Page 58 of Arrows and Gems
“Is this part of the story?” Jean-haut inserted cheerfully.
Helena kept her eyes on Cap, watching the slight changes in his expression. A crinkle next to his eyes, a tiny lift to one eyebrow. Amusement?
“One hand,” he said. “Not two.”
Grinning, she wobbled on one foot for a moment before dropping her cane and darting her right hand forward. He caught it with his other hand, but before she could try anything else, he pulled her arms together and locked both wrists in one strong hand.
“Problem solved.”
Helena struggled against his hold, but his grip kept her from pulling her arms apart. When she tugged away, he simply extended his arm to stay with her. She spun, but he lifted his arm to let her pass under and maintained his hold.
“How is this fair?” she grunted, annoyed that her sleeves wouldn’t even slip out of his glove.
Cap snorted. “I missed the part where ‘fair’ had anything to do with it.”
“I really think I need to hear the full story now,” Jean-haut laughed. “Your game has clearly reached new levels.”
His words froze Helena just as Cap locked her against his chest to stop her twisting. Cap likewise stopped, his arm loosening around her. “Game?” she echoed. “What game?”
Jean-haut gestured between them. “Trying to pull off his hood, now trying to steal an arrow. Handy excuses to be…handsy.”
“Handsy?” Dropping Helena’s wrists, Cap stepped back and stared at his friend. “You think this is an excuse? I’m defendingmyself.”
“Tell yourself whatever you have to,” Jean-haut said with a grin. He slapped Cap on the back. “And tell me what happened yesterday after archery.”
“I already told you,” Cap growled back.
Taking advantage of his misplaced focus, Helena slowly slipped an arrow out of his quiver and tucked it under her arm. She carefully set her right foot on the ground and bent down to pick up her cane.
“Margit.” Cap’s hand reached toward her as she straightened, but it stopped a few inches away. She clamped her left arm a little closer to her side; if he wanted it back, he would have to take it.
Instead of replying, Helena simply raised her eyebrows and smiled politely.
“I hope I did not make you uncomfortable.” His brows twitched toward each other, but otherwise his expression did little to support the concern in his voice. “I was only…”
Having as much fun as she had been?
She let her smile soften into something friendlier.“Es macht mich froh, mit dir zu tanzen.”It made me happy to dance with you. “Don’t worry about it; it was my fault for starting it. I’ll let you two finish your conversation.”
He nodded, watched her for a few moments, and then turned back to Jean-haut. Helena sauntered away as well as she could with a cane and a healing ankle. Rouge’s narrowed eyes followed her as she meandered through the camp, but Helena pretended not to notice, letting her gaze wander about the surrounding trees.
Once she was sure no one was paying attention, she disappeared into the forest. A few days ago, she’d noticed the perfect spot for shooting and fetching her own arrows. The underbrush and fallen limbs were sparse, and it was far enough from campto spare her from discovery.
Helena strung her bow with a happy smile. Just her and her bow, and no overbearing outlaws trying to take care of her.
She paused in the act of picking up the arrow. Not that she minded the idea in general. People didn’t take care of people they wished would go away.
But Cap couldn’t help it. He had decided to believe her, but that didn’t mean he wanted to keep her.
Her arrow buried itself in a branch, and she began the trek toward her target. Dry leaves crunched under her feet, but the slope was bearable and there were no shrubs to fight through.
She grabbed the shaft with one hand and placed the other on the tree trunk. This might be interesting when she couldn’t brace with both feet.
Her mind wandered back to Cap. As he’d told Jean-haut, he’d been defending himself against her attempted thievery. But he could have been more forceful and less playful. Ithadfelt more like a game than a true means of restraint.
She shook her head at herself, a tender smile playing around her lips. Had she really told him it made her happy to dance with him?
At least he hadn’t understood it.
