Page 75 of Mattox
“Should I get the doctor?” she inquired nervously.
“That won’t be necessary. We need basins of water and cloths to wash off this mess, and some clean clothes.”
The young woman nodded and hurried off. Yulen and Atty, along with Mastin, Paxton, Lucien, Mistelle, and several others, entered the building and joined them at the table.
Yulen placed a hand on Caralas’ shoulder. “I know you don’t want to think about it, but I need to know what you want to do about your father’s body,” he gently inquired.
She sought comfort in Mattox’s arms, but lifted her face to look at the battle lord before answering. “I want to take him back to Vega City, but I know he’ll…rot…before we get there.” She almost broke down again. Mattox tightened his embrace and kissed her hair.
“We can give him a funeral here. Then you can take the remains back to your compound to have them interred.”
The young woman nodded. “That would be the best thing to do.”
“Caralas?” Atty sat on the bench on the other side and laid a hand on her back. “A lot of things have changed, and a lot more are going to be different now that your father’s no longer with us,” she gently stated. “You’re now the Battle Lady of Vega City. You’re now in charge of that compound.”
“And you’re going to have to face down Tanger,” Mattox reminded her. “If that man was adamant about the two compounds coming together under one rule, you have to be prepared for him to double his efforts because he’ll think you’ll cave to his demands.”
She shook her head and managed a small smile. “He should know better by now that I’m my father’s daughter. I have stubborn all but written across my ass.”
She detached herself from him and bent over, placing her elbows on her thighs, and ran a shaky hand over her face. “I’m going to need a second. It shouldn’t be too hard a choice. There are a couple of good men…Captain Agustus.”
“Who?” Mattox asked.
“Captain Agustus. He’s almost Dad’s age…” Her voice broke, but after taking a deep breath, she was able to resume a calmer demeanor. She looked at Mattox. “Please have someone summon him, so I can start preparing for my trip home.”
Hard, sharp agony speared him through the chest, nearly stopping his heart. She was talking as if she planned to go alone, without him. As if all thought of them being together as man and wife had completely been wiped from her memory.
“D’Jacques?” She turned her attention to Yulen. “I hate to sound insistent, but how soon can we lay my father to rest?”
“This morning, before noon,” he promised. “I’ll have my men gather wood for the pyre until then.”
“Thank you.”
Mattox kept his head bowed, his heart breaking, until he felt a cool hand touch his face. Glancing over, he saw her staring into his eyes.
“There’s just one more thing,” she whispered, making him wonder if she was talking to the others or to him.
“What?” he asked.
“I don’t need to leave immediately. My people were informed as to how long it would take for us to get here and back, including the week of the conference.”
A kernel of hope glowed inside him. He was almost afraid to speak, for fear this feeling of a promise about to be fulfilled would be crushed. “What are you trying to say, my Cara?”
“Your idea you mentioned to me earlier? About having a wedding here, and then having another one performed once we arrive? Is that offer still on the table?”
Atty gave a little squeak of surprise. “A wedding? Mattox?”
He nodded, keeping his gaze on the dark brown one that enraptured him. “Yes, Mom, Dad. I’ve asked Cara to marry me, and she’s agreed…right?” He had to be sure he hadn’t misunderstood her question.
He was answered with a loving smile. “Right.”
“Okay. We’ll have our first wedding here. And as soon as we get to Vega City, we’ll have our second one, but after your father’s funeral.” He looked up, beaming at his parents, but the people, his family and friends, who were gathered around him and Caralas wore somber, if not saddened expressions. It took him a second to realize why, when his father spoke.
“So it’s come to this. It’s time for you to fulfill your duty as a Battle Lord. Only, it won’t be to Alta Novis.”
The implication nearly drained him of breath.
Atty smiled at him as tears rolled down her face. “You’re going to be an excellent battle lord. Oh, you have a few rough edges about you, but I know Caralas will help file them down. Make you more level-headed.”
