Page 126 of Arrows and Gems
Dropping to his hands and knees, he crawled toward a thin stream of pale light. He paused next to it, listening for a good five minutes before carefully pulling the loose boards free.
“He said we’d be safe, Adrien. This doesn’t feel very safe,” Tucker sniffed.
“I know, my boy,” the older man replied with a sigh. “But Cap didn’t say he would keep you safe. He said he would do his best to protect you.”
Cap tried not to wince. He’d been afraid that Tucker would feel that way.Hefelt that way.
“But he didn’t!” Tucker fumed. “He trusted Margit. If he wanted to protect us, he should never have brought her home.”
“You were rather fond of her yourself,” Adrien noted.
“That was before I saw her with the General! Didn’t you see how she cuddled up to him when he announced their betrothal?”
Cap froze. Betrothal?
“I did,” the minstrel replied slowly. “And I also saw a young woman who looked uncomfortable with the role she wasplaying.”
“Only because we were listening,” Tucker huffed. “She knew she wouldn’t be able to fool us any longer.”
Gripping the key around his neck, Cap took a moment to gather himself, then pulled the chain over his head. They didn’t need to know he wore the master key.
Or that their conversation had rattled his already bruised heart.
Striding around the corner, he dangled the chain next to his head. “I heard some disturbing news when I reached the city. Do you think this will help?”
The bars clanged as Tucker and several others sprang forward, but they kept their voices down. “Cap!” Tucker cried. “You came for us!”
He could feel Adrien’s eyes as he fitted the key into the first cell door. The older man’s voice was grave. “You’re in Laurier.”
Cap pulled the door open, then moved to the next. Without looking up, he replied, “I couldn’t abandon you.”
He soon had all the cells open. Gesturing for his people to follow, he pointed to the hole he’d come through. “This leads to a tunnel that ends outside the castle. Jean-haut and Rouge should be waiting for you.”
They began to file through. Adrien lingered next to Cap, watching him with serious eyes. “Those directions sound like you’re not coming.”
Cap waved him by, then ducked behind him and returned the boards to their place. “I’m not,” he said casually. “I have one more person to rescue.”
“You’re not going after Margit?” Tucker exclaimed from just beyond the door. “She’s with the General!”
“I promised her the same haven that I did the rest of you.” Focusing on the lock, Cap continued, “Until she refuses it or proves untrustworthy, I am honor-bound to offer her a way toflee.”
Tucker’s face appeared in his peripheral vision. “Why? She doesn’t care about us. Shesneeredat the idea of a princess being with an outlaw. Why didn’t you tell me who she was, Cap? I can keep a secret!”
“I know you can.” Cap set a light hand on the boy’s shoulder and forced his lips up to hide the pain. “But an hour ago, I thought she was just Margit. Marielle told me before I came.”
“Then you know...” Adrien’s words trailed off, but his sorrowful eyes stayed focused on Cap. Becauseheknew. He understood.
“I do.”
“But you’re still going to look for her?” Scowling, Tucker folded his arms over his chest. “Shedeservesthe General.”
A tiny bit of contrary faith pulled up the memory of Margit facing off against Erwan. She couldn’t have known Cap was listening, but she had staunchly defended him anyway.
“She deserves to have the choice,” he quietly replied. “Get going, Tucker. You can’t be here when the guards come check on their prisoners.”
The boy frowned but stomped off down the tunnel. Adrien’s hand landed on Cap’s arm. “You’ll be careful? General Valentin orders our execution, and then you arrive in Laurier a few hours later... It’s like he knew you were coming.”
Cap nodded slowly. “You make a good point. But I didn’t come just for you, Tucker, and the others.”
