Page 66 of Lucie
Chapter Thirty-Two
Schutz Ridge
“How many?”Yulencalled to the men.
“At least a dozen, but there could be more,” one soldier answered, pausing to catch his breath. “They’re swarming from the north.”
“What if they’re from that bunch that tried to attack NewBearinger?”Renkenremarked.
“Could be. We can’t take the risk in thinkingthey might have low numbers. Wegottaget out of this forest where they have the advantage.” Raising his sword to signal to his men,Yulenyelled orders at the top of his voice. “Free the prisoners! Mount your horses! Head for Schutz Ridge! Leave the wagons and tents! We don’t have time to waste! Go, go,go!”
Yulenbegan running toward the area where the horses were corralled. Lucienhurried to join him when the battle lord stopped. “Go to the tent. I’ll join you there.”
“Why Schutz Ridge? It could be indefensible.”
“It’s our only chance in case this Blood army has substantial numbers.”
Lucien didn’t question his father’s decision. He saw the logic in it. The compound may be a crumbling ruin, but it would provide them with a modicumof protection, unlike the surrounding trees.
By the time he reached the tent, soldiers were already riding away, heading down the road toward the deserted fortress. Flinging aside the door flap, he entered the tent just as a spear appeared at his throat.Johnapulled back on the weapon at the last second to avoid piercing him through the jaw. She was barely able to stand, and herface was pale and sweaty.
“Oh, God, I thought it was you, but I wasn’t sure!” She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. Her body radiated heat. “My senses are all screwed up from this crap!” He wanted to keep holding her, but there was no time. They had to flee, and do it now.
Over on the other side of the tent, he saw Iain standing overAtty’sunconsciousform. The physician held his mother’s bow at ready, an arrow nocked and ready to be released in case they were attacked. Unlike his father, who had no skill with any weapon, Iain practiced whenever he could with the archers under the battle lady’s guidance. Seeing Lucien, he lowered his arms.
“What’s going on?”
Lucien pulledJohna’sarms away. “Wegottago. Grab Mom.Dad’s coming with the horses.” He turned to leadJohnaoutside, when she stumbled. It set off a fit of coughing that dropped her to her knees. He lifted her into his arms and glanced back at Iain. “Hurry!”
Throwing his medical satchel over his shoulder, the doctor bent and picked upAttyinto his arms. Together they exited the tent just asYulenand Echo galloped up with two extrahorses. Iain handedAttyup to her husband, who placed her in front of him. Echo slid off her mount to help liftJohnaup to Lucien once he was mounted. When he was assured she was secured in his lap, he took off down the road, following his father, and with Echo and Iain directly behind him.
They could hear the screeching and howls coming from the woods as the Bloods swarmed thecampsite. Lucien also caught the screams of men being overtaken. Men who were probably being eaten alive in their haste to get away. More than likely, after they were freed to fend for themselves, the fake battle lord’s army had attempted to flee in the other direction, or further into the woods, and were now paying for that bad decision. Lucien pressed his lips together at the irony. Bloods wouldn’teat the soldiers’ horses. They’d use them like any other army would, for transportation. But they wouldn’t hesitate to eat their enemy, which was why they were so dangerous. Being taken a Blood’s prisoner meant you were only being kept alive long enough to feed them.
The trees thinned out as they entered the more desert-like terrain. When they topped the rise,Yulenpulled his horseto a stop to check behind them. He waved for Echo and Iain to keep going as Lucien adjusted his grip onJohnaand also turned around.
The shrieks were fewer, but the bone-chilling howls continued. Two soldiers galloped up to the battle lord. “Are there any more left?”Yulenquestioned.
“Don’t know, sir. I think we’re the last ones out.”
“What about the prisoners? Do you know if any of themwere able to escape?”
“Most of them fled back into the trees.”
Yulennodded. There was no need to ask any more questions.
The guards had managed to pile up broken and burnt furniture in front of the main entrance whenYulenand the others finally arrived. Once everyone was inside the compound, the soldiers finished blocking the entrance.
Mastinran over to help takeAttyfrom the battlelord. Iain accepted the unconsciousJohnafrom Lucien’s grasp.Renkenhurried up and motioned to the doctor. “We’ve set up a temporary clinic this way.”
Paxton,Destino, andGrimsyrushed up to them as two soldiers led away their horses. “I’ve ordered perimeter guards on top of the catwalks, including our archers,” the second informed them. “The other captains have gathered in what’s left ofthe main house. This way.”
“Did any of the prisoners end up here?”Yulenasked as they hurried for the building.
“I know for certainPechardand his two men came in. I had them placed back into custody. To be honest, I think they’re happier to be in our company than risk being taken by the Bloods.”
It was evident the moment they entered the main meeting room that the place had been abandonedfor quite some time. The wood floors were covered with so much dirt and debris that their footsteps left deep prints. Every table and chair worth salvaging had been carried out into the main yard to be used to help fill the holes in the walls.
A movement to his left caught his attention. Lucien glanced at where the upstairs bedrooms were located over the lower kitchen area. Soldierswere removing what they could from those rooms and taking it outside to be used for barricading material. Thankfully the stairs leading up there were made of stone and not wood. Scorch marks evidenced where there had been doors, and the rooms appeared empty.
