Page 60 of Arrows and Gems
“I heard someone scream,” he pressed. “Why are you protecting him? He’s done nothing but hurt you!”
“I screamed because I was frustrated that I was lost.” She pushed her lips out. “Why are you so determined to find him? I thought you said he wasn’t as bad as he seems.”
“I was clearly mistaken,” the guard said darkly. “A good man wouldn’t save his own skin at the expense of an injured woman.”
She looked away, remembering the feel of Cap’s strong hand playfully holding both her wrists. “You still assume that I was with him.”
“What does he want with you, Margit? Why did he kidnap you from your friend’s house?”
She looked steadily up at him, holding onto the precious moment of Cap tripping over his tongue to assure her that she was wanted. Today might have proved it a lie, but she’d like to pretend it was true a little longer. “As far as I know, he wants nothing with me. He didn’t kidnap me.”
Sighing, Erwan swung off his horse. “Then you were with him by choice. I’ll have to take you back to base. Congratulations: you helped Le Capuchon escape justice another day.”
“Take me back to base so that you can help me return toMarielle?”
“You know I can’t do that.” His voice was sad as he reached for her arm. “This is the second time; I can’t ignore your association with the bandits now.”
Helena jerked her arm away. “I won’t be a prisoner again! I’d rather stay lost.”
“You can’t outrun me, Margit,” he said gently, making another grab for her arm. “I don’t want to hurt you. Please come along quietly so I won’t have to.”
He was too close for her single arrow. But if he didn’t know she had it, perhaps she could keep it. This might be a case of strategic surrender.
Easing forward, Helena let Erwan grip her upper arm and lead her to his horse. He was either very trusting or very foolish, because while he tied her wrists in front of her, he didn’t remove her bow. Nor did he search her for other weapons, so the arrow tied to her waist remained.
~
“Why are we stopping?”
Erwan’s arm slid across Helena’s waist as he dismounted. She held herself still, hoping he wouldn’t notice the arrow hiding under her cloak.
“My horse isn’t used to carrying two riders, so we’re giving him a break,” the guard answered. He reached for her waist. “And I imagine you would appreciate a break as well.”
Once she was down, he helped her to a place where she could sit and steadied her while she lowered herself to the ground. Her cane was tied to the saddle. She wasn’t sure if he knew she couldn’t use it with her hands tied or if he feared she would use it as a club.
To be honest, she’d been tempted.
“Are you thirsty?” he asked, holding out a water skin. “Ididn’t think to ask how long you had been without.”
Helena accepted it and took a sip. “You’re awfully considerate for a prison guard.”
“I’m not a prison guard,” he replied with a slight smile. “Nothing says I can’t treat a lady like she is one.”
“Even if you’ve arrested her?” Helena asked with a raised eyebrow.
He didn’t reply, simply storing the water skin and leading his horse to the nearby stream.
Hiding her hands under her cloak, Helena began fiddling with the rope. She hoped she hadn’t dulled her arrow so much on the tree that it was useless.
When they had rested for half an hour and Erwan showed no signs of mounting back up, Helena asked curiously, “How long do you plan to rest?”
He squatted next to her with a sigh. “I’m not expected until dusk. We needn’t resume our journey yet.”
Helena raised an eyebrow. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you didn’t want to go back.”
“Margit…” He glanced at her. “I’ve heard Le Capuchon can be very charismatic. He gathers his followers from the down and out; I always believed he was trying to help them.”
Charismatic? Cap?
