I nodded. A thief in London learned quick who to avoid. “You’re right as rain, unless it’s Wild. Or one or two others.” Like Gisbourne. Though really, it’s me that will be in serious trouble if it’s Gisbourne.

“How much will he get in our way?” Rob asked.

“Enough. And while we’re thinking after other things, like protecting people and getting coin, he won’t. He’ll be looking to make his bounty and go, which means your head—or all of ours—on a pike.”

John grinned, leaning back. “We can’t be caught.”

I hit him. “Don’t be a fool,” I snapped.

His eyes narrowed at me and I gave a yelp when he pinched me.

“Enough,” Rob said, cutting in with sharp eyes for John. “Scar, keep your ears open.” He tried to stand again and looked at me. “Do I have your leave now, milady?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Even a thief deserves some respect.” He gave me one of the warm, heroic smiles that made my cheeks flush, and I ducked my face under my worn felt hat. “John, make sure she eats something. I have to get hunting.” He walked out of the room, and with a glance to John and me, Much followed him.

“I’m not hungry!” I told Rob’s back. “Or some whelp that needs looking after, for that matter.”

John slid closer to me with a smile that meant he’d listen to Rob over me.

“When shall we break into the jail, then?” John asked.

“Midnight. The guard changes then, and you’ll fair certain look less conspicuous in that crowd.”

“So you think I look like a guard? I’ll take that nicely.” He took a drink of his beer, his eyes shining at me over the brim.

I flicked my eyes over him. “Brutish and stupid? Yes, you look quite like a guard.”

The shininess cooled. “Never nothing kind to say, Scarlet.”

“Only ’cause you think I can’t go in alone. You have no idea what I can do. I’m quicker’n lightning.”

“I know you can handle yourself. Other people are the tough part.”

“I ain’t made of glass, John. Someone hits me and I don’t shatter.”

“Listen good, Scarlet. Long as I’m around, if someone wants to hurt you and I can stop it, I will.”

I flicked my eyes over to him, and he were staring at me in that way that I hate, like if he looked long enough he’d see everything I were. “I’m going to throw some knives around.”

“No, no, no,” Tuck called, pushing through the door frame and blocking my exit. He had a platter of food. “Robin says you eat.”

“Bugger off,” I snapped.

He scowled. “Scarlet, you wouldn’t refuse my food, would you? Drive an old man to drink?”

“You’re already a drunk and a terrible cook.”

“Now that’s just mean. Sit. Eat,” he told me. “And I’ll have a drink while I watch you.” He smiled, and his cheeks caught the light and filled with good-natured redness. He herded me back to the table, and John pushed closer so that they caged me in. Tuck put a bowl of venison stew in front of me.

I knew the more I ate the less they’d stare at me, so I choked down a few bites before they started chatting with each other. I chose that moment to duck under the table and slide out the back way before they could catch me.

It’s not like I don’t eat. I eat. I just don’t like charity and I don’t like them thinking they can put their noses into my life. Rob wants us all to be like a family, but I don’t. I want them kept far away from me.

Besides, I had errands to run. I managed to get a few loaves of bread from the sheriff’s baker and some clothes off the line from the keep’s laundress, and it weren’t like I had any use for that. Friar Tuck’s Inn were in Edwinstowe, the small town that were closest to our camp in the forest, and we knew the people there the best, so I knew who needed what. The thatched houses were so close together, like huddled-up children, and it always made them seem weak, vulnerable. Like they could be crushed. I left little packages in front of the doors; the people looked for them in the morning, and I knew, in some bit of a way, it bucked them up.

I did as much as I could, but it weren’t like I could get everyone something every night. That seemed like the cruelest part. I tried not to think ’bout the people that woke up and rushed to the door and didn’t find nothing; it made my chest hurt.

Chapter Two

I went back to the inn to meet John a while before midnight; Edwinstowe were to the north of Nottingham and we had ground to cover to get to Castle Rock. John weren’t there yet, and I didn’t go in, just leaned against the tree and blended in.

John came out of the inn with Bess, one of the prettier, bustier wenches at Tuck’s. He were grinning and let her push him against the wall, pressing her mouth to his. Despite all the noise of the forest, I could hear every sloppy motion of the deep, open kiss. She dug her fingers in his hair, and he chuckled.

He pulled away with a wide smile. “I have to go now, m’love. Why don’t I sneak into your window later on?”

“I’ll leave the usual sign.”

He pushed her back to the inn. “Off with you, then.”

As she closed the door with a giggle, I came out from the trees. I didn’t say anything, and he just nodded with a grin and pushed away from the wall.

“No remarks?” he asked when the inn were out of sight. The road were rough beneath my shoes, and without a lamp, the clouded-over moon were the only light, shining silver and soft on the way. It were like the road we walked near every day were gone, and we were walking to a fey and foreign place instead of the sheriff’s keep. I could just bare see John.