Chapter 32 Broken Wings
My head was in a daze. So much had happened in just a few minutes that my mind reeled. Or maybe it was the lack of oxygen from almost being choked to death.
That’d do it too.
I repeatedly glanced over my shoulder. We were far from the village, yet my paranoia made me worry that they were following our trail.
The jutting figures of tents on the horizon finally came into view. Like a breath of fresh air, I let out a relieved sigh.
Horses were lined up outside the tent, their owners standing in a group, listening to their captain. I couldn’t hear Jackson’s words over Snowdrift’s loud hooves.
My horse finally slowed down once we reached them. Jackson glanced at us and his face dropped, immediately sensing that something was wrong before I even dismounted my horse.
“Robin?!” Jackson helped me off my horse, inspecting the graze on his helmet. “What is this?? …Is that from an arrow?” His lip curled in frustration. “Damn it, woman, I told you not to engage!”
“I—I didn’t!” I wheezed and cleared my throat. My neck still throbbed.
Jackson instantly noticed. He carefully lifted his helmet off my head, and his eyes widened when he saw my neck. “Shit.”
I didn’t have to ask if I was bruised. I needed to make myself clear.
“Captain, I have scouted and… well, you’re not going to like it.”
Jackson frowned and then turned to his knights before barking, “Rest while you can. We’ll leave after I assess the situation.”
As the knights did what they were told, Jackson led me into the group tent. He stopped in front of the map and turned to face me. “Tell me every detail.”
I don’t think you want that…
I cleared my sore throat again. “As Erik said, the farmland was abandoned—no farm animals, and definitely no people. When I got to the village, it was the same. I couldn’t see anyone, so I decided to take a closer look… I didn’t intend on engaging; I wanted to have the faintest idea where they had gone, but…”
“Go on,” he said, leaning against the table.
“…I found the two knights who didn’t escape,” I whispered, eyes on the group. “I think they were burned alive…”
Jackson’s jaw clenched as his gaze fell to the ground. “…I’m sorry you had to see that."
“Not as sorry as I feel for them.”
“There was nothing you could do, even if you arrived on time,” Jackson murmured.
I fell silent for a moment, took a breath, and continued. “The village was abandoned, and the bandits left. It seemed like they left in a hurry too. I saw smoke near a dam to the east. I think it was a campfire.”
“Ha,” Jackson muttered. “One knight got away, and they got cold feet, aye? Took off before we arrived.”
“That’s what I thought, too. I was about to head back, but two bandits came back to scout the village.”
“They’re waiting for us.”
“From what I overheard, yes.”
Jackson scoffed, rubbing his chin. “Huh. This is new. The bandits are no cutthroats. They’re petty thieves, targeting people and places they think they can get away with—easy pickings. They’ve always avoided the knighthood in the past like we’re the plague.”
“If so, then not this time. They sounded quite confident in challenging the knighthood.” I glanced to the side. “Well, one of them did.”
“Yeah? What’d the other think of this grand plan?”
A small smile parted my lips. “He was scared of our callous captain.”
Jackson snorted. “My reputation stretches far.”
I was quiet before murmuring, “…They’re wrong. You’re not callous, you just… well,” I rubbed the back of my neck. “You do have a temper.”
My captain frowned and glanced away. I expected him to correct me, but instead, the shadowed look in his eyes told me he was hiding some truth in those words. When his gaze returned to me, he stepped closer and his fingers brushed the side of my neck.
“They got you.”
“But I escaped. There were only two of them.” I smiled. “I fought how you taught me.”
The worry in his hazel eyes didn’t fade as his fingers traveled to my throat and I winced.
“You should sit this one out—”
“No, please!” I protested before he could finish. “I’m a knight too. Let me prove myself!”
“This wasn’t enough? I’ll admit, you followed my orders… just got unlucky,” he said.
“No. I can do better. I…” I hesitated. “I want to be of use to you.”
I don’t want you to leave without me…
Words I kept silent, hidden within my heart. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was getting soft. But to my surprise, he brushed my bright ginger bangs back. A flutter ignited in my chest when his rough fingertips grazed my skin. My breath quivered as my green gaze landed on his lips, recalling the smooth texture of a man so rough. My eyes lifted but then darted away when they locked with his. I felt his gaze lingering on my lips too, and I self-consciously bit them. Jackson’s fingers slid down my jawline to my chin. His touch felt electrifying. Compared to the tall man, I felt like a cornered cat.
He lifted my chin, and my eyes shut tight, shyness controlling me, yet still as a statue. The warmth of his touch and quiet breath sent chills down my spine. Nervousness kept me from peeking at him to see what he was doing. Or about to do.
“Hey, Captain!” the same interruptive knight shouted, bursting in. “I was w—oh.” His face dropped, and he slunk out of the tent. “Sorry to disturb you.”
Jackson quickly stepped back, turning away from me. His voice was strong but unsteady. “Get back to your horse, dame.”
“H—huh?” I stammered, dazed. “Did you make a plan for how to, you know, deal with the bandits?”
“I did,” he said, back facing me. “Cedric can fill you in.”
“Oh…” My brows furrowed, gaze falling to the ground. “Okay—I mean, yes, sir.”
I waited for his response, but his gaze remained pinned on the map. My chest stung, a sting painful enough to make my eyes water. Without a word, I left the tent and returned to Snowdrift.
Cedric and Erik talked, standing next to my horse. Cedric had that serious expression on his face that I’ve seen so many times, while Erik groaned with disappointment. They both looked at me as I approached and smiled. Even Cedric’s face softened. Their smiles didn’t last long when they looked at my face.
I guess my feelings are written all over my face…
“Robin?” Erik placed his hand on my shoulder. “You alright? I—”
His words were cut short as I stepped forward and embraced him tightly, burying my face in his chest.