“I had my sword, and I had Matt’s dagger with me, but I still failed to kill it,” Lucien countered.
“You used it sufficiently to disable it. I don’t think any other man would have been able to overcome that thing single-handedly.”
Lucien closed his eyes and sighed. For a moment, Yulen thought he had drifted off to sleep, when his son spoke again. “I won’t let you down,” the young man promised softly.
“I know you won’t,” Yulen responded, and patted him on the arm. Straightening up, he noticed Lucien’s breathing had slowed. His son was finally sinking into restful, healing sleep.
Lucien’s soft armor lay in a heap nearby. Grabbing it, the battle lord let himself out, noticing that the lantern that had been lit outside the building when he’d arrived had been extinguished. Pausing, he pressed his back to the door. Alone in that moment of solitude, Yulen bowed his head and said a prayer for his son’s health. When he was done, he swiped at the moisture gathered in his eyes with the back of his hand, sniffed, and left to return to the rooms where he knew Atty would be waiting for him.
Chapter Eleven
Preparation
Lucien was pulling on his boots when his mother entered the room. The first thing he noticed was the pile of soft armor she carried in her arms. She dumped the load onto the bed.
“I had the armorer work on it last night. He cleaned off the blood and did what he could to stitch up the rips in it.”
Lucien lifted the overshirt to examine it. Apparently the armorer had added overlays to the shoulders and sleeves, as well as across the back and neck area, to protect the repairs he’d made. Some extra padding had also been added.
“How are you feeling?”
He looked up at her as he proceeded to pull the shirt over his head. It got stuck on the bandage at the back of his head, but Atty was able to help him get the shirt past it.
“Fine. I feel fine.”
“No dizziness? No fever?”
“So far, no.”
She held out a handful of chain mail. “This is to protect your neck. Turn around and I’ll fasten it for you.”
He eyed the hook and eye closure. He didn’t need to ask why there was what appeared to be a lockable attachment soldered to it. Instead, he silently obeyed as she lifted the shirt’s collar to attach the contrivance around his throat.
She glanced around the room as he sheathed his sword and dagger, and stood up. “I take it you haven’t had breakfast.”
“No. Iain and I are heading over there now.”
Atty smiled. “I saw him checking his bag when I came in, and told him to go ahead. That I’d walk with you over there.”
Lucien grimaced, but offered her his arm. Until they were certain he suffered no ill effects from the bat, he would have someone constantly by his side.
They didn’t hurry on their way over to the dining hall. Instead, it felt more like a casual stroll through the compound. “Thank you,” he finally said as the large building came into view.
His mother didn’t ask why the thanks, giving his arm a squeeze instead. “I think your father already decided to take you with us before I had the chance to argue my case.”
“What makes you say that?” he queried, making it clear he didn’t quite believe her.
Atty sighed. “Because he didn’t try to talk me out of it. It was probably the easiest argument I’ve ever won.” He glanced over to find her grinning at him. Chuckling, he escorted her into the dining hall.
A feeling of déjà vu swept over him. Although the main room at New Bearinger didn’t resemble the one at Alta Novis, it felt the same, and sounded the same, and smelled the same. Many of the soldiers sitting at the tables were faces he recognized. Everything was both familiar and reassuring…except for one thing.
Something was different.
He couldn’t explain it or put it into words. Nor could he pinpoint what exactly was causing him distress. All he knew, and knew without any doubt, was that something had changed.
He glanced down at his hands, clenching them into fists, then spreading his fingers. A shiver of fear went through him. Was it possible he was getting this feeling because of what he’d suffered from the rabid bat?
A hand grabbed his wrist. “Are you okay?” Atty stared deep into his eyes, her own fear evident.
He managed a weak smile. “Yeah. Just tired. But I’ll make it. Promise.”
He couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t say anything to anyone. Not now. Later, he promised himself. I’ll confide in Iain once we’re back on the road.
He and Atty joined the table where his father and Sy Volcheck were hunched over a map, along with Pechard and his two guards. Taking a seat at the far end of the table, a platter was set in front of him, and he began eating as he listened to their conversation.
“We’ll turn due west once we reach Whiterock. From there, how far is it to Green River?” Yulen questioned the emissary.
“Normally, a little more than three days. Schutz Ridge is a day’s ride from Whiterock, and Tarkington is another day’s journey. Green River is a day’s ride from there.”
“Boom, boom, boom,” Cole Mastin quipped. “Three in a row.”
“Actually, there are nine of us, more or less a day’s ride apart,” Pechard said. “We found it was imperative to be that close together in the event of a Blood attack.”
Yulen grunted. “You said both Schutz Ridge and Tarkington had been taken over by the Damaged?”
The emissary gave a nod. “That’s what we’ve been told, but we didn’t get close enough to verify it. Didn’t dare.”
“What about Whiterock?”
“Don’t know about Whiterock either way. Once we reached Schutz Ridge, that’s when we detoured through the woods.”
The battle lord straightened. “All right. Since we don’t know about Whiterock, I want everyone in full battle armor before we leave here.”
“Including helmets?” Warren Paxton asked.
“No, but keep it in arm’s reach. Except for you.” He stared at his son. “You will wear yours to protect that wound.”
Lucien gave a nod as both seconds left the hall to inform the troops.
“Lucien.”
He looked back to his father.
“You’ll ride behind me and your mother. Let Iain know I also want him in that position.”
“I’ll tell him,” Lucien said. The order didn’t surprise him. As the weakest soldiers in the group, and because he and Iain were family, they would be kept within the innermost circle for their protection. It made even more sense now because of his uncertain health.
“All right.” Yulen rolled up the map and shoved it inside his shirt. “Everyone listen up! Eat hearty! We leave within the hour!”
Lucien bent over his trencher, when a hand touched his shoulder.
“Your mother says you’re feeling okay. The moment you sense anything different, notify someone immediately, understand?”