Page 20 of Lucie
“Yulen?”
The battlelord paused on his way out the door and glanced back at her.
“Check his soft armor. If it needs repair, bring it back with you.”
He gave her a nod in acknowledgement and left the room.
* * *
He didn’t see the guards saluting him as he passed them by. Neither did he hear the familiar cry of “Battle Lord About!” when he entered the courtyard andheaded toward the infirmary. His thoughts kept his sight turned inward. Thoughts and memories. And his deep love for his son.
Yes, he knew he’d been harder on Luc than he’d ever been with Matt. He admitted he’d sometimes driven a wedge between himself and his youngest son because of it. But he hadn’t done it to defeat the boy, or make him feel inferior—although, at times,Atty’sanger at him for some of the things she’d witnessed made him realize that. He’d done it to make the child stronger, and fiercer, and more self-reliant because hedidn’thave the added edge that his two siblings had.
He didn’t love Luc any less because of the boy’s lesser abilities. He loved him more. And his fear of Luc not being able to fend for himself was part of the reason he’ddecided to bring his son along with them.
One of these days, he andAttywould no longer be around to protect and defend their children. He wanted to be sure that, when that time came, Luc could stand up for himself as strongly as the other two, and not need to rely on them for help.
The lit lantern hanging outside the infirmary’s door signaled the doctor was stillavailable.Yulenwent inside without knocking, to find Dr. Maynard turning out the lights inside the waiting room. The physician glanced up in anticipation, but relaxed when he recognized the battle lord. Regardless, he inquired, “Are you in need of medical attention?”
“No. I came to see my son.”
The man nodded, already expecting that to be the answer. “I just gavehim a sleeping solution. He’s still awake, so try to keep your visit short.”
Yulenpromised he would and walked into the inner room.
Lucien was lying on his side, his eyes closed, his face turned toward the door. For a secondYulenwondered if he’d chosen to lie that way because it was a perfect defensive posture, or pure happenstance. As if reading his mind, the youngman commented, “Matt’s dagger is under this pillow, in case my visitor wasn’t friendly.” He opened his eyes to gaze at his father. By the slightly glazed expression,Yulencould tell the medication was beginning to take effect.
“I know I said I’d let you know my decision in the morning, but I felt you deserved to hear it straight from me before then. I’ve decided to allow you toremain with our troops, and continue with us to Green River.”
Lucien lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “Youdecided? Or Mom convinced you?”
“A little of both,”Yulentruthfully admitted. “But there will be restrictions.”
“As if I didn’t already figure that out,” Lucien remarked sarcastically.
“Because we don’t know if you’ll respond to the bat’sattack, or how if you do succumb, I’m placing you under twenty-four hour guard.”
His son didn’t respond. Apparently he’d half-expected the order.
Walking over to the bed,Yulenknelt until his face was even with the young man’s. “Luc, I’ve never been more proud of you than I am right now.”
“Because I saved Mom’s life.”
“Not just that, butbecause every time I turn around, I see you coping and adapting in ways I never thought I’d witness. When you spotted that bat, your instincts kicked in and you battled that thing, even though you were at a great disadvantage.”
“I had my sword, and I had Matt’s dagger with me, but I still failed to kill it,” Lucien countered.
“You used it sufficiently to disable it.I don’t think any other man would have been able to overcome that thing single-handedly.”
Lucien closed his eyes and sighed. For a moment,Yulenthought he had drifted off to sleep, when his son spoke again. “I won’t let you down,” the young man promised softly.
“I know you won’t,”Yulenresponded, and patted him on the arm. Straightening up, he noticed Lucien’s breathinghad slowed. His son was finally sinking into restful, healing sleep.
Lucien’s soft armor lay in a heap nearby. Grabbing it, the battle lord let himself out, noticing that the lantern that had been lit outside the building when he’d arrived had been extinguished. Pausing, he pressed his back to the door. Alone in that moment of solitude,Yulenbowed his head and said a prayer forhis son’s health. When he was done, he swiped at the moisture gathered in his eyes with the back of his hand, sniffed, and left to return to the rooms where he knewAttywould be waiting for him.
