Page 26 of Arrows and Gems
The mottled greens and browns of camouflaged canvas caught her eye. And the air around her was frigid. She sat on a bedroll, not a bed.
The woman smirked at her. “I wouldn’t have saved you. But my brother would do anything for your friend, and Cap is always bringing home wounded animals for me to mend. Though you’re the first one that he shot first.”
As the pieces clicked into place, a swirling combination of dread and anger bubbled through her chest. “You’re Scarlett.” Helena ground her teeth together and spit out, “I want my bow back.”
Scarlett laughed. “Your bow? Sorry, it snapped when you fell.”
“Not that one.” Helena glared at her. “The one your preciousCapstole from me. I want it back.”
“You’ll have to ask him,” Scarlett replied lazily, leaning back on her hands. “I don’t know what he did with your things. One of our young people has been borrowing your horse, but I’m sure she’ll give it back if you ask nicely.”
Helena wanted to growl that she shouldn’t have to ask, but she held her tongue. Scarlett was acting kinder than the last time they met, but Helena might still be a prisoner. Restraints weren’t necessary with a broken ankle.
The sound of a flap being thrown aside drew Helena’s attention. A head of dark brown hair with a cheery smile poked through the opening. “I see our disciple is awake. How are you feeling, Margit?”
Blinking at him, she parroted, “Disciple?”
“Disciple, follower.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Since you followed us back from Marielle’s house.”
Her cheeks burned at the reminder. Facing the wall, she asked, “What do you plan to do with me?”
“Me? Nothing.” Stepping fully into the tent, he shrugged and sat down by her feet. “Cap? I’m sure he’d like to send you back to Marielle, but you won’t be going anywhere for a while. Not with that ankle, even with the splint and salve for the pain.”
That wasn’t the answer she’d expected. “He would just let me go? When I know where you are?”
Smirking, the short man placed a finger alongside his nose. “That assumes you know where we are when you’re not with us.”
The tents. They might have a new camp every day. Even if she could find her way back, they would be gone before General Valentin’s men arrived.
“I’m Jean-haut, by the way.” The short man extended a hand and nodded in Scarlett’s direction. “This is my sister Rouge.”
“Jean!” Scarlett hissed, her eyes seeming to glow as sheglared at her brother. “Why would you tell her that?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t plan to spend the next several weeks trying to remember codenames. Besides, I believe Marielle. Margit isn’t with the General.”
Scarlett—Rouge—frowned. “And how can she be sure?” Shaking her head, she shoved her brother lightly in the shoulder. “Never mind. If you don’t have anything useful to say, get out of my tent. Margit and I donotneed your help to get ready for the day.”
~
Helena took another tiny step, steadying herself on Rouge’s shoulder. No one sat at the logs ringing the campfire, but she could feel the eyes of Le Capuchon’s band on her. What reason had he given them for her presence?
Carefully lowering herself onto the nearest log, Helena pulled her cloak tight and cast her curious gaze around the camp. Something about the clearing struck her as odd. Perhaps it was the air of neatness, or the too-perfect placement of the branches supporting the tents. Or the strange table Rouge was using to prepare a simple meal.
Her gaze drifted across the camp to several horses milling about on picket lines. One nosed aside the snow, searching for blades of dormant grass. Another stretched its head into the trees, peeling bark from the branches.
“We’ll have to find a new home for them soon,” a quiet voice said near her ear.
Startled, Helena threw herself sideways before resuming a placid expression.
The middle-aged man behind her offered an apologetic grin. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I wasn’t scared,” Helena stiffly replied. “I just hadn’t noticed you standing there.”
The twinkle in his eyes communicated his disbelief. Gesturing to the empty spot next to her, he asked, “May I join you?”
“I can’t stop you.”
Instead of leaving at her haughty response, he chuckled, stepping over the log and sitting down. “I’m Adrien. Cap says your name is Margit?”
