“Where is your older son and heir?” Hobron queried.
“Mattox isn’t my heir. All of my children are my heirs,” Yulen corrected him. “Mattox and Mistelle are back at Alta Novis, keeping it protected in my and Atty’s absence. Lucien is accompanying Atty and me on this rescue mission.”
“To Whiterock?”
“Actually, our destination is Green River. Have you heard of it?”
“No. But, as I’ve told you, we’re from further south.”
“You’re going to Green River to rescue them? From those Damaged Mutah?” Johna asked.
“We were approached by an emissary from there, asking for help. It appears…” Yulen abruptly stopped and turned a stern face to Johna. “How many of you have had the madness disease?” he demanded in a stern voice.
“None of us.”
“None of you? Are you telling me every one of you have managed to evade the virus?”
“The disease is coming from the north,” another man answered. He moved up behind Hobron. “We’ve had some people try to enter our compound, but those we determined were ill were not allowed in. That is how we managed to stave off becoming victims.”
Lucien looked to Johna. “Because of you. You’re the reason why your people haven’t gotten ill. Because you can tell who’s been sick and who hasn’t.” Another thought came to him. “Can you tell if someone is currently sick?”
“Yes. Their body temperature glows almost white hot.”
“With the virus?”
She bowed her head. “I can’t differentiate what’s making them sick. It could be the madness disease, or it could be something else.”
“Sadly, I have to admit we may have turned away someone who was legitimately in need of medical attention,” Hobron admitted. “Someone we might have been able to save. But we couldn’t take the chance.”
“How did you find out about the disease in the first place?” Yulen asked.
The councilman pointed at the huntress. “Johna and a couple other hunters were out looking for game. They came across some Normal merchants on the road. She could tell something was different about them, and they approached the caravan with caution. The merchants tried to defend themselves, but Johna was able to assure them they weren’t in any danger. That’s when they told her about the disease that was causing Mutah to turn rabid.”
Lucien gestured to Johna’s crude spear. “You manage to find game and defend yourself with that thing? You’re a stronger woman than I first gave you credit for.” It was meant to be halfway teasing, halfway serious. Although he couldn’t tell from the firelight, he got the impression she blushed from the compliment.
“So, let me get this straight. Your compound was attacked by a man claiming to be me. After you managed to escape, you’ve been traveling all this time to seek sanctuary in Alta Novis?”
“That, and to let you know about the imposter,” Hobron admitted.
“Dad, word needs to be sent to all your Mutah compound holdings about this faker,” Lucien address his father. “They need to be warned as soon as possible.”
Yulen placed his fist to his lips as if contemplating, but Lucien knew better. He recognized that look, and knew what caused it. His parents had an uncanny ability to communicate with each other over great distances. At the same time, he sensed his mother’s approach from the top of the ridge. Getting to his feet, he turned to await her descent. At the same time, the others realized someone was making their way down the slope, and lifted their weapons in anticipation. Yulen waved a hand at them.
“There’s no need for panic. It’s only my wife, returning from her exploratory mission.”
Atty finally appeared, along with Echo and Mastin. She cast a cursory glance at those gathered around fire before taking a stance next to her husband. The other Mutah stood and stared in silent awe at the woman they’d heard so much about. Even in the firelight, her deep blue hair was unmistakable, as was the expression of concern on her face.
“We have a problem,” she addressed her husband, foregoing asking about the others for the moment.
Yulen gave a nod, responding before she could go any further. “We have more than one problem,” he noted. “There’s a man out there claiming to be me, and he’s making it his mission to kill as many Mutah as he can in my name. What is it that you encountered?”
She momentarily blinked in partial disbelief at him. “Whiterock appears to be overrun with the virus. In addition, they’ve erected a blockade across the road to prevent anyone from going past it.”
“It seems we have two problems for the price of one,” Lucien quipped sarcastically.
The battle lord sighed loudly. “Why am I not surprised?”
Chapter Sixteen
Request
Lucien watched as Mastin was given orders to bring his troops over to the ridge and camp there. Paxton would also bring his group in, but to assign guard duty in shifts to make sure the road remained under watch. By moving everyone further into the woods and away from the road, the battle lord hoped they would less likely be discovered.
As the second hurried up the slope to return to the men, Yulen excused himself from the councilman’s company and gestured for Atty and Lucien to join him off to the side. Atty gave him an amused look as they went to stand by the stream, away from the others. “You do realize most of them will still be able to hear us,” she remarked.
“Doesn’t matter,” Yulen answered, and perched his hands on his hips. “Our first priority is to get to Green River and see if there are any survivors left. At this point, however, I’m doubtful there are any.”
“But we can’t be certain until we go there and find out for ourselves,” Atty noted.
“I agree. Which is why we need to find a way through that barricade as quickly as possible.”
“You said there’s a man claiming to be you?” Atty brought up.
“Yes. He says he’s on a mission of vengeance to wipe out every Mutah in every compound he encounters.”
“A mission of vengeance?”
“He says his wife Atty was killed by the virus, only they call it the madness disease. Thus his supposedly renewed hatred of all things Mutah,” Lucien supplied. “My guess is that he’s using the dead wife excuse to explain why she’s not with him.”
Atty frowned at her son. “What about the children?”
Yulen shook his head. “There was no mention of any children.”
Atty bit her lips. “If he wasn’t a Normal, I would swear he was a Damaged. He’s acting like one, and it would account for him assuming your identity and going on this tirade.”
“It would also explain what Hobron, the councilman sitting over there, told us about their weaponry. He said they weren’t wearing the kind of armor we have. And their weapons were much cruder, less refined,” Lucien told her.
Atty gave them a surprised look. “Cruder in what way?”