This Battle Lord's Quest Read online

  “I’m afraid not.” The man smiled at Madigan. “Carrying this child as long as you did was a miracle.”

  “A miracle, thanks to my husband.”

  “But, unfortunately, there’s nothing I can suggest or offer to make your breasts produce milk. I’ve seen many women who were unable to breastfeed their babies. They had to give them an alternate source like cow or goat milk. If they were very lucky, they were able to find a nursemaid.” He nodded in the direction of the crib. “He will need to start feeding soon.”

  “I’ve already asked Berta get on that,” MaGrath said. “She should be delivering the first set of feeding sacks soon.”

  “Thank you again, Saxon.” Madigan reached over to grasp the man’s arm. “You were a prayer answered.”

  “How long can you stay?” MaGrath asked.

  Saxon released the wrist and glanced around the room. “That’s what I came to discuss with you.” He turned to Atty. “Since you’re the Battle Lord’s Lady, I take it you would have a major say in accepting my request.”

  “What request?”

  “I wish to remain here.”

  “From now on?” Madigan gasped.

  “What about the medical school?” MaGrath questioned.

  Saxon shook his head. “I’m getting too far along in my years. The winters up north have gotten too brutal for my bones.” He waggled a finger at MaGrath. “Those letters we’ve exchanged ever since you left Far Troit, especially your more recent ones, the ones where you tell me about the medicinal herbs and practices you’ve learned from the Mutah? I haven’t felt such an intense desire to dip my hands back into working with the infirmed in years. In fact, I haven’t felt any sort of interest in anything since Remella died last year.”

  “Remella?” Atty repeated.

  “His wife,” MaGrath said. “What about your son and daughter?” he directed to the elderly man.

  Saxon waved a hand. “They live in different compounds, along with their spouses and kids. I hear from them every now and then, but hardly get to see them. They say the roads are too dangerous.” A smile creased the corners of the physician’s lips. “Of course, if I took up residence here, chances are they might be willing to make the trip to come visit. After all, this is Alta Novis.” He grinned at Atty, then turned back to MaGrath. “You’re not a young sprout anymore, either. Why don’t you have someone interning under you?”

  “I did, but he was killed in a skirmish.” MaGrath shrugged. “Honestly, I haven’t had the time to actively seek out someone else to train.”

  “Which brings me to my second proposition. This area is growing in population. It’s too many people for one man alone to tend to.”

  MaGrath’s eyes widened. “Are you thinking of setting up practice here?”

  “Something better. I want to open up a second school of medicine.”

  Everyone gasped in surprise. After having a moment to think about it, Madigan glanced at Atty. “Could Alta Novis support such an endeavor?”

  Atty already knew the answer, and gave Saxon a sad smile. “Alta Novis is growing at such a rate now, we’re hard pressed to keep it running smoothly. I don’t see how we could sustain setting up a major school like that.”

  “What about Foster City?” Madigan offered.

  “What about New Bearinger?” MaGrath intervened.

  Atty brightened. “New Bearinger would be perfect! The compound is small, but it has lots of space for expansion. It’s well fortified, and it’s only a few days’ ride from here!”

  “I didn’t come here to take away your practice or your patients,” Saxon told them. “I came to offer my assistance and years of knowledge. In return, I want to establish a separate learning facility. More than that, I want to open it to the Mutah communities. I want them to share their years of knowledge about the local plant life, and any other diseases and remedies they can teach us about.”

  As one, all three people looked to Atty. For her, the answer was simple. “I think we would be idiots to turn down this chance, and I know Yulen will agree with me. Go ahead and make your plans, Saxon.” She got to her feet and held out a hand to her son. “Come on, Mattox. Let’s go find Daddy.”

  “Duddy Battoh Ward,” the child commented, grasping her fingers.

  “That’s right. Saxon? We will set you up in a small apartment here in the compound. You’re welcome to stay as our guest for as long as you want. As soon as I know where, I’ll send a man to show you where it’s located.”

  “Excellent!” The old man’s eyes sparkled.

  “Mattox, say goodbye to Iain.”

  The young boy gazed up at her, pink eyes quizzing. Atty pointed to the crib.

  “The baby’s name is Iain. Can you say Iain?”

  “Eeen.”

  MaGrath laughed. “Close enough. Come, Saxon. Let’s take this into my office where we can start drawing up plans, and let my wife and son rest in quiet.” The man paused. “My son.” The words were whispered almost in disbelief as his eyes rested on the small crib that had originally been Mattox’s.

  Giving her own son’s hand a little tug, Atty led him out the back door and into the main hall, where they nearly ran into Vita, one of Berta’s kitchen help. The young woman carried a bucket with a lid.

  “Hi, Madam!”

  “Let me guess. The milk sacks for Iain?”

  Vita frowned. “Who’s Iain? Oh! Is that what they named him? How cute! Excuse me, but I need to hurry and deliver this, and get back to the kitchen.”

  Atty pulled Mattox to the side to allow the woman to go by. Several soldiers already seated at the table and waiting for their trenchers to arrive waved and called out in greeting. Atty waved back and started to exit out the side door, when she heard her name. It was Berta, who hurried to catch up to her.

  “Madam, do you have a moment?”

  “For you, always. What’s up?”

  “Have you seen our storage lately?”

  “I’m sorry. No. Tell me about it.” Atty knew she had assumed a huge enterprise when she’d taken over the compound duties, as required of all Battle Lords’ ladies in the past. With Alta Novis growing daily, those duties had increased, until there were weeks that would go by without her having the opportunity to go hunting for food, much less pleasure.

  Berta nodded with understanding. “I’ve tapped Fortune and his hunting buddies to help gather game to supplement our larders, but these past couple of months, they’ve barely managed to forage enough to feed all the soldiers.”

  Barely enough? This was troubling news. “What else did he say?”

  “Not much. You might want to discuss it with him. He was very apologetic.”

  If Fortune Kalich, one of the best Mutah hunters she’d ever know, had difficulty obtaining game for the tables, circumstances had to be bad.

  “Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I’ll go speak with him.”

  A heavy tug on her hand reminded her Mattox was getting restless to go.

  “Oh, one more thing. Do you know of anyone who might offer to be a nursemaid to Iain, Liam’s new baby?”

  Berta’s face lit up. “Ooh, that little darling. They named him Iain? Darling name. No. I don’t know of anyone at the moment who’s still nursing who could make the offer. Why? Is the Madam unable to feed him?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  The head cook nodded. “It’s not unusual, given the Madam’s age. It’s a miracle the baby came at all. I’ll put out the word you’re looking.”

  “Great.” Atty gave the woman’s arm a squeeze of thanks. “I’ll get back with you about the larder. How are we doing in the meantime?”

  “I can serve another three meals. Maybe four, if I can get some more vegetables to augment it. I’d hate to have to slaughter a cow. We’re going to need every head of cattle to help us through the winter.”

  The woman was right. If game was scarce now, it would be practically impossible to find once the snows arrived.

  Leaving the main lodge, Atty debated with herself whether to first seek out her husband to tell him the good news about Saxon, or to find Fortune and discuss the food shortage. She was nearly at her lodge when a familiar voice called out.

  “My grandmother used to call that ruminating.”

  Atty halted and glanced back to see Yulen’s Second trotting up to join her. “Hi, Mastin! What did you say?”

  He made a circling motion with his hand around his face. “That deep frown on your face just now. Whenever my grandfather looked that way, Grandmums said he was ruminating. Thinking hard thoughts. Hey, Matt! How’s my boy?” He picked up the child and playfully tossed him into the air, eliciting a delighted giggle from the toddler.

  She gave a tired sigh. “I’m definitely ruminating. Where’s Yulen?”

  “Over by the north gate. Do you need me to fetch him?” He put the child back down, but continued to hold onto the length of rope that was always attached to the child these days.

  “What’s with the north gate?” Normally the man would be with the Battle Lord, unless he’d been sent on an errand.

  “He’s thinking of widening it, to allow large carts to pass through.”

  “Have you seen Warren?”

  “He was still on the practice field when I left there this morning.”

  Atty silently reprimanded herself. That was another thing she was in arrears with. She hadn’t made time for some decent target practice in over a week.

  A warm hand clutched her upper arm. She raised her face to meet Mastin’s concerned gaze.

  “Atty, stop that right now.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Ever since Rafe’s death, you’ve gotten into your head that somehow you were responsible. You’re trying to take on caring for the whole compound, but you c
an’t. Not anymore. It’s too much for one person.”

  She flashbacked to her imprisonment and torture at the hands of Yulen’s half-brother and his men. “If I had been more diligent—”

  “Oh, that’s bullshit, Atty, and you know it,” the Second sternly stated. “No one knew what that maniac had planned. No one saw it coming, not even Yulen, or else he wouldn’t have gone with Batuset back to Foster City.” He gave her a little shake. “Alta Novis is twice the size it was when you first arrived. Quit trying to take on all its problems and overseeing every little detail, and start delegating, or else you’re going to burn yourself out.”

  Atty narrowed her eyes. “Did you come here to beat me over the head until I came to my senses? Or was there another reason why you’re not over at the north gate with Yulen?” Although she tried to sound strict, she knew Mastin could see right through her. As she expected, the man laughed and dropped his hand.

  “The hunters’ caste has asked to meet with him. He wants you there.”

  “When? Now?”

  “Yeah. He’s holding up the talks until you can get there.”

  “Are they meeting at the north gate?”

  “At the practice field.”

  Atty glanced down where Mattox was calmly sitting on the ground and playing in the dirt with his toy horse and a twig.

  “Don’t worry. I have orders to take the Battle Prince to Tory.”

  She flashed the man a relieved smile. “Thanks!”

  Leaving her son to his adopted uncle, she hastened toward the rear of the compound.

  Chapter Four

  Plan

  Seven men were gathered in the field, near the archery range. Atty recognized her husband first. He was easy to spot with his red-gold hair blazing in the late summer sun. With him was Warren Paxton, her personal Second, as well as Fortune and the other four men who were part of the unique hunters caste for the compound. The men were sitting cross-legged on the dry grass, but got to their feet when she approached.

  “Mastin will be along shortly,” she announced as she joined them, taking her place in the empty spot next to her husband. “Oh, and I have good news for you, Yulen. Your brother’s name is officially Iain Stuart MaGrath.”

  Yulen smiled but lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “What happened to Augustus?”

  “It was a ruse Liam used so Madigan would accept the name he really wanted. Iain was his grandfather’s name.”

  “Stuart’s from Mother’s side,” he remembered, and nodded. “We’ll be having the naming ceremony soon, then, I take it.”

  “I’m glad you called this meeting,” she directed at the other men. “I spoke with Berta a few minutes ago. Does this have anything to do with the lack of game coming out of the forest?”

  “It does,” Gerenth acknowledged. “And we think we know why.”

  Vashayn continued. “It’s not just the growth of this compound that’s contributing to the lack of game. We’ve been careful, you’ve been careful, we’ve all been very careful to follow the laws of the hunters caste.”

  “Not to overkill or decimate a single species,” Yulen noted.

  Fortune nodded. “But we believe that a combination of issues has caused this drought.”

  “The Bloods?” Atty ventured.

  “And the fire used to drive out Rafe D’Jacques and his men,” Fortune added.

  Gerenth snorted. “When was the last time you heard a wolfen howl during the night? If they’re not prowling around, you know game is nonexistent.”

  “In addition, we’ve noticed others leaving the compound to go hunting. These men are not members of the caste, so they don’t follow our laws,” Dergus spoke out.

  “I can’t tell the people who live here they can’t go outside the compound and search for food.” Yulen made himself clear up front. “If a man’s family is hungry, he has the right to go looking for something to put on the table.”

  Fortune nodded. “We understand that, Yulen, and we’re not saying they don’t have that right. What we’re suggesting is that we have a meeting of all hunters, and teach them our ways, our rules.”

  “I don’t see how that’s going to solve our immediate problem,” Atty commented. “Even if we give classes to everyone in the compound, we’re still facing a food shortage, and we’re heading into the winter months.”

  Yulen shifted over, moving closer to Atty to make room for Mastin, who joined them. Her husband’s leg and thigh pressed against hers, and his touch sent waves of delightful chills through her body. She glanced sideways at the Battle Lord, who didn’t appear affected by the contact, although she thought she noted movement in the crotch of his pants.

  It had been late when they had left the clinic last night to return to their lodge. Yulen had taken a late bath and joined an already sleeping Atty in their bed. In the morning, she’d been awakened by a toy horse clip-clopping across her arm, and a son plaintively crying he was hungry. The child still wore his father’s old tunic he insisted on wearing to sleep in, leaving Atty to wonder if the baby had left the Kalich apartment and wandered home on his own after spending the night with Granma Tory and Granpa Fortune. He had tried that same stunt in the past, but had gotten lost along the way. After a frantic search, they’d found him happily playing at swords with one of the guards, who hadn’t known the child was missing.

  A clunking sound coming from downstairs was her clue the front door was wide open, as Mattox hadn’t closed it when he’d come in. Since the other side of the bed was empty, it meant Yulen had arisen earlier and was already gone, which was why the door had been unlocked in the first place. Her husband’s absence also meant any chance for some early morning sex was nil. The memory of last night in the kitchen, and that moment that nearly escalated into ecstasy, would have to remain unfulfilled for a while longer.

  Yulen’s remark drew her from her reverie, but did nothing to stop the sizzling want growing hotter and wetter between her thighs.

  “Fortune, I know you wouldn’t call us together to discuss this issue unless you have a plan.”

  The Mutah nodded at the Battle Lord. “We would like to call in all members of the hunters caste from the surrounding Mutah communities, and those from Foster City. We will split into eight groups, and each of us take a compass point, north, northeast, east, southeast, south, and so forth. Travel two days out, two days back, and report on what they found.”

  “Is that to include bringing back prey?” Atty questioned.

  “Definitely.”

  “Is two days enough to give you a clear grasp of what’s available?” Mastin wondered. “Why not three days? Or a week?”

  “We feel that two days will suffice,” Dergus answered. “Any further, and we could encroach upon the lands hunted by other compounds.”

  “It would also provide us with current information for the map makers,” Vashayn added.

  Atty agreed. “However, we’re all aware that the majority of the population growth is coming from the north to settle in the south and west. For all we know, the east is mostly barren and unexplored. Why not send a larger force to investigate what lies east?”

  Gerenth shook both of his heads. “It’s too risky. Too dangerous. We’ll only send our most experienced hunters in that direction.” He looked at Yulen pointedly. “If the Battle Lord agrees to our plan.”

  But Atty refused to have her idea so easily dismissed. “Why are you balking? How is it too risky and dangerous? Is it because it’s largely unexplored?”

  “Too many big animals roam there,” Dergus told her. “Dangerous animals, most of them highly mutated creatures.”

  “How do you know that?”

  Fortune stepped in. “Because we’ve had hunters in the past go in that direction, and those who survived returned to tell us accounts of nature gone amok. Ants the size of cows. Vultures with thirty-foot wingspans.”

  “I see your point,” Yulen agreed.

  “So do I. I remember hearing those tales when I was growing up. However, there’s still a very important point to be made.” Atty noticed she had everyone’s attention and curiosity lit. “If there are creatures out there of those proportions, who’s to say none of them are edible? We all know that, with few exceptions, nearly every living thing is palatable.” She caught Fortune and Yulen exchanging glances, and smiled. “Furthermore, animals don’t grow to those extremes unless they have plenty to eat themselves. So...what are they feeding on? Each other? If there are so many of those animals roaming about, why don’t we focus solely on heading east, instead of dividing our resources?”