Page 114 of Arrows and Gems
His trip through the rest of the trees was tense, but he didn’t spot any guards. The clearing itself was littered with belongings. Cap grabbed his pack and his tent, then made a quick search of the others. It didn’t mean much. But Jean-haut’s pack was still lying next to Cap’s. And Margit’s satchel was missing.
After exploring the trees in a hundred-foot radius, he determined that none of his people had been left for dead. That was something, even if it was no guarantee they were alive.
He hiked back to Rouge’s temporary camp with a heavy heart. Tracking the General’s men felt like the right thing to do, but could he free his friends by himself? Rouge’s magic and swordsmanship could help, but then the noncombatants would be defenseless.
Unless he took them someplace safe first. But would that make him too late?
Rouge didn’t pester him, accepting his brief report silently and then settling down to pound some bread dough. It wasn’tlike her to not fight.
Cap didn’t like it, but what was he supposed to do?
~
“Are you going after them?”
The morning sky was pink with the beginnings of sunrise as Cap stood in the middle of the trees, head tilted back to watch the stars disappear. He loved the woods, but it would be nice to be home again, out from under the canopy.
Rouge stepped around so that he could see her hands on her hips. “Cap? Don’t tell me you plan to give up on my brother,” she said fiercely. “And Margit?”
He squeezed his eyes shut. His night had been restless, to the point where he’d spent the last several hours of it standing here wrestling with himself. Staying to protect the noncombatants meant abandoning his friends to their fate. Leaving Margit in danger.
But pursuing them would likely mean his own capture and death. And he couldn’t help anyone then.
Yet what was the point of protecting a handful of people if it meant letting the entire kingdom suffer, including his best friend and the woman he…
His head dropped. It was killing him to not race after her again. But he had time to think this time, and his indecision had him paralyzed. Acting on impulse might be the reason he and his friends were in this mess. Was it wise to give in to his feelings and chase her down now?
“Rouge.” He finally opened his eyes. “If we can find a safe place for the others, will you come with me?”
Her brown eyes glowed. “Absolutely.”
“It may be a lost cause,” he cautioned. “We may be captured in the attempt.”
“I don’t care.”
“I can’t go home, but you could,” Cap said quietly. He met her eyes. “General Valentin doesn’t know you’ve been with me, let alone helping on the raids. Your family doesn’t have to lose both you and Jean-haut.”
For a moment, her gaze skipped away from him. But it came back almost immediately. “If my brother was captured, the General will assume that I was here with him. And he would happily convict me on less evidence than that.”
He nodded slowly. “Then let’s pack up camp and head north. They are still headed for the capital, aren’t they?”
Rouge closed her eyes, one hand twisting into one of her signs. “They’re stationary right now, but I think they’re in the right area.”
Her hand started to lower, but then she froze. “Wait!” Her voice grew excited as her eyes flew back open. “One of the stones is traveling south. Someone is headed our way!”
CHAPTER 40
Helena
Helena took a delicate sip of tea before setting her cup back on the saucer. Her hands practically shook with the effort of restraining herself to ladylike movements, especially after months on her own and then with Cap and his band.
“I am sure you understand why I am reluctant to be seen by your prisoners, Valentin.” She gave him a tight smile. “They were kind to me, and they might not take my defection very well.”
He nodded sagely and set his own teacup back on his desk. His eyes were perfectly alert, even though the sun had only been up for an hour and he had still been awake in the middle of the night. Did the man ever sleep?
“I would prefer to avoid a ruckus.” Folding his hands in his lap, he fixed her with a compassionate gaze. “It must be difficult to consider how they treated you.”
Helena forced her fake smile to brighten. “I do not blame the men and women in your prison; they only did as Le Capuchon instructed. But I have fond memories of my time with them. Even if it wasn’t real.” She swallowed. “I would prefer they not think ill of me.”
