“She and a fellow hunter have gone on ahead to check out the compound known as Whiterock.”
Hobron’s eyes flew open. “That is a bad place. A bad place. We’ve heard the maddening disease festers among those inside the walls. Is that why you’ve come here? To visit that compound?”
“That’s what Johna tells us,” Yulen said. “And, in a way, that’s also why I’m here. Johna tells us that you’ve also come a long way, but in search of me. You tell me your story, and then I’ll tell you mine. And perhaps we can both benefit.”
The Mutah councilman scratched the back of his head. An invisible cloud of indecision seemed to swirl around him. Narrowing his eyes, Lucien tried to read the man’s intent. “You’re still doubtful we are who we claim to be,” he commented. “Why won’t you take our word for it?”
“Because, as you have so blithely remarked earlier, we previously encountered a man who said he was Yulen D’Jacques of Alta Novis. And we suffered greatly at his hands before we miraculously managed to escape with our lives.”
Chapter Fifteen
Warning
This news stunned them both, and Lucien saw his father immediately tense. “You did? Where? What happened?”
“A few weeks ago. He was leading a battalion of men.” Hobron waved at the battle lord. “But they weren’t wearing armor such as that. Or carrying such finely-crafted weapons.”
Yulen glanced at his son, and the same thought passed between them before he turned back to the councilman. “Which way were they headed?”
“North, I think.”
“When did you encounter them?”
“At our compound, or what’s left of our compound,” Hobron sadly mentioned.
Lucien glanced around and took in what he saw with a fresh eye. Yes, these were all Mutah. Or, in Johna’s case, a combination of full and half-Mutah. But they were not all hunters. He was certain at least a couple of them were merchants. Shopkeepers who’d been pressed into service to carry a weapon if for no other reason than self-preservation.
“Go on,” Yulen urged.
“There have been a surge of attacks on Mutah compounds from Normals these past few years, ours being one of them,” the councilman explained. “It got to the point where we realized we weren’t being held under siege. Their intent wasn’t to starve us into surrendering. They wanted us dead by any means possible. That’s when we decided to escape at the first opportunity and seek a place of sanctuary.” Hobron gave Yulen a pleading look. “We’d heard of you, D’Jacques. Stories about you and Atrilan have fueled our dreams for years. Now, with the loss of our compound, they’ve brought us hope. Or, if not hope, at least the possibility of finding a safe zone where we can live out our lives without fear of persecution.”
Lucien watched the barely visible tic at the corner of his father’s mouth. Ever since Yulen and Atty’s marriage, the couple had made it their life-long mission to bring Normals and Mutah together. And if not to completely eradicate, at least try to eliminate as much as possible the centuries old hatred between the two.
“What was the name of your compound?” the battle lord inquired.
“Asa Valley.”
Yulen gestured to the others standing around. “Is this all that are left?”
“Yes.”
Johna stepped forward and faced Yulen. “Your guess was correct. Phillo and I were looking for game when I caught sight of you. But we had no intention of challenging you. I could see you were Normal, and we were about to retreat when I saw you.” She looked directly at Lucien.
“You saw I was half Mutah, and that intrigued you,” Lucien remarked.
The huntress gave a nod. “We never expected to find a Mutah, or a half-Mutah, in the company of a Normal army.”
“This imposter you mentioned. Did he look anything like me?” Yulen questioned.
“No. In the face, no. But he had all your distinguishing marks.”
“Such as?”
Hobron touched his head. “He had your color hair, although it didn’t look natural. And closer to the scalp, it was very dark. Almost black.”
“Probably rinsed with a lightener. Go on.”
The Mutah touched his cheek. “He also had a scar there, but it isn’t as long or as prominent as yours.”
“And he claimed to be me.”
“Yes.”
“Was there a woman with him who claimed to be Atty?” Lucien asked.
“No.” The man adamantly shook his head, making his long hair swish from side to side. “We asked where she was. He said she’d been killed by Mutah who’d contracted the madness, and that was why he was on a mission of vengeance. To avenge her death.”
Yulen frowned. “Any mention of his children?”
“No, but we didn’t ask about them.”
“Wouldn’t have mattered,” Lucien commented. “He would have had some excuse to explain their absence.”
“Even though he supposedly had all my characteristics, what made you believe the man calling himself D’Jacques wasn’t me?” Yulen pressed.
“It was a feeling we had. Nothing we could prove, other than the belief that, after all we’d read and heard, the real Yulen D’Jacques wouldn’t do that. No matter what he’d been through, he wouldn’t try to destroy everything he’d accomplished. I have to be honest with you. We’re still somewhat skeptical of your claim, Battle Lord,” Hobron admitted.
“Then why are we sitting here?” Yulen countered. “What gave you enough doubt to trust us long enough to bring us here?”
“Because of the battle prince,” Johna answered. “Everyone who was with the other D’Jacques was a Normal.”
“Curiosity,” Lucien remarked, earning him a fleeting smile from the woman.
Yulen took a moment to think. “Tell me about the other D’Jacques. Did he say where he was heading?”
“No. Only that he was on a mission to avenge his wife’s death by wiping out all the Mutah compounds he could find,” the councilman replied.
“But he was heading north?”
“Yes, but he wasn’t taking the roads. He and his men were keeping to the trees.”
“If he planned to attack only Mutah compounds, it would explain why he avoided the well-traveled trails,” Lucien commented to his father. “Mutah don’t build their compounds near the roads.”
“And by avoiding the roads, his ruse would be less likely to be discovered by someone who actually knew me. But he’s making a serious mistake if he’s heading north.”
“How so?” Johna asked.
“The further north he goes, the closer he gets to Alta Novis, and the sooner his lies will be outed. There are currently twenty-seven Mutah compounds flying my banner. They all know me, they know Atty, and they’ve at least met my other son, Mattox.”
“Your other son, Mattox?” Hobron studied Lucien a bit closer, bending over to get a better look. His eyes widened, and he straightened up. “You’re not the red-eyed one?”
“This one said his name is Lucien,” Johna informed the councilman.
Lucien didn’t hide his amusement. “I’m the younger son.”