Page 114 of Queen of Sherwood

Ipaced around my cell, sat on the bench, stood, and paced some more. At least George had the decency not to shackle me to the wall. Yet he kept me in the dark, knowing I’d hate it.

Just how long do you plan to keep me stashed away in here before you make your decision, Sheriff?

My cell had no windows, so I had no idea what part of the day it was. I did have a good understanding of time, however, and knew I’d been locked away for about half a day.

It infuriated me to know that I could have been doing something useful, but instead was relegated to wasting my time in here.

For that reason, my surprise was great when I had a most unexpected visitor late in the night. The footfalls on the damp stones were light and soft. I spun in my cage, arms still crossed, and perked my eyebrow—

As Madam Marian appeared from down the hall. Dressed in a hood over her stark-red curls, with a cloak enclosed around her tight gown.

“Marian,” I murmured, moving toward the bars, “imagine my surprise.”

She shot me a small smirk and opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off.

“If you’re going to tell me how ironic it is to find me in here, with you out there, you can save it. George has already used that one.”

Her smirk widened into a smile before dashing away completely. “Hail, Icarus.”

I barked a laugh. “That’s good. Aye, woman, I flew too close to the sun.”

She seemed relaxed—likely because I had no weapons on me and there was an iron wall separating us. I couldn’t put hands on her. Not that I had any intention of doing so, even if I could. The threat of violence, however, had always been enough to get Marian to bend to my will.

That, and the promise of status. Power.

Oh, and there was another thing keeping her at my heels all these months. Something we both deigned not to discuss, though it was entirely pertinent right now, given my situation.

“How did you get down here?” I asked.

“The warden upstairs is napping.”

I was impressed. “A permanent nap?”

She shrugged. “The girl I sent him is good. Also, the tea he had was doused with the same tincture used to drug those women you were shipping off.”

I frowned, my face sinking. “So you learned about that. I’ll have you know, Marian, I had nothing to do—”

“Yes, yes,” she said, holding up a well-manicured hand. “Save your innocence, Guy. George’s scheme or not, it was a rotten thing to do, playing on my naivety. I have fought to protect women my entire life, you bastard. Not use them for weak men’s purposes.”

I raised a brow. “Is that what you’re doing at your Teahouse, Marian? Protecting your ladies by offering their bodies to sniveling noblemen?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “They make a good living. They’re free to leave anytime they wish, without the coercion of poison influencing their decisions. The women I employ have protection from the more ruthless ways of life here.”

“You’re a regular almshouse nun, woman.”

She paused and smirked. We looked into each other’s eyes—so close, yet so far—separated by the bars of my jail cell.

I said, “You look like a Merry Man in truth now, if I’m being honest.”

“Aye, I suppose I am. Want to know what changed my mind about them? The truth about the tincture I’d been unknowingly supplying the girls was part of it, surely. But I appreciate their camaraderie, too. Things have changed in the outlaw camp since I was first associated with them. They were attacked by vicious, faux ‘bandits’ sent by Sheriff George the other night, and they came together in defense. I helped save some orphan girls.”

“A charming tale, Marian. I’ve only recently learned of George’s misadventures. A foolish strategy, I admit. And the reason I’m in this cage.”

“Maybe it wasn’t so foolish, then, placing rats inside the den.”

I stepped away from the bars, resuming my pacing. I could only look at Maid Marian’s pretty face for so long before getting annoyed with it. “Why are you here, Marian? I am jailed. You have your freedom. You could have—”

“You once showed me kindness, Sir Guy. Admittedly, it was for your own gain, but you noticed my ambition and helped me flourish in a time of need. I am merely returning the kindness, as a final act.”

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