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A FEW HOURS LATER, and with many worried thoughts roaming through my mind, Uncle Gregory and the scouts saw us off. We had reached the northern point above Nottingham.
The departure was bittersweet. I didn’t want to leave Uncle Gregory after just cozying up to him for the first time in ages, yet I was happy my brother had a man like him on his side. We were all better off with our uncle in our ranks.
I squinted against the sun burning high in the sky as we emerged from the trees. After a short hop through the hills, we’d be back inside them—hidden, again, by the woods.
Gregory handed me a sack he’d been carrying, which he said contained some more food for our travel, and I thanked him. When our eyes locked, I threw my arms around him and we hugged.
I was well aware that, just like every time I saw this man, it could very well be the last time I ever laid eyes on him.
Such was the life of an outlaw in Sherwood Forest.
My uncle had fallen a far way from his respected, well-known position as a captain of the king’s military. Yet he had not wallowed in despair and grief, even after his sister died. He had found a new cause to champion, and he had my eternal admiration for it.
A man like Uncle Gregory could have easily retired after abdicating the family textile business like he did, and rested on his laurels for the rest of his life, dying content and venerated. But that was not the kind of man Gregory was.
As we pulled back from our embrace, he wiped away a tear streaming down my cheek with his thumb. “Don’t worry, lass. Even after all we spoke of, I don’t want you feeling hopeless or gloomy. There’s always light in the darkness.” He winked. “Sometimes you just have to squint a little harder to see it.”
I smiled sadly at him. That was my uncle—always with a sage quip to end the meeting.
“The Merry Men have made camp not ten miles west of here, past the Augustinian priory of Newstead Abbey, near Somercotes.” He scanned the sunny sky. “You should make it by nightfall if you’re swift.”
Nothing about Little John’s beleaguered gait told me we’d be swift.
Gregory’s words caught me off-guard. “How do you know where the Merry Men are?”
“I’ve been keeping track of your band’s whereabouts. Somewhat. Wanted to keep an eye on my dear niece, you see?”
I sighed. “So the Oak Boys have a stronger network than the Merry Men, too?” Because I didn’t know these fuckers existed less than three days ago. “And thrice the members built in half the time?”
“Don’t compare yourself to your brother, lass. I tried that once and I didn’t end well. Robert has done a fine job building off the idea Little John started, and trying to perfect it. Call it youthful exuberance. That doesn’t make him any better than you lot.”
Gregory’s disarming smile sank, and he pulled me close by the arm, surprising me again. His voice lowered. “Remember what I said about sustainability, dear niece, and don’t get confused by the rhetoric: Robert needs the Merry Men just as badly as you need the Oak Boys.”
My throat tightened. I nodded quickly, and he let my arm go. Noted.
Then he gave me a gentle shove toward Little John. “I’m glad you’ve found your feet, Robin.” He cleared his throat, as if fighting off emotion. “Don’t get yourself killed.”
I smiled at him and turned around with John to head up the first slope. “I’ll do my best to avoid that. And you, too, Uncle. You’d better be alive next time I see you.”
Chapter 37
Robin
We traveled in the direction Uncle Gregory pointed us in, avoiding Newstead Abbey because I’d frankly had enough of abbeys and priests at this point. We didn’t know who we could trust, and the famously gracious, charitable holy houses were losing their luster for me.
We moved quicker through these parts than we had the eastern terrain, because John and I both recognized the landscape better. We passed trees, landmarks, and river bends we were familiar with.
An hour in, recognizing a specific oak tree, I stopped on a snapping twig and furrowed my brow. “We’re going to make a short detour,” I said, trying to keep my voice level and decisive.
“Why?” he prodded.
“There’s someone I’ve been meaning to see. He’s not too far from here. Two hours out of the way, at most.”
“You heard your uncle. We won’t make camp by nightfall if we—”
“Just humor me,” I cut in.
He grunted and shrugged, but gave no more debate.
