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It wasn't the declaration of innocence she'd spent six years waiting to hear.

But it was the first time anyone acting under the King's authority had formally acknowledged that her father's conviction might have been unjust. My own treason accusation was suspended pending the investigation.

That meant I was no longer facing immediate arrest, although I hadn't been reinstated as sheriff.

Robin's outlaw status remained unchanged. Six years of accusations against her couldn't be dismissed by two commissioners in a single afternoon.

She'd promised to answer for her actions, and the court intended to hold her to that. Nobody received a pardon that day.

Fitzwalter hadn't been convicted.

William's name hadn't yet been cleared.

But Fitzwalter had lost control of the garrison, the villages were protected from his proclamations, and the Crown had finally agreed to examine the evidence.

For the first time, the investigation was beyond his control.

And somewhere on the Great North Road, Osbert Crane was traveling south to confirm that the signature on his statement was genuine.

We had a chance.

A real one.

Robin found me outside the shire hall late that afternoon. The sun was beginning to set, and most of the crowd had already dispersed. She came to stand beside me on the steps.

"For so many years, nobody would listen," she said.

"They're listening now."

She looked toward the street. "Do you think it'll be enough?"

"I think your father finally has a chance to be heard."

She nodded slowly. For a while, neither of us spoke. Then she rested her hands against the wooden railing.

"What happens if they give me Locksley back?"

"I don't know."

"Neither do I."

She laughed, although there wasn't much humor in it.

"That's the ridiculous part. I've wanted that estate back every day for six years, and I've never once thought about what I'd actually do if I got it."

"You'd probably start by repairing the fences."

She looked at me. "And the drainage ditches. The bottom acre is practically a marsh."

"You have people who can help with that."

"I have people who live in the forest because the Crown would arrest them if they came into town."

"Then we'll have to find a way to put that right too." I took her hand. "One thing at a time."

She looked up at me.

"And you?"