by Linda Mooney
The first thing Atty did when they arrived in their quarters was to use the water closet. When she re-entered the room, their inner circle of friends were arriving. She took a seat on the edge of the bed, next to Paas.
“I do not like that battle lord,” the warrior woman whispered to her.
“Neither do I trust him,” Atty responded.
“Is this everyone?” Yulen glanced around the room.
Renken was the last to enter. “Guess Paxton’s still with Dr. Gus,” he informed them, taking a stance by the door.
Yulen turned to his second. “Something alerted you?”
“LeGreen is preparing a hundred troops to accompany him to Rocky Gorge, and they’re packing a shitload of weapons. At least five wagons worth. Word is we’re leaving at first light.”
“A hundred troops?” Renken looked to Yulen. “Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
“Not if the way is dangerous,” Atty surmised.
“If the route is that dangerous, then why hold the summit there? It doesn’t make sense,” Renken observed.
Yulen coughed lightly, turning his head away from her, then looked back at the ex-mercenary. “You’re thinking ulterior motive?”
Renken snorted. “Aren’t you?”
“I also think his excuse for waiting for us to arrive so he can travel with us in order to pick your brain is a bunch of bull crap,” Twoson interjected. “I don’t sense any danger, but this whole place has me on edge. Like there’s something brewing beneath the surface. Do you feel it, Atty?”
She nodded. “I’m also sensing some unrest.”
“Same here,” Fortune agreed. “I can’t prove anything, but I get the drift there are a lot of people here who don’t see eye to eye with LeGreen, but he’s got such a heavy thumb on them, they don’t dare protest. Or even voice any opposition.”
“I’m still chewing over the numbers,” Renken admitted. “You don’t put the same people you’re trying to negotiate with in harm’s way.”
“Unless…”
Everyone glanced over at Paas.
“Unless you want those people to have a dire incident along the way. Unless you don’t want them to arrive at the summit, but you need a legitimate excuse to get rid of them so that there’s no retaliation against you.”
The room grew quiet for a moment. Yulen returned to his second. “Anything else?”
“They have the men barricaded,” Tabb told them.
“What does that mean?” Twoson asked.
Batuset answered. “It means they have our men blocked off where they can’t escape, should something happen. They’re cut off from us.”
Atty looked to her husband. “Are they in any danger?”
“If LeGreen’s men tried something, our troops are woefully outnumbered. Having them contained would give him complete control over them.”
“But he wants to go to Rocky Gorge,” Dardin Tabb commented. “If getting there is dangerous, why would he make the trip and put himself at risk”
“There’s a lot of things about LeGreen that don’t add up,” Yulen said, coughing again. “The man has been lying to us, thinking we’re either too dumb to notice, or figuring it doesn’t matter. Worse, if he comes with us, we won’t be able to divide our forces and leave half behind.” This last he directed at Renken, who nodded in agreement.
“How has he lied to us?” Twoson asked.
“For one thing, he never mentioned the herd of cattle he keeps,” Atty told the Mutah councilman.
Yulen clarified. “I asked him specifically about how he feeds his people. He was evasive. He never mentioned the cattle, yet he didn’t blink an eye when I requested Atty have some milk. Atty, was the milk cool or warm?”
“Warm. Fresh.”
“Which means the herd is kept close to the compound.”
“He also has bison and some deer,” Fortune informed them. At Yulen’s raised eyebrows, he tapped the side of his nose. “Good thing we were downwind. Otherwise I wouldn’t have detected them.”
“So he left out that information,” Paas murmured. “Why is it important?”
Yulen stabbed her with his gaze. “It makes me wonder what else he’s conveniently left out. He’s not telling us everything.”
“But as a battle lord, you can understand his position,” Batuset countered. “If a strange man with an armed infantry came into my compound, I wouldn’t give away a lot of information just because he asks.”
“Know what troubles me?” Tabb said. “It’s the way he treats his second. Like the man is his personal slave instead of his right hand.”
“LeGreen probably uses Bastion in a manner that best suits him,” Batuset suggested.
Atty shook her head. “I read a lot of pent up frustration in Bastion.”
“How’s that?” Paas looked at her. “To me, the man was anything but cordial to us. To you and me and Twoson. At least, he gave me the impression he strongly hates Mutah.”
Atty flashed her a small smile. It continued to rankle the warrior woman that she was considered one of them. “And I think it’s all an act. I think LeGreen is planning something, and so is Bastion. Only, the two aren’t collaborating together.”
Renken shifted his stance to lean against the doorframe. “All right. So let’s go with the fact that LeGreen is up to no good. How do we protect ourselves?”
“Well, for starters, barricade your door and sleep with your weapons close at hand,” Yulen replied. “If you need to go somewhere, anywhere, take someone with you. Taking two down is always more difficult than one. And don’t hesitate to yell out if you suspect anything. I’d rather be awakened by a false alarm than to die in my bed because someone thought they were simply imagining things.”
“Yulen?” Batuset raised a hand. “Let’s say we’re being overcautious. No, hear me out first before you say anything. But let’s also say there is something going on, but LeGreen doesn’t plan to spring it until we reach Rocky Gorge. Let’s say he wants to keep us close to him so he can keep an eye on us. Make sure we’re within range when this trap, or whatever he’s got planned, is ready to spring. But if I were to play devil’s advocate, I could ask myself, what if we’re imagining all this? What if Atty and the others are sensing tension because what we intend to do flies against everything this man believes? What if he’s nervous because he’s never had to treat Mutah as anything other than refuse? Or, at the most, second class citizens? And he’s reluctant to change the status quo?”
Renken snorted in contempt. “I have a better question for you. Is LeGreen going to this summit as an ally or a dissenting vote? If I were to choose, I’d say the latter.”
Several agreed with the man, voicing their soft Hear, hear! in the room. Yulen nodded. “I concur, Garet. I also see your point, Zane. However, for safety’s sake, let’s assume on the side of caution.”
“Speaking of caution, we need to leave here and get ready for dinner. Our gathering may have already raised suspicion,” Twoson noted.
The others agreed and began filing out of the bedroom to return to their own. Once everyone had departed, Atty placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “Your cough sounds worse. How do you feel?”
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not okay,” she countered. “You’re getting worse. I hope Dr. Gus finds something he can use from this compound’s doctor.” Taking a firmer grasp, she forced him to turn and face her. “You’re trying to keep a brave face, and I understand that. I also know why. You don’t want anyone to think you’re weak. But you know I can read you like no other. You know that if you don’t get help, sooner or later, you may be too ill to present your case at the summit.” Reaching up, she tenderly ran her fingertips along the scar on his face. “You could also become too ill to protect yourself, me, or our child.”
“Atty, I have no doubt you would be the one most likely to save me. And it wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Ah, yeah, well, you may be right about that.”
He smiled
and started to lean down to kiss her. Atty placed a forefinger on his lips. “Uh-uh. Not until Fergus assures me you’re not contagious.”
His grin widened. Lifting her hand, he kissed her palm instead. Atty gave him a wry look. “Oh, great. Now I have to go wash my hands again.”
Yulen chuckled. “Can I at least hold you in my arms? Or is that too risky, too?”
To answer him, she slid her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest. He kissed her hair instead. They remained that way, listening to each other’s heartbeats, until Yulen told her it was time they go back downstairs.
Chapter Nineteen
Encounter
The baby was restless. After trying to mentally calm the child within her womb, Atty gave up and eased out of bed. Yulen was on his side, his back to her. She could hear him breathing through his mouth, evidence that his sinuses were closed off.
But at least he’s sleeping. The medicine must be helping.
Rounding the bed, she leaned over and held a hand above his face. The heat that had been radiating off him was gone, and she couldn’t see any sweat beading on his skin, proving his fever had broken. Biting her lower lip, she went to the water closet, taking care not to wake him.
She started to go back to bed, when she realized she was hungry. No, she was starving. For what, she didn’t know. But clearly this pregnancy was going to be another one where she’d stuff herself, put on untold pounds, get reamed out by MaGrath and probably Thrasher for the added weight, and in the end she wouldn’t regret a single moment. Atty smiled to herself and glanced again at her husband.
He said never to go out without an escort. But I can’t wake him now. He hasn’t been resting well for the past week. And his cold only made it worse.
She looked to the door. Both Paxton and Mastin were one door over—her second to the right, sharing a room with Renken, and Mastin and Paas in the room on the left. Making a decision, she slowly opened the door to find the main hall enveloped in blackness. Not a single candle had been left burning. The fireplace in the distance gave off a barely perceptible light. Although she couldn’t see in the dark, she knew her Mutah eyes would quickly adjust to where she could see her way around if there was the barest sliver of illumination. Fortunately, the fireplace was enough to keep her from bumping into things.
Knowing the staircase was to her right, at the end of the landing, she took a step forward and nearly tripped over the figure curled in front of the threshold. Strong fingers grabbed her thigh in time to keep her from falling. Atty dug her fingernails into skin, hoping she’d found the man’s face, when a voice hissed up at her.
“It’s me, Atty.”
She gasped softly, squelching the shriek she’d almost uttered. “Garet! What are you doing lying in front of the door? Wait! Are you sleeping there?”
“What are you doing leaving your room this time of night?” he asked instead.
Before answering, she reached out and closed the door. “I’m hungry, all right? Is that a crime?”
“Let me guess. You were heading for the kitchen without an escort?” He snorted. “What is it with you and not following orders?”
“For your information, Mr. Renken, I was going over to your room to see if you or Warren could go with me. And you still haven’t told me why you’re sleeping in front of my door!”
“Because I had a sneaky suspicion you might try something like this.”
Her eyes had adjusted to the almost negligible light. Enough to see his face no more than a couple of inches away. She watched as he glanced over her shoulder, then gradually put more distance between them.
“Come to think of it, I’ve got a hankering for something sweet myself,” he admitted. She could hear the smile in his voice.
“Well then, lead on. Just don’t stop suddenly without warning, or else I might barrel into you.”
“Careful. It’s pitch dark in here.”
“Not to me.”
Renken paused. “Then maybe you should lead me.”
He took her hand until they reached the stairs leading down to floor level. Taking her by the elbow, he allowed her to help him navigate the steps. Once they reached ground level, he had his bearings. “This way,” he whispered, taking off with her in tow.
“I know where the kitchen is,” she snapped. “You’re not the only one who was watching the help. Like that cute redhead who kept filling your cup tonight.” He didn’t rise to the bait, but she didn’t expect him to.
They came to an unexpected hallway that led off into further darkness to their right. “Guess the help sleeps down the hall,” Renken surmised.
Atty sniffed. “The kitchen’s on the left.”
“Those magic eyes still working?”
She nudged him until he clasped her shoulder. “Follow me.”
“Like hell. Just warn me before I run into something.” He kept his hand on his sword as he took the lead.
They moved closer to the kitchen, when Atty stopped and grabbed his arm. He turned to ask her why, but she quickly shushed him. Pulling his face closer, she whispered in his ear. “Listen. Voices.”
They pressed themselves up against the wall and waited. Within moments, the voices drew nearer and clearer. Oddly, though, whoever was approaching wasn’t carrying any sort of light. She strained to make out the words.
“—make sure everything is ready when they give us the signal to close the gates.” The voice came from someone accustomed to giving orders, but it wasn’t LeGreen’s. Whoever the man was talking to mumbled something in return, and the conversation ceased. But the footsteps grew closer. Those men expected the hallway to be empty. Unless they exited into the main hall, they would be on top of her and Renken within moments.
Atty started backing up. Her Ballock slid into her palm without thought. There was a fifty-fifty chance the men wouldn’t go down the hall toward the rear rooms, but it was a chance she couldn’t risk. If they happened upon her and Renken, she doubted there would be enough time for explanations before blood was spilled. With the element of surprise on their side, she knew Renken could probably take out the men on his own. But how would LeGreen take the news that two of his soldiers had been killed inside his lodge the same night he had guests? How could he not assume Yulen or his men had something to do with it, and retaliate?
She tugged on Renken’s tunic, pulling him along with her. She heard the almost silent silvery whine as he drew his sword from its scabbard. He reached behind him with his other hand and touched hers tugging on him. Her shoulder bumped into the wall…and it gave way. Hastily, she pushed it open further and retreated inside, almost dragging the ex-mercenary with her. The two strange men passed them less than a heartbeat later as they stood just inside the doorway. They heard the footsteps stop not too far down the hall, then a door opened and closed, leaving them in absolute silence once again.
Renken let out the breath he’d been holding. “Good job finding us a hiding place.”
She didn’t tell him it had been by accident. “I’m not that hungry anymore.”
“Neither am I. Let’s head back upstairs and let Yulen know what we heard. We need to figure out what those men meant.”
She agreed and followed him back to the bedroom to awaken the battle lord.
Chapter Twenty
Suspicion
He knew she was gone before he reached behind him to find the bedcovers flat.
And warm.
She hadn’t been gone long.
Yulen rose into a sitting position. Too late, he realized he’d moved too quickly. His head began swimming, forcing him to lower it between his knees. He softly groaned. His sinuses were clogged again. Earlier, when he’d taken the medicine Thrasher had brought, he’d gotten some relief, but even that small concession had its problems. If he could breathe, his nose ran. If he was stuffed up, the pressure between his eyes was almost unbearable.
“Atty, where are you?” he whispered, when another, more terrifying thought, came to him, and he
jerked up, his spine stiffening. “Oh, God, don’t tell me you left without an escort!”
He started to get to his feet when the door suddenly opened, and two figures hurried inside. In the darkness, he reached for his sword when a sweet presence insinuated itself within his heart.
“Atty?”
The door closed as she drew closer. “Shut your eyes,” she told him. He did, and became aware of a single flame brightening the room. The candle on the nightstand by the bed. He averted his face before opening his eyes, to find Renken standing by the door. The man’s sword was drawn. Glancing back at Atty, he saw her knife in her hand, raising his alarm.
“What happened?”
“I was hungry,” she admitted, giving him an apologetic smile.
Knowing she was safe calmed him somewhat. He forced himself to keep silent and hear her out before saying anything more.
“So I went next door to see if Warren or Garet would go with me down to the kitchen.”
He caught a look pass between them before she continued.
“We never made it that far. A couple of men passed us.”
“They passed you?” he finally remarked.
“We ducked into some kind of pantry,” Renken explained. “They never saw us in the dark.”
Yulen gestured at his drawn sword, and the ex-mercenary re-sheathed it. “We heard them talking,” the man added.
“About?”
“We didn’t get all of it,” Atty explained. “Something about waiting for a signal for the gates to be closed. That’s all we caught before they went into another room down the hall.”
“What hall? This hall?”
She shook her head. “The hallway downstairs. The one leading away from the kitchen.”
Yulen scratched his scar. “Wait for a signal for the gates to be closed. What gates? The compound’s main gates?”
“I don’t know.” She frowned. “Honestly, I didn’t like the sound of it.”
Yulen glanced over at the shuttered window. Getting back on his feet, he paused to see if another wave of dizziness would overtake him. When it didn’t, he strode over and opened it to look outside. “What time is it?” The moon had been swallowed by gray clouds, making it impossible to figure out where it was located.
