“The fabricated Majis threat,” Robin cut in.
“We know that now,” Ian said, his voice rising. “But we have not had time to adjust our strategy based on this new information.”
Robin felt her own anger rising in turn. “Perhaps if your king had broadened his sense of justice several years ago to see the truth that was right in front of him, you would have had time!”
“Yet no one was brave enough to show us the truth.” Ian’s jaw jutted forward as he took a step back, staring down at her.
“You would not have listened,” Robin replied, her voice almost a yell. She did not want to think about the implication of his words. It was only after she had left the castle and discovered that some of her father’s oldest tenants had been harboring a Majis in Lockwood Forest that she had come to learn the truth herself.
Ian relaxed his tense stance, defeated. “No,” he said, honestly. “We would not have. We were too caught up in our own fear to consider an alternate truth.”
“I do not want your family to be in danger,” Robin said, softening her words again. “But I have too many people who are relying on me. I cannot divert my attention to saving the kingdom when the kingdom has failed to save its own people.”
Ian stepped around her, reaching out to pet Humphrey.
Robin watched her traitorous donkey lean into his touch with a happy huff.
Ian remained silent for several long moments. “I cannot return to the castle,” he said finally.
Robin nodded once in understanding. “With your father incapacitated...” She did not have to finish the thought.
“Can I stay here?” Ian asked, removing his hand from Humphrey and turning toward her fully.
Robin felt some of the anger in her chest ease at the humble change in his request. But she slowly shook her head. “I cannot allow it,” she said, reluctant but firm. “It would be too risky to communicate directly with the castle. I cannot have Gareth turn his eyes here.”
“Not as a guest,” Ian said. “Let me be a member of River’s Talon, or one of your bandits. I can work with you, learn from you. No one needs to know that I am a prince.”
“I think it is too late for that,” Robin said. Ian was barely taller than she was, so she could look up at him without tilting her head back. It would be a risk, letting him in. She had already shown Meena and Sol the extent of her operations here, but that had been easy. Sol was a Majis. Meena was his wife.
This was the crown prince. A boy she had known who was now a man she did not fully trust.
But what choice did she have? She would not fight for his castle, but she could not turn him away.
“I have already given Meena and Sol my bed,” she said. “There is no room in the main house; even the cellars are full. You would be staying in a tent until we can build more cottages.”
“That is fine,” Ian replied. “I have spent many a night under the stars with the army on patrols.”
“And you follow my rules. My code. We only take half the gold—”
“I know your code.” Something that might have been amusement touched his eyes. “I’ve been on the receiving end of it.”
Robin felt her mouth twitch in response.
Ian tossed a coin between them. “From Katharine,” he said.
Robin caught the coin as it flew toward her.
“And from me,” Ian said, tossing another. “Get that girl her tonic.”
Chapter 14
On the first morning of his time at Lockwood, Ian woke with the sun. It was impossible not to, as he was sleeping under a canvas flap that could barely be called a tent.
Rigelt, the Majis turned bandit, was already up and stirring the coals of the fire to new life. Lane, the other bandit who shared this fire, appeared to be motionless under his furs.
While Ian was stiff from sleeping on the ground, he found that for the first time in more mornings than he could remember, he was not loath to get out of bed.
He had no idea what the day might hold for him, but whatever it was would be new and different.
