Page 94 of Arrows and Gems
Their time was limited, but Helena took a step closer and gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Good luck.”
His lips curved as he returned the pressure. “May your arrows fly straight and true.”
“Don’t they always?” she returned with a raised eyebrow.
The curve grew, and then he slammed his staff on the ground before running across the road.
Helena watched appreciatively. Because of the fineness of his bow. Not the strength in his stride or the width of his shoulders.
Pulling her hood over her face, Helena jogged to the low spot where she would hide. She laid down on the foot-high dormant grass and pulled three arrows from her quiver, then put all three on the string.
In addition to moving targets, she had been working on trick shots during the last month. It wasn’t practical for the middle of a fight.
But it evened the odds when it was the first shot in an ambush.
Across from her, she knew Cap was doing the same. The showoff had worked himself up to four, but she planned to match him by the end of the week.
Tucker stumbled westward along the road, his left arm around his waist and his sword hanging from limp fingers. Most of his black hair hung loose about his face, pulled free from the leather tie in back.
Any minute now...
The sound of laughter drifted toward them. Sneaking a glance, Helena saw the guards from the village heading their way.
Tucker took one more staggering step and collapsed to a knee. He propped himself up with his sword, but his shoulders dipped toward the ground. The laughter turned to shouts of warning, and the soldiers picked up their pace.
As they came to a stop in front of him, Helena sighted along her horizontal bow and adjusted her arrows. The three horsemen farthest to the back on her side. One side, one hip, one shoulder.
She’d been queasy about putting an arrow in someone the first time, but remembering the guards’ actions against the people helped.
As had seeing them try to hurt her friends.
“Are you all right, young man? What happened?” the leader demanded from atop his horse.
Tucker lifted his head halfway. Enough to be heard more clearly, not enough to expose his face. “Was traveling—with my lady—” he gasped out. “Le Cap—Robbed by the bandit.”
The men shifted on their horses, making Helena grind her teeth. She moved one of her arrows a little.
“How far?” the leader snapped.
Tucker’s head dropped again before he put both hands on his sword and struggled back to his feet. “Not—not far. But he gave me a message—for the General.”
The leader leaned down as Tucker sagged.
“Set my people free.” His voice grew stronger and louder as he straightened. “Long live the king!”
At the signal, Helena released the string.
Her marks cried out in pain. Before the leader could respond, his horse whinnied with fright as a rope sprang up around its forelegs. It reared, and the snare pulled its hoovestogether.
The leader tumbled to the ground, barking out useless orders as his men scattered.
Helena rose to a crouch and whipped out another arrow. Half the foot soldiers had been dragged to the ground, one or both feet caught in a snare tied to a nearby tree.
Tucker laughed, using his knife to swipe a pouch from the leader’s belt. Dancing back, he ducked around the frantic horse and quickly sawed through the rope. He slapped its rump, and it took off.
“Form up!” the leader yelled. “Find Le Capuchon!”
Only two men were still on their horses. They drew their swords and charged toward Helena while three of the five remaining foot-soldiers turned their bows on her.
