“Can I ask him? I’m sure he’s strong enough.” Audrey’s voice tugged her back to the question at hand.
A bit of sunlight might do them all good. At least the visit outdoors would keep her from being alone with the man all afternoon, with only the work on her arrows to keep her from staring at him. She’d done enough of that to last a lifetime.
When Brielle nodded, Audrey spun, and pleasure rang from her voice as she switched to English. “Evan, are you up for a stroll outside? It’s a warm day, and I think the sunshine will do you good.”
He straightened and lowered the pastry, his gaze pivoting to Brielle.
She nodded her consent, although he’d surely seen her make the same motion to Audrey. He must have thought he’d never see daylight again.
She wasn’t such an ogre that she would deny a man sunshine forever, although perhaps it was best he thought of her that way. The twist in her belly said otherwise, but she pressed the feeling down.
Audrey reached to help him up, but he shook his head. “I can do it better if I go slowly.” His voice had taken on a gentle tone that seemed more than weariness. Perhaps the sickness had brought out a softer side.
With Audrey hovering near his right arm, Brielle stationed herself at his left—near enough she could step close if he appeared unstable, but far enough he couldn’t grab one of her weapons. She kept her hand near her blade, justin case. Yet she was fairly certain his exhaustion wasn’t feigned.
And her intuition told her he wouldn’t attempt an escape during this particular outing. He seemed pleased with the prospect of sunlight.
He made it to his feet and paused, his breathing heavy. Was he also dizzy? She readied herself to step close enough to catch him if he started to topple.
But then he looked steadier and started a steady shuffle to the door.
They moved down the long corridor that extended along the rear of each family’s abode. She could still remember when this hallway had been hacked out of the mountain after the English massacre. Before that, each home only opened to the main courtyard. But the elders decided they should have a way to connect the people if they were ever forced to hide from intruders inside the rock walls.
“We can go through here.” Audrey motioned to the rear door of her family’s chamber.
Although that cut through would be quicker than walking all the way down to the only door leading directly from the hallway to outside, Brielle shook her head. “The main door.”
Better not to let him see inside any of their homes. Maybe he would find something he liked and plan to take it with him if they ever let him leave—perhaps thatsomethinghe’d alluded to when they were talking. Something he’d never seen before that he’d come searching for.
When they finally reached the main entrance, Brielle gave the door a hard nudge with her shoulder. The cold tended to make the wood swell and scrape the stone around the frame.Better a snug fit than to allow the icy wind and snow into the cave, though.
As sunlight poured in, she blinked against the brightness. Evan slapped a hand over his eyes and tucked his chin. Poor man. The brilliance must be nearly blinding to him. She could only imagine how miserable he’d been locked inside for days. Bringing him out would be helpful, if only for a few minutes.
Across the yard, some of the children were tossing a short rope between them, and their laughter floated across the breeze. The giggling sounded like one of the Mignot twins, or maybe Philip’s youngest. A boy shouted that he was open to receive the throw, then a flurry of voices rose as the leather cord was tossed high into the air.
The cacophony increased in pitch as the object landed, and they all dove for it. Someone howled, maybe in delight, but another cry rose along with the sound. One of the youngest must have been caught in the midst of the melee.
Widow Cameron waded through the youngsters, soothing as she went. When Monsieur Cameron had died in a snowstorm, she became the unofficial nursemaid of the youngsters. In exchange, the families around her helped supply food, firewood, and anything else she might need.
Brielle glanced at Evan, who was staring at the children. He seemed caught by the drama, more than she would’ve expected. Had he planned some ill deed toward the youngsters? But the expression on his face held no malice. In truth, he looked even more pale than before, although that could be attributed to exhaustion, sickness, or simply the brightness of the sunlight. Yet, he looked almost stricken.
He blinked and seemed to come back to himself. Afterglancing around the yard, he pointed toward the gateway. “There. That’s where I first realized you were a woman.” One side of his mouth tipped as he slid a glance toward her.
She bit her lip to keep in her grin but didn’t do a very good job of it. “You thought me a man?”
His brows rose. “When your arrow struck me, yes. Then I heard you speak and wondered how in the world a lad had bested me.”
She stiffened. He’d thought she was a young boy? That was even worse than if he’d realized immediately that she was a woman.
Maybe he realized he’d offended her, for his next words came softer. “Then when I saw your face, there”—he pointed to the place just inside the gateway where he’d collapsed—“I knew nothing was as I’d thought.”
The words slipped inside her, circling as they settled in her mind. What had he thought he’d find here? If he’d been sent by his country to scout their village before they planned an assault, was he now having second thoughts?
9
Sitting on this pallet for days on end was making Evan lose his senses. The guards required him to stay on the fur mat, except when he had to make a trip to the loose dirt they’d piled in the corner. He did as much movement as he could manage while staying on the hide—running in place and all manner of agility and strengthening movements—anything to restore his body now that he’d recovered from the sickness three days before.
He had to find a way to search for pitchblende. He had only had a few weeks to locate a substantial grouping of the mineral. He’d been keeping careful count of the passing days, and the deadline loomed heavy on his chest.
