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“No need to lie, Marian,” I said. “I’m freezing my tits off out here—”
“What tits?” she cut in, unable to stop herself.
I rolled my eyes, unwilling to rise to her insults. “The quicker we make this happen, the better for both of us.”
“Make what happen, girl? Just what do you think is going on here?”
I sighed. Time to make my move. “It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, Maid Marian. I’m here to offer a prisoner exchange. Me for Emma, and any other prisoners you have in my—in your manor.”
Her head tilted. With the way her eyes narrowed, it appeared she was considering my offer seriously. Then she said, “What’s stopping me from just putting an arrow in your heart and then going back to my warm, cozy bed?” Her devious smirk widened. “I’m sleeping in the same room you called yours, as I understand it.”
I crossed my arms. Not giving in. Not giving in.
But God did I want to slit her fucking throat.
Then my breath stuttered. She’s given herself away, I thought. The only way Marian would know which room I stayed in is for someone to tell her where my chambers are located.
. . . Someone with intimate knowledge of the estate and its prior inhabitants.
I took a deep breath, knowing I was so close.
“Scare them with numbers we don’t actually have,” I thought, recalling my conversation with Robert and Uncle Gregory, as if this had been aligned by fate all along.
“I have a gaggle of Merry Men hidden behind me in the barleygrass, Marian. Each one of them is more than ready to put an arrow in your ample chest.”
She scowled. Her conniving eyes darted over my shoulder to the sea of yellow. “I don’t believe you.”
“Do you want to take that chance?”
She hesitated.
“I’m your golden fleece, Marian. You’re too smart to pass up this opportunity. It’s me you want. Otherwise you wouldn’t be in my damned house.”
She crossed her arms haughtily, with the candle hanging limply from her wrist. Mulled my words while she tapped her chin.
Then she threw up her arms in frustration. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit.”
“What?”
“It’s your lucky day, Robin.” She flicked her wrist at one of the guards, and he retreated up the slope. He disappeared into the estate, and came out a minute later with Emma in his grasp, dragging her along.
My heart surged to my throat.
“Emma!” I cried out, losing my resolve, letting down my defenses.
“Lady Robin!” she wailed. Her voice was hoarse, and she wore a thin shift like the one Marian wore, though it hung loosely from her slender frame.
From this distance, I couldn’t tell if anything had been done to her.
Once she saw me, she stopped squirming and trying to get out of the guard’s grasp. Stationed at the fountain, she stared down at me oddly. “W-What are you doing here?”
“Is there anyone else you have holed up in there, Marian?” I asked. “Don’t lie to me.”
“She’s the only one,” Marian said curtly. She flicked her wrist again and the guard pushed Emma away, toward the hill. “If you try to run, Robin, I won’t hesitate to shoot you in your spine.”
I nodded, gulping over a lump in my throat.
Emma ran down the hill, her shift billowing in the wind.
