CHAPTER 21 #2
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 a healthy person 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.”
“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 to Marielle?”
“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. “I didn’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?
“None of the incidents since I took you to Lady Marielle’s involved women.
So the only thing you’re guilty of is staying at his camp.
” Rubbing his hands together, he opened his mouth, closed it again, and then met her eyes.
“There is a village not far from here. Let me take you there. Don’t make me take you back to General Valentin. ”
Helena doubted she wanted to learn what Amitian justice prescribed for associates of bandits. And she preferred not to reveal her heritage and find herself back in Ralnor. But… “What’s the catch?”
“Show me where the last camp was.” Erwan’s eyes were sad but serious. “I can tell my captain that I stumbled across it, and we’ll start searching tomorrow. You’ll be safe, and Le Capuchon will have a day’s head start. It’s more than he deserves after the way he’s treated you.”
The way Cap had treated her…
Bandaging her wound after defending himself.
Putting up with her attempts to pull off his hood.
Seeking her out when she had left the campfire in loneliness.
Getting flustered but not angry when she accidentally kissed him.
She returned Erwan’s gaze steadily. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Margit—”
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know. And even if I did, I wouldn’t.”
Shoving to his feet, he strode off a few paces and ran an agitated hand through his hair. Helena watched him with one eye while she resumed her work with the arrowhead. A little more…
“It’s for your own good.” He set his hands on his hips and dropped his head. “Please don’t make me turn you in. I’m just trying to help.”
The rope snapped. Helena awkwardly stood, then pulled the arrow free and whipped her bow out. Erwan spun, eyes wide.
She glared down the length of her drawn arrow. “But I don’t need to be rescued.”