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I brought my horse around to face her. "He murdered your father to silence him. He's issued written orders demanding that you be brought to him alive."

"I know."

"Then you know why."

She looked at me.

"He believes you know where the documents are hidden. Once he has them, or decides you can't give them to him, he has no reason to keep you alive."

I tightened my grip on the reins. "And there's certainly no reason to believe he'll honor his promise to those villagers."

"What would you have me do?" Her voice rose. "Sit in the forest while he hangs people for feeding us?"

I didn't answer.

"Hild of Papplewick is seventy-one years old, Guy. She gave me her own bed when I needed somewhere to sleep. Aldous has a nine-year-old daughter."

Her eyes were bright with anger.

"I've spent six years telling those people they were safer with me than without me. Now Fitzwalter's threatening to execute them because they helped me."

She looked away.

"And he's right about one thing. They're in danger because of it."

I wanted to tell her that wasn't true.

But the villagers were in danger, and pretending otherwise wouldn't help either of us.

I guided our horses off the road and into the trees.

Much continued toward camp, leaving us alone.

There were things I needed to say to Robin without anyone listening.

"I won't tell you what to do," I said.

She looked up.

"That's a first."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

I took her hand.

"Robin, I've heard men talk about mating bonds as though they give an Alpha the right to command his Omega."

Her expression changed.

"I've heard them say an Omega belongs to her mate, that there are commands she can't refuse, and that a bond gives a man the right to make decisions for both of them."

I shook my head.

"I've never tested any of that, and I never intend to."

She watched me quietly.