Page 91 of Arrows and Gems
Cap’s eyebrows pulled together. “You won’t be coming with me?”
Jean-haut had been on every raid with him since they fled the capital. It was strange to think of entering a dangerous situation without him.
“Not if you want this to work.”
Margit leaned forward and winked. “Don’t worry, Cap, I’ll watch your back.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but her green eyes reminded him of their last discussion on the topic. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.
And if she would be in danger anyway, he’d prefer it to be at his side.
Rouge jabbed him just above his wound. “But you will not be hiking for several days. You need to rest, and I don’t trust you to change your bandages properly.”
“I’ll do it,” Margit volunteered with a mischievous smile. Her eyes drifted to his side. “I don’t mind keeping the schedule.”
“Alanna can do it,” Rouge retorted. She threw the medical satchel’s strap over her head. “She has experience.”
“Alanna?” Cap frowned as he shrugged back into his fleece-lined vest. “She’s a noncombatant. I planned to leave her in the base camp.”
Pushing to her feet, the redhead replied, “Margit will need to share a tent with someone, and I’ll be traveling with my brother. Adrien and Alanna can run a bluff for you.”
“I can sing,” Margit offered casually. “Pretending to be a group of traveling minstrels works for me.”
Her comment triggered something in his memory. “Where did you say you learned to climb trees?”
“I—” Her face froze. “Didn’t?”
He racked his memory for the name, but he’d been too focused on the bear to register her words.
“Just be careful—if you pounce on the guards too close to Adrien and Alanna, someone might realize your trick.” Jean-haut clapped Cap on the shoulder on his way past. “I’ll start working on the group assignments.”
“Thank you,” Cap acknowledged absently.
What kind of noblewoman was sheltered from the world but allowed to climb trees?
“I’m glad you’re all right,” Margit said once they were alone. “When I saw the bear charge…” Her voice shook a little, but then she lifted her chin and added a lofty tone. “You’re fortunate I ignored you. Maybe next time I won’t.”
She shoved to her feet, but Cap caught her hand as she strode past. “Thank you.”
Her hand was small inside his own. She was tall for a woman, but her form was still slighter than a man’s. And he felt every bit of that difference through her gloved fingers.
Margit smirked. “For ignoring you?”
“For watching my back.” He gulped at the thought of what his decision, his impulse reaction to protect her at all costs, could have cost this time. “For making wiser judgments than I did.”
Furrowing her brow, she squeezed his hand and sat next to him. “Yes, I displayed extraordinary wisdom when I tried to make the bear come after me instead.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps not that part.” Smiling, he met her eyes. They were so brilliant. “But you did save my life.”
She squeezed his hand again and leaned a little closer. “I’m sure there are few people who can say they’ve saved the life of the great Le Capuchon. But I couldn’t have taken down the bear on my own, either. So we’re even.”
Her green eyes sparkled with amusement and maybe something else, but Cap wasn’t skilled at interpreting looks from women who weren’t coy and predatory. He only knew that whatever it was made him want to lean closer. To meet her halfway, if she would come.
Her mouth curved up. “I suppose your mother will want to thank me as well?”
“I am sure she will if I ever make it home,” he replied. The ache filled his chest again when he thought of his family. It had been a long year.
Margit tilted her head. “You say that as if it’s possible, but unlikely.” She leaned a little closer, but the intensity in her eyes had changed. “I know you’re an outlaw now, Cap. But what would it take for you to go home?”
