It were just past dawn, the sky still rich with blushing like the young thing it were. I loosed my fingers from the sword, stretching them from the grip I’d had through the night.

I looked around, wanting to sit up. We were on the road with people round us, though, and I didn’t dare, nudging the sheet up over my face again.

There hadn’t been overmuch in the way of food for the past few months, but I were growing hungry in true, and as the cart rolled on, I kept checking to see when we might be clear enough for me to speak. After more than an hour, we passed a fork in the road that left us traveling alone.

“David?” I called, tugging the sheet down. “David?”

I sat up, stretching my arms and back.

“David?” I called again, and a scream answered me instead.

I grabbed the sword and twisted round to see a man not David falling off the saddle. Chucking off the sheath, I jumped from the side of the cart, landing in the dirt with my worn, tattered boots, lunging for him.

“Christ on a cobnut!” he yelped, ducking behind the horse. “Lady thief, stop this madness!”

“Allan?” I cried, stopping. “What in God’s name is going on?”

He peered round the horse. “Good Lord, you’re even scary when you’re dead.”

“I’m not dead!” I shouted.

“Well, I didn’t know that before!” Allan shouted back.

“What did you do, Allan? Where’s David?”

“I only knocked him out,” Allan said. “He’ll be just fine.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked him. “I’ve been out of prison for bare hours. How did you find me so quick?”

His shoulders lifted. “I’ve been ordered by our fair sheriff to find you,” he told me. “And I found you. And I thought—I thought I’d found you too late,” he said, and for a moment he didn’t look his teasing, foolish self. He looked weary and sad. Then he stepped forward and hugged me, straight off my feet.

“Oof,” I grunted. “Allan—Allan, put me down.”

“Yes, lady thief. I just—” He stopped, looking up. “God is great and powerful and loves to mock mortals like—”

He never finished the sentence as David slammed into his body, bearing him to the ground. He raised a knife over Allan’s neck.

“No!” I yelled. “David, stop!”

David froze, looking at me, and Allan whimpered. “My lady, this man—”

“There has been a terrible misunderstanding,” I told him. “Please get up.”

David jumped off him, and Allan struggled to his feet as I caught sight of a gash on David’s head. “Allan!” I cried. “Did you do this?”

“The goddamn coward hit me with a rock,” David grunted, touching the wound.

Allan shrugged. “I don’t have a very strong punch.”

David glared at him, crossing his arms. He looked around. “My lady, we should get you off this road if you hope to remain dead.”

“You’re trying to be dead?” Allan asked, frowning. “I don’t understand.”

“Better dead than murdered,” I told him. “We need to get to the queen mother. Can you help us get to London?” I asked.

Allan puffed a little. “Of course I can. But I rather think we could move a little faster if you’re alive. If he looks a little less like a knight.”

“Fine,” I told him. “Then I need to wash. Have you lot seen a river or well or anything?” I asked.

“A river about a mile back,” David said.

I nodded. “Can you two find clothes and food, and I’ll meet you?”

“I won’t leave you alone, my lady,” David said. “He can go where he wishes, but I’ll come with you.”

I were still weak, and God knew there were more dangers for us to face, so I didn’t fight him. He came with me and waited a ways from the river while I stepped into the ice cold, rubbing blood and dirt from my skin. It snaked away from my body in muddy swirls in the clear water.

And then it were gone, and the river were clear, like such filth had never truly been.

Chapter 2

Allan did well. He got fresh clothes to dress me as a boy and traded the cart for two more horses. He’d procured food somehow, and David and I swallowed oranges and roasted cauliflower, salted pork, and fresh bread.

Allan watched me. “Are you sure we shouldn’t be going to Nottingham, my lady?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I have to see the queen first, Allan. Then—” At the thought of Rob, his eyes wrapping me up and tugging me in, a thrill shot through my heart so hard it hurt. I pressed my hand there, and Allan nodded sharp.

“Then I’ll get you to the queen,” he promised.

“We should go,” David said. “We’ll make London after nightfall as it is.”

I nodded. “All right. Let’s go.”

It weren’t long past midnight when we came upon the city; we’d heard bells on our way, chasing our horses with their low, dark sound, but the hours riding felt like years. It ached everywhere until every move felt like a blow. Seeing the queen—telling her what I’d heard—were the only thing that made me grip the saddle tighter.

Even when we made the city, I knew we had a while to go. Westminster Palace were farther along the Thames, away from the dirt and grime of London proper, and we had to make our way through London first.