Page 26 of Lucie
Chapter Thirteen
Johna
He reacted without thinking, swinging his left arm upward to ward off the other attacker’s blade. The metal struck the side of his helmet, making a bell-like sound, while at the same time he whirled to the right and ducked. Plowing his shoulder into the person’s midriff, he continued to shove him backwards until they hit another tree. Ramming theside of his arm into the other’s throat and neck, he pinned him to the trunk and managed to wrest the weapon from the person’s grasp, tossing it away.
But that meant he’d left the first person free to either attack him or flee, and maybe raise a hue and cry to his companions.
He hoisted the dagger and prepared himself for an assault, when there came a soft yelp. Thestomp of boots told him the others had followed him through the trees, although it was too dark to tell who was whom.
He could feel his blood racing, shot through with adrenaline. His heart pounded loudly in his ears to the point where he couldn’t distinguish the footfalls apart. His normally acute sense of knowing who was approaching him was being drowned out by his quickened breathing,and that of his attacker.
“Luc.” His father’s voice, softly muttered, came from nearby.
“Here. Watch out. There’s another one.”
A chuckle that sounded likeRenken’ssounded to his right. “Don’t worry. I have him.”
“And I have the other one,” Lucien informed them.
“But there could be others,”Yulenwarned. “Be on guard.”
“Weneed a light,”Mastinwhispered. “We need to see who’s trying to sneak up on us.”
Almost immediately, a pale blue glow appeared asPaaspulled the little orb she always wore on a chain around her neck from inside her armor. The warrior woman slowly approached Lucien where he continued to hold his attacker at bay, and held the light up toward the pinned figure.
Bothshe and Lucien gasped as two eyes, each with double pupils, stared back at them. “Mutah!”Paasgasped, and immediately lifted her sword, aiming it at the person’s midsection.
The strange eyes turned to Lucien, but instead of seeing anger or fear in them, as he’d expected, they were almost pleading. The attacker struggled to free himself, and it was then he thought he felt…
No. It’s not possible.
Reaching down with his other hand, he brushed it across the attacker’s chest.
“Dear Lord, it’s a girl!”
“A girl?”Mastingasped.
“What about this one?”Renkenasked. “He feels puny, like a youngster.”
Paasturned around and walked over to where the ex-mercenary had his arm around the other stalker’s throat.It quickly became obvious thatRenkenwas correct in his assumption.
Paasheld the light up against the attacker’s face and scanned his features. “I don’t see any obvious mark, but that doesn’t mean anything. Are you alsoMutah?”
The person struggled in another futile attempt to breakRenken’siron grip, but failed.
“Are theyDamaged?”Mastinwonderedaloud. “Dr.MaGrath, is there way to tell if they’reDamaged?”
Iain stepped forward from where he’d been standing behindMastin. “By their appearance? No. But by their actions, definitely.”
Shoving his arm harder against his prisoner’s neck, Lucien pressed his face closer and gritted his teeth. “Who are you?”
Surprisingly, theMutahwoman squinted hereyes at him. “Someone you should not be antagonizing.”
“What should we do with them?”Mastinasked the battle lord.
Instead of replying,Yulenstrode over to where Lucien held the woman and grabbed her by the front of her coat, lifting her off her feet to glare up at her. “Do you want to live?” he growled.
The young woman glanced from him, over to Lucien,and back at the man who was holding her aloft. “Yes,” she finally admitted in a small voice.
