First, Freddy Cooper were arrested,” I said, looking round. They called him the Hood-the least he could do were wear it. He kept his hood up, most because the sheriff were hiring new mercenaries all the time and just a bit because the people loved it. John passed me a tankard, and I took a deep swig of the ale. Twenty-and-one and the oldest of us, Rob were the natural one to lead us, but more than that, Rob tended to see the bit of bright in all of us. If I were the sort that had heroes, I’d have pegged Rob for it straight. It meant Rob were his hero, above and beyond, and I could understand. He were the youngest of us, too, bare sixteen, which didn’t help none, but Rob knew what Much were capable of in true. Much had some bad luck as a lad and he were the sweet sort, so most people just gave him their pity like scraps to a dog. I sat down next to the last of the three, part because it meant I could skulk in the corner and part because Much didn’t look to anyone but Rob. “Scarlet, finally.” That were Rob’s version of a greeting. He even saw me before I knew he were looking. I like slipping around and not being noticed. He has a way of looking at me in particular that I’m none too pleased ’bout. Rob looked at me, and as were fair usual, I felt my heart jump. John were sitting there, at the end of the bench, watching like he always is. One door went out the side of the big room, and then the door to our little room were down the hall a bit, so we could still look out a touch and see who were coming. Which comes in handy seeing as, though I’m the least moral minded of the bunch, I ain’t alone in doing things contrary to the law. It’s got a few secret passages and Malcolm, the big Scot that keeps bar, lets us know if anything’s amok. I went through the big room to the small room Tuck keeps for Rob. The lasses pushed through the lot, using a smile or slap as needed to get their own way. It were heaving with bodies, laughs, and mugs slinging ’bout. I slipped in the door and moved quiet past Tuck, the innkeep, and went into the barroom. It were rough, but none here would turn me out for being a thief and a liar.

It were too hot and stank of beer and men, and I smiled. I opened the door to Friar Tuck’s and the air fair slapped me ’cross the face. Like, when you walk through a room full of big men drunk off their skulls, it ain’t so bad to be ignored. No one ever takes me for more than a knockabout lad, a whip of a boy. I’m Rob’s secret, I’m his informant, I’m his shadow in dark places. You taught me what it means to be strong.

Scarlet book ac gaughen