Page 93 of Arrows and Gems
Shine all the tears you’ve cried.
The fault, I own, is mine to bear,
But little good it does me
When all my words are nought but air
And still my actions hound thee.”
The tune was unfamiliar to Helena, but she sang it boldly next to Alanna. Behind her, Laurent beat out a steady rhythm on a hand drum. Adrien doubled the melody on his violin, and Tucker played a few out-of-tune harmony notes on a wooden pipe.
Smiling at a young couple who passed, Helena took a step forward and performed a simple dance during an instrumental interlude. She swirled the baton in her hands, adding color to her dance with the ribbons tied to the ends.
The thought of her bow reduced to such a form still made her grimace, but Jean-haut had assured her that the transformation didn’t hurt the original item. It always seemed fine when she released it, but it was still...wrong.
Her eyes caught on Cap. He sat with his forearms draped over his knees, leaned up against the tiny mercantile across the road. A beat-up metal cup hung limply from one hand. Thanksto Jean-haut’s plant magic, Cap’s cloak was covered in patches and tears, making him look like an old, tired beggar. But the scuffs on his boots were real; neither of their magic-users had the right kind of magic for leather.
The steady clip-clop of horseshoes approached from the west. Helena glanced in that direction, smothering a smile when she saw a group of blue-clad soldiers riding up the street with ten on foot marching beside them. Each wore a sword on his hip and carried a strung bow in his hand. General Valentin’s men were getting smarter, but it wasn’t enough to offset the combined skill of Le Capuchon and Helena Margit Dracovich.
Yet.
Helena executed a more complicated twirl, imitating something she’d seen at Axel’s beloved theater. The lead guard directed his horse toward her with a little smile.
“That’s some fine dancing,” he remarked with an appreciative glance at her figure. The weather in the valley was milder than she had grown used to in the mountains, so she had left her cloak off for the routine. “Will you be here long?”
Bobbing a curtsy in thanks, she replied in her best Amitian accent, “Only today, I’m afraid. The increased activity of Le Capuchon in the area makes my father worry for my sister and myself. He and my brothers are not skilled fighters, so we don’t stay in one place too long.”
The guard frowned for a moment. “I’m sorry to hear that he’s troubled you. But rest assured, he will lie low while my men and I are here. I’ve faced him before, and I know his tricks. His disguises won’t work on me.”
She did remember this man from an ambush about a month ago. But while he bragged, Cap struggled to his feet and stumbled away between the buildings of the small village.
“Thank you so much.” Helena gathered her eyebrows into an earnest expression. “I will sleep better when he no longerthreatens our fair kingdom.”
She kept the guard talking for several minutes. At the end, he tossed a few coins into the upside-down hat in front of Alanna before leading his troop away.
Helena waited until they should have reached the end of town. Turning to Adrien, she said, “I think I need a little break, Papa; my voice is tired.”
Without ceasing his music, he glanced over at her and nodded. “Take your brothers with you. I don’t like the way that guard looked at you, and your pretty face shouldn’t wander alone anyway.”
She leaned in and pecked him on the cheek. “Yes, Papa.”
The approving nods of a few bystanders proved that they’d heard the exchange. Good.
Waving to Laurent and Tucker, she scooped up her cloak and waltzed behind the courier’s office. As soon as they were out of sight, they restored the normal appearance of their clothes, flung their cloaks around their shoulders, and jogged south out of town.
Helena had never dreamed magic could be so useful back when she was facing a sleeping curse.
Once they were out of sight of the road, they headed east. Cap had chosen a spot a couple miles from the village for today’s ambush. Far enough to let them beat the guards there by running, not so far that they were worn out by the trip. Add a few grass-covered boulders and deep hollows for cover, and it was perfect.
And General Valentin’s plan to harass the nobles loyal to Prince Raphael and the royal family would take another hit.
“Any problems?” Cap asked in a low voice, stepping out from behind one of the boulders. His cloak was back to its usual condition, but his bow was still in staff form.
“None. Are we set?” Helena asked. Lifting her baton, shewhispered, “Lass es los.” It lengthened, shifting back to her beloved bow.
Cap gave a sharp nod. “Tucker, you’re up.”
The teenager restrained himself to a pumped fist and scurried over to the road. Cap turned his gaze to Laurent. “As we discussed.”
