Page 135 of Knotted in Sherwood Forest

Now Fitzwalter intended to punish every one of them.

He'd finally discovered the one threat I couldn't ignore.

And he'd put a deadline on it.

I looked at Guy.

"Then we'd better make certain the King hears the truth before Fitzwalter reaches them."

GUY

By the time we returned to Sherwood, my name had been posted on every major road between Nottingham and Mansfield.

Twenty years of service to the Crown, and Edmund Fitzwalter had managed to turn me into a wanted man in three days. I might've been impressed if I weren't the one facing execution.

The camp was already being dismantled when we arrived.

Robin's people worked with the efficiency of trained soldiers. Everyone seemed to know exactly what needed doing, and nobody wasted time arguing about it.

Nine women sat around one fire making arrows, while Tuck organized the children into small groups and sent them east with different adults.

Food, blankets, and supplies were being packed for transport.

They were preparing to abandon the camp before Fitzwalter's men could find it.

Sefa took one look at me and ordered me to sit on a stump. She opened my shirt without asking permission, examined my side, and made a noise of disgust.

"Four of these have torn loose again."

"I'm aware."

"You'll be aware of considerably more if this closes over dirt."

She reached for the yarrow. "Sit still. You can make yourself useful by keeping your mouth shut."

I decided against arguing. Robin crouched in front of me while Sefa worked. She didn't bother looking at the wound, having already examined it twice during our ride.