The Garnet Dagger by Andrea R. Cooper Page A

her side, her fingers swollen. We had no time to worry about her fingers now, but I could reset her shoulder at least.
    “Let me fix your arm.”
    She bit her lip, but nodded.
    This hurt her, I knew. I eased her limp arm up and forced the shoulder joint back into socket. Felt the joint jolt into place. Her skin paled and sweat glistened on her forehead.
    She pushed past me and proceeded to climb down the tree using her good hand, careful not to use her fingers. It was awkward at best. Any moment, and she could lose her footing and fall. After she passed the next limb, she glanced up at me.
    “Are you going to wait till they burn the tree down with you in it?”
    In answer, I skipped down the tree past her. Landing with a thud, I heard the wooden door above us in the tower crash open.
    “Good thanks to you lass, but I must be on my way.”
    Her foot slipped on a branch. “You promised.” Catching herself, pain shifted over her face as she braced herself despite her injury. But I could not linger to play nursemaid to a girl. Besides, she was a distraction to me. I could not afford to delay my mission.
    “Promised nothing. But thank you for your help just the same.” I made my tone neutral.
    The men in the tower yelled for us to stop. Celeste paid them no heed and continued her climb down.
    Snatched up my pack and placed it around my shoulders. I turned to run toward the forest and disappear.
    Instead, guilt plummeted into my gut. She had helped me.
    Traitors, my feet refused to flee and leave her to her own devices. If not for her, I’d still be strapped to that table.
    Her escape of the chambers scorched my heart too. For her trouble, I’d broken the bones in her hand. My eyes drifted to her form, struggling to climb down. At her pace, she’d take all day to reach the ground or fall. And she had the dagger.
    After a sigh, I raced back up the tree to her.
    Her arrogant lift of her head made me smile.
    “Hold on to me.” I assisted her to get closer to me among the branches. Her good arm around my neck.
    She was lighter than air. And again, I thought of angels skipping along clouds.
    Used one hand to climb, my other clasped around her waist.
    Within seconds, my boots thumped on the ground. She moved to break free, but I heard the men racing down the stairs. Moments and they’d be upon us. I could not take her with me on my journey no matter how much I wanted to make sure she was safe from her captors. I owed her for helping me escape. At the very least I should return the favor.
    “Nay, fair lady. I will rush you to safety before I leave.”
    With a nod, she tightened her grip. I tore through the valley and into the forest with dogs and men on our trail.

Chapter Eleven
    Miles I ran with her in my arms. I dared not stop. Leaping over a boulder I felt her suck in a breath, for I bumped her injury.
    “Sorry,” I mumbled. No longer did I smell the mangy stench of the dogs they’d sent after us. But still I ran. When I knew they couldn’t track us, then I’d stop.
    Relief settled in my shoulders at hearing the sound of rushing water. Rounding a cluster of bushes, I waded into the river. Stinging cold numbed my legs, but I pressed on.
    Her teeth chattered after I slipped and dunked her halfway underneath the water. But she never complained. I smiled, despite my resolve not to let this slip of a girl get underneath my skin. Liana would have ripped my head off if I’d slipped with her into water. Remembering my dead love, I felt my throat tighten.
    Trudged a mile or so north in the river, before I allowed my soggy boots to tramp across the snow covered ground.
    Surveying our distance, I judged would take the dogs at least a day to catch up. If they found our trail at all.
    I moved with ease into the dense forest. Limbs stripped bare of leaves scratched the sky above us. Seeing a boulder had burst from the snow, I set her down upon the rock.
    As if she’d come from a carriage ride, she dusted off her brown robes. In