by Linda Mooney
“So when Atty finally arrives, if she arrives, she’ll be unable to do anything to stop the woman,” Del Ray murmured.
“Oh, she’ll stop Mink.” Renken chuckled. “You know Atty will take her revenge on the woman if anything happens to Yulen. I just hope I’ll be alive to see what she does to her.”
“We all do,” Mastin agreed. “You can bet we all do.”
Chapter 24
Idea
“Atty?”
She blinked, realizing she’d zoned out. A quick glance around didn’t reveal anything amiss. Everyone continued at a quick pace.
Paxton was at the rear of the line, talking to Matheson. It was Paas riding next to her who’d spoken. Atty flashed her a quick smile.
“Sorry. I was thinking.”
“Have you been in contact again with Yulen?”
Atty shook her head. “I’ve tried, but I think he’s unconscious. By the way, I wanted to compliment you on how well you handled impersonating me.”
A corner of Paas’ mouth went up. “You should thank Warren. He gave me pointers on what to say.”
“Still, you sounded very convincing.” Atty grinned. “Maybe we should pull that stunt again.”
“Except I don’t have the right color hair.” Lifting a long braid from her shoulder, the warrior woman studied the red-streaked locks. “That’s how Parilla said she knew I wasn’t you.”
“But she kept mum because she was hoping we would overcome the Bloods, who were keeping them prisoners in the compound.”
“Then why did she try to turn us away when we arrived?”
“I think she initially did it to protect us, and to protect the others in the compound. She had a difficult decision to make, but in the end she trusted we would be able to overcome the Bloods.”
They rode further in silence. Although the soldiers behind her talked among themselves, they kept their voices low. The rule stood that if she could hear them, so could the Bloods, as their hearing would be just as keen as hers.
Mistelle moved in her sleep. Atty thanked whatever deity was watching over them for keeping the babe muffled and still when it was most crucial.
A cramping in her stomach told her she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and it was well into the afternoon. Reaching behind her, she removed some smoked snake jerky to eat.
“I wish Cole and I had the kind of connection you and Yulen share.” Paas continued to watch the path in front of them, as it was barely wide enough for two to ride side by side. Every so often one or both of them would have to duck a low-hanging branch.
“No, you don’t.” The smile faded from Atty’s face. “Yes, it has its moments, but most of the time it’s a curse. If he’s in pain, it’s your pain. You suffer just as much as he is, but without the marks to show for it. And when I’m in trouble, it bores into his brain, leaving him unable to think. It fogs his mind, and I’m afraid one day he’ll stumble blindly into a trap he won’t be able to survive because of its interference.”
Paxton trotted up to join them. Unable to move up beside them, he took the spot directly behind and between their horses. “Came to let you know everyone is doing well. The men are wanting to know if we’ll be stopping somewhere to camp, or if we’ll seek refuge—”
Atty threw up a fist, signaling an immediate halt. Behind her the soldiers brought their mounts to an abrupt stop as she stood up in her stirrups to survey the area. Neither Paas nor Paxton said a word to interrupt her train of thought. They knew she would speak when she was able.
Presently, she pointed to their left. “Barkertonville is that way.” Directly in front of them and to the left. “And that way is Good Choice. A little beyond Good Choice is Foster City.”
Paxton leaned forward to whisper, “What are you sensing?”
“The Bloods are waiting for us in Barkertonville and Good Choice. I think Mink has sent agents ahead of her army to warn those compounds to be ready in case we approach.”
“What are your orders?”
She sat back down. “We’ll bypass those compounds and continue southward toward Alta Novis. Go inform the men we’ll make camp after dark, but we’ll stay cold. No fires, no lights.”
Paxton threw her a little salute. “I’ll inform them we won’t be stopping at the next compound, and they’ll have to eat on the go.”
As the second spread the word down the line, Atty urged her mare to continue forward. Paas remained beside her. “I don’t see your reasoning. Why aren’t we stopping at the next compound to help your people to defeat the Bloods?” the warrior woman asked.
“I want to go help them. Believe me, I want to, but it’ll slow us down, and right now it’s imperative we get to Yulen as soon as possible. Parilla told me she overheard this Mink woman give orders to head straight to Alta Novis, which means Yulen’s time is limited.” A shudder went through Atty. She rubbed her arms through her jacket. “That woman plans to take Alta Novis by force by making Yulen turn it over to her.”
“He’d never do that, would he?”
“I would like to say no,” Atty admitted to the warrior woman. “But he will do it if it means saving hundreds of lives. Or the life of one dear friend.” The look she gave the woman made it clear who that friend was.
Paxton rejoined them. “The men have been notified. Do you have any sort of plan once we reach Alta Novis?”
“I have a few ideas I’ve been debating, but nothing solid. I’ll first have to see what the situation is when we get there. Truthfully, Warren, I hope we catch up with this Mink woman and her army before we reach the compound.”
“What about the other compounds where the Bloods are holding those people captive?” Paas inquired. “I know they don’t fly your banner, but won’t you do anything to help them?”
“Definitely, but it has to be planned with great care. If the Bloods realize we’re on our way to defend those fortresses, they’ll slaughter everyone and make a run for it before we arrive. No.” Atty shook her head. “It has to be as clandestine as the way that Mink woman insinuated her moles.”
An idea hit her. At the same time, Paxton chuckled. “I know that look, Atty. You got a plan?”
“Maybe. Listen, Mink put Bloods who could pass for Mutah into those compounds, right?”
“Yeah. So? Are you thinking about sending Mutah warriors inside to overtake the Blood guards? Because if you are, you know as well as I do that it may not be enough to defeat them. We need to get our own men inside.”
“I agree.” Atty grinned. “We’ll just have to use a different tactic.”
Paas lightly laughed. “This sounds like it’s going to be good.”
“What kind of tactic?” Paxton urged.
“Planting our soldiers into those compounds to take down the Blood guards.”
Paxton gave her a look of incomprehension. “I don’t follow you. Wouldn’t they tip off the Bloods if they marched into the compounds?”
“Not marched, Warren. Were invited in.” Her grin widened.
Snickering, Paas pulled away. “I need to find a bush. Be right back.” The woman hurried off the path. One of the soldiers quickly peeled off from the rest to keep watch over her until she finished and rejoined them.
Paxton shook his head. “I’m still in the dark here.”
“It’s all right. When I get the details worked out, I’ll let you know. But right now, our main concern is reaching Yulen and freeing him from that woman. If we don’t succeed, and she takes control of Alta Novis, then any plan to help the other compounds will be pointless.”
The second conceded she was right in that assumption. Atty took this moment of privacy to broach a subject she’d been waiting to talk about.
“Warren, how long have you and Keelor been seeing each other?”
One thing she knew about her second was that whenever he was flustered, his skin went bright pink. Another thing she knew was that he never lied to her.
“Back at Rocky Gorge, she discovered I was your second in command. Because y
ou and Yulen were involved in the summit and the birth of your daughter, she came to me to ask questions about you and your life.” He faced her honestly. “We’ve grown close. I won’t deny it. How close, I can’t say. How much closer will that become? Again, I can’t say. Does it bother you? I know there are a few years’ difference in our ages.”
Atty waved off the remark. “That doesn’t matter to me. There are ten years between me and Yulen. It doesn’t bother me, either, that you and Keelor are growing close. What does worry me is that my sister went through a lot of abuse when she was kidnapped. Not only did she watch our mother being killed, they were also raped mentally and physically. It will take a long while before she feels she’ll be able to cope. She needs time and space, Warren.”
“She’ll have it. I promise. But I’ll also be there for her if she needs a confessor.”
She gave the man her warmest smile. “I have no doubt you will. Thanks, my friend.”
Chapter 25
Questioning
They traveled for a while in silence, weaving between the trees to follow the thin, nearly invisible trail through the woods. They couldn’t use the road, in the event the Bloods were watching it. Using the alternate route meant it would take them longer to get to Alta Novis, but Atty felt they couldn’t take the risk of using the main highway.
Paas remained beside her, whereas Paxton roved back and forth in the line to check on the soldiers, making sure there was nothing amiss. After a while, the second broached the subject.
“Will we be stopping soon? Sunset is within the hour.”
“Soon, but not until I feel we’re far enough away to prevent any Bloods from accidentally stumbling across us.” Atty adjusted herself in the saddle. No matter how much time she logged being on horseback, she’d never gotten truly comfortable with sitting for long periods. “I’m going to need to stretch my legs.”
“Atty, I’ve been thinking.” Paas gave her a puzzled look. “That Mink woman. How was she able to bring the Bloods together? I mean, from what you’ve told me and from the few times Cole and I have discussed this, I got the impression that Bloods ran pretty wild in the area. They killed whatever crossed their paths, ate whatever they could—”
“Including other Normals and Mutah,” Paxton interjected.
Atty noticed the shadow that crossed her second’s face. He was remembering the massacre at Bearinger, and the days he, Yulen, and his surviving soldiers were taken captive by the Blood army. Yulen had told her in detail the horrors they had endured. How they’d watched their friends, brothers-in-arms, sons, brothers, and fathers slaughtered, cooked, and eaten before Atty and her battalion managed to defeat the creatures and rescue them.
“Yes.” Paas held up a hand as she gathered her thoughts. “What I don’t understand is this. How was one lone person able to bring those abnormals together, convince them to take up weapons other than tree limbs and rocks, and train them in rudimentary military basics? How was this one person able to think up the idea of sending Bloods who could pass as Mutah and convince them to infiltrate other compounds? Convince them not to follow their basic instincts, but to remain undercover and wait for her signal to go into action? What kind of power does she hold ov—”
“Shh!” Atty bolted upright, jerking the mare to a stop. Her inner voice was shouting at her, warning her. Without her being aware of her actions, she drew her bow over her head and set an arrow.
Paxton moved up next to her, their horses and legs pressed against each other. Like her, he’d drawn his sword. He waited for her to make the next move.
She honed in on what had set off her internal alarm. Closing her eyes, Atty rose up in her stirrups and bowed her head. She moved instinctively, firing twice ahead and to the left. There was a gurgled cry. When she opened her eyes, both Paxton and Paas were off their horses and running to see what she’d hit.
The couple reappeared, an injured Blood struggling between them. The arrows’ shafts protruded from the Blood’s thigh and hip. Atty dropped to the ground as two more of her men came over to help guard the creature.
“Atty?” Paxton silently wondered as to whether there could be more Bloods out there.
She shook her head. “This is the only one I felt.”
“Is this a scout, do you think? Or a loner?”
“Atty.” Paas drew her attention. “I think this is the chance for us to find the answer to that question I had.”
“Why do you think I wounded it instead of killing it outright?”
She lowered her bow but the third arrow she’d nocked remained in place. The creature glared at her, the corners of its mouth curled in a soundless growl. It was often difficult to determine if a Blood was male or female unless it was naked. This one was no different, with long, black hair that was tangled with leaves and other debris. Its clothing was ragged, stained, and filthy. The blood oozing from its wounds was purplish in color.
Paas and Paxton relinquished their hold on the creature to the two soldiers and took a stance on either side of Atty.
“Why are you watching us?”
The Blood winced in pain but didn’t reply. It sniffed the air like a Wolfen, and seemed especially attracted to the carrier attached to Atty’s chest.
“Are you part of Mink’s army? Or are you acting alone?”
The creature remained silent, but it licked its muzzle-like mouth. It was drooling, salivating, its gaze never leaving the bundle containing Mistelle.
Paas laid a hand on Atty’s arm. “Allow me.”
Atty gave a quick nod and Paas sheathed her sword, pulling her dagger instead. Walking over to the creature, without warning, she sunk the blade into the thing’s neck, between its throat and shoulder. The Blood shrieked and struggled against the hold the soldiers had on it. Paas slowly pulled out the dagger and took a step away.
“Why do you follow Mink?” Her voice was hard, demanding. “Tell us why you follow her.”
The Blood hissed at her, its face screwed up in pain and fury, but didn’t reply. Paas had no trouble plunging her knife into the thing’s other shoulder. It was enough to cause intense pain, but the warrior woman was careful not to nick an artery.
Wiping her weapon on the dead grass, she repeated her question, but this time added a slur. “You are following that putrid, pathetic excuse for a Blood, and we want to know why! Tell us!”
“You do not denigrate the name of our holy one!” the Blood spat at her.
The pronouncement made Atty’s eyebrows raise. A grin came over Paas’ face. “Your holy one?” The warrior woman sneered. “You mean that ignorant, ridiculous creature is passing herself off as a deity?”
“She is a goddess!” the Blood snapped back. “She deserves your respect, not your disdain!”
“Well, I guess that answers that question,” Paxton softly remarked.
Bending forward, Atty stared into the Blood’s eyes. “Are you alone?”
No answer, but she hadn’t expected one.
“What do you think?” Paxton asked. “A scout sent to find us and check us out, and report back to Mink what it finds?”
Atty gestured for two more soldiers to come forward. When they advanced on their horses, she gave them an order. “Go see if this had a horse tied up, and if you can see any signs of a companion.”
“Do you think it’s alone?” her second wondered aloud.
“That’s how they normally roam, but we can’t count on that being the case anymore since Mink’s taken over.”
“Now what do we do with it? Do we risk taking it prisoner?”
“I have an idea,” Paas spoke up. “May I?”
Atty gave a nod. The warrior woman walked behind the creature, grabbed it by the hair, and jerked back the head, slitting its throat. The Blood made a gurgling sound as it bled to death.
“Now we don’t have to worry about it getting away and running off to tattle to its goddess.”
The soldiers threw the body onto the ground as the other two soldiers emerged from b
etween the trees. “No sign of a horse or another Blood,” the lieutenant informed her.
“What happens now?” Paxton questioned. “If this spy had gotten back to Mink, she’d have learned how close we are to her, and how many men we have.”
“But when it doesn’t get back to her, she’ll know her spies been discovered. We’re closer to her than I first thought, which means it’s more imperative than ever that we continue pressing on. Warren, tell everyone there will be no stopping for the night.”
Turning around, Atty returned to her horse and climbed back into the saddle. Giving the signal, they moved forward, their determination renewed.
* * *
They were not given water or food, or any blankets to protect them from the cold as night approached. They managed to slake the worst of their thirst by chewing on small handfuls of whatever snow they found still prevalent in the area.
Night fell. In the distance, Yulen could see where the Bloods had started several fires. They cooked their meals and huddled around them for warmth, but none of that comfort was given to their prisoners. Every so often a Blood guard would be replaced, but that was the only movement he and the others could detect. So far they hadn’t caught sight of Mink. Nor had anyone representing her come to talk to them.
At some point Yulen was able to sit up. Batuset, Del Ray, and Mastin huddled closer to share their warmth with him, but it was difficult. A freezing wind had sprung up, gusting over the road, and the smell of impending snow was growing stronger.
“Does anyone have any idea where we are?” Yulen spoke up, just to break the long self-imposed silence. “Fortune?”