Page 33 of Arrows and Gems
Looking up, she noticed how far behind they’d fallen. It would be impossible for her to catch up before the group stopped to rest. But she should keep the gap from growing larger than necessary.
With a sigh, she set her cane on the ground, hopped forward, and tried not to think about how much her body would ache by the end of the day.
“Why are you walking with me?” Helena finally asked, shooting a frustrated look at Le Capuchon. “I’m slowing youdown. Shouldn’t you be walking at the front with Jean-haut?”
“If I did that, you would lose the group and become lost.”
“Isn’t that what you want?” she bit out. “You should be eager to rid yourself of the spy that tries your patience.”
His head shifted toward her. “I didn’t leave you when you fell down the cliff. I’m not going to abandon you now.”
A tiny spot of pleasure warmed her chest, but she stubbornly ignored it. “And why not? Determined to keep an eye on the helpless woman you fear?” she challenged.
She imagined his eyes were assessing as they swept over her. “I’ve seen you draw. I don’t believe you’re helpless.”
“I am when I don’t have a bow,” she shot back, eyeing the one on his back with envy. “Especially when I can’t run.”
“Then perhaps that is why.”
“That’s right; I forgot: you rescue people,” she scoffed. Setting her gaze firmly ahead, she trudged onward. “I don’t need to be rescued.”
“I never said you did.”
Infuriating man with his infuriating calm.
“Speaking of bows, what did you do with mine? And the rest of my belongings?” Helena asked stiffly. “It may be too soon to ask, but we usually have an audience.”
Clearing his throat, he looked away and said, “I didn’t know how to find you, and I didn’t expect to run into you again. And we don’t have the luxury of keeping things we don’t need.”
Helena’s jaw dropped as she whirled to face him. “Are you telling me you sold my things? You sold mybow?”
“Alanna kept one of your sturdier dresses after adjusting the fit.”
“My books?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry. The saddlebags were open, and the books must have fallen out.”
It was useless to hope that she could find them again. Theywere probably ruined by now. Squeezing her eyes shut, she asked, “And my bow?”
“It was too fine to relinquish.” There was a glow of admiration in his voice, and Helena almost thought she could see a smile on his face. Between the hood and his beard, it was hard to tell. He gestured toward the horse. “I don’t want to travel with two bows in my back sheath, so it’s strapped to Farrell’s saddle.”
Struggling to reconcile her irritation at not having her bow with her pleasure at his enthusiasm, she forced a cool expression onto her face and said, “I thought you were looking for a home for the horses. How will you carrymybow then?”
He had the grace to turn away, so she imagined an abashed look to go with it. “I’d considered asking Alanna to fashion a new sheath and carry it for me when we move. It’s light, so it wouldn’t add much to her burden.” Turning toward her again, he added, “But perhaps I could let you carry it instead.”
“You’re giving it back?” Helena replied, unable to keep the delight from her face. “Even though you don’t trust me?”
She couldn’t see his face, but she could hear the amusement in his voice. “I never said I’d give you arrows. Or the string.”
She’d take it. As long as she had the bow, she could come up with the rest later.
Pausing, she balanced on her left leg and pulled her satchel around to her front. She didn’t have much, but the bag was small enough she had to dig.
“What are you doing?”
Helena shoved her spare dress to the side without looking up. “Looking for my sheath. You didn’t steal that.”
“It wasn’t my intention to steal your bow.” His voice was flat. “If you hadn’t helped set General Valentin’s trap, I wouldn’t have been running for my life and would have rememberedto return it.”
