“Excuse me,” Isabelle said more forcefully. “But I will not be staying anywhere. With all due respect, you cannot keep me here.”
Allan managed to look chagrined as he answered. “All due respect, lass, but we surely can.”
Adam crossed his arms and looked at her. “You’d only slow us down, sister. The king’s men are thick between here and York, and we can’t spend all our time rescuing you.”
“You would not have to rescue me,” Isabelle said, heat rising along her neck. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
The three men looked at each other.
“When was it exactly you were taking care of yourself?” Adam asked. “When we saved you from that soldier back there because you didn’t stay put like Thomas said?”
“I was—that was…different,” Isabelle sputtered, glowing like an ember.
“This isn’t a game, lass,” Thomas said, his voice both firm and gentle. He took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. “You were as brave a lass as any, bringing word this far. You do your family proud. But these are Robin’s men, and you must let them do their work. They’ll get your message to him, I can promise you that.”
“I do not doubt they can find him. But you cannot truly expect me to sit around, twiddling my thumbs, while…while…” She glanced around the clearing, dropping her voice so only Thomas could hear. “While the Wolf hunts me down. You said that Robin is my…please, Thomas. You have to understand why I must go.”
“You’ll be safe from the Wolf here, lass,” said Thomas in an equally low voice. “The Merry Men will protect you, and they’ll bring Robin back. You’ll have your time, lass, and your answers. This is the best way. Marien sent you to me for safekeeping. I won’t betray that trust.”
Isabelle felt her chances slipping away, powerless to change their minds. And after all, were they wrong? Would she really not be a burden? What value could she bring to these trained foresters, more at home in the world than she and far more skilled in stealth and combat? Should she really risk her life—all of their lives—just because she wanted to meet the man Thomas said was her father?
“I’ll pack some supplies for you,” Allan said to Adam. “And you’d best take Little along. Just make sure he’s not so deep in his cups he can’t walk this time.”
Adam gave him a flat look. “He’s your son, Allan.”
“Which is why I know you’d best hurry if you’ve any chance of stopping him early,” Allan replied.
“I’ll take Patrick as scout, which means Helena will insist on coming as well,” Adam said. “We could use her bow arm if things get sticky.”
Isabelle leaned in, scenting her opportunity. “I can shoot.”
Adam glanced at the bow still slung over her shoulder. “I’m sure you can, sister.”
“I could be a bow arm for you. I can hunt, and track.”
Adam took a deep breath, speaking slowly. “We don’t need a hunter. We need an archer.”
“I can shoot,” Isabelle insisted. She looked between the three men. “Give me any target, any test. If I can outshoot anyone you pit against me, will you consider letting me go?”
“No,” Thomas said flatly.
“Hang on, Thomas,” said Allan, his gaze turning thoughtful. “The sister has a right to try and earn her place among the Merry Men if that’s what she wants.”
“Earn a place?” Thomas grunted, rubbing his forehead in frustration. “Allan, you can’t actually be giving the lass credence, can you? She’s a child, and a nun. She’s already got a calling. She doesn’t know aught about the world out there, and she’s been put in my charge. I’ll not throw that duty to the wind on account of her shooting a few hay bales.”
“We are sisters, actually, not nuns,” Isabelle said. “And I have not taken vows. My mother has not allowed it.”
“But you think she’d allow this?” Thomas asked.
“I…” Isabelle glanced at the foresters. “Perhaps. If it were necessary. Which I would say it is, as she has sent me all this way.”
Allan gave Thomas a patient look. “We don’t turn away anyone who wants to join the cause, isn’t that what Robin himself has said? There’ve been plenty who have come to us younger and knowing less. What makes this girl any different?”
Thomas stared at him for a long moment, his nostrils flaring in irritation as he considered his answer. Isabelle did not dare to speak, not even to breathe, as she waited for what the barkeep might reveal in his reply. He had clearly not told the outlaws about why she was there, or who she was, which meant Robin had kept her existence a secret from them. Something stabbed her chest at the thought of her father sharing his life with all these men and never once mentioning her. Did he really care so little for her? Or did he not even know of her? Her mother had certainly kept her share of secrets. Could Isabelle’s very existence have been one? Her gaze flickered to Adam, his dark eyes moving over her thoughtfully in a way that made the heat rise to her face once more. Why was he staring at her?
“This is madness,” Thomas finally grunted. “Sheer idiocy.”
“But you’ll let me do it?” Isabelle asked, clasping her hands together.
He stared at her balefully. “Don’t seem I have much choice, does it?”
Isabelle gave a little clap, bouncing up on the balls of her feet. “Oh, thank you, Thomas. Thank you.”
She threw her hands around his neck on impulse, giving him a hard squeeze. He grunted at the affection, patting her back heavily.
“I shall be fine, I promise,” Isabelle said, pulling back.
“You haven’t actually passed the test yet,” Adam said dryly.
“Oh, yes, right,” Isabelle said, smoothing her hands down the front of her habit, her palms suddenly sweaty. The confidence she’d felt just a moment ago bubbled into a nervous energy that made her jitter. “Where shall we compete?”
Adam lifted a brow at Allan. “This was your idea.”
“The range,” Allan said firmly. “Get Little and Patrick to help you set up the arrows and clear the targets.”
As the outlaws disappeared to prepare for the competition, Thomas turned to her. “I suppose it’s time you and I had a chat.”
Isabelle swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Please do not try to talk me out of it. You of all people should understand why I must go.”
“Oh, aye, that I do,” Thomas conceded. “You’re wily as your da and stubborn as your ma. But you might as well know what you’re coming up against, best as I can tell you. Robin could explain a sight better, but of course he’s gallivanting about the country playing the hero.”
“Does he…does he know about me?” Isabelle asked.
“Course he does,” Thomas said with surprise. “You’re the reason all this happened.”
Isabelle’s stomach fluttered. “What?”
Thomas glanced around at the outlaws gathered in the clearing. “Come on, then. This isn’t a conversation for general ears.”