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Alex let out a stuttering laugh "Hold on I thought the na ht is Robin Hood? The Robin Hood? The guy Kevin Costner played in thehis huy of the Hood was later based" Cyprien seemed amused "I cannot coun" She recalled the handso like Kevin Costner, although he had the same casual, lethal charave his stuff to his cousin, and that’s whatto need footnotes soon "Is the Italian his cousin?"

"No, he is not, and that is only where it began," Cyprien said "After he was stripped of his title and lands, Robin left England to join the Templars Guy, of course, stayed behind to rule Sherwood and serve the Crown Both were cursed by God and rose to walk the night as Kyn, Robin for fighting in the Holy Land, and Guy for his treaten," she corrected hi to do with it So what happened? Did they get back together as Kyn and try to duke it out?"

"In a sense, yes Our high lord at the time was Harold, and he believed in diplomacy over battle" Cyprien put his arm around her shoulders "The Brethren, of course, had already for the Inquisition to interrogate our human families and servants They pretended it was to expose the theuys are responsible for the Inquisition, too?" Alex snorted "Jesus, you have a co me you touched off World War Two"

"Hitler discovered our existence before he ca as he watched her face, "but that is a story for another tiht by the Inquisition convinced many Kyn that it was tiht them the same e had the heretics in Jerusale on the Vatican, to be sure that the order was coht have savedslapped in the face by the bishop," Alex said absently She saw hiers when they get confirmed Doesn’t ree with the proposal He felt that the Kyn should not challenge the order, but strike a truce with thenize the wrath so many Kyn felt over those of our kind who had been tortured and died terrible deaths at the hands of the Brethren His decision set off a power struggle for control of the Kyn First came the assassination attempts on Harold and the suzerain loyal to him That led to the insurrection--what you hear us sometimes refer to as the jardin wars"

Michael told her that after the assassinations failed, several jardins banded together, gathering and training as a secret arainst Harold and his loyalists The traitors had been led by Guy of Guisbourne, now the suzerain of Sherwood

Cyprien stopped there, and was silent for a long tio into any ht ininto battle against soldiers whom I had called friends and allies for centuries" He shook his head "The greatest treachery caht before the final battle in France A wounded herald caland with his life He told us that months before, Sherwood had secretly sent some of his warriors across the Channel with orders to invade and destroy the households of those loyal to Harold While ere off fighting they butchered the women, tresori, and human servants who had been left behind So confident was Guisbourne of victory that he instructed the assassins to take possession of the properties once they had killed the families"

Alex felt nauseated "Please tell s lost"

"They lost"

"There is a God" Bracing her back against the curving lattice, Alex watched the moon make a shimmery circle on the surface of the pool "So who is this Italian? A leftover from Sherwood?"

"I doubt it When Richard succeeded Harold, he had every ht to him in London, and had his ainst the bloodscroll--a kind of membership list that is created when the jardin is formed and maintained He assembled the loyalists whose families had been murdered, turned the men of Sherwood over to them, and had them perform the executions Guy of Guisbourne he saved for last"

"Wait" Alex closed her eyes "I don’t want to kno he died"

"No, you don’t" He shifted closer and put his hands on her waist "The Sherwood jardin was the only blood faht under Richard as a loyalist When judgment was passed, Rob was pardoned but made to watch the executions, and later bury the bits of them that were left"

"No wonder he was so upset" She looked up at hiain, are you? Robin doesn’t need this shit in his face"

"If Nottingham wishes to join us, he will abandon them" He pulled her to him and plucked the cooddess?"

Alex nestled closer, expecting her fangs to punch out into her an kissing her, a shriveled, ripped his jacket, tearing the fabric as she held on and made herself return the kiss

Michael eased away "Chérie, I think you are tired"

"No" She grabbed hi open her bottos "Daot up, stu away from the bench Her entire body shook "I’m sorry"