Spread out. Scar, take John. Much, come with me.” To me he whispered, “Take any chance you have to get them down, Scar.”
I nodded, tugging John’s arm and sliding through the crowd.
“Good people of Nottingham!” the sheriff called, and everyone hushed, looking from Ravenna to the scaffolds. “Today, we have great cause for celebration. I am thrilled to announce a truly blessed event not only for me personally but for the whole shire. In one month’s time, I will take a wife, and rather than marrying a noblewoman from a far-off land, I have chosen a bride from our fair shire. One of your own to show you my love and devotion.” He gestured to Ravenna, and she took his hand and stood, smiling at him. People gasped, whispered, and murmured.
I circled round to behind the scaffolds. Lena’s hands were tied, bloody and raw. They hadn’t just arrested her that morning—they must have arrested her bare after I left. My hands itched. I wanted to hold my knives, but with the guards scanning the crowd, I didn’t want to give myself up till the last minute, and I weren’t in the best position yet.
“Welcome the future Lady of Nottingham, Miss Ravenna Mason.”
The crowd began cheering and I darted forward, moving into position to let a knife fly. I raised my hand to throw it, but I got jostled and had to pull back.
The sheriff quieted the crowd, and I swore, losing my cover.
“Now, you have not shown to me the love I show to you. These three refuse to pay back what they borrowed from Nottingham’s coffers. For that, I have ordered their establishments burned and their lives forfeit.” Gasps and cries went up, and I raised my knife. “But the love of my future wife has reminded me that sometimes I must forgive you for being less kind, and less loving, than I am myself. My only hope is that in the future, you will remember my devotion and forgiveness. All I do, my fair people, is for your sakes, and yours alone.”
I spat to show what I thought of his words. He were a blowhard, talking ’bout love and devotion when he honestly meant monies and death.
“To illustrate that, I will let these people go free.”
Someone nudged me, and I fell straight back into John, more off balance than I ever were from the sheriff’s words. He were letting them go?
Sure enough, the executioner peeled back his hood, slid the ropes off their necks one by one, and helped them down into the crowd. The townspeople began to cry and proclaim their lov
e, saying it were a miracle. The sheriff just nodded and walked back into the castle. Gisbourne never turned his back to the crowd as they walked, sweeping his eyes like a restless cat’s tail.
Keeping my head tucked low, I ran to Lena, and I told her how glad I were she were safe. She were crying, big tears running down her face, and shaking something fierce. She said Death brushed her hand and passed her by.
I didn’t feel like that. The sheriff weren’t no man of the people. He weren’t like Rob in the least bit. The sheriff doing something kind felt like Death wrapped his fingers round my throat and were starting to squeeze.
Chapter
Ten
The crowd started to break, and we all walked back to Edwinstowe. Lena came with us, Mark Tanner and Thom Walker following behind. Tanner were from Edwinstowe, but Thom Walker were a merchant in Nottingham. I knew their homes were gone, but I weren’t sure why they were coming with us. Sure, Rob walked like a leader, and it weren’t surprising that people followed behind him, but still. I weren’t sure about it.
“What happened?” I asked Lena, walking beside her. “After we left, how did you get pinched?”
She rubbed her wrists. “When the guards came to, I gave them the money, but it wasn’t what they wanted, as you can tell. They shackled me and burned the inn.” She hung her head.
My pipes felt thick. “I should have stayed.”
She shook her head. “They would have pinched you too, and then where would Robin be?”
“He’d be right as rain, I think.”
She chuckled. “You don’t see how much he cares about you, but he does. Ran into that fire last night like a fair angel, he did.”
“He’d do the same for one of his men, or any of his people. Don’t make me special in his eyes.” It were shameful, but there were a fair amount of bitter in my voice.
She leaned her head close to mine so the others wouldn’t hear her. “Ah, he has many men, but he only has one woman.”
I just shook my head. It were fair obvious I weren’t his woman.
She put her arm around my shoulders, which felt awful wrong. It weren’t like it had been me at the gallows. “You and that Robin are almost too fine a pair. Both of you can’t see your own virtues.”
I winced. “I hate to tell you, Lena, but I ain’t been so virtued. I steal things. And I lie a fair amount.”
She laughed. “Exactly what I mean, love.”
Were she gone mad?
“You know, the only thing I saw when they put the noose around my neck was my husband’s face. I wasn’t even that fond of the mongrel when we were married—he was yelling and carrying on more often than not—but there were moments, little tiny ones, where it was nice to have someone with me.”
“I’m not the type to have someone.” Why were I saying this so much these days? I looked at Robin, John, and Much up ahead. They were someones, to be sure, but that didn’t mean they were for me. They were with me, maybe, but not for me.
“More people care about you than you know, Scarlet. No matter how you got your scars.”
I covered my cheek, looking at her.
“Not just those scars. The ones that make you think you’re unlovable.”
She linked her arm through my arm and we walked. We didn’t say nothing after that. Weren’t much to say, neither.
When we got to Tuck’s, half the shire were breaking down his door to yap about the goings-on in Nottingham. Tuck saw John walk in and grabbed him, roping him and Malcolm into hauling some extra tables and benches outdoors and setting up ’neath the sky. It weren’t dark yet, and the day were strange warm for fall. It would get colder when the sun set, but by that time the drink would be keeping most warm.
Tankards and mugs were passed through the crowd and people copped places on the benches. We stayed together, near the corner, but people knew Robin and started asking for his story of the whole tale, and Much helped him tell it.
“Oh, John,” Ellie said, draping herself over John’s back. Her skirts swished around, hitting me where I sat beside him. I smiled, watching them. “Missed you, lad.”
He patted her hand. “Ellie, my love,” he greeted. “Pretty as ever.”
She twined herself around and sat in his lap. “Didn’t you miss me?”
“’Course I did,” he said. He looked at me. “Only, I’m having a drink with the lads here, you know.” He took a swig to make it more obvious.
She rubbed my leg with her foot, and I winked at her. “We’ll get Will a girl too. I know he’s shy, but we all hear how skilled he is.”
John spat out his mouthful. “Him? Couldn’t find his way around a girl with a looking glass and a map.”
I chuckled at that.
“See? Doesn’t even deny it. Besides, after last week I would have thought you’d been talking ’bout my skills.”
“Won’t you remind me of them?”
“Maybe later, love. You’ve got too many thirsty people here. You’re needed.”
She gave him a quick peck. “Just don’t tell me ‘later’ and run off with Bess or Mariel.”
“Promise.” He pushed her rump as he hefted her off his lap, and she giggled and sashayed away from us. John looked at me square. “I’d be more gratified if you looked jealous instead of gleeful,” he said quiet.
I grinned. Couldn’t help it. “Jealous? Oh, John, don’t give up swiving on my account.”
He smiled. “I’m irresistible, Scar, and one of these days I’ll win you over.”
I shook my head, but I were smiling too. “So what made you decide you liked me after all this?”
He chuckled to himself, and it looked fair like he were blushing. He slapped the brim of my hat. “You keep me on my toes, Scar.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Like fighting? Is that a good thing?”
He nodded. “Sometimes I don’t know what you’re about at all. Girls”—he ducked his head down—“girls don’t surprise me much. That’s generally why I like them. But you, I’m always trying to catch up with you.” He looked at me. “And it’s better than with the other girls.”
“Why would you like people not surprising you?” I asked. “I’m always trying to figure out some thing or the other.”
He shrugged, and his mug went different, like all the charm went out of him. “For a while now, I felt like I’ve had enough surprises.”
Under the table, I pushed my knee against his. I knew he were talking ’bout his family, and I wanted to show him I knew. He swallowed, making his throat bulge out. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know how to yap with John about this sort of thing.
“Did she die?” he asked me.
“Who?”
“That friend of yours. The one you never want to talk about.”
Lead settled in the pit of my stomach. “Yeah, John. She died.” I looked at him. “It were so quick. Not her dying—that weren’t quick—but the way the world slips upside down. I thought I were free, and then the worst things happened.”
He nodded. “Like, for a moment of happiness, you’ll be paying your whole life.”
His hand twisted and grabbed my hand under the table. I pulled back, surprised. “Uh—” I said quick.
“Never mind,” he said.
I looked at my drink and took the mug and went to fill it. When I came back Ellie were beside him, and I went to go sit with Rob and Lena on the other side of the table.
We were all fair full of drink a few hours after sundown, which made it all the more terrible. We didn’t hear the hoofbeats over our own laughter till it were too late, and twelve black horses came to the tavern.
Everyone jumped up and pushed forward, but the horses stopped, and we stopped too. We all went quiet, and Lena’s cold hand gripped mine. Tuck walked out, his stomach rolling along in front of him, Malcolm thundering behind.
The front man lowered his black hood, and Gisbourne were there, shaking the dark hair back from his face. I noticed with some pride the stitched-up scar on his cheek, same p
lace as mine lay, but my gut wrenched and my heart started hammering. A hand touched my lower back, almost my waist, but I didn’t know who it were. I could see John pushed farther ahead, so it weren’t him.
“Are you Tuck?” Gisbourne asked.
“Aye,” Tuck answered.
“We’ve had a report that the Hood is here among your customers tonight.”
Tuck looked horrified. “The Hood, sir?” His eyes swept the crowd. “Search for him, my lords! Don’t let the vagrant get away!”
“Two men on these in front, two flank the back, the rest with me inside. We don’t want him running.”
The hand moved around my waist. “Scar, get out of here now,” Rob whispered.
“No.” I were trembling, but I weren’t a coward. “I’m staying here.”
“John, get her out of here,” Rob ordered, and John turned back to us, looking at me with new alarm. Rob’s arm left my waist only to have John’s arm replace it, his other arm trapping both of mine against my chest.
“Put me down, John—I’m not fooling!” I snapped, twisting violent against him.
He crouched low, dragging me so the crowd hid us.
“Hush,” John hissed. “Let me get you out quick so I can come back and help Rob. No one’s risking you to Gisbourne, all right?”
“Second you put me down, you big lout, I’m heading straight back to Rob and Much.”
“We all agreed to keep you from Gisbourne!” John growled. “Don’t you dare risk the rest of us to play the hero.”
I scowled at this logic, but I knew he weren’t wrong. “Get Lena too—she’s scared stiff.”
“I’ll do what I can, Scar, but I’m with Rob.”
I elbowed him hard. “I’ll stay to the side only as long as you’re all safe. And that includes Lena.”
He held my arms tighter and straightened as we made it to the trees. “If I get Lena out, you give me another kiss. A proper one.”
He let me go and I cracked him one ’cross the face. “You’re a dirty dealer, John!”
He laughed. “Is that a yes?”
We both jerked, hearing someone scream, “No! Don’t!”