Their Battle Lord's Sacrifice (The Battle Lord Saga Book 7)

by Linda Mooney

  “You can take my sword out of my cold, dead hands,” Malso growled.

  “Very well.” She made another gesture with her hand and a dozen Bloods charged the Mutah. Yulen watched in petrified horror as the man was slaughtered before them, overcoming him with sheer numbers to beat, stab, and slash with abandon. When the creatures finally withdrew, leaving the ravaged Mutah to bleed out onto the ground, one of the Bloods raised Malso’s sword and whooped with joy. The other Bloods responded with their own victorious cries until Mink signaled for silence.

  “Now, give up your weapons. I will not ask a third time.”

  Yulen was first to toss his sword onto the ground. Mastin followed, as did the others. Balinkar was last, doing so with a soft growl.

  “Why not kill us and get it over with?” he demanded.

  Mink chuckled again. “Because I have plans for you.” Her eyes locked onto Yulen. “Especially you, Battle Lord D'Jacques.”

  “Parilla!” Balinkar called out to the woman with the tusks. The council member stood on the fringes, watching. When he addressed her, the woman first looked to Mink for permission to speak. At Mink’s nod, she stepped forward. Like Yulen, he assessed the situation immediately. Or thought he did.

  “When did Fullmont fall?”

  “We were not attacked. We did not fall. We succumbed from within.”

  From within? Yulen frowned as Mink explained.

  “You Normals and Mutah have made a critical error in judgment,” the woman informed them, her smile growing wider. “Your ignorance and your insolence has brought about your downfall. Has brought down all of you.”

  “What are you talking about?” Balinkar demanded.

  Mink tilted her head to one side. A sneer twisted her lips. “Look at you. You with your flat face and head. Now look at me. What do you see? Huh? Do you see me as one of you?”

  The implication struck Yulen with a stunning blow. “You infiltrated the compounds,” he announced. “You took advantage of that weakness.”

  “Dear God,” Mastin murmured beside him. "Why didn't we think of it before now?"

  Renken picked up the Battle Lord’s response. “Some Mutah look Normal enough to pass for one, the same way some Bloods may appear acceptable to pass as Mutah.”

  Mink gave them a sardonic grin. “And because of your treaties, Battle Lord D’Jacques, you’ve allowed us to penetrate every fortress within miles. At this very moment, we are taking root within your holdings. We are on the brink of gaining control of every compound currently under your rule, and more.” Turning her head slightly, she gave a verbal order. “Take them to holding. I want no less than a dozen men standing guard inside and out. And I want everything they discuss reported back to me.” With a wave of her hand, she dismissed them and left the square without further word.

  Chapter 13

  Plot

  Several Bloods stepped up to them and stripped them of their coats and jackets before turning them around to bind their hands behind their backs. Yulen could see no way he and the others could fight them and win. Not when they were outnumbered at least three to one. Neither could he expect or rely on the people of Fullmont to stand up with him to fight back. It was crystal clear the townspeople were too terrified to challenge the Bloods and Mink, which made him wonder what atrocities had occurred prior to his arrival.

  Once their hands and arms were bound, they were led to a building located at the far end of the compound. Because of his familiarity with Wallis and West Crestin, Yulen believed the structure to be the hunters’ lodge, where the compound’s best warriors met, stored weapons, and displayed trophies of past hunts.

  They were pushed through the narrow doorway and forced to sit on the floor where several others were already gathered. The Battle Lord glanced around in surprise as he was shoved to his knees. The room had been stripped bare. With the exception of a Wolfen’s head over the doorway, which he’d learned was a symbol of luck, there was nothing other than four walls and a roof.

  With their prisoners gathered where they could be scrutinized, the Blood guards backed away and lined up along the walls, completely circling them. Their spears and weapons were held at-ready, making clear their implied threat.

  Balinkar glared at Parilla, who also sat a short distance away, along with four others whom Yulen suspected were the other council members. “You could have told us to leave. You could have given us some sort of warning.”

  “I couldn’t,” the woman replied regretfully. She looked at Yulen. “They recognized you the moment you stepped out into the open. I was ordered to bring you in, or else my family would be sacrificed.”

  “But you tried to turn me away,” Yulen countered.

  Parilla gave a nod. “You’re correct. I did. But we’ve heard a lot about you, D’Jacques. We’ve learn even more about you from other Mutah. We knew that denying you would not deter you, but make you more adamant about coming inside.”

  “But by denying me, you raised my suspicions,” he informed her.

  The woman sighed. “True, and it was deliberate.”

  Mastin gasped softly. “You willingly put your life and the lives of your family at risk, simply on the chance the Battle Lord would turn away and leave?”

  “No.” Her eyes glanced at the figures standing a few meters away. “We were hoping your reactions would be felt by the Battle Lady.”

  Yulen didn’t know how to respond, other than to stare at the council woman. We were hoping your reactions would be felt by the Battle Lady. We’ve heard a lot about you, D’Jacques. We’ve learned even more about you from other Mutah.

  “You know about my connection with my wife?”

  “Your connection with the Battle Lady is very well-known.”

  “You know everything we say will be reported to Mink,” Fortune whispered in warning.

  Yulen frowned. “Are you hoping she’ll feel what I’m going through here and come to save me?”

  By the expression on the Mutah woman’s face, that was exactly what she and the others had hoped would happen.

  He opened his mouth to refute her supposition, but he couldn’t because he knew it would be just like Atty to bring the rest of his squad, surround the compound, then take down the Bloods. Only…

  She won’t know Mink is the leader. She may be able to take out all she deems is the enemy, but unless someone points out which ones are not Mutah, Mink could and will get away. And if that happens, that woman will have no compunction about swarming the compound. She’ll swarm it, overtake it, and slaughter everyone inside.

  “I have a question.” Batuset kept his voice low. “I know these Bloods are acting contrary to how we expect them to act. But this Mink woman, she’s planning something. She’s hiding something up those blue sleeves of her.”

  Yulen flexed the muscles in his arms and wrists, testing the ropes. Although he’d kept himself tense as the woven plant fibers were wrapped and knotted around him, the bindings were still too tight to try and wriggle out of. Had the Bloods not been present, watching their every move, he would have removed the slender knife tucked inside his boot to cut them free.

  Everyone sank within their individual thoughts. Yulen wondered what they were thinking about their present situation. Were they worried about what might happen? Or were they planning on a way to escape? He looked over at Mastin when Balinkar made a mournful sound.

  “I lost a good friend.” The Mutah’s head remained bowed. Even though they couldn’t see his face, his voice betrayed his sorrow. “A good friend and a fine warrior. Safe passage to the other side, Malso. May you find good hunting.”

  “We will avenge his loss,” Perrault told him.

  The silence stretched for several more minutes. It gave Yulen the chance to ponder over what the others had said. Yes, Atty would definitely come to his defense, just as he would if she was the one in danger. But only if she sensed he was in extreme danger, or if he was in pain. Which meant he had to keep himself as calm and level-headed as possible in o
rder to stave off any attempt at rescue. And, more importantly, to figure a way out of this conundrum.

  “Parilla.” Balinkar broke his train of thought. “Parilla, where are the other villagers?”

  “They’ve been quarantined to their homes…those who are still left.”

  “Still left?”

  The councilwoman turned her face away. “Those who have not been killed or eaten.”

  A shudder went through Yulen. With the harshest part of winter soon to be upon them, it made sense the Bloods would try to find a place where they could wait out the worst of the coming storms and snow. What better location than to overtake a compound where there was shelter and a supply of fresh meat?

  Yulen spoke up. “Parilla, do you know what they plan to do with us?”

  The woman shook her head. “All I know is that they’ve been talking about you ever since they arrived.”

  “Sir.” Mastin nudged his elbow. “Sir, that woman, Mink, she said they'd infiltrated the compounds. Which compounds? How many compounds? How many people has she placed in each compound?”

  Yulen moved his shoulders, rotating his head to ease the tension in his neck and back, without success. The ropes were slowly cutting off the circulation to his hands, and he curled his fingers to fight the growing numbness. “Excellent questions, Cole,” he finally replied. “I dread to think of how far that woman’s influence has reached, and to what extent.”

  “I dread to think how much longer this will continue if we aren’t able to warn our compounds of the danger,” Batuset remarked. “For all we know, Foster City and Alta Novis could already be under Blood rule.”

  “Dear God, let’s hope not,” Renken muttered.

  Closing his eyes, Yulen fought his rising apprehension and tried not to imagine his compound in the same kind of situation as Fullmont. Doing so might trigger Atty’s instincts, and that was the last thing he needed.

  Taking several deep breaths to calm himself, he once more scanned the room and the guards to study their posture and defense, when he heard the door open. The sentries moved aside, and Mink entered the building. This time she held Yulen’s sword in her hand. Coming right up to him, she lifted the heavy blade with both hands and rested the tip on his chest as a grin crossed her face.

  “I have a proposition for you, Battle Lord D’Jacques. Depending on how you answer will determine whether you die right now, or later. Am I making myself clear?”

  He stood firm, refusing to show cowardice or bravado. “Very clear. What is your proposition?”

  The woman lowered the sword and moved back. “Bring him,” she ordered without further explanation. Before anyone could object, she turned to leave. Four Blood guards grabbed him by the arms and literally dragged him across the floor to follow her.

  Chapter 14

  Ultimatum

  Yulen was half-dragged, half-carried into one of the little shops. By the bowls and platters stacked on the shelves lining the walls, he could tell it was some sort of pottery or crockery store. Mink sat on an ornately carved wooden chair that had to have been confiscated from one of the apartments. Along with a few woven rugs, it was clear the woman had staged this building to be her own personal audience chamber.

  They dumped him on the floor in front of her. Yulen landed hard on his knees, and he winced in pain. The Blood warriors had hauled him here by hanging onto his bound arms, nearly pulling them from the sockets. Hitting the ground jarred them further, and a groan escaped him before he could muffle it.

  Mink chuckled that phlegmy laugh and smiled at him. On the outside she wasn’t a bad-looking woman, but neither was she attractive. Her short, thinning hair barely covered her scalp. What he could see of her arms and hands didn’t reveal anything that would mark her as being a Mutah. It was obvious that her mutations were kept concealed underneath that massive blue robe that effectively cloaked her body.

  Yulen narrowed his eyes at her. She’d brought him here for a reason, and it wasn’t to be social. Hopefully she’d get to the point of taking him and the others prisoners, and not killing them outright.

  “By now my runners have delivered word to my troops that I have in my possession the Battle Lord D’Jacques. They will celebrate, but it will be brief. Our true celebration will not commence until we have claimed every compound. And you will be instrumental in helping us achieve that.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Do you remember when I said many of us can pass as Mutah, the same way some Mutah can pass as Normal? At this moment, my people have infiltrated every fortress within two hundred miles. That includes Mutah and Normal compounds. They are remaining undercover until they receive my signal. At that time they will kill those in command and take control.”

  “Good for you. So what does that have to do with me?”

  The woman leaned forward and clasped her hands in front of her lap. “The Mutah compounds we have under watch are weak. They will be easy to overtake. But your compounds, and the compound north of you, they will not be so easy to assume.”

  The compound north. She was talking about Foster City, Zane Batuset’s fortress. Yulen remained mum and waited for the woman to spill the beans, which she appeared eager to do. Not because she couldn’t keep her plans to herself, but because she needed to crow about her accomplishments.

  Which made Yulen wonder if she alone was responsible for bringing about this change among the Bloods. Turning them from blood-thirsty creatures that attacked almost randomly with crude and often ineffective weapons, into a more organized force trained in using swords and spears. From looking at her, she didn’t appear to be physically capable of massing such forces, although she appeared to be mentally adept.

  He eyed those surrounding her. If she couldn’t personally captain any sort of regimen to turn the Bloods into a battle-ready army, then she had to have people under her with the ability to do it. Then again, he reminded himself, he was trying to put maniacal creatures into the same category as Mutah and Normals. It was very possible it wouldn’t take as much effort to get these creatures to—

  A realization slammed into him with cold disregard. I’m making suppositions again. I’m making erroneous guesses and presumptions based on what I believe Bloods should and would do. Oh, dear God! I’m back to assuming who Bloods are, the same way I used to think of Mutah. I’m making the same mistakes, and it could cost me everything!

  He felt his fear trying to rise in his gorge, threatening to choke him. Swallowing hard, the Battle Lord centered himself, forcing himself to concentrate on listening and observing. Looking for the Bloods’ strengths as well as weaknesses. Especially Mink’s.

  As these thoughts flew through his mind, the woman sent someone out of the room. The Blood returned carrying several items in its six spindly arms. It dumped the items on the floor in front of Mink and blended back into the group surrounding the woman leader. Mink kicked the pile toward Yulen.

  “Does any of this look familiar?”

  He glanced down, not really noticing anything in particular, other than the fact that it was a pile of clothing. He gave Mink a perplexed look. The woman returned with a condescending grin as she waited for him to react.

  React to what? Yulen stared at the pile again, when she kicked it a second time. A piece of material slid aside, revealing a tiny nightgown. A white, handmade outfit he instantly recognized.

  “Your mother gave me this to take with us to the summit at Rocky Gorge.” Atty held up the little outfit and waggled it.

  Yulen snorted. “You’re not due for a few more weeks.”

  “I know that, and she knows that. But she said it wouldn’t hurt to take it along, considering I gave birth to Mattox earlier than expected.

  It turned out his mother had been right. That birthing gown had been the first thing they’d dressed Mistelle in right after she’d been born.

  The only place they could have gotten these clothes was from inside Atty’s tent that had been erected in the middle of the compound.
In his mind’s eye, he could distinctly see the pile of dirty laundry where they always tossed it, to be retrieved and cleaned at a later time when they were away.

  Yulen gripped his hands behind his back and tried to calm himself. It was imperative that he not jump to conclusions. Mink had said she’d infiltrated every compound, and that Mutah fortresses were among the easiest to plant her spies into. Right now there was at least one of them, likely more, inside Wallis. However, the one thing he couldn’t let himself believe was that Atty and the baby were in the Bloods’ hands.

  Lifting his face, he narrowed his eyes at the woman. No. She didn’t have Atty and the baby or else she would have thrown that fact into his face. She would be taunting him with the fact, using it as leverage, as a threat.

  No, she didn’t have control of Wallis or his family, but she wanted him to believe she did. Or was about to, for whatever reason she had yet to reveal.

  “Get to the point, Mink. What the hell do you want?”

  “I want you to give me Alta Novis and all your other holdings.”

  Her admission didn’t surprise him. He couldn’t help himself when he snorted in reply.

  “What if I refuse?”

  Sitting up, the woman waved at someone standing behind him. A person exited the store. Seconds later, there was the sound of a scuffle as several Bloods made their way inside. Between them they dragged Mastin, throwing him face-down onto the rug next to Yulen.

  Mink gave the Battle Lord a wink and motioned to her men, pointing to the second.

  "Kill him."

  Chapter 15

  Kuli

  “I asked what if I didn’t!” Yulen yelled. “I never said I wouldn’t!”

  The Bloods acted as if he hadn’t spoken. Several of them straddled Mastin as he continued to struggle on the ground, his arms and legs pinned under their weight. The second remained mute, his eyes closed, as he waited for the inevitable.