Page 9 of Arrows and Gems
Magic-using friends could be helpful, but sometimes he wished their magic only manifested with their hand signs. Emotionally fueled magic was unstable. And Rouge was strong enough that she could set a wet forest on fire if she was upset enough.
“Just be careful. I’d rather not race a fire back to Tucker and the horses.”
The descent grew steeper. He shifted his weight, angling his body sideways as he navigated the leaf-covered forest floor. Next to him, Jean-haut dug his staff into the ground, using it as a walking stick.
When the road appeared through the trees, Cap pulled his bow from its sheath. “Hoods up,” he said quietly, scanning the trunks for the one he wanted. Much of the road had a gentle slope on either side of it, but in this spot, it dropped off sharply on one side with a sheer face along the other. Add the sharp curve shortly before, and it was a beautiful place for an ambush.
“No one’s going to recognize me.” Jean-haut gave him an easy grin. “Why can’t I maintain better visibility?”
Cap shook his head. “You’re one of the king’s foresters. Some of the guards know you.”
“You’re also barely five feet tall,” Jean-haut’s much taller sister snorted. “Trust me, that makes you memorable.”
“Five feet, one inch, thank you very much,” Jean-haut calmly stated. Pulling his cloak around his shoulders, he draped the hood over his head. Then stepping swiftly behind Cap, he took a swipe at his sister’s legs, but she hopped over his staffwith the ease of long practice.
“Nice try, Jean, but you’ll have to be faster than that to catch me,” she taunted.
He swung again, this time at her waist. She staggered backward, drawing her sword with impressive smoothness for her off-balance state.
It was why Cap had brought her and left Tucker with the horses.
“Enough,” he said firmly. “We don’t want anyone nearby to hear us.”
Jean-haut pulled back just before he connected with Rouge’s sword. Offering Cap a jaunty bow, he replied, “Your wish is my command. Where do you want me?”
“In a tree as my backup. Rouge, you’ll be lookout at the corner. Make sure you scout the area for guards first.” They both nodded before scurrying off to their designated positions. For himself, Cap chose a tall enough tree to hide above the road but with sparse enough branches to quickly swing down at Rouge’s signal. He didn’t want to be flying through the air when the messenger came into sight.
Time passed slowly while he waited. Cap perched motionless on his branch, watching as first a weary horse pulled a carriage around the corner and then a group of four horsemen trotted under his feet from the wrong direction.
Finally, a whistle mimicking a bird call floated through the air. Slipping his bow into its sheath, he flipped around and swiftly lowered himself. The bow was back in his hands and an arrow nocked before the rider appeared around the bend.
Lurking in the shadow of the trees, he waited until the rider was almost upon him. Then he jumped out onto the road, raising his bow and drawing in one smooth motion.
“Halt,” he barked.
The horse tossed its head and shied sideways, startled byhis sudden appearance. Its cloaked and hooded rider tightened his grip on the reins, pulling the animal back under control with the ease of a skilled horseman.
“Halt?” echoed a melodious alto voice. “You do not look like one of the king’s guards.”
Cap’s bow dipped in surprise. “The General is sending women now?” Did the man think that Cap would be swayed by her pretty face? Or that Cap would treat her more gently than the men who had crossed his path?
“Do you mean General Valentin? I heard that he was regent of Amitié in Prince Raphael’s absence.” Her amused voice sounded foreign. A Ralnoran accent, if he wasn’t mistaken. “Are you the bandit that I’ve heard so much about?”
Her voice tugged at him, whispering that it was safe to lower his guard. What could he have to fear from a cultured, foreign woman?
But she had a quiver at her waist and a strung bow across her back. He would be foolish to assume that she was less skilled than Rouge.
“What if I am?” he gruffly replied.
She lowered her hood, revealing a chestnut braid and a sly smile. Pretty, indeed. “Then I would be relieved.” She leaned forward. “I’ve been wandering the roads of your kingdom for weeks looking for you. I want to join your band of thieves.”
A snort escaped his lips. So that was the trick. “We’re not thieves. And I don’t accept volunteers unless I know them. Now if you’ll toss me your satchel and saddlebags, I’ll let you be on your way.”
“On my way?” Her brows lowered, lips pushing forward in a pout. “Oh, no, I ran away to throw in my lot with the famous Amitian bandit. I have no intention of going home.”
“What are you, twelve?” he scoffed. Gesturing with the arrow, he said, “Give me your bags or climb down and let me grabthem myself.”
Her shoulders pulled back in a taut line. “I am not a child,” she hissed through gritted teeth. If she had Rouge’s magic, she would be lit up like a bonfire about now. There was a fire in her eyes as strong as anything his friend’s flames produced.
