Page 12 of Arrows and Gems
Distantly, she heard the woman growling about the racket bringing travelers, but Helena’s world had narrowed to the spider playing patty-cake. She rolled to escape it.
Wrong direction. Her injured shoulder screamed in protest.
Something flashed through the air above her, and then a hand landed on her mouth. “Do you want to bring the forest down on us?” the tall man hissed. At this angle, she could see a hint of his eyes and trace the outline of his nose in the shadows. “Iwillgag you if I must.”
She studied those eyes for a few moments as her panic subsided. Despite his threat, his grip wasn’t rough.
But he’d still shot her and bound her.
Peeling her lips back, she lunged forward, snapping herteeth together. He jerked back.
“Don’t touch me,” she ordered, keeping her voice low. The three of them would have no trouble forcing a gag into her mouth if she tested them.
A deep chuckle rolled over her. “Quite the charmer you’ve caught yourself, Cap. Are you sure you want to throw her back?” the short man teased.
Cap sat back on his heels. His head stayed pointed toward her, but she couldn’t see much beyond his scruffy brown beard now. “What is your name, vixen?”
Helena lifted an eyebrow in challenge. “What’s yours? Cap can’t be your real name.”
Wise to taunt her captor? Probably not. But it was the only power she had at the moment.
The woman crossed her arms and looked away, but the short man leaned on the long staff in his hands and laughed some more. “Truly, Cap, she’s a free agent and looking for a home. You could use a little excitement in your life.”
“I don’t have enough of that already?” the bandit replied wryly, his head turning toward his friend. Then focusing on Helena again, he sat silently, appearing to consider her. Finally, he spoke. “It’s short for Le Capuchon.”
“Le Capuchon?” Helena echoed before she thought better of it. She snorted. “Isn’t that Old Amitian for ‘the hood’?”
Instead of taking offense, he clasped his hands with his forearm on one knee and tilted his head. “You know Old Amitian?”
“Don’t even think about it,” the woman said in a warning voice. “The General sent her here to ensnare you. He knows your love of the old languages.”
“The General knows nothing about Le Capuchon,” he replied calmly. Turning toward her, he continued, “Unless you have informed him?”
“That isnotthe name your mother gave you,” Helena cut in with certainty. “I’ll tell you my name if you tell me yours,” she wheedled, mimicking the tone that one of the noblewomen in her court often used.
His focus dropped to the ground, and his companions fell silent. She knew he was a bandit, but what was the big deal about giving her a name?
“I have no name,” he finally said gruffly, shoving to his feet. “I threw it away.”
His shoulders drooped, and Helena almost felt bad for asking.
Almost.
Striding away, he jabbed his finger toward the woman. “Take her and her mount back to the horses. And be gentle – she’s been hurt enough for one day.” He stormed past the short man. “You’re with me. Let’s hope we didn’t miss the real messenger.”
The woman’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t say anything as she watched the others disappear into the trees. Helena kept a wary eye on her; of the three, the woman seemed the least friendly toward her.
“And what’s your name?” she said lightly. “Or have you thrown away your name, too?”
The woman’s attention returned to her. “You may call me Scarlett.” Her eyes weren’t visible, but Helena imagined them combing her person. What did the female bandit see? A foolish, helpless girl like Le Capuchon had implied? The dangerous femme fatale that she’d accused Helena of being?
A desperate young woman with no place to go?
“Shouldn’t we be going, Scarlett?” Helena finally said, rolling her head in pretended search. “The only horse I see is my own.”
Scarlett pinched her lips together. “I will not be sorry to berid of your mouth,” she grumbled. Stepping forward, she grabbed the rope around Helena’s middle and hauled her upright. The woman’s strength startled Helena, causing her to stumble. A smirk curved the bandit’s lips. “Keep up, and don’t try to run off – I would hate to disobey Cap’s orders because I had to tackle you.”
“Then maybe I should.” Helena smiled pleasantly. “So you can test your hooded captain’s reaction to disobedience.”
