Page 79 of Arrows and Gems
“I know,” Adrien said, his eyes twinkling. “But I have an idea that will solve all three: the height, the beard, and even the bow.”
~
Cap trudged along next to his friends. Thinking of his forest family and the missing token urged his feet to jog, but he had to restrain his pace while out in the open.
“Careful how hard you stab the ground with that, Cap,” Jean-haut muttered. “You don’t want it to change back at the wrong time.”
“I still think this is ridiculous,” Cap grumbled. He set the staff on the ground more carefully with his next step. “You may have shortened my cloak for a few hours, but no one will mistake me for an old man. And we didn’t test the magic on my bow. What if it doesn’t work?”
“Sorry, Cap,” the forester winced. “I don’t have enough to do it twice. Not if I want to track the others and fight if necessary.”
“You look fine,” Adrien chided. “But lean forward a little more: your pack is starting to look less like a hunchback.”
“That’s why I keep telling you this won’t work.”
Jean-haut grinned. “Sure it will. You already have the attitude of a curmudgeon; you just have to look the part.”
Cap sneezed when some of the ash in his beard went uphis nose. “I thought I was supposed to be a monk.”
“A crotchety old monk,” his friend retorted. “Trust me, they exist.”
Perfect.
Cap dropped his eyes to the ground in front of him; it was hard to keep his head up and hunch like Adrien wanted. He would simply have to use his ears to keep watch instead.
Before long, the beat of hooves and the jingle of tack reached him. He risked a glance up.
Soldiers. What were they doing on the Cheval estate?
Lowering his head, he concentrated on making his steps as stiff as possible. He leaned a little heavier on the staff; now would be a terrible time to look like a twenty-four-year-old playing dress-up.
The hooves slowed to a stop. “Greetings, travelers. What business do you have with the Chevals?” a deep voice asked.
“Just spreading a little religious cheer,” Adrien replied brightly. “My companions and I are seeking donations for the orphans in Arles and villages like it. Would you have anything you wish to give, good sir?”
Cap could feel the guard’s eyes on him, so he gripped the staff with both hands, leaning forward until his shoulder rested against it.“Bonjour, mon ami,” he growled. “Laisse-moi passer, et je ne mettrai pas de flèche en toi.”Good day, my friend. Let me pass, and I won’t put an arrow in you.
Adrien cleared his throat. “Father Tuck adds his pleas on behalf of the orphans. May we count on your assistance?”
“You could understand him?” the guard replied. “Sounded like gibberish to me.”
“He’s a touch senile,” Jean-haut stage-whispered. A hand landed on Cap’s shoulder. “It’s best if you just smile and nod.”
Cap tipped his head toward his friend and narrowed his eyes.“Peut-être, je le mettrai entoi, mon ami.”Maybe I should putone inyou, my friend.
“You see?” Jean-haut patted him. “Crazy as a loon.”
Lifting his head a little, Cap watched the lead guard from under his hood. A group of ten mounted guards rode behind him, ranging from mid-teens to middle-aged. But all bore the same somber expression: there wasn’t a chuckle or a smile among them.
The best trained men in the guard? Or was their mission so serious that Jean-haut’s joking couldn’t overcome its effect on them?
The horses that Cap had just left nosed at his mind, but he ignored them. The estate had enough horses that these guards wouldn’t notice any extras. They wouldn’t demand paperwork on every animal on the grounds.
Even if it had been Adrien’s comment at the checkpoint that had brought them.
The lead guard rummaged in the pouch at his waist, then flipped a coin to Adrien. “General Valentin’s best wishes for the orphans. Now be on your way.”
“Thank you, good sir. Blessings on you and the good regent,” Adrien said with a respectful half bow.
