Page 33 of The Rising Wave

She carefully took hold of the arrow and worked it out as gently as she could.

It hadn't gone in deep and it came out suddenly in her hand.

Blood, sluggish and dark, welled up from the wound and she wiped it away over and over, until it slowed.

Then she stitched it closed, thinking the same thoughts of strength and health she had when she'd stitched his arm.

His side was not as bad, and the bleeding had stopped some time ago, so she cleaned it, and stitched it closed, too.

Then she stood and chose two of the horses.

One had had nothing unpacked from its saddlebags at all, and she guessed this belonged to the man Luc had killed in the wood.

The other horse she took was big. Big enough to take Luc's size and weight.

She guessed it belonged to the general, although he wasn't a particularly large man, and she transferred the medical kits, food and some clothes she thought might fit Luc into its saddlebags.

They had taken his sword from him, but it was lying near the fire, and she had a feeling he had become attached to it. She added it to one of the saddlebags, then went to fill one of the soldiers' cups with water.

When she was ready, she led the horses closer to Luc and pulled the scarf off him, throwing it into the fire.

He lay still for a long time, until the horses began to get restless and nickered softly. She bit her lip, wondering whether to wake him, when he turned, still deeply asleep, onto his injured side, and woke with a hiss of pain.

“Ava.” His whisper was harsh, croaking.

She held out the water to him, and he took the cup, emptying it in a few swallows.

“Let's go.” She held out the horse's reins.

His gaze went to the soldiers asleep by the fire, and his eyes narrowed. Found hers.

He said nothing as they stared at each other while he rose stiffly to his feet, took the reins from her and lifted himself gingerly into the saddle.

Suddenly, as if he'd just remembered he'd had an arrow in him, he looked down at his chest, bending his head to look at her stitch work.

He caught her gaze again, and she knew she would not get away with not answering this time.

He led the way, riding the horse upstream and crossing at a narrow, shallow point.

She kept close to him, watching him carefully to make sure he was not in too much pain to continue.

She needed to meet with the dogs. Needed to go her own way, and she suddenly had a feeling he wouldn't be as sad about that now as he had been before.

It was a hard road to happiness, her grandmother had warned her.

The best life partner was one who understood. Who supported.

But years of keeping secrets had made trusting anyone difficult. Perhaps he would have embraced her talent. Perhaps not.

There still might be a chance to find out, but it wasn't now.

She had revenge to wreak.

And a grandmother to comfort.

* * *

She had putthe guards to sleep.

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