Page 76 of Mattox
“Nooo!” Mistelle softly cried out. “No, Matt! I don’t want you to leave!” Going over to him, she knelt on the floor and buried her face against his shoulder, her arms hugging his neck. “What am I going to do without my big brother and protector?”
Mattox started to reassure her, when he caught sight of Nevo’s unusually pale face, and immediately understood why.
“Hey, ‘Vo. It wouldn’t be right for me to ask you to come along with us and serve as my second. That would mean both you and Misty, and little Trailee would have to pack up and leave here, too.” He shook his head. “I can’t do that to you, or to our family.”
“But my duty…” Nevo started to argue.
“Your duty is to my dad. Here. At Alta Novis. Just like it’s Cara’s duty to rule over Vega City. I’m making a choice here. I’m the only one who needs to make a choice. And that’s to be with my wife. With the woman I love.” He chuckled. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll start a new branch of the D’Jacques Dynasty, eh, Dad?”
Yulen clasped his upper arm in reply.
“I’ll start preparations for the wedding,” Atty offered. “It may take a couple of days. Would you have a problem with that?”
Caralas shook her head. “No. In fact, I’d be very grateful. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Whee-ooh!” Renken let out an explosive breath. “Just when you think things are finally starting to settle down so life can become ordinary and dull again, something else comes down the road to throw everyone into a whirlwind! Including a real live whirlwind!”
The remark was enough to dispel the somber mood, causing a few of them to break into laughter. Outside, the first hint of daylight peeked through the open front doors, along with a cool breeze.
Tiffanie and two others showed up with basins of warm water, soap, and some towels, but Mattox stopped them. Getting to his feet, he swept Caralas into his arms.
“Take that stuff upstairs and draw us a bath. Then bring us a little something to eat and drink.” Lifting her closer to where they almost touched foreheads, he smiled. “We need a little time to make plans for our future. So, if you good folks don’t mind…”
* * *
Atty walkedover to her husband as they watched their firstborn carry his bride-to-be up the stairs and disappear inside the bedroom with a solid slam of the door. She kissed his shoulder as he put an arm around her waist and drew her against him.
“Does that remind you of something?” she softly asked.
“Yeah. Of us. The day Liam and Mother were married, and you saved our lives by killing Tosh Karv.”
“You said you were taking me upstairs to that bedroom, and we weren’t leaving it for a week,” she reminded him.
He nodded. “Yeah, I did. And we didn’t.” He turned his head to look at her. “What are you trying to tell me, my love? Like father, like son?”
“That’s exactly what I’m implying, my heart,” she whispered as more tears welled up. “We’re going to miss him so much.”
“Yes, we are, but isn’t that what life’s about? Rolling with the punches? Accepting fate? Doing your duty, and taking each day as it comes, with the good and the bad? Hey, I think we’ve done a bang-up job with what cards we’ve been dealt, don’t you think? Look how far we’ve come, beloved. Look at all we’ve been blessed with.”
She agreed. “But not without some sacrifice.”
“Hey! If you people are wanting breakfast, it’ll be a little late,” Berta announced from the kitchen door. “I’d appreciate it if you all would mosey on back here in an hour. And let the others know we’ll be a bit tardy.”
Laughing, Yulen gave her a mock salute. “Consider it done. Come on, everyone. We’ve got things to do. Oh, and, Cole? Stay here until Capt. Agustus arrives and let him know of his promotion. You can then fill him in on what else he can expect.”
“Sure thing,” Mastin said with a grin.
They all exited the main hall and disbursed, going their separate ways except for the battle lord and lady, who remained standing by the corner of the building and waited to watch the sun rise on a new day.
Epilogue
Atty joined her husband up on the parapet. After a soft kiss, she handed him the sweet bun she’d brought him from their breakfast tray. “I know you wanted the last one, but you were being such a gentleman to let me have it instead.”
Yulen chuckled. “It didn’t have pecans on it, and I know how much you don’t like pecans on your sweets. Thanks.” He took a bite as together they surveyed the outlying landscape.
“Mistelle came by after you left to ask if we’d babysit Trailee tonight. I told her it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Oh?” Yulen raised an eyebrow. “What’s happening tonight?”
