Page 35 of Lucie
“To open the doors and allow them inside. If we refused, they would wait us out. They said they’d prevent us from going outside the compound to gather food,or to seek help. They said they didn’t care if we starved to death. That was their intent. To eventually kill us all.”
“Surely you attempted to come to some sort of compromise with him,” Lucien insisted.
“We tried, but they never answered. All they’d say is, ‘Open the doors. Open the doors.’ They’d chant it over and over and over, all during the day and night, untilyou almost went mad from the litany.”
Attycrossed her arms over her chest. “I’m guessing that, because of their armor, plus the fact that they kept mostly to the woods, if these wereMutahpretending to beNormals, that would have prevented anyone in your compound from discovering their ruse.”
“I agree. I’ve never encountered a battle lord with inferior weapons. AlthoughI will admit that putting a compound on starvation watch used to be a common tactic used to defeat an enemy. Luc.” The battle lord turned his attention to his son. “Go fetchPrudeau.”
“What do you plan to do?”Attyquestioned.
“I’m going to have him take a squad and escort these people to NewBearinger. Then return with fifty more men.”
“You intend for us to sit here and wait for them toget back with reinforcements?”
“No. By then I hope to be on the other side ofWhiterock. The others can follow when they arrive.”
“Excuse me, Battle Lord,”Johnainterjected. “Did you say you’re sending us to NewBearinger?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why not AltaNovis?”
“It’s closer.”Yulendidn’t explain further, and gestured to his son to obey his orders. Lucien gave a quick nod and hurried towardthe slope.
As he started to ascend, he sensed someone following him, and paused to check, knowing it wasn’t one of his parents.Johnahurried to catch up with him, giving him a pleading look when she joined him. “May I ask a favor? I know I have no right to, but—”
“What is it?”
“Don’t let the battle lord send me to NewBearinger. Allow me to accompany you to this Green River compound.”
Her request surprised and puzzled him. “Why?” As soon as the question was asked, he realized it made perfect sense to bring her along.
She checked back over her shoulder, not at where his father and mother were still in deep discussion, but where the others of her compound were gathered around the fire. When she turned around to face him again, her expression was almost pleading. “Please. Just…please.I promise not to get in the way. And I’m a good hunter. I can help supply your men with game while we’re on the road.”
“What about your own people? Don’t they need you to help supply them?” He could tell something was wrong. Well, not wrong, but off. Different. She wasn’t afraid, but she was very concerned.
“They are capable of finding enough food without my help.” She tried to make it soundlike she either wasn’t needed, or…
Lucien stared at theMutahstill hunched over the fire pit. The one his father had knocked out was finally coming to, and a couple of men were helping him to sit up. Trusting his intuition, Lucien gave a nod. “Come with me. We’ll talk.”
Johnaflashed him a grateful smile, relieved to know that he hadn’t outright denied her request, and followed him up theembankment. But he already had a very good idea the reason behind her plea. Someone in her own group had her so apprehensive, she was willing to face the unknown with people she barely knew. Gritting his teeth, Lucien knew he had to find out who it was, and why she felt she had to distance herself by abandoning the very people she’d known all her life.
As for asking his father and mother toinclude her on their mission, he’d already made that decision the moment he’d looked into her strange eyes. This woman intrigued him, and the fact that she could be a tremendous asset for them only sealed it for him.
Besides, he needed to know what color those unique eyes were when daylight came.
