“Lena and the others?”

“Boarding with villagers in Edwinstowe.” He brushed the hair back from my forehead, pushing off the cap.

“The boy died.”

Rob nodded. “Thank God he didn’t get you too, Scar. We underestimated him before.”

I nodded, feeling weak and sleepy.

“Scar.” He squeezed my hand. “If John gets out of line with you, Scar, I’ll handle it for you.”

I fisted my hand in his shirt, fair passing out without another word.

When I woke, it were light out, and Rob were at my feet, leaning against a trunk and hunched over his bent-up knees. I grunted as I rolled onto my shoulder, not remembering it were injured. Rob straightened as I sat up.

“Morning,” I said soft. I looked back; the other two were still sleeping.

“Morning. How’s your shoulder?”

“I’ll live, I reckon.”

“You scared me yesterday, Scar.”

“I couldn’t not help. You were going to turn yourself in.” I shrank my knees up, feeling smaller.

“He slit the throat of a boy he didn’t know from Adam. What’s he going to do to you?”

I looked down.

“You need to tell me how you know him, Scar.”

“He gave me the scar,” I told him. I didn’t look up. My bones shivered like they lost something; I held on to that one secret for so long, it felt fair strange to let it go so easy.

He didn’t say anything. I ventured a glance, and he were just looking at me, waiting.

“This scar,” I told him, covering my cheek.

“He was trying to catch you?”

“Something like that.”

“Scar, tell me.”

I looked at Robin and opened my mouth, and just like that it were ’bout to come pouring out. But then John sat up, yawning and calling to us, and I stood and went out of the cave.

Robin followed me. “Promise me you’ll tell me later. I need to know what kind of threat he is to you.”

I looked back at John, coming out of the cave as well, and nodded. I felt cold to my bones, but I nodded. Honestly, if there were ever a time for God and praying and such, I were praying hard that Rob didn’t turn me out of the camp after he knew.

“All right, lads,” Rob called, and we all came to the burnedout fire. “Taxes will be called on the farmers in less than a fortnight, and the townspeople need money, so we need to get it for them. We’re going to be on the road collecting a tax of our own, and when we’re not collecting, we need to be training. Gisbourne got the drop on us last night; we need to be prepared.”

We all nodded.

“Scar, I want you up in the trees, spotting us but staying out of it until your shoulder heals up.”

I nodded. That were fair.

“And from now on, I’m switching the pairs. John, you’re going with Much, and Scar goes with me.”

John chuckled, cracking his knuckles. “Come on, Rob. Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

I felt my mug heat up, and I looked to Rob.

“Jealous?” Rob repeated, crossing his arms.

“Scar and I are gettin’ friendly, and you’re jealous.”

I looked down.

“You may have kissed her, John, but since then she seems damn uncomfortable around you, and more important, despite the fact that you’re so interested in her, you couldn’t be bothered to protect her from Gisbourne last night.”

John jumped up. His face were flat as sheet rock. “I got her out of there. I protected her.”

“After I told you to.”

“I can protect my—” I tried.

John’s jaw went bumpy with muscles. “Just because you thought of it a hair before I did don’t mean—”

“Actually, that’s precisely what it means. Gisbourne won’t hesitate, and so if I think quicker than you, I’m with Scar and you’re with Much. Figure out how friendly you are when no one’s at risk.”

“Both of you shove off!” I snapped, crossing my arms. “John Little, just because you kissed me don’t mean we’re getting friendly. I might kiss you again, but only if I damn well feel like it. Stop pushing and charmin’—I don’t like it.” I heard Rob chuckle, and I whipped round to him. “And as for you, Robin of Locksley, on your big noble horse, I don’t remember you helping none neither. I got myself out of there, I got Much away from Gisbourne, and I am part of this band much as you. Stop talking ’bout me like I’m some lily-fingered lady!”

Everyone stared at me.

I shook my head. “Honestly.”

“If the problem is how to split into pairs, perhaps you and me should stay together for now?” Much said.

“Perfect,” I agreed.

Rob and John shot daggers at each other. With their eyes, leastways. I’m the only one who shoots real daggers.

“Fine,” Rob agreed.

John nodded.

“Let’s get to work,” I said, and Much shouldered John on ahead.

I fell in behind them to walk to the road, and Rob held back to walk with me a moment.

“Figure this out, Scarlet. Figure if you’re with John or not, because while you toy with him, you’re toying with my band, and that means you’re toying with the people of Nottinghamshire.”

Horribly, I felt tears pushing my eyeballs. “I thought you said you’d handle him for me.”