“He’ll be a liability.”
“He’s our son. He’s already our miracle child. He should never have been born in the first place. He should never have survived, and grew strong, and gotten to be the kind of man he’s become, but he has.”
A tiny smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “You’re going to fight me on this, aren’t you?”
“Damn right, I am. As long and as far as I have to. Yulen…” She walked up to him and drew her arms around his waist. He didn’t hesitate to wrap his own arms about her as she pressed her cheek to his chest. “If we have to lose him, I have to be there. I have to be there at the end. Please understand.”
“I do understand, beloved. But try to see my reasoning, too. Iain is still unskilled and just as untested in his field as Luc is. If Luc falls victim to this disease, Liam is his best and only hope for recovery.”
She could see his point. And yet…
“What if Liam can’t save him?” she softly asked. Lifting her face, she gazed up at him. “I can’t send him away, thinking I’ll never see him alive again. Please don’t ask me to. You were there with me when he came into this world. If he’s going to die, please, Yulen, let us both be there for him when he leaves it.”
He kissed her forehead as he gave a heavy sigh. At that moment she knew what his decision would be.
“I’ve never witnessed a Mutah under the influence of the water disease. What signs should we be watching for?”
“There won’t be any foaming at the mouth, or the deep thirst. At first it’ll appear that he’s becoming forgetful. He’ll miss major details. He won’t remember conversations. Then he’ll forget ordinary, everyday routines. Following that, he’ll start to envision full-blown hallucinations. That’s when he’ll become angry and combative, because he’ll believe he’s under attack. It won’t matter if it’s friends or family, he’ll fight off everyone.”
She felt her husband tense beneath her embrace. “How long does it last?” he whispered.
“It could be two to three days before the first signs appear. After that, the rest will quickly show. Once he becomes dangerous to himself and others, it’ll only be a matter of hours before his body collapses from the stress and strain. He’ll slip into unconsciousness, and death occurs shortly thereafter.”
“So...what you’re telling me that our son could be dead within the week?” His voice hitched at the end of the question.
Atty managed to nod. “If the disease takes effect, yes. But, my love, we have to have faith. We have to remain strong for him. He may not come down with it.”
“Or he could show the sickness the way Normals do,” Yulen countered.
“Or he could show the sickness in a way neither Normals nor Mutah do,” she pointed out. “We must remain vigilant, and keep a close eye on him at all times.”
He pulled away from her, albeit reluctantly. “I’m going back over to the clinic to check on him. I take it Iain’s staying with him tonight?”
“I think he said he and Dr. Maynard are taking turns watching for any signs of reaction.”
“Good. I’ll order Iain to remain with him at all hours.”
“What about sleep?”
Yulen glance askance at her. “If necessary, we’ll have Luc tied up, to prevent him from hurting himself or anyone else in case…” His voice trailed off, but she understood what he meant. In case their son turned.
“Yulen?”
The battle lord paused on his way out the door and glanced back at her.
“Check his soft armor. If it needs repair, bring it back with you.”
He gave her a nod in acknowledgement and left the room.
*
He didn’t see the guards saluting him as he passed them by. Neither did he hear the familiar cry of “Battle Lord About!” when he entered the courtyard and headed toward the infirmary. His thoughts kept his sight turned inward. Thoughts and memories. And his deep love for his son.
Yes, he knew he’d been harder on Luc than he’d ever been with Matt. He admitted he’d sometimes driven a wedge between himself and his youngest son because of it. But he hadn’t done it to defeat the boy, or make him feel inferior—although, at times, Atty’s anger at him for some of the things she’d witnessed made him realize that. He’d done it to make the child stronger, and fiercer, and more self-reliant because he didn’t have the added edge that his two siblings had.
He didn’t love Luc any less because of the boy’s lesser abilities. He loved him more. And his fear of Luc not being able to fend for himself was part of the reason he’d decided to bring his son along with them.
One of these days, he and Atty would no longer be around to protect and defend their children. He wanted to be sure that, when that time came, Luc could stand up for himself as strongly as the other two, and not need to rely on them for help.
The lit lantern hanging outside the infirmary’s door signaled the doctor was still available. Yulen went inside without knocking, to find Dr. Maynard turning out the lights inside the waiting room. The physician glanced up in anticipation, but relaxed when he recognized the battle lord. Regardless, he inquired, “Are you in need of medical attention?”
“No. I came to see my son.”
The man nodded, already expecting that to be the answer. “I just gave him a sleeping solution. He’s still awake, so try to keep your visit short.”
Yulen promised he would and walked into the inner room.
Lucien was lying on his side, his eyes closed, his face turned toward the door. For a second Yulen wondered if he’d chosen to lie that way because it was a perfect defensive posture, or pure happenstance. As if reading his mind, the young man commented, “Matt’s dagger is under this pillow, in case my visitor wasn’t friendly.” He opened his eyes to gaze at his father. By the slightly glazed expression, Yulen could tell the medication was beginning to take effect.
“I know I said I’d let you know my decision in the morning, but I felt you deserved to hear it straight from me before then. I’ve decided to allow you to remain with our troops, and continue with us to Green River.”
Lucien lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “You decided? Or Mom convinced you?”
“A little of both,” Yulen truthfully admitted. “But there will be restrictions.”
“As if I didn’t already figure that out,” Lucien remarked sarcastically.
“Because we don’t know if you’ll respond to the bat’s attack, or how if you do succumb, I’m placing you under twenty-four hour guard.”
His son didn’t respond. Apparently he’d half-expected the order.
Walking over to the bed, Yulen knelt until his face was even with the young man’s. “Luc, I’ve never been more proud of you than I am right now.”
“Because I saved Mom’s life.”
“Not just that, but because every time I turn around, I see you coping and adapting in ways I never thought I’d witness. When you spotted that bat, your instincts kicked in and you battled that thing, even though you were at a great disadvantage.”