“Little that’s worth,” he spat, pushing my chin away. “Call the priest back,” he ordered.

“Scarlet,” Rob whispered behind me.

My pulse set to drumming. “Rob has to be away before I’ll say the words,” I told Gisbourne.

“How do I know you’ll actually say them?”

“You have my word.”

“I had your word before.”

“You had my father’s word. Now you have mine; I’ll marry you today, once Robin’s free and clear.”

He grimaced. “Fine. If not, at least I’ll get to kill you.”

“This is hardly your decision to make, Guy,” the sheriff said, wiping his blood-wet dagger on his arm.

Guy’s lip curled back, his big head whipping round to glare at the sheriff. “I caught him.”

“I hired you to catch him.”

“And I’ll catch him again. But this,” he said, swinging to look at me again, “can’t wait.”

“You let him go, and I won’t pay you a farthing until he’s dead.”

Gisbourne chuckled, staring at me, and his teeth shone white. “I don’t do it for the money.”

The sheriff’s mouth twisted into a sneer, but he shut his yap and didn’t stop Gisbourne none.

Gisbourne leaned closer. “If this is a ruse, Marian, you will know the full extent of the pain I can inflict.”

“Two women dying on their wedding day sounds lucky,” the sheriff mused.

“Trust me, I’d take a lot longer than just a day to kill her,” Gisbourne said, speaking to the sheriff but keeping his evil eyes on me alone.

I glared at both in turn. “I ain’t as easy to kill.”

Gisbourne looked pleased by this. “I like a challenge.” The priest appeared, and the sheriff nodded. Gisbourne sighed. “Very well, let the Hood go.”

I turned, whipping my arms round Rob before I could think or stop. He hugged me tight. “I’m so sorry, Rob,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

He gripped tighter. “Don’t do it, please. Please, let’s run.”

“You can’t run.” I shook my head.

His hands came on either side of my face, holding me up to him. Waves were crashing in his eyes, sure and strong and sweeping. “You are my whole heart, Scarlet. And this is breaking it.”

My heart cracked open and clear dropped out of me. My mouth opened, and I looked round me and stamped my foot. “Does this look like a good time to tell me that, you damn stupid boy?” I meant to sound mean but my voice wobbled. “Now?”

He gave a little smile. “My foul-mouthed warrior.”

“Marian,” Gisbourne said, and it felt like a slap.

Shaking, I leaned up and kissed Rob’s cheek, blinking back watery eyes. Hell would rise up to Heaven before I cried in front of Gisbourne, even for Rob. “This isn’t over, Robin. You have an awful lot you need to explain.”

He squeezed me tight. “Stay alive, Scar, so I can have that chance.”

“Go.”

He slipped away from me and struggled down to the people. Their murmurs rose like water to catch him, and several stepped up to support him, carrying him like the prince he were meant to be. Guards brought Godfrey forward and let them both go from the hall free. It were a strange thing to see, outlaws walking away without so much as a skirmish. Rob didn’t look back at me, and I felt Gisbourne’s hand close over mine sure as if it were closing over my throat.

“I haven’t a ring for you, but I hope you’ll forgive the oversight.”

“Nonsense,” the sheriff cried, pulling the silver band from his finger and passing it to Gisbourne. He knelt over Ravenna’s body, pried the band from her still finger, and handed it to Gisbourne too. “Someone might as well use them.”

My stomach disagreed as Gisbourne took it and handed me the man’s ring, still warm from Nottingham’s hand.

“Sh-shall we begin?” the priest asked. His hands on the Bible shook.

“Yes,” Gisbourne snapped.

The priest’s voice wobbled as he said the ill-fated words for the second time that day. He turned to Gisbourne first, asking, “Guy of Gisbourne, will thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, will thou love her and honor her, keep her and guard her, in health and in sickness, as a husband should a wife, forsaking all others on account of her, so long as ye both shall live?”

“I will,” he growled, clawing his short nails at my hand.

“And Marian Fitzwalter of Leaford, will thou have this lord to thy wedded husband, will thou love him and honor him, keep him and obey him, in health and in sickness, as a wife should a husband, forsaking all others on account of him, so long as ye both shall live?”

I waited three breaths, and I felt them rush through my lungs like the last gulps of air before drowning. “I will,” I said. I felt dizzy. All this time, all this fighting it, and I had married him.

“You have the rings?”

Gisbourne nodded, taking my hand and pushing Ravenna’s pretty ring on my finger. “I take you, Guy, as my wedded husband,” I said, my voice shaking. “And thereto I plight my troth.” Sickness washed over me. I trembled as I put my ring on Gisbourne, and he smiled, big and smug.

“I take you, Marian, as my wedded wife,” he told me, pulling me closer. “And thereto I plight my troth.”

“Receive the Holy Spirit,” the priest told him, kissing Gisbourne’s cheek. Gisbourne turned to me, grabbing my chin in one big paw and pushing my mouth to his. It were hard, so hard my teeth bit my lip, and he pushed his tongue at my mouth but I kept my lips closed tight. He pinched my side vengeful-like, but I didn’t open.