Page 77 of Queen of Sherwood

“What you talkin’ about over there, huh?” Armison called out.

I turned away from Robert, to the ragtag bandit in front of us. “How many do the Muddy Meddlers number, Armison?”

“Seven.”

My head swiveled to Robert. “See? Not so bad.”

“And here I thought we were just coming to an agreement about trust,” Robert said.

“You all able-bodied? Or at least able to travel?” I asked aloud to Armison.

He nodded diligently. “Aye.”

“Gather your people and follow us back,” I called.

Armison’s body went rigid with excitement. He closed his hands into fists and punched the air. “Hoy! That’s what I’m talking about, big man!”

I smirked, but it quickly vanished. “I think we’ve gone up and down this road enough, Rob, don’t you? We aren’t finding a damn thing with daylight waning. Let’s get back to camp. I’m sure your sister’s worried sick about you.”

Robert scoffed, but smirked. “Ass. You sure it’s not her giant, cuddly bear she’s worried about?”

I couldn’t help but smirk also. Aye, this lad could be my friend after all, he keeps talking shit like that.

A few minutes passed in silence. Robert’s mood soured again, as I suspected he thought about his past, and about the things I’d said.

I wouldn’t apologize. In fact, I decided to leave him with one more pearl, because I could tell he didn’t like the idea of bringing these folk back with us.

“Your sister taught me something else important, Robert.”

He glanced over, brow raised curiously.

“Sometimes, you have to place your trust in complete strangers. You have to take a leap of faith. Robin did it, and it helped get me out of imprisonment in one piece.” I glanced down at my right hand, which only had four fingers these days. Wagging the fingers, I frowned. “Well. Mostly one piece.”

Slowly, Robert nodded his understanding and faced the road again, looking glum.

He may have nodded, but I wasn’t certain he actually understood what I meant about entrusting strangers. I wasn’t sure he realized I was talking about him more than these Muddy Meddler folk.

Chapter 21

Robin

“Thank God you’re back!” I yelled as I pushed through the crowd of Merry Men to get to Little John and Robert.

I made for John first, throwing a tight embrace around his broad shoulders, even before he’d handed his horse off to the stableman.

Robert snickered. “See. Told you. Worried about her mammoth.”

John tensed while hugging me. “Quiet, Loxley.”

I pulled back to look between them, askance. “Have you two become . . . friends while gallivanting through Sherwood Forest?”

Robert scoffed and waved me off.

John said, “Had a wager about who you were more worried about. He won.”

A divot formed between my brow as I put my hands on my hips, like a scolding mother. “I’ll have you know I wasn’t worried about either of you. I’m just happy you’ve returned. And just in time—”

“She’s lying,” Friar Tuck bellowed from behind me. I turned as he wagged a finger at my face. “Damn woman couldn’t stop pacing long enough to eat. Was making me nauseous with how distressed—”

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