Page 66 of Queen of Sherwood

“Praise God—He’s returned you to us!”

I pushed my way through the back of the congregation and came to the center of the crowd.

Maid Marian walked through camp like parted seas. Flanked on either side of her were two beaming lads: Tick and Bucktooth Jimmy.

Jimmy, who had been missing for months.

Rosco rushed in and punched the boy in the arm. “That’s for scarin’ all us, idiot.”

Jimmy scowled at him in return—and charged, tackling Rosco to the ground.

They both laughed. As they rolled around and people moved out of the way, orphans and Merry Men alike snickered in delight.

I smiled, shaking my head.

Marian walked up to us, and my smile vanished on my face as quickly as it had come. She looked tired, serious, and unkempt, as if she hadn’t slept in days.

If she’d ridden all night to Nottingham, and then back here next morning, then she likely hadn’t.

My men supported me by standing behind me like an iron wall, allowing me to speak with Marian somewhat privately.

“Care to explain yourself, Marian?” I asked, raising my chin and crossing my arms under my chest.

The corner of her lip curled. “Stoicism doesn’t suit you, Robin. Just be happy I’ve come back bearing gifts.”

My shoulders slumped a bit. She had a knack for bringing whoever she spoke with down a peg. Unfortunately, I was in her sights this time around.

“How?” was all I said.

“I told Tick last night that I knew where his friend was. He kept bothering me about it. Turned out the wind in my face while on horseback snapped me out of that stupor your hermit wolf-herder put me in.”

I bit my lip, embarrassed for Wulfric’s sake. “How did you know where Jimmy was?”

“Had him stashed at the Teahouse. He came to us months back, when he believed it was your estate still. Looking for refuge, I imagine.”

My eyes widened. “You stashed a mere boy in . . . a whorehouse?”

Marian snorted and marched past me, forcing me to follow her toward a tent, and my mates to trail behind us. “Don’t get your tits in a twist, girl. I didn’t corrupt the damn boy. He worked for me doing mundane tasks. I didn’t realize his importance to your crew until I laid eyes on Tick and . . . Rosco, was it?”

I nodded. “So you reunited them?”

Little John clarified what I was trying to say in my moment of disbelief. “She wants to get on our good side again, little hope, and what better way than to do some good for us?”

Will chuckled darkly. “Nay. She wanted to convene with her handlers. The only way to do that was to go to Nottingham, where they’re located.”

Tuck shook his head. “What if she just did it because it was the right thing to do?”

They all spoke of her as if she wasn’t standing right there. I wanted to believe Tuck, though I knew cynical Will and pragmatic John likely had the crux of it.

Marian threw her arms out. “What if I did it for all those reasons?”

Alan stepped forward, his beautiful face scrunched with anger. “God only knows what she told her people about us in Nottingham. If you expect thanks from—”

“Shut up, minstrel,” Marian snapped, causing Alan to back down with a start. “I don’t expect anything.”

Alan frowned and melded back into the group, muttering something about not being very good at being mean, and leaving it to the rest of us.

I said, “You may not expect it, Marian, but you’ll have it. Thank you.”