Something was beginning to spark between them. If he were honest, he’d been overly aware of her since the beginning, but she’d treated him differently since the tussle with Gerald. Had he proved something in her mind?
What would it take to prove his innocence completely for her? Would she lay down her defenses enough to give him a chance to win her heart? He had a feeling that winning Brielle would be no easy feat. But she would be worth every bit of effort required.
But what was he saying? This wasn’t a mission to find a wife. An entire country—hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children—depended on him to find the mineral needed to win the war. How could he be so selfish as to let them down merely to pursue his own happiness?
As it was, he’d been doing precious little to find pitchblende since he’d been captured. True, he’d been locked in this room for days on end. He’d watched for pitchblende every place they took him, but he’d found no sign of it. Yet he’d definitely seen the orange striations that signaled the presence of pitchblende on the backside of this mountain. He had to find a way to search more in these caves.
He’d have to be watchful during the feast.
He sent a glance toward Brielle. Since they had a few moments, maybe she’d be willing to share a bit more about herself. “I’m curious.” Her expression didn’t change so he pushed on. “How did you come to be chief of the guards? Was it a dream of yours? Or is it a stepping-stone to more?”
He wasn’t sure how many higher positions there could be in a village such as this. Yet she was so capable and still had many years before her. She could accomplish anything she set her mind to, no doubt. But wouldn’t she want a family of her own someday?
Brielle’s expression shifted—or rather, all hint of her thoughts seemed to fade away. “I’ve always been a hunter. A provider. I learned archery while most of the other girls were learning to cook. I prefer to be outdoors, outside of village walls.” She shrugged, seemingly uncomfortable with speaking of her accomplishments. “I suppose I merely practiced more than the others. Hunted more. I joined the guard so I could help protect and provide for our community. When our last leader of the guards took sick and died, the people voted to select a new leader from among the guards.”
He met her gaze and held it. “From everything I’ve seen, they chose well.”
She dropped her focus away. This woman who stood so strong when protecting others didn’t seem to know how to accept praise for herself.
To lighten the conversation, he pressed a hand to the arrow wound that had all but healed. “I can attest to your aim with a bow and arrow anyway.”
She flicked a look at him, and one corner of her mouth tipped.
Distant voices sounded in the hallway, farther down near the doors leading to the individual homes. Brielle stood, and he hurried to finish the last two razor swipes and clean himself up.
“Sounds like the time has almost come.” She opened thedoor and peered down the corridor, then pulled back and closed it.
Her gaze turned sad as she studied him. “I’ve been commanded to tie you, Evan. I have no choice.”
He nodded as he quickly rolled the leather strip around his supplies. “I know. It’s all right.”
When he was finished, she moved his packs back against the wall and knelt before him with a leather cord. The gentleness with which she knotted the binding around his wrists made it easy to imagine her smoothing tears away from her siblings’ cheeks.
This fierce lady warrior would make an excellent mother. Caring grew from deep inside her and could take any form the situation required. Whether it be the strength of nerve to slay a caribou to provide meat for her family’s sustenance, or the fierceness to shoot an arrow into a stranger’s chest to protect the people she loved, or the gentleness to ensure she didn’t bring pain, or the loyalty to perform a duty she disliked merely because the people she loved had asked it of her.
When she’d tied the last knot, they both stood, and he followed her through the doorway. Then she slowed for him to come alongside. As they walked down the long corridor, people began to file from the doors that opened into the hallway. Voices chattered all around them, and he recognized several people he’d seen in the courtyard. Audrey emerged from one door ahead of them, baskets piled high in her arms.
An older man stepped out behind her, maybe her father. His arms were equally loaded. How long had the people been planning this feast? Surely she wasn’t tasked with bringingallthe food.
Apparently not, for other men and women bore loads ofleather-covered bowls and baskets, and savory aromas wafted all around them.
The door beside him opened, and a lad barreled out, nearly slamming into him. Evan stepped to the side and braced himself just as Brielle’s brother pulled to a stop.
“Andre.” Brielle’s tone held the censure of a mother scolding a wayward child.
And her brother looked properly contrite. “Sorry.”
A voice from inside the room called, “He’s supposed to help me carry this food.”
Evan couldn’t see through the barely open doorway, so he glanced at Brielle to catch her reaction. A line formed across her brow as she sent him a weak smile. Then she turned her attention back to her brother. “You know Charlotte needs help.”
Andre pushed the door wider, and a young woman appeared. The load she carried hid all but her face, until the boy took two baskets from the top.
“Here, let me take some, too.” Evan extended his bound hands for her to place something on his forearms.
Charlotte sent a questioning glance to Brielle and must have received an approving nod. She placed two baskets on his arms. “Now I’ll just bring this meat.”
Andre shuffled ahead, and Brielle waited for her sister to step out and start down the corridor before they fell into step behind her. Charlotte resembled Brielle in so many ways, especially her dark, almost-black hair that hung in a long braid down her back. The willowy form that gave Charlotte a girlish look would probably fill out into the lithe curves Brielle possessed in a year or so. Yet, she already moved with the same grace Brielle did.
