of laws are unjust to begin with, or easily exploitable by people with bad intentions. The law did nothing while people’s rights were trampled upon, while due process and judiciary courts were bypassed, and summary judgements and sentences were passed by Prince Jon and his lackeys. It proved it wasn’t worthy of being followed.”
This was far more intellectual and reasoned than I could have expected him to be. But then it was clear by now everything I’d heard of Robin Hood had been greatly misinterpreted and misreported.
“Sounds like you want to quit being a green bandit, and go into law reform.”
“Just the ones involved with ‘internal affairs.’ But I can’t, so I have no choice but to act outside them.” He flashed me a smug grin. “And I prefer ‘verdant vigilante.’ ”
A laugh escaped me, and I rushed to cover my mouth. “Alliterative. Alan should add it to one of his songs.”
“He’s made enough ballads about my escapades. At this point, they can fill a book.”
“Could they be condensed into a play?” I suggested, excited by the idea. I’d often fantasized about adapting the larger-than-life events in my family’s lives, and now my own, to the stage, even knowing it would never come to pass. But with ballads already written about him, and his exploits and character having all the hallmarks of great entertainment, it wasn’t so impossible in his case. “The Verdant Vigilante would be quite popular as either an opera or a play.”
“How about they meet in a middle ground and become a musical?”
“A musical?”
“Never heard of musical theater?” I shook my head, and he sat up, looking more animated. “It’s a new art form we saw in towns along the frontline. Halfway between a play and an opera, with the singing being less about vocal acrobatics and more about memorable tunes and lyrics. And, well, more about understanding what you hear, rather than being assaulted by singers competing over who could be the loudest.”
To be fair, loudness served a purpose when theaters weren’t built to prioritize acoustics. Now, it had become a pointless, competitive requirement that I resented.
“How come I’ve never heard of musical theater?”
“Probably because it was made for those who can’t afford opera houses. It’s the natural evolution of folk songs and ballads.”
I sighed dreamily. “I’d love to find out what those musicals are like. As much as tainting traditions is reviled in my circles, some change does turn out to be for the better.”
Like how much easier it had been for me to move around without a hoop-skirt and a corset after my return from Cahraman. Mother had informed me she’d heard that people were mocking me for wearing “fancy undergarments” or “scullery maid” fashion. I hadn’t cared. Opulence and propriety had nearly gotten me killed in Mount Alborz. And I hadn’t wanted to spend what could be my last days suffocating in their confines. Good thing, too. If I’d been in one of those contraptions when I slept, my spirit would be wading in one now.
Robin grinned. “See? Now you agree with my methods.”
“I wouldn’t say I agree with your thieving, just that your heart appears to be in the right place. But there are better ways to go about reform.”
“Ways that are out of my reach.” He mimed grabbing at thin air, before sitting back with a sigh. “Then again, most things are.”
“Is that the reason behind your love of projectile weaponry?”
His eyebrows shot up, before he grinned. “It just might be. It’s also a good way to avoid being stabbed in sword fights, and scare opponents from a safe distance.”
“What an ironic strategy. You use arrows to avoid being stabbed, but you throw yourself where you can get your head literally bitten off.”
“And this is precisely why my army captain made me a marksman and not a strategist.”
“Apart from that notable incident, from what I’ve seen so far, there’s nothing wrong with your strategies.”
He seemed surprised, and pleased, at my commendation. “My plans are not always the best, but they do eventually hit their mark.” His grin melted into a frown. “Which might explain my inadvisable compulsion to help everyone, no matter how detrimental to other goals it is.”
“As commendable as your efforts are, you don’t seem happy when you talk about what you do.”
“My happiness doesn’t matter, and it shouldn’t be a factor in one’s duty.”
I exhaled deeply. “That is a sentiment I am overwhelmingly familiar with.”
“Because as a noblewoman, you were raised to be some powerful man’s wife?”