Page 21 of Arrows and Gems
“Maybe. But none of them walk as grumpy as you do.”
Blinking, Cap stared up into the trees. “I’m sorry—did you say that Iwalkgrumpily?”
From the corner of his eye, he could see Rouge staring at him with a strange expression before she looked away. “Like the weight of the world is on your shoulders,” she quietly agreed.
Uncomfortable with the conversation, Cap cleared his throat and asked, “Where are the others?”
Rouge turned back to the bread she had been kneading. “Jean-haut isn’t back from the capital yet. Adrien took off with his violin to try and charm information from travelers at the pass. Alanna went with him, so I imagine they’re succeeding.”
A wistful sigh floated down from the treetops. “Alanna. I could listen to her voice all day.”
Rouge hid a smile at the interruption and continued. “Laurent was bored, so he decided to take the others hunting as well.” She gave a small shrug. “I stayed behind with Tucker to prepare supper and keep an eye on things.”
Nodding his acknowledgment, Cap fastened the rope around the deer’s hind legs and hoisted it off the ground. The meat would be more tender and have a better flavor if he let it hang for a day or two, but they didn’t have that luxury; it would be a shame to lose the deer because Cap waited to process his kill and General Valentin got lucky.
His friends began to trickle back into camp. One of the boys returned with a brace of rabbits from their traps, then Laurent and his group returned with empty hands and long faces. They brightened at Cap’s deer hanging from the trees.
“Cap, you’re a lifesaver,” Laurent groaned with a wide smile. “I wasn’t looking forward to another meal of nothing but bread and dried fruit.”
Rouge spared a moment to glare up at him. “If you’re so averse to my bread, then I won’t give you any the next time we’re out of meat.”
“Aw, Rouge, you know what I meant,” Laurent said in a soothing tone, stepping closer and kneeling beside her. “Your bread is the best, but every now and then, I like some meat. Man cannot live by bread alone, you know?”
Shaking his head, Cap made one final slice and let the hide drop to the ground. “If you’re so eager for meat, then you can take over Rouge’s bread so she can start preparations to preserve this.”
Laurent made a face as Rouge smirked at him, but he headed for their water bucket to wash his hands.
Adrien and Alanna were the next to return. Cap glanced up at the darkening sky, allowing himself a moment of concern for Jean-haut. At two days’ ride, they were the closest they ever were to Laurier. But his friend had left almost a week ago; Cap had expected him back this morning.
“What news?” he greeted Adrien and Alanna as they swung off their horses. At forty-seven, Adrien was the oldest memberof their group, but that didn’t stop him from providing vital support when Cap took him along, whether they were scouting or conducting activities that were legally questionable.
Alanna settled her skirts over the trousers she wore underneath. “Papa tried to speak to a noblewoman, but she was concerned about rumors of a bandit and wouldn’t stop her carriage.” She patted her horse’s neck before leading the animal toward its picket line. “Can you believe that she thought we might be compatriots of his?”
A low chuckle escaped before Cap brought himself under control. “A wild notion indeed.” He turned back to Adrien, idly noting the branches shaking as Tucker followed Alanna through the trees. “No luck then?”
The older man smiled. “The fancy folk wouldn’t speak to us, but a few of the common ones did. I’m afraid we didn’t hear much useful to you, though. Just one thing, and it doesn’t pertain to your cause.” His eyes shifted away from Cap, the crinkles by his eyes smoothing out.
“And what was that?” Cap prompted when the minstrel seemed unlikely to proceed.
Adrien peeked over at him, one side of his mouth curving up in a half smile. “They said that Princess Daphne is to wed.”
“Daphne?” Cap repeated, startled. He hadn’t expected that. “She’s betrothed? To whom?”
He’d heard about her trip to Castellia. Had she come home attached to one of their princes?
“Lord Raoul. Rumor has it the queen is disappointed; she hoped for a prince, not a baron’s son.” The other side of Adrien’s mouth curled up with amusement, even though he watched Cap with knowing eyes.
Looking away, Cap took a deep breath as he adjusted to the news. He hadn’t thought Daphne would accept Raoul so soon, if ever.
“Are you all right?” Adrien asked carefully.
“I’m fine, Adrien. I’m not made of glass.”
“I know,” the older man said gently. “But you’re also not made of iron. You’re allowed to feel.”
He felt plenty. But that didn’t mean he had to let it show.
“Thank you for the information, Adrien.” Dipping his head in a nod, he turned away. “If you could please help Rouge with the deer, I have a letter to write. And when Jean-haut arrives, inform him that he has another journey in his future.”
