by Linda Mooney
“Try me, woman.”
“Awright! Awright! Uncle!” She threw up her hands in mock surrender and proceeded down the ladder ahead of him.
They were met at the bottom by one of the sub-lieutenants. He waited silently until Yulen addressed him.
“Prescott?”
“The Battle Lord of Murgiston sent me. He needs to speak with you immediately.”
“Can it wait?”
The young man shuffled from one foot to the other, clearly agitated. “I was ordered not to return without you.”
Atty glanced at her husband. “Where’s Murgiston?”
“North and east. I’ve only met the man once, and that was when he and his party arrived, but…” Yulen paused, giving her a look she immediately understood. What he wanted to tell her had to be told in private, and not with another nearby who could possibly relay what he’d heard to sensitive ears. In addition, the fact that what else he had to tell her had to be kept confidential told her the information was not favorable.
“I understand,” she assured him.
He answered with a smile, then turned to the messenger. “Take me to him.”
A hand touched his arm. “I’m coming with you.”
“Atty.” His tone made it clear he didn’t approve.
“I’m getting cabin fever, being stuck inside all day.”
“Atty, if something should happen, you’re not well enough to defend yourself.”
“Think so?” She gave him her best sassy grin as she patted her thigh to let him know her Ballock was securely fastened. “Just this once, and then I’ll go back to bed,” she promised, crossing her heart with a finger.
Knowing she didn’t give her word lightly, Yulen nodded and waved a hand at the soldier to lead on. He had learned early in their marriage that sometimes it was simply easier to relent than to fight some battles.
Chapter Thirteen
Attacks
The Battle Lord was in deep discussion inside his tent with three other men when Yulen and Atty entered. Yulen dismissed the soldier who had led them there. There was no need to be announced. Every Battle Lord camped in or near the compound knew who their host was.
The middle-aged man still sported the body of a man half his age, but the brown hair sprouted wisps of gray. Like many of the Battle Lords converging on Alta Novis, Tabert continued to lead his soldiers in making yearly cleaning sweeps around his compound. With luck, that might cease once the talks were over.
As Yulen expected, the man’s attention went immediately to Atty’s deep blue hair, and his eyebrows rose in response, but the Battle Lord continued giving orders regarding the placement of his tents. Once he dismissed his subordinates, the man paused and gave his two visitors a thorough look before locking onto Yulen.
“Yulen D’Jacques?”
Yulen nodded. “Colfin Tabert?”
The man gave a grin, and immediately Yulen sensed a reaction in his wife. Trusting her instincts above his own, he decided to keep the man at arm’s length.
Tabert gestured toward several fat pillows lying on a carpet further inside the tent. “Please. A moment of your time.”
Yulen stood his ground. “Unfortunately, my time is very short. I was told you needed to see me?” Already, it irked him that the Battle Lord had deliberately dismissed Atty’s presence. Unfortunately, he couldn’t let Tabert know he was aware of the slight. Diplomacy had to be the rule, as hard as it would be to follow at times. Lifting his chin, he tried to give the appearance of a man being run ragged without being rude to his guests.
“I’ll be up front with my concerns,” Tabert announced. “We knew coming in that the Mutah compounds might tax our patience. I’ve already heard of some scuffles between them and a couple of guests. Can I have your word that my people will be safe?”
Yulen made a mental note to check on Tabert’s accusations. Although he seriously doubted anything had occurred that he hadn’t been notified about, he knew he had to check all possibilities first.
“Thank you for making me aware of this. But, yes, we are doing all we can to keep confrontations at a minimum. In the future, if you are aware of something happening, I would appreciate it if you sent me a message.”
“I will. And thank you for coming by. I’ve been wanting to say hello, and to thank you for the invitation.” Again, the man’s eyes slid over to Atty. During the brief exchange, he had never once addressed her, or even acknowledged her. Yulen looked down to see that patient, expressionless mask on her face that he knew well. Only, to him, it wasn’t expressionless. The fact that she was trying to be no more than a blue-haired shadow at his side told him volumes.
“Tabert, this is my wife, Atrilan D’Jacques.”
The Battle Lord briefly bowed his head. “Madam.” In the next instant, he turned his back on the couple, as if dismissing them. The act stung Yulen. Tabert had no authority to dismiss the Battle Lord of Alta Novis. Worse, it was extremely rude to dismiss one’s host.
Taking a step back, Yulen tugged on Atty’s hand to let her know it was time they left. The mask she’d been wearing dropped, and she almost gasped with indignation. Yulen held a finger to his lips for momentary silence and led her away. Once they were out of earshot, she turned to him, her anger bringing color to her pale cheeks.
“What audacity! How dare he treat you that way.”
“Unfortunately, I have no other recourse than to let it lie.”
“Why? You should have said something!”
Taking her by the elbow, he silently urged her to keep walking. “Let’s continue this in the privacy of our home. We don’t need people overhearing us.” He spotted one of his soldiers and motioned him over. The young man ran up to them, giving Atty a quick nod, then focusing on the Battle Lord.
“There are rumors of dissatisfaction and possible altercations with the Mutah. Go find Mastin and tell him I want to know about them. Have him meet me at my lodge.”
The soldier repeated the pertinent information before heading off at a trot. When Yulen looked down at her, the mask had fallen back into place, but he sensed her frustration all the way back to their lodge. Once they were inside, he closed the door.
“Atty, having these men here is unprecedented. All their lives they have fought the Bloods, believing like I had that all Mutah were the same. In many cases, they have yet to come to terms with making peace with your kind. You know as well as I do how difficult it will be to wipe out centuries of hate, much less try to build a foundation of trust. Yes, Tabert was rude and condescending, but a lot of Battle Lords are, and will continue to be. You know that as well as I do. He doesn’t know how to be civil to your kind, but the slight was aimed at me, not you.”
Her cool hand touched his cheek. “What if what you’re trying to do fails?” she asked softly.
“I can’t let it fail.”
“But you can’t deny that possibility.”
Snorting, he took her hand and kissed the palm. “True. If this fails, I’ll try again. And again. And again.” He kissed her hand once more. “Go upstairs and rest. You’re looking drained.”
Atty started to reply when they heard a discreet knock at the door. Yulen went to let Mastin inside. Once the door was shut behind him, the Second launched into his report.
“We’re hearing of some disagreements sprouting up between humans and Mutah all over the compound, but so far there hasn’t been any sign of violence.”
“That you know of,” Atty added.
Mastin nodded once. “Let’s just say the doctor hasn’t been called to bind up any suspicious wounds.”
“But that doesn’t mean anything. The other Battle Lords may have brought their own physicians with them,” she pointed out. “My people don’t know how to fight. Even if they were cornered, they wouldn’t have any way or knowledge of how to defend themselves. That’s what our hunters are for.”
Yulen frowned darkly. “Atty, do you suspect your people are keeping us in the dark about these covert attacks, if they do exist?”
“You know how quickly we can heal. Unless the attack is particularly vicious, like removing an arm or leg, a Mutah could heal sufficiently overnight, and resume his or her work the next day.”
Rapid healing was a normal part of Mutah physiology. The doctor once explained that he believed it was nature’s way of compensating for the aberrations caused hundreds of years ago when something hit the moon and split it into several pieces, bringing about the massive upheavals and changes to Earth.
Yulen tilted his head. “What are you saying? Why would Mutah keep these confrontations a secret? Why are they trying to hide them?”
“Because they want you to succeed!” Atty almost yelled back. Her face had gone paler, and she wobbled a bit on her feet. Yulen lifted her into his arms and carried her over to one of the overstuffed chairs, sitting her in one.
“Mother!” He glanced overhead at the bedroom area.
“She’s not here. She took Mattox over to the clinic.”
“Shall I fetch her?” Mastin asked.
Yulen shook his head. “No. Go check with the sub-lieutenants. Get back with me if you find out anything.”
The Second nodded and hurried out the door. Yulen strode into the kitchen and ladled some water from the bucket into a mug, then took it back to her. Atty drank it all.
“Better?”
“Yeah.” She gave him a loving smile.
He quickly unbelted his sword and threw it onto the other chair. Then he sat on the floor at her feet. “Okay, Atty. Tell me what’s going on. Tell me what my men aren’t seeing.”
“They’re doing it to protect you.”
He blinked, momentarily taken aback. It was not an answer he had anticipated. Atty continued.
“The Mutah know how much this summit means to you. They also know that any little problem could quickly escalate, and possibly blow this whole thing up in your face.”
“So they’re keeping knowledge of all those attacks from me and my men?”
She nodded. “I get regular reports. They want your mission to succeed. They know it has to succeed if there’s any chance for our kind to continue living.”
He frowned slightly. “How many attacks have there been?”
She bit her lower lip, and he could feel his gut tighten. That little quirk of hers told him the answer would not be to his liking.
“Forty or so, give or take.”
“Forty?”
“Nothing serious,” she hastened to add. “Mostly name calling. Taunts. Threats. Little accidental encounters. Our soldiers have been doing a very good job of keeping a constant presence among the population.”
“Forty?” He bowed his head, resting his forehead on her knee. A hand reached out to stroke his hair. It reminded him of the countless times he’d done the same to her. The effect helped to ease the headache that had started to plague him.
“How could I have been so naive?”
“My love, what you are attempting is monumental in itself. The fact that so many Battle Lords have agreed to this meeting is a remarkable feat. You’ve come so far. Yes, there are going to be missteps. Problems. Complications. But remember, nothing is easy if it’s worth obtaining.”
Reaching up, he snagged her hand and brought it to his lips. “Sometimes, Atty, your faith in me is frightening.”
She laughed lightly. “I could say the same.”
Sitting up, he looked her directly in the eye. “In the future, I want to know every time something happens to a Mutah, understand me?”
Her smile disappeared. “Yulen.”
“I need to know. I want to see if a single person is behind all the attacks, or if there is a group or any kind of conspiracy out there trying to destroy the purpose behind this gathering. Promise me you’ll keep me informed.”
“I will.”
“One more thing. When we met with Tabert, I could tell something bothered you. What was it? Is he one I should keep a closer eye on?”
“He’s oily, Yulen. He reminds me so much of Collaunt.”
Yulen gritted his teeth. Anger continued to seethe inside his chest as he recalled the ex-Battle Lord of Bearinger. “I was a fool to believe this entire event was running as smoothly as it appeared.”
“Might I make another suggestion? Relocate those Battle Lords whom you know are loyal to you inside the first wall, and let the remainder camp in the second circle.”
“That makes sense. I’ll have my men help with the moving.”
“How will you explain the changes if the Battle Lords object?”
Grinning, Yulen replied, “I don’t have to explain. It’s my compound.”
“Some won’t like the change.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not here to please everyone’s whim. I’m here to try and broker peace between Normals and Mutah. Now.” He got to his feet and helped Atty to stand. “You promised you’d go back to bed.”
“Tuck me in?” She peered up at him through her dark blue lashes and added an impish grin.
Chuckling, Yulen lifted her into his arms and carried her up the winding stairs, but it would be a while before he came back downstairs to retrieve his weapon and leave.
Chapter Fourteen
Renewal
Atty awoke at the first restless movement she heard coming from the baby’s room. A glance out the multi-paned window revealed the peach pale glimmer of dawn. She looked over at the form lying beside her to discover her husband hadn’t been roused. It had been late when she’d retired. No telling how much later it had been when he’d finally called it a night. She had no memory of when he’d joined her.
Slipping out of bed, she walked around the foot to the other side, to where the nursery was located, and went into the next room where Mattox was already pulling himself up to a standing position at the side of the crib.
“Hey, little man. You’re up early this morning.”
The child smiled at her and cooed. His eyes were a soft shade of pink as he lifted pudgy arms for her. Atty picked him up and cradled him, placing kisses on his forehead and cheek as she carried him over to the changing table.
“I hate to do this to you, Mattox, but you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your grandmother these next few days. Your daddy and I don’t want anyone to get an idea of what you look like. There are some bad people who might to take you away from us. But don’t worry. We’ll come see you often, and I’ll still feed you. And when this is all over, I promise to take you outside the compound again so you can see the birds and all.”
She changed his diaper as she talked to him. The baby boy watched her as he blew spit bubbles of delight. When she was done, she carried him over to the rocking chair near the nursery window. As she rocked and watched out the window the comings and goings of the new day, she fed her son. So engrossed in the moment, she wasn’t aware they were being watched until a low voice spoke.
“They say that in the days before the Great Collision, there were boxes called cameras that could take a picture of what was happening that very instant. That way you would always have something to remind you of that moment.”
“Sounds nice.”
Yulen stepped inside the nursery and padded barefoot over to where she was gently rocking their son back to sleep. “I’ve lost count of how many times I wished I had one of those cameras. Especially for moments like this. Seeing you and Mattox, sitting here like this with the sunrise shining behind you.”
He leaned down to kiss her, then dropped a kiss on his son’s thick crop of brown curls. “What was that I heard about Mother keeping him for a while?”
“I asked her if she’d take care of him while everything was going on. I don’t want anyone getting a good look at him, and possibly targeting him.”
Yulen frowned. “I never thought of it, but you’re right. We shouldn’t put Mattox in harm’s way. There’s too much of a chance this conference could backfire, and someone might get the idea of taking him hostage.”
Atty shook her head slowly. Her hair had grow
n out until the ends touched her collar bone. In the morning light, the strands reflected with bright blue glimmers. Yulen watched for another couple of minutes as the infant’s suckling became sporadic, and his eyes began to droop.
“I’m going ahead and getting ready to start the day’s festivities.”
“I’ll join you as soon as I deliver Mattox to Madigan.”
“Don’t forget to wear your blue velvet gown and your circlet. Meet me at the main tent near the bell. As soon as you can get there, the sooner I can welcome everyone, and we can proceed.”
He kissed her goodbye and left the room. She could hear him going into the bathroom. Shortly thereafter, the sound of boots descended the stairs, and the front door opened and closed.
Berta had hung the freshly-cleaned dress on a hook on the bedroom wall. Atty hadn’t worn it since she and Yulen had traveled to Wallis where Yulen presented her as the Battle Lady. Following that, he had helped her people reinforce their compound, and immediately after that he claimed Wallis as one of his holdings, promising the Mutah his protection.
She slipped on the dress, noting how Berta had let out the seams around the waist, hips, and bosom. She was no longer the thin, half-starved woman Yulen had captured and brought to Alta Novis a year ago. Since then, with proper food, Yulen’s love, and the birth of their son, she had filled out at bit. “You put some meat on those bones,” as Berta often teased her.
After brushing her hair, leaving it in loose waves, she placed the silver circlet with its large purple sapphire upon her brow. The results seen in the small mirror hanging in the bathroom were of a young and mature woman. But if someone were to look into her eyes, they would see the shadows of an old soul who had already witnessed and experienced a lifetime of experiences, both good and bad, in her twenty-one years.
She wrapped Mattox in a blanket, grabbed the bag she kept packed, and hurried to deliver him to the clinic. Liam opened the door and ushered her inside.
“Madigan is getting dressed. Is this everything?” The doctor peered inside the bag. Atty smiled, knowing the man didn’t have a clue as to what infants needed.