Page 55 of Mattox
“Aren’t bears afraid of fire?” Lucien questioned.
“Most animals are,” his mother admitted.
“Then why did you make us leave it? Wouldn’t we have been safer remaining close to it?”
Good question,Renken mentally praised the young man.I was about to ask the same thing.
“Our combined body heat and scent might have drawn the bear away from its track,” Fortune answered. “In spite of its natural fear of fire, it might have attacked us if it was hungry enough. There was no sense in taking that chance.”
“So by spreading out among the brush, we dispersed our scent enough to keep it from locating us,” Renken surmised.
Fortune grinned. “That, and we were downwind of it. Or didn’t you catch a whiff of it?”
“We were lucky it didn’t try to go after the horses,” Atty continued. “Come on. We’ll need to give that thing a wide berth. I’ve never fought a bear, but I’m guessing if it realizes we’re trackingit,it might turn around and come after us.”
Renken saw her look to Fortune, who nodded in agreement.
Paxton added his two cents. “These horses aren’t going to be able to keep going much longer.”
“I know that,” the battle lady admitted. “We’ll go as far as it’s safe to push them. Let’s just pray that thing doesn’t reach the Edge woman before we do.”
“And once the horses stall, we do what? Make camp?” Renken inquired.
She eyed all of them. “After that, we walk.”
* * *
“Doyou ever wonder if your father is still alive?” He knew she wasn’t asleep, although she was tired enough. They both were exhausted to the point where they couldn’t think straight. That meant their reactions were slowed, and that alone could result in their deaths if they were attacked by hostiles, human or non-human.
“All the time,” she admitted where she lay against him, her head pillowed on the curve of his arm. “I guess one of the good things about not having any sort of mental or emotional connection with him is that I have the chance to hope he’s okay. Matt?”
“What?”
“What happens now?”
“Now now? Or when we get back to the compound?”
“When we get back to the compound. Think they’re going to continue with the conference? Or will your father call an end to it and send everyone home?” Caralas made a little strangling sound. Rising up on one elbow, she turned her head to look at him. “What if my father’s decided I’m dead, and is returning to Vega City?” She didn’t try to hide her panic, or her worry.
He shushed her and drew her closer to him to where he could plant a kiss on her temple. “Anything is possible. If he’s left, I’ll gather a small platoon and take you back myself.”
She blinked. A small tear rolled onto her cheek. “You will? You’ll do that for me?”
No. No, I won’t take you back. You’re staying at Alta Novis with me. I won’t let you leave. I can’t let you leave me. I’ll send a messenger to Vega City to let him know you’re being taken care of. That you’re being loved. That your father has nothing to worry about ever again regarding your well-being and happiness, because I promise you’ll never want for anything. Not as long as I’m alive.
Those, and a thousand more declarations sat on the tip of tongue, but they remained there, all unspoken. He had no right to keep her at Alta Novis. He had no right to prevent her from returning to her home compound.
If her father was dead, she’d take command. She’d have to assume the duties as the new battle lady, as it was meant to be. It would be a daunting task, but he had every reason to believe she’d grow to become an outstanding one.
He had no right to take that away from her.
Mattox closed his eyes, hoping to catch a few winks of sleep. If something should approach, he trusted his Mutah senses would alert him, despite his weariness. Caralas was already sinking.
He was on the verge of drifting off when another thought hit him, but this one left him cold and fully awake. With it, all hope of sleep vanished.
There was still the unanswered puzzle of the assassination attempt. If the perpetrator was dead, fine and good. If the archer was dead, even better. But if either one was still alive, that meant Caralas’ life…
A shudder went through him. At the same time, a small sense of satisfaction eased into his heart. If Caralas’ life remained in danger, then he had every right to remain by her side until the man who ordered her killed and the Blood hired to kill her were both brought to justice.
