If there was one thing Isabella excelled at, it was adaptability for the sake of survival.

Although openly boasting of her skills in the bedroom, she was not as sexual as she pretended to be. Usually not attracted to the men she was forced to partner, sex for her usually meant survival, or else a means to gain power. Only rarely did she enjoy the act itself. Only with Robin, a man for whom she'd felt an overpowering attraction the moment their eyes first met, had she been moved to a shattering crescendo of pleasure so intense she dreamt of it, tossing and turning in frustrated sleep.

But surviving by adapting herself to various situations was something she had been forced to learn at a very young age, and she would practice it now, a prisoner in Robin's outlaw camp.

Should she tell him the king was being help prisoner in Durnstein Castle, approximately forty miles west of Vienna along the banks of the Danube River? Certainly not until she'd fully weighed her options. Telling Robin would serve to protect her, should King Richard survive and return to England. But what if he didn't, and Prince John discovered her treachery? She would not only hang, but be tortured first, and Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham were experts when it came to torture.

Better to keep her secret for now, pretending ignorance.

But who to pretend to be? Not herself, and not the helpful woman she had tried to portray herself to first gain Robin's interest. Someone between the two extremes would be more believable...someone who would grow to be kind and helpful gradually. Let the fools believe they were changing her! They would trust her then completely, puffed up by their own goodness.

Since she was forced to live in this squalid forest camp, she would seize whatever opportunities she could. Observing Marian would enable her to more closely mirror her and win Robin for herself after driving a wedge between the couple, or better still, after Marian mysteriously died.

Now that the outlaws were waking to find her here, her hands bound by their leader, she could at least have some fun, stirring up trouble between them, as she was so good at doing.

...

"One more kiss," Robin asked Marian, before rejoining the gang for breakfast. Although not looking forward to seeing Isabella again, neither one was prepared for what awaited them in camp.

"Oh, you're a fine one to talk, Badger Beard! Why don't you just jigger off!"

It wasn't only Much. It sounded as if everyone was arguing.

Robin dashed right into the middle of the squabbling, silencing it, while Marian watched from the camp's entrance. Both looked toward Isabella, and the smug look she gave Robin confirmed her as the instigator of the disharmony.

Tuck had been arguing with Djaq, Much with Little John, Allan with Will. Kate had been merely complaining out loud to everyone, though no one paid her any attention.

"Enough!" Robin told his men. "If anyone has a serious complaint, bring it to me. Otherwise, I expect you to resolve your differences in a fair and just manner."

The outlaws looked at Robin, their anger slowly dissipating.

Their leader spoke again. "I see you've discovered our guest. She won't be going anywhere just yet, so I suggest we all get used to having her with us."

"Gisbourne's sister?" Little John growled.

"She's going to tell us where King Richard is."

"Do you plan to untie me?" Isabella asked Robin.

"No."

"But I'll starve!"

"We won't deny you food." He turned to his men. "Anyone volunteer to feed her?"

Allan couldn't wait to do it, expecting a bit of fun. He helped himself to two bowls of whatever sticky mess Tuck had prepared, then approached Isabella, seated on Robin's former bunk.

After getting her own food, Marian joined them.

"Open wide," Allan joked, moving a spoon toward Isabella's tightly closed lips. "Whoops!"

Because she'd refused to open her mouth, he'd purposely smeared the honeyed acorn pottage all over her nose, mouth, and chin.

"It's better inside than on your face," Allan told her, laughing. "Not bein' funny, but you'll be swattin' at flies if you don't open your mouth."

"I am not a chi-" Isabella began, then sputtered and coughed as Allan shoved the spoon into her mouth.

"Yeah, it's obvious you're all grown up, dressed in that."

"I have the same one," Marian said, proud of how much Robin had liked her in her nightdress this morning, when they were rested and all alone. "Courtesy of Prince John."

"Yeah?" Allan asked. "He dressed the two of you alike?"

"I'd rather not discuss it."

Isabella had recovered enough to ask, "What is that disgusting mess you fed-"

Allan shoved another spoonful into her mouth, making her gag.

"You should be grateful," Marian told her. "People are starving. Will lost his mother because they hadn't enough to eat."

"Yeah, and it's lots better than when Much burned it. We got honey on it now, most days. Triar Fuck's been stung so many times getting honey for us, the bees think he's one of them. And speakin' of bees, your brother know you're here?"

"What has my brother to do with bees?"

"Those yellow and black stripes he makes his guards wear always makes me think of bees. You know, how they sting and all."

"Yellow and black happen to be the Gisbourne colors!"

Allan shoved another mouthful into her, and she swallowed it without complaint.

"You're learnin'! You'll get along better here, if you do what you're told. Right, Marian?"

"That doesn't mean you can't think for yourself," Marian argued.

"You gotta take a piss this morning?" Allan asked Isabella, to her horror. "Or a dump?"

"Allan!" Marian objected.

"What did I say? I didn't say 'shit.' "

"Djaq will help you with all the details you need to know, living here," Marian told her. "We even have a place to bathe, and it's completely private."

"Robin's a spoil sport when it comes to peekin'," Allan said, "though Will once got an eyeful of Djaq, when she first arrived. The only woman he ever looked at! No wonder he ended up marrying her!"

"Allan! Will and Djaq are perfect together! It isn't just..."

"Say it," Allan teased Marian.

Robin joined them, having first spoken to each person in his gang. Much was by his side.

"Have enough to eat?" Robin asked Isabella. "That'll do, Allan. Thank you."

"Will someone wipe off my face?" Isabella demanded.

"Tell me where the king is, and I'll wipe it myself," Robin said.

"That man is crude," Isabella complained. "I can't believe he worked for my brother!"

"Allan's known for his colorful tongue," Robin said, as Allan left them.

"And what is your tongue known for, Robin Hood? I'm not referring to the language of words, but of love."

"Give it up, Isabella," Robin warned. "You're hardly tempting, with breakfast smeared all over your face."

"Why don't you lick it off?"

"Unbelievable!" Much exclaimed. "That is revolting!"

"Your Lot there must still be a virgin," Isabella sneered.

"His name is Much. And that's nobody's business but his own."

"And nothing to be ashamed of," Marian added.

"Where is the king, Isabella?" Robin asked again.

"You won't give up, will you?" she asked.

"I never give up. Where is he?"

She thought a moment before answering. "I could make up a location, and you could let me go. And you could lead your little gang on a wild goose chase, while Prince John and I bask in our cleverness and ensuing power, not to mention, setting a trap to capture you, wherever I send you. Now will you let me go?"

"You are devious, I'll give you that. You and Prince John deserve each other. But there's one thing you haven't thought of. Now I'll have to take you with me, wherever we go. So, it's in your best interest to tell me the truth."

She stood and put her face as close to his as she could, then said, slowly and deliberately, "I-don't-know."