Scarlet

“We’re honest with each other, right, Rob?”

He nodded.

“Then don’t make me answer that.”

He looked at me for a long time, and I wouldn’t clap eyes on him. “So what can I do, then?”

“It’s life, Rob. Nothing to be done.”

“Make no mistake,” he told me. I looked up. “We do what we do—” He halted, then stepped one foot closer. “I do what I do because I will always believe that no matter how awful life gets for however many of these people, there is something I can do about it. There is something I will do about it.”

I nodded. “That’s why you’re the hero, Rob, and I’m a thief.”

I turned out the back way then; there weren’t much more to say.

He caught my wrist before I were full out the door. “Scar,” he said, rough, like rocks were running over his tongue. “I have done so many unforgivable things in my life. Don’t let failing to save you be another.”

I pulled my hand away. “I never asked to be saved!”

That were enough. I went outside, eager for the cold on my hot cheeks.

John and I stayed quiet that first night. I weren’t much in the mood for chat, and he had to listen for game as best he could anyway. I stayed high in a tree for most of the night; I caught more moonlight up there and I could see farther, so I could aim better when I saw a deer. I were better on the ground with knives, of course, but in the sky I didn’t mind using a bow. I were fair decent with it; none so good as Rob, but I managed. I killed two, and John dressed both. I didn’t like that part, seeing all the inner bits come out. I always think how easy it would be for someone to slit my belly and watch all my inner bits slide out.

We took them back to the cave, and John and Much set to skinning them and cutting the meat. I watched, sharpening my knives and unstringing my bow. I never liked hunting. Well, I liked hunting right fair, but I didn’t like blood. So much of it had to come from an animal to feed a town, and it felt strange to me.

This, more than stealing baubles, were what made us thieves, and outlaws, and all the names the sheriff called us. Sherwood were the king’s forest, a protected land that were meant to be his hunting grounds. But England were a country without a king. King Richard, him they called the Lionheart, had taken his lion paws over to the Holy Land. He were off fighting infidels while his people—while my people—starved. There wouldn’t be no game left for hunting when Richard returned. ’Stead of deer, England would be full up of wolves, the biggest among them Prince John.

John and Much wrapped packages of meat in the skins, and Rob and I set off quick. Rob headed for Worksop and I went to Edwinstowe, delivering the meat before sunup.

We parceled out the meat as best we could, trying to get to each family a cut that would feed them for the day at least. Some of the families had more luck than others; farmers had crops to feed their families, and some of the summer crops did fair well. Even if they were settled, though, when we got food, we shared it round.

I were through most of Edwinstowe when I heard the soldiers. I slid against one of the house frames, hoping they didn’t have a dog with them. I were covered in the smell of raw meat.

“Damn night patrols,” one grumbled.

“Gisbourne’s a fool. Everyone knows the Hood’s just a ghost.”

“Yeah, but somebody’s poaching, ain’t they? And we’re meant to catch the poachers.”

“And kill them. That ain’t on.”

“We bring ’em in and the sheriff’ll kill ’em. We don’t have to do it ourself.”

“I don’t get the plan. He thinks killing all them we catch together in some big thing will get the Hood to come out. Hood’s a ghost!”

“And if there were a Hood, and I were the Hood, I’d get them out the night before. Gisbourne’s none too smart.”

“No.”

“Maybe we can amble by Tuck’s. Rosie’s had that sparkle in her eye lately.”

The other chuckled. “Mind it ain’t no apple in her eye, lad.”

“Sheriff won’t never know. Let’s go over.”

The other man nodded.

I stayed hidden until they cleared, and then I bolted to Major Oak.

“It’s fine,” Rob said when I finished telling him all I heard. “We just don’t let anyone get caught poaching.”

It didn’t feel fine. It felt like a big storm, and Gisbourne were in the eye of it.

Chapter Five

The next morning were a long one spent on the road. There were a slew of travelers that morning, and I felt fair flush as I sussed them out. Some lords tried to look like the poorest of men, but they still rode huge horses and were hale and fed. Shameful. I liked picking those out the most. One set of knights were hauling a big chest of jewels for a lady, delicate and fine indeed, and when we cracked it open, far to the side of the road, I felt a smile bubble out of me.

“This will cover most of the people in Nottinghamshire,” John marveled.

I let a string of diamonds run through my fingers like rainwater. “Feed ’em and clothe ’em too.”

Robin winked at us. “That was a good spot, Scarlet.”

I grinned, watching the sun bounce off a silver bar. “Oh, I know.”

“This is excellent news, lads. Once we fence most of this, we’ll have time to spare for tax day.” Rob nodded at me. “And we can focus on running Gisbourne out of town.”

I nodded back, sucking in a breath that made my chest swell up. He were right, ’course. It would all be fine, and we were safe as houses.

It were later that afternoon when I walked through the market in Worksop with Much. The people in the shire towns liked Much best; he were an awful good listener, and they all knew him from a whip of a boy. Only, he didn’t always know which were the important bits, so I went with him to listen to what he heard.

It were strange. People looked at him and they gave everything over. They wanted to talk to him, and they wanted to pat his good hand and kiss his cheek and stand next to him. I weren’t the same as him. I stood alone, though I weren’t fair sure if that were by my own choice or not. Honestly, watching him, I felt like a leper.

I also felt a little noticeable. “Hello, Will,” I heard from beside me. Two girls were crowding around a launder basket and beaming at me. I tucked my hat down lower and frowned.

“Everyone’s heard what you did for Freddy Cooper,” her friend said.