Page 32 of Lucie
“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 himselfD’Jacqueswasn’t me?”Yulenpressed.
“It was a feeling we had. Nothing we could prove, other than the belief that, after all we’d read and heard, the realYulenD’Jacqueswouldn’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,”Hobronadmitted.
“Then why are we sitting here?”Yulencountered. “What gave you enough doubt to trust us long enough to bring us here?”
“Because of the battle prince,”Johnaanswered. “Everyone who was with the otherD’Jacqueswas a Normal.”
“Curiosity,” Lucien remarked,earning him a fleeting smile from the woman.
Yulentook a moment to think. “Tell me about the otherD’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 theMutahcompounds he could find,” the councilman replied.
“But he was heading north?”
“Yes, but he wasn’t takingthe roads. He and his men were keeping to the trees.”
“If he planned to attack onlyMutahcompounds, it would explain why he avoided the well-traveled trails,” Lucien commented to his father. “Mutahdon’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 makinga serious mistake if he’s heading north.”
“How so?”Johnaasked.
“The further north he goes, the closer he gets to AltaNovis, and the sooner his lies will be outed. There are currently twenty-sevenMutahcompounds flying my banner. They all know me, they knowAtty, and they’ve at least met my other son, Mattox.”
“Your other son, Mattox?”HobronstudiedLucien 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,”Johnainformed the councilman.
Lucien didn’t hide his amusement. “I’m the younger son.”
“Where is your older son and heir?”Hobronqueried.
“Mattox isn’t my heir. All of my childrenare my heirs,”Yulencorrected him. “Mattox andMistelleare back at AltaNovis, keeping it protected in my andAtty’sabsence. Lucien is accompanyingAttyand me on this rescue mission.”
“ToWhiterock?”
“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 toGreen River to rescue them? From those DamagedMutah?”Johnaasked.
“We were approached by an emissary from there, asking for help. It appears…”Yulenabruptly stopped and turned a stern face toJohna. “How many of you have had the madness disease?” he demanded in a stern voice.
“None of us.”
“Noneof you? Are you telling me every one of you have managedto evade the virus?”
“The disease is coming from the north,” another man answered. He moved up behindHobron. “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 toJohna. “Because of you. You’re the reason why your people haven’t gotten ill. Becauseyou 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.”
