Scarlet

“You have to stay safe, Scar. Maybe it’s your bits in a dress and maybe it’s just you, but I’m awful fond of something in there. So don’t get killed.”

I jumped a little to wrap my arms round his shoulders, and he held on, hugging me off the ground. “You too,” I told him. “And keep Much alive. I’m pretty fond of all you lads.”

He let me down. “No special fondness for me?”

“Don’t think it’s the kind you want, John.”

“Come on, Scar, we both know you like me.” He grinned at me, but I looked away. Much and Rob had appeared at the edge of the cave, and my eyes went sharp to Rob’s form.

John’s face folded into a scowl. “You do like me. But I disappear as soon as the noble Earl Huntingdon is around, isn’t that right?”

My eyes came back to him. “John—” I tried, but he shook his head, walking away from me.

I slid the knife to its rightful spot in my vest with a sigh. I hugged Much and then went to Rob, standing before him for what seemed like a whole life. “We’ll get them out, Rob. I swear it.”

“I know,” he told me. “You’re the only person I’d trust with this, woman or not.”

My heart swelled up. “You’re the only person I trust, Rob.”

His face jerked, like I’d slapped him. “I don’t want to hear that you trust me. You don’t trust me. You lied to me about everything.”

“I didn’t lie ’bout everything, Rob.”

“No? What’s something you told me the truth about? Your name? Your family? Your intended?”

I scowled. “I gave you more than anyone. Ever. No one knows ’bout Joanna. I’ve never told no one the things I’ve told you. I know you’re cross with me, and you’ve a right to be. But you said it yourself—you saw me, and you knew me, when I didn’t want anyone even taking a peek.”

He shook his head sharp. “And that’s the worst part, Scar! I thought I knew you better than anyone. I thought it meant something, that I could tell you these things shackled around my heart and trust you with them. That you could do the same with me. I was a fool to think—” He stopped short and shook his head again. “But I was wrong. You know me because I gave you me. But you were not your own to give, were you?”

“Rob,” I pleaded.

He put out a hand to stop me. “Don’t. We might die today, and of all the times that we’ve teetered on the edge of death, this is the first time it feels like there isn’t any kind of hope to come back to. So let’s just get the townspeople out and it will be done. Everything will be done.”

Rob’s thunderstorm eyes met mine and I felt water pull up in my eyes. His jaw worked, but he just stared at me till I nodded, and then he turned away.

We split off early, Rob and I first going to the tunnel and setting ropes for the people to climb down. Then we scaled the wall, jumping over in a gap in the guards and climbing down to the ground. I went and opened the door to the tunnel, then came back to him. We waited in the dark by the prison, shoulder to shoulder, my heart hammering a steady beat.

We heard the crackle of the fire being set, then the cries, and people started moving to the wall to see what were the matter. Then voices pitched higher and more people came out. It took a while for the guards to come up since they were underground, but when they did, and saw the fire, they didn’t hesitate. They took off at a run, heading for the main gate, one, two, three, four.

That meant one were still down there. Rob went to the entrance first, drawing his bow and charging down the stairs fast. He let loose one arrow and moved forward. I followed behind him, seeing the guard go down with an arrow clean through his throat. I heard him gurgle his last breath and I cringed. Someone dying made it a bad night, especially so early in.

We shot forward, Rob grabbing the dead guard’s keys as I set to picking locks. This were the worst bit; we hushed everyone, but we knew no matter how long it took, it would be too long. Every breath ratcheted up the danger.

People started coming out, families lumped together, and I counted as we sent them to the front.

“Rob,” I called.

“Yeah?” he whispered.

“Twenty-six.”

He nodded. “One must be downstairs.”

“He’ll have company.”

“I can handle it. Get these people into the tunnel and I’ll meet you; we’re running out of time.”

I nodded, racing up to the front.

“Follow me as close as you can!” I told them, going up the steps and peeking out. Nobles were flooding out of the residences now, giving us some small bit of cover for the next part, true, but every pair of eyes that were looking the other way could just as quick look at us and raise the alarm.

“Run,” I ordered, and I shot up, going to the door and pushing people into it. The fire sent smoke pluming in the air, and everyone in the courtyard were watching it.

Thirteen people had rushed past when I saw Ravenna. She came out of the residences ’cross the courtyard, the sheriff a step behind. She looked at the people and spun sharp away, taking the sheriff’s arm and leading him toward the arrow slots in the wall. When they moved I saw Gisbourne there, standing by the wall, looking out.

Sixteen went, then eighteen, then twenty, then Gisbourne turned. He saw me, and his chin lowered and his eyes turned evil and hateful.

“Run!” I shrieked, lacing knives through my fingers like cord till steel pointed out between every knuckle. He yelled for the guards. The rest of the townspeople flew up out of the prison, and I hid them, standing in front of them and blocking the way to the tunnel as guards began to charge me.

I began spitting knives, going for killing blows. There were too many people here, too many that could turn on me and start to fight against me. I needed more time, and I needed Robin.

“That one is mine!” Gisbourne roared, jogging up and drawing his sword, a huge Claymore with a black hilt. He crashed the first arc down and I twisted away, throwing two knives into the necks of two guards as they headed for the tunnel door. Gisbourne grunted and lunged forward, but I stepped close and managed to stab his sword arm. I ducked away but he grabbed my hood, ripping backward.

He had the coil of my hair inside my hood, and he chuckled, jerking me backward till I fell.

“Got you,” he laughed.

My blood fair boiled as he tugged again, dragging me. “You think I give a damn about my hair?” I spat. I twisted quick, ducking my head and slicing off the hood and my hair with it so I could wriggle away and jump up to stand against him. “And you never had me, not for a second.”