Page 59 of Arrows and Gems
She shot the arrow many more times before deciding to take a break. Cap might –might– have a point about her shoulder. It would be wise to not push too hard, and she’d refrained from taking left-hand shots.
The woods were surprisingly quiet as she neared the camp. The little band of outlaws didn’t make a lot of noise, but she should have heard something by now. Quiet voices, a tent flap being pulled aside. The ring of swords if someone was sparring. But all she heard was the occasional call of a winter bird.
She twisted her head, checking her position. It was easy to get lost in the woods, but she was certain that she was on thecorrect trail. Had something happened?
The trees thinned. The clearing opened ahead of her, just as she expected. It looked just as she expected.
Except that it was abandoned.
Hurrying forward, she turned in a quick circle, almost upsetting her precarious balance. But they were gone. Every tent, the bag of supplies. Even the table at which she had made bread that morning had disappeared.
She might have believed it was some other clearing that justlookedlike theirs. But the ashes in the fire pit still carried a slight trace of warmth.
Helena dropped onto her familiar log, almost missing it in her shock. She had no supplies, no shelter. She couldn’t travel quickly on her own.
A familiar ache opened in her chest. Why had Cap and his friends left her behind? She’d thought they were coming to accept her. To enjoy her company.
But thewhydidn’t really matter. All that mattered was that she was alone again. Even after Cap’s claims that he wouldn’t leave her behind.
Unwanted. Abandoned. Alone.
Her hands shook with grief and anger, but she made herself stand up. It was no good moping; if she wanted to survive, she needed to start moving. She didn’t know where the nearest road was, but she knew that the Lancée family owned the valley at the base of the mountain. That meant people who might give her food and a place to stay while she decided her next course of action.
Whatever that might be. Convincing strangers to give her the help she needed might require revealing her identity. They might find it hard to believe, but surely something in her satchel would—
The thought ended abruptly when she realized she didn’thave it. Frantic, she turned toward the place where she’d shared a tent with Rouge, but it was empty.
They hadn’t even left her things.
A hard emotion pulsed through her chest. And to think, she’d begun to believe that she had friends here!
She released a scream of frustration since there was no one to hear it. Then gritting her teeth, she faced the valley and hobbled forward.
After a few minutes, she heard the quick steps of a trotting horse. Had someone returned for her? Why hadn’t they simply waited?
But the rider coming through the trees wasn’t dressed in the greens and browns of Cap’s band.
“Margit?” the young man said in surprise. Helena’s eyes shot to his. Who else knew her? “Lady Marielle’s footman said you would be welcome at her home; what are you doing out here?”
Of all the guards to stumble across her...
“Erwan!” she said brightly, aiming for a mixture of pleasure at seeing him again and relief at seeing anyone at all. Her emotional storm, she hid. “Thank the heavens. I went for a walk and got lost.”
He gave her a skeptical look as he approached. “A walk? You expect me to believe that?”
Helena shrugged. “How else would I have gotten here?”
His eyes dropped to her cane. “This is the second time I’ve found you injured and alone in the woods. The last time, Le Capuchon abandoned you to slow the pursuit while he made his escape. Is that what happened again?”
Was it?
The guard’s words slammed into her, but she kept the smile on her face. Even if they had left her behind, she couldn’t send Erwan’s friends after Adrien and Alanna. Tucker. Jean-haut and Rouge. Cap...
“Why would I have been with the man who put an arrow through my shoulder?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I told you, I got lost.”
His eyes narrowed. “Margit, it would take ahealthyperson four or five days to hike here from Lady Marielle’s estate. You have no supplies, but you don’t look like you’re starving. Where is Le Capuchon?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Helena said carelessly. “However, now that you’re here, I would appreciate a ride back to civilization.”
