A wall of delicious smells assailed them as they entered the main dining hall. Dinner was being prepared, and his stomach growled in anticipation.
Lucien immediately spotted his father standing among the group of people gathered at a table near the low-burning fireplace. One of the kitchen help was piling logs in the nearby bin. During the day, there wasn’t much need for heat. But come dinner and nighttime, when the temperature dropped with the setting sun, the embers were stoked back to life.
Yulen appeared to be listening to one man in particular as he explained something Lucien couldn’t hear. By the strangers’ appearance, he could tell they weren’t from the compound. Neither were they from any compound in this area. Among the small cadre of the battle lord’s soldiers surrounding them were Yulen’s cabinet of advisors, including the two seconds, Warren Paxton and Cole Mastin. Mattox and Mistelle were also in attendance.
He followed Atty, stopping beside his brother as she went straight to her husband’s side. The man who’d been speaking paused when she appeared.
“Gentlemen, this is my wife, the Battle Lady of Alta Novis. Atty, this is Harank Pechard, an emissary from the compound of Green River.”
Pechard smiled and bobbed his head in salutation. “Madam.”
Atty gave him a quick smile. “I’ve never heard of that compound. Where’s it located?”
“To the west, in the Newmex territories.”
“Who’s your battle lord?”
“Siman Veers.”
“Green River. Veers. I’ve never heard those names before,” Atty commented. “But there is a lot to the west that I’m not familiar with.”
“Yet, we have heard of you,” Pechard remarked with a wan smile.
Lucien saw his father take notice of his arrival, and the battle lord motioned toward him. “And this is my other son, Lucien.”
Lucien and Pechard exchanged a brief salutation. Yulen informed Atty as to the situation. “Veers is seeking help. His compound is being attacked by Damaged.”
“How long have they been under siege?” she questioned.
“By the time we managed to escape, it had been three weeks, madam,” Pechard replied for Yulen.
“Why have you come to us?” Mattox broke in. “Surely there are other compounds closer to you where you could seek help.”
Lucien eyed the three newcomers. Pechard and his two accompanying guards looked like they were on their last legs. Splattered with mud and blood, it was obvious they had been through sheer hell to get here. Pechard himself wobbled slightly, signaling he was about to collapse. He started to comment when Atty intervened.
“These men are beyond exhausted. Sit, gentlemen, sit. Holden, go fetch someone from the kitchen and have them bring water for these men.”
A soldier saluted. “Fetching someone to bring them water, my lady,” he repeated, and hurried off.
Pechard gave her a grateful look. “We appreciate the hospitality, madam.” He turned his attention to Mattox, but Lucien discerned the man didn’t quite look his brother in the eyes. The affect was not lost on Mattox, either, but it wasn’t the first time people tried not to make eye contact with the half-Mutah. Not when the entirety of Mattox’s eyes were a bright scarlet, emphasizing his Mutah heritage.
“We managed to make it to Tarkington, the next compound over, but it had already fallen. Same for Schutz Ridge. By then we were at a loss where we could go to seek help. If those two heavily-guarded compounds were gone, then we knew the Damaged must have advanced from the east and were heading west. So we turned north and prayed for luck.”
“Go on,” Yulen urged.
Before Pechard could continue, a servant from the kitchen arrived with a tray bearing three large mugs of water and a full pitcher. Setting the tray on the table, he turned to Yulen. “Would sir want us to bring our guests something to eat?”
“I’ll let you know. Thank you, Brally.”
Mastin stepped forward. “Please continue. You went north and?”
“After four days, we came across a Mutah compound called Lost Traces.”
Atty brightened. “I know where that’s at!” She turned to her husband. “They’re part of the southern chain.”
“Isn’t the Mutah compound of Weller the hub of that chain?”
“Exactly.”
Pechard looked from the battle lord to the lady and back in confusion. “Southern chain?”
Yulen momentarily ignored the question. “Were you directed to a Mutah compound named Weller?”
“Uhh, yes. Yes, we were.”
“And that’s how you found out about us,” Atty concluded.
Pechard gave a slight nod. “We’d already heard of the Battle Lord and Lady of Alta Novis. Most people believe that what they’ve heard and read are mere fantasies, or overblown accounts of your exploits. But it was the main council there in Weller who directed us to come here and ask for your assistance. They assured us the tales of your exploits were not fiction.” The man glanced at the two soldiers flanking him. “They told us you’d defeated a Damaged army four years ago, and they haven’t come back. Any help, anything you can give us…”
The man appeared ready to break down. He looked totally defeated. What’s more, Lucien got the impression there was more to this story than what they were hearing.
“How many of you originally left Green River to seek help?” he impulsively asked. The question surprised him. He had not thought of what he was going to say beforehand. It just popped into his head from out of nowhere.
Pechard gave him a weary eye. “There were twelve of us. We three are all that are left.”
“Are you ill? Did any of you catch the virus?” Mattox demanded.
“Are all of you Normals?” Lucien added.
The emissary glanced from one to the other before settling on the battle lord. “No, we didn’t catch the virus. That’s why Veers sent us. Because we were among the few who were still healthy enough to undertake this mission. And, yes, we are all Normals.”
“How long has it been since you managed to escape your compound and make it to here?” Atty inquired.
“It’s been…” The man silently counted the days. “Eight da-No, nine. Nine days…I think. Nine?” He turned to one of his companions.
The soldier gave a slow nod. “Nine,” the man confirmed.
“If it’s been nine days, then the compound’s probably fallen by now,” Mistelle remarked.
“Not necessarily,” Yulen countered. He gestured to one of his men. “Show these gentlemen to the rooms at the other end of the hall. Finster, go find out why it’s taking Fergus so long—”
“Never fear. The doctor is here,” a voice said from behind. Everyone turned around to see Iain MaGrath striding toward them, medical bag in hand.
“Father summoned Fergus,” Mattox noted.