Page 37 of Bloom
True, and two would be a stretch. Three was good because a trio could get through the woods on their own without attracting too much attention, and against one, they’d have better odds. While on the run, watches at night would also be shorter with three to share the work because they wouldn't be able to all relax until they had several days between them and any men searching. Four would work too.
Aleric had said Gautier did it when Jaime grabbed him, and he’d shrugged it off. Gautier hadn’t been chasing him, and why would he arrange for anything? It didn’t make sense, and a man who was on the verge of passing out from blood loss and pain might babble anything.
Besides that, whoever tried to kill Aleric surely didn’t stop to have a chat beforehand. How would he know if Gautier had hired anyone? And if Aleric did know he was responsible for something, wouldn’t he have known beforehand and stayed home? Wouldn’t he have said something?
Then again Gautier was with a man who’d be the next lord if Aleric was gone. Jaime was tempted to bring it up, but it might offend Lord Monet, and truly, he shouldn’t jump to wild conclusions and open his damn mouth without thinking. He was too new, and he barely knew shit about anyone in the Castle. If he blabbed because Aleric hadn’t been thinking straight, he might cause trouble. The situation was too serious.
“You were talking to a few of the courtiers earlier,” said Jaime. “What did they say?”
“Aleric was at the rear of the group. A couple of cousins said he went alone, and that’s it. He’s not the best at archery, and he’s never been with a good spear. Before, he’s always had a couple of rabbits when he caught up.”
“How is he with a sword?”
“He’s excellent.”
“So he didn’t try to get his attackers with an arrow,” Jaime said as he watched Aleric. “Mighty was in pain, and a pained horse will flee. Olivier said it might have been sweat that reacted with the substance and irritated her skin. It was planned. It didn’t get on her by itself.”
Lord Monet closed his eyes for a second. “I’m aware, er, Jaime.”
“I’m sorry, m’lord. I’m just trying to organize my thoughts. It doesn’t seem like anyone attacked him with magic.”
“Healers. Or perhaps they're channelers like Aleric.”
“If not, they were afraid fire or lightning might catch a tree or brush on fire and create smoke. That’d be a blatant sign they’d been there. They must have known Aleric can only channel his magic.”
Lord Monet had guessed all that too. He’d had the same amount of time to think on the ride.
Jaime took a deep breath. What if Alerif hadn’t blurted nonsense pulled from thin air due to his initial injury? Gautier said Aleric was jealous, and it was clear the future lord didn’t like Gautier. “If anything has been going on-”
“My son didn’t bring you here knowing any danger was afoot.” Lord Monet. “Olivier’s giving a message to the Commander of the guardhouse. He’ll select men from the grounds and the city to go out. They’ll scour the woods for any sign including the local areas.”
“They don’t know who they’re looking for besides Andy.”
“Once Aleric says what happened, I can send out a messenger to follow after them and pass it along. Anyone suspicious in the area can be investigated. If they had wings or anything Aleric remembers, that’ll help. Whatever happened, we’ll deal with it.”
“How long has Andy been here?”
“About…a month. You’ve been here for…two days?” Lord Monet tightened his lips.
Jaime’s face burned at the insinuation that he had something to do with it. What the fuck?
“You left him alone.”
Jaime’s mouth dropped. “I left him because he said I could hunt if I wanted, not that I’m very good at it. He didn't need me to do anything in particular.”
He’d mostly lagged after the others while trying to stay close enough to not lose them but not so close that he’d get in the way. Going after rabbits and getting mixed up in the fray with others all trying to do the same wasn’t something he was used to. He wasn’t like Aleric who’d grown up learning how to hunt in parties or alone.
Lord Monet was still watching him.
“He told me I could, and I didn’t have to be pasted to his hip.” For fuck’s sake, if he was suspected, he wouldn’t be very safe anymore. A Father afraid for his son’s life might grow suspicious of any new faces and decide to get rid of him.
“Slave or aid, you’re not exactly here completely of your own free will.”
“Your son can be a prick, and he’s not my favorite person. I still wouldn’t try to kill him, and how would I put together a plot in two days? I barely know anyone in Côte.”
Lord Monet looked away with an almost ashamed expression. “I don’t know who’s responsible at this point.”
Jaime bit his tongue to keep from saying anything too nasty before he went to the sitting room to flop on the couch. Fuck. Once Aleric woke up and was on the mend, hopefully, Lord Monet would stop being suspicious of him.
