Jonah brushed his hands together and swaggered to the stump. They were all of them filthy, having spent the summer and early autumn skulking in the woods, avoiding capture and threatening manors and castles alike for food and temporary shelter. The king’s men had come close to them more than once, and only DeVaux’s perverse luck had saved them from capture. If Ransom had had any coins, he would have cast them with his prayers into the streams of water they passed. But he had nothing of value. They’d taken everything away.
Jonah screwed up his face as they handed him the heavy stone. He stared at the mark, his eyes full of fire. Ransom rubbed his mouth, feeling the tangled beard on his jaw. His locks were speckled with bits of soot and flecks of dead leaves. He wondered if his hands would ever become clean again. But he watched the contest with amusement and secretly hoped that Jonah would best them all. He was the closest in age to Ransom, the one who’d served DeVaux for the fewest years. The others made grunting noises to try to distract him, which elicited a scowl from the flaxen-haired knight.
With a mighty heave, Jonah let the boulder fly. It landed with a thump and didn’t roll at all. It was the worst of the throws and was met with derisive laughter. Jonah muttered a curse and kicked at the log.
“Don’t kick it,” Riley shouted. “You moved the stump, man!”
“Who cares?” Brett said with a surly frown. “We’ve all tried. You won. Get your coins.”
No one liked to lose. Ransom had watched them bet on everything they could—throwing knives, the loudest whistle, the strongest arm. They were bored, hating the exile as much as Ransom did, and had grown petulant, even with one another.
Ransom looked up to discover the single leaf had fallen while he’d watched the contest. It caused a stab of pain in his heart to have missed such a simple scene. He’d hoped that leaf would last longer. How he felt like a withered leaf some days.
“What about Ransom? I bet he could beat your throw.”
The comment from Jonah snagged his attention away from the barren tree.
“Don’t be daft, he’s still limping,” Riley said, but he sounded concerned.
“So? You afraid of losing your winnings?” Brett added.
“I’m not afraid of him,” Riley said, chuckling. “It just doesn’t seem fair since he can’t bet anything.”
“Come on,” Callum said. “It’s for us to bet on. I’d risk another five livres he can beat you.”
“Five livres?” Riley said, chuffing. “I’ll take it. Who else is eager to lose their coins?”
“I’ll bet three,” Jonah said.
“It’s five or nothing,” Riley countered. “Are you a man or a weasel?”
“Shut it!” Jonah said with fury. “I’ll bet five.”
Soon they’d all agreed on the increased stakes. Riley tromped over to Ransom and cocked his head. “You up for it? I’d like to see you lose.”
“Come on,” Brett said encouragingly. “I’ll give you my meat ration if you best him!”
They were all looking at him now, their gazes intense.
Ransom stood, and although it was painful, he exaggerated his discomfort with a pronounced wince to heighten the tension.
“He’ll do it! He’ll do it!” Jonah said, clapping Callum on the back.
Ransom brushed his hands together. “What do I get if I throw it farther?”
“You really think you can?” Riley challenged.
Ransom shrugged. “Hardly seems fair that I should get nothing.”
“You want a share of the winnings?” Callum said, laughing.
Ransom shook his head. “No. I want my bracelet back.” He looked at Riley, the one who had taken it from him and still wore it.
Riley’s eyes darkened with emotion. Was it guilt or greed? Ransom had never asked for it back. He’d not said a word about the things they’d taken from him.
“Oooh,” Callum said, clapping his hands. “This will be good! Come on, Riley. The boy wants his bracelet back. Wager it! Come on! Wager it! Are you a weasel?”
The others joined in, and Riley’s eyes darkened more. “It means nothing to me,” he said, but his look belied his words. “Throw the stone, boy.”
Ransom was hardly a boy, but he took the insult without reaction and began to hobble to the fallen log they’d used to mark the starting point. Jonah grinned and clapped again before he joined Brett in fetching the boulder. Ransom limped up to the edge of the fallen log, but Riley kicked it with his foot, scooting it back.