Page 57 of The Storybook Hero
“They have moved on,” he continued. “Judging by the look of the fellow I took these from, their rations have been as meager as our own.”
“That was foolhardy thing to risk,” she said, eyeing the new items.
“There is at least a handful of millet and some dried beans there,” he replied. “And we may find ourselves in need of all the weaponry we can muster.”
She bit her lip and looked away. “Do you think we ought to retrace our steps? The other road may still be free of soldiers.”
“I dare not risk it, not with our food running out. I’m afraid we have little choice but to continue along this way and pray that we may slip through the fighting.” He leaned back against the rocks and pulled the creased map from his coat. “We musttry to make our way in the direction of Bologoye. That will bring us to the main road to Novgorod, and from there, on to St. Petersburg.” The snow was coming down even harder now and icy crystals were beginning to form on his unshaven cheeks. “Come, we had best return to the children and get started.”
The scentof wood smoke drifted through the trees, penetrating the snow-laden boughs to reach where the four of them sat huddled up against an uprooted larch.
“Can we not light even a small fire, Alex?” Emma’s voice sounded very small from deep within the folds of wool enveloping her slight form.
Alex grimaced. “I’m sorry, sweeting, it’s too dangerous. We must try to bear the cold as best we can.” He stood up and removed the blanket from around his own shoulders, then wrapped it around the girl. “Perhaps this will help.”
“I … I c-c-can s-s-share mine with her,” volunteered Nicholas, trying to still the chattering of his teeth.
Octavia brushed the snow from her lap. She and Alex had not wished to stop so close to where a small detachment of French soldiers—they had counted ten men and what looked to be an officer of rank—had set up their tents for the night, but the children had simply not been able to go any farther. Too exhausted and too numb to complain about their empty stomachs, they had curled in their blankets, but the bitter cold was making sleep difficult. In fact, she couldn’t help but wonder whether they all might be in peril of freezing before dawn.
The enemy camp, primitive though it was, looked ever so inviting when she and Alex stole up to the edge of the clearing to take a closer look. A large kettle hung over a roaring firewas giving off a most enticing aroma, and two shelters of ratty canvas, despite their grime, had seemed a snug respite from the swirling snows. Why, the man in command even had even a small sleigh….
She dropped back into the thick pines and motioned for Alex to come closer. “I have an idea.”
As she explained what she had in mind, his expression grew darker and darker. “Are you mad!” he exclaimed when she had finished. “Put such a corkbrained plan out of your head this instant. I won’t hear of it.”
“Alex, we have no choice but to consider something drastic. Do you truly think we can survive without shelter in this weather through the night?”
His jaw clenched.
“We need transportation as well. We won’t reach St. Petersburg with only two horses and the few supplies we have left.”
He shifted, stamping his feet as much from frustration as the need to keep his toes from freezing. “Very well. But I shall be close by, and if anything goes the least amiss?—
“If anything goes amiss, you must take Nicholas and strike out for St. Petersburg,” replied Octavia. “There can be no argument over that, for the boy is your first responsibility. Emma and I will be safe enough in the hands of a French officer, but an Englishman, especially one not in uniform, might be taken for a spy.”
She expelled a ragged sigh. “Come, you know as well as I do that with just the two of you, there is a much greater chance you will make it.”
A low oath slipped out from between Alex’s clenched teeth.
“Let us not waste any more time. I shall rouse Emma and explain what we must do, but first, give me one of the pistols.”
“Bloody hell,” he growled. “You have about as much chance of hitting what you aim at as?—”
“That may be so,” she countered. “Butmon cher capitaineover there has no notion of that fact.” Her gloved hand was already outstretched. “Pass it over.”
“Bloody hell,” he repeated under his breath, slapping the polished butt of the weapon into her palm. “Always determined to race in where angels fear to tread,” he added as she made to go by.
Stung by the odd roughness of his tone, Octavia started to voice a retort, but suddenly his lips were pressed against hers with a fierce urgency, their heat melting through the biting cold. The kiss lingered there for only a brief moment before he broke away and turned his steps in the direction of their hidden camp.
She stumbled after him, her senses reeling from the passion of the embrace, however fleeting. If she hadn’t known there wasn’t a drop of spirits among their supplies, she might have thought he was foxed—for surely only someone addled by drink could be so angry one moment and so … passionate the next.
Men.They were the most exasperating of creatures. She doubted she would ever understand the way their minds …
Her foot caught on a frozen root, nearly sending her sprawling. With a tired grimace, she reminded herself that she had best push such thoughts aside if she was to have any hope of not making a misstep in executing her plan.
It took little time to explain to Emma what was required of her. To her credit, the girl’s eyes took on a certain shine, despite her obvious exhaustion. “Oh, it’s a clever plan,” she said through chattering teeth. “I shall manage just as you say, I promise.”
Nicholas looked somewhat miffed that he was not included, but his disappointment quickly disappeared as Alex told him what role he was to play.
