Page 20 of Arrows and Gems
For a full minute, the little sitting room was silent. Finally, Marielle folded her hands in her lap and looked up. “I understand that the situation is less than ideal. But the council isn’t going away. As for the young man who tried to force his affections on you, surely Axel and Uncle Steffan would gladly handle him if they knew.”
Helena took a step back and collapsed onto a settee, letting her head drop against the backrest while her right arm flopped to the side. “They would. But that wouldn’t make Luther more desirable. And if they took him out of the running, that would leave Tobias. I refuse to marry someone who’s in love with someone else.”
Looking hesitant, Marielle suggested, “Couldn’t you simply let the council choose? I know it would still mean marrying someone that you don’t love, but perhaps in time—”
“The leader of the push for me to marry is Tobias’s father,” Helena cut in with a mirthless laugh. “If I don’t choose, Lord Carolus will convince them to pick his son. Then Tobias, Liesl, and I will all be miserable.”
“Does Liesl like Tobias back? If he’s competing for your hand…” Marielle trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
Helena returned her eyes to the ceiling. “She won’t admit it. She’s sweet and clueless, so she thinks he’s not interested because he can’t openly pursue her.” Her voice turned wistful as she pictured them. “You can see it in his eyes, though. If his father weren’t forcing him to pretend interest in me, he wouldn’t spend a minute away from her.”
What would it be like to have someone look at her like that?
Shaking her head, she pushed such thoughts aside. Shedidn’t need a man to be happy. All she needed was a bow and a destination, and she would be content.
“Please, Marielle. All I ask is a haven while I heal.” The lie fell easily from her tongue. “After that, we can discuss my home.”
“I suppose,” Marielle slowly replied. Looking sideways at Helena, she continued, “And perhaps you could find a solution to your problem. We have nice young men here. My cousins—”
Helena rolled her eyes. “I’m not looking for a husband. And even if I were, Prince Raphael is in the wind, and Prince Cedric is only eighteen. An eight-year difference is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“I was going to say that my cousins could introduce you to some of the nobles.” Marielle lifted her eyes to the ceiling. “I doubt you’re Cedric’s type. Although Rafe…” One corner of her mouth curved. “The two of you might suit.”
“Even though word on the street is that he murdered his father?”
Marielle’s lips smashed together. “He didn’t. It’s a lie.”
Helena lifted an eyebrow. “But General Valentin—”
“The General is either lying or didn’t see what he thought he did,” Marielle stubbornly insisted. “Rafe and Uncle Antoine had a good relationship, and Rafe was in no hurry to be king.” Pursing her lips, she looked away. “Besides, whatever else he may be, my cousin isnota murderer.”
Helena didn’t actually care. What was it to her if her cousin’s cousin was guilty of patricide or not?
“Then do you promise not to write my family? Or let anyone else know that I’m here?”
Marielle looked torn as she directed her gaze out the window, staring off over the forested mountains. “Yes,” she finally said. “I promise. For now.”
CHAPTER 9
Cap
Wiping his knife on the aspen leaves piled nearby, Cap shivered and pulled his cloak back over his shoulders. Autumn was halfway over, and the weak sunlight did little to warm him through the cloud cover. But the shoulders of his cloak would be filthy enough by the time he reached camp; he hadn’t wanted to dirty the front while he was field dressing the deer.
Once he had stowed the knife, he hoisted the animal onto his shoulders and tied it in place, leaving his hands free for his bow. If he had to use it, a solid tug on the rope would drop his burden.
The trees thinned, and he stepped into the ring of tents around their camp. It was nothing fancy, just ropes strung between trees, sheets of canvas, and a fire pit in the center. But it was easy to move. With the lives they lived, that was important.
Bad enough if General Valentin managed to catch Cap. He wouldn’t let any of his friends hang with him – not if he could help it.
“Oh!” Rouge startled, lunging to the side and clapping a hand over her chest when the deer landed next to her. She glared up at him. “You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that, Cap. What if I’d stabbed you?”
He shook his head as he knelt to unwind the rope from the carcass, then nodded toward the short table Jean-haut hadgrown with his magic. “You were too focused on the bread, and you aren’t wearing your sword or your dagger.” Lowering his chin, he gave her a pointed look. “You’re supposed to wear one at all times.”
“Tucker is supposed to be on watch.” She sat back on her heels and searched the treetops. “If I could trust him, I wouldn’t need a weapon.”
“I am watching!” the teenager protested, his disembodied voice drifting down from above. “But why should I warn you about Cap?”
“You should still have your sword, Rouge,” Cap admonished. “Tucker’s warning wouldn’t do much good if you were outnumbered and unarmed.” Setting his hands on his hips, he tilted his head up. “You still should have warned her, Tucker. Other people might wander the mountain in a hooded cloak.”
