A Battle Lord’s Heart (7 page)

           
“Sir!”

           
Yulen glanced up from the paperwork
he was signing to see one of the sentries approaching him. Reading the man’s
face and not seeing any sort of emergency, the Battle Lord let his emotions
take a step down. “Dillion?”

           
“It’s Mastin, sir. He and the men
have returned. They’ve been sighted at the top of the hill.”

           
Smiling, Yulen shoved the paperwork
back into the carpenter’s hands and followed the sentry back to the main gate
where he climbed the ladder to the catwalk to watch the battalion’s
return.
 
A quick glance reassured him
their numbers had not decreased by any significant numbers, which told him the
regiment either hadn’t encountered any Bloods, or if they had, their casualties
had been negligible.

           
A second later he caught sight of a
wagon in their midst, and he frowned. The three wagons he’d sent to Wallis were
supposed to remain at the compound, not brought back. Well, there had to be a
good reason why Mastin would bring the one wagon back.
 
Determined to question his Second, Yulen
descended the ladder as the main gates slowly opened to allow the returning
soldiers entrance.

           
Smiling broadly, Mastin led in the
troops, who were happily greeted by their comrades and family members. Sliding off
his horse, he strode over to his Battle Lord, and they exchanged warm
handshakes and pats on the back.

           
“I’m wanting a full report,” Yulen
ordered, smiling in spite of his curiosity.

           
“You’ll get it,” Mastin promised.
“And then some!” He glanced back over his shoulder just as two more people
approached them. “Yulen, I hope there’s room for two more this winter,” the
Second commented.

           
Yulen turned in time to see two
familiar figures stop just beyond where the other soldiers were dismounting.
Eyes wide, a slow smile spread over his face. “Fortune? Tory? What in the
world!”

           
Tory Kalich crossed the narrow strip
of dead grass to greet the man, only to find herself encased in a sincere hug.
Fortune was offered a hearty handshake. “What brings you to Alta Novis?” Yulen
asked.

           
“We heard the news that Atty is
pregnant,” Tory said, her nose red from the cold as she huddled inside her thin
coat. “Blame me. I told Fortune she needed me to be with her. How is she,
Yulen? Is she still with child? Has she had any complications?”

           
“Atty’s doing excellently,” Yulen
smiled. “She’ll be overjoyed to have you. Fordyce! Take whatever our guests
have brought with them and put them in the new lodge. Welcome to Alta Novis,
Tory, and welcome back, Fortune. We have much to talk about, but before then, I
need to get with my men. Fortune, why don’t you take Tory over to the main
lodge and tell Berta I ordered warm drinks for everyone. Have you had anything
to eat? Tell her to warm up some stew.” Yulen excused himself again and left them
to handle his duties.

           
Taking his wife’s arm, Fortune
proudly started to lead her toward the main lodge. He was well aware of the
awe-struck look on her face as she took in everything going on around her,
clearly remembering the first time he had beheld the immense compound.

           
“Oh, my heavens, Fortune! Would you
look
at this place!”

           
Nodding, the Mutah hunter told her,
“And it’s gotten bigger since I was here last. I’ll bet you could fit all of
Wallis in just the courtyard.”

           
They continued their almost
leisurely stroll toward the main lodge. Twice Fortune caught his wife’s
hesitation, and once she flinched when one of the soldiers burdened down with
an armload of lances almost mowed them down in his hurry to finish his work.
“It’s okay, Tory,” he patted her arm. “We’re safe here. Safer than we would be
in Wallis.” He gave her a sincere smile. “Come on. There’s more I want to show
you.”
        

           
By the time they entered the lodge,
a large majority of soldiers who had been with them were already seated and
being served. A young woman wearing an apron and a hair cap motioned them over
to an empty table. They took their seats, and presently another young man in an
apron brought them each a steaming bowl of stew and two mugs of cold cider.
 
As they ate, Tory kept sweeping the huge
room and large fireplace with misting eyes.

           
“Our Atty is queen here, isn’t she?”

           
Fortune nodded. “Yep. They call her
the Battle Lady, and rightly so. See all those weapons on the walls? Yulen told
me once she’s been keeping herself trained in using them all.” He almost
snickered. “See that staircase at the other end of the room?”

           
“Yes.”

           
“See the door at the top of the
stairs?”

           
“Yes.”

           
“That’s the Battle Lord’s suite of
rooms. It’s Yulen and Atty’s bedroom.”

           
Tory turned back to her husband.
“All of that upstairs?” At his nod, she shook her head. “Oh, my.”

           
They continued to eat as several
servants from the kitchen checked to see if everyone needed anything else.
Besides the stew, large loaves of freshly baked bread were brought out, along
with new butter. Tory could warm her hands over the wrapped loaf in its shallow
trough. She started to inquire about where they were going to be staying the
night when a shout went up in the room, followed by several more hearty hails.
Tory and Fortune glanced up to see a figure draped in a loose velvet gown the
color of dark cherries slowly coming down the stairs. The indigo hair told them
what they needed to know.

           
Tory got to her feet and began to
walk toward the young woman, her eyes raking over the beloved figure and taking
in every aspect of Atty’s condition.
 
The Battle Lady was welcoming back several of the men from their
campaign, when she glanced up to see the woman standing a few feet beyond the
circle. Her eyes literally grew as wide as saucers.

           
“Oh, my God!
Tory!
”

           
Both women collapsed into each
others’ arms, both hugging as tightly as possible, but with care for the
baby.
 
Finally, Tory pulled back, still
holding onto Atty’s arms. Tears were freely flowing down each woman’s face.

           
“You look...oh, my sweet heavens,
Atty, you’re positively radiant!”

           
Giving her another warm smile, Atty
hugged her again. “Did you come with the battalion? Of course you did! Listen
to me. I’ve gone senile. Where’s Fortune?”

           
Fortune took that as his cue to step
forward, and was greeted with an equally welcoming hug and a kiss to the
cheek.
 
He stared at Atty in disbelief
and pride. “How are you feeling, Atty? Any problems?”

           
“No. None!” Atty shook her mane of
abundant, dark hair. It was evident the baby had brought about many positive
changes, especially to her body. Tory clucked her tongue, smiling to herself.
Atty had the scent she knew too well, and it was strong. Powerful. It made the
Mutah woman wonder how Yulen was handling it. Apparently she and Fortune had come
at the right time.

           
“Have you eaten yet?” Atty asked,
breaking Tory from her reverie.

           
“Yes. We’ve just finished.”

           
“Does Yulen know you’re here?”

           
“He sent us over,” Fortune told her.

           
“Well, I just got up from my nap, and
I’m famished. Let’s go over to my table, and you can tell me everything that’s
been happening in Wallis since we left. Oh, Carlyse! Can I have a bowl of that
stew, too, please? And bring a jar of the blueberry jelly when you bring out
the bread,” Atty ordered one of the passing help. That done, she linked an arm
through Tory’s and led them to the table nearest the fireplace. As they took
their seats, Atty continued their conversation. “How long are you staying?
Please tell me you’re not going back tomorrow!”

           
Laughing, Tory took her hand and
patted it. “We’re here for as long as you need us, Atty,” she told the young
woman.

           
Atty blinked. “Really? But what
about Memnon?”

           
“He’s a big boy,” Fortune answered.
“He can take care of himself until we get back.”

           
“You just don’t know,” Tory smiled,
shaking her head. “We were stunned when Mastin arrived with the extra wagons of
supplies. But then, when he just casually mentioned that you were expecting a
baby,
well!
Talk about knocking the lot of us over with a feather!” She
laughed, remembering how the entire compound had gone totally silent for nearly
a minute as the news sunk in. Their Atty, the tomboyish girl hunter who’d once
vowed never to physically know a man. It had been a severe shock when they’d
learned she’d taken a Normal—and a Battle Lord, no less—to husband. Now, the
additional news of her expecting a child had become the talk of the compound.
“I told Fortune that night that you needed us. You needed another person you
trusted to be with you at this time, in case...”
 
Tory stopped and chewed her lower lip.
 
Atty immediately knew what she’d meant to say, and finished the
sentence for her.

           
“In case I lost the baby?”

           
“I’m sorry,” Tory hastily whispered,
squeezing the woman’s hand. “Forgive us, Atty, but there’s always the chance—”

           
“Tory, have you spoken with Gilter
since Mastin arrived?” Atty interrupted.

           
The Mutah woman shook her head. “No.
Why?” To her surprise, Atty laughed.

           
“Ohhhh, boy, do we have a lot to
talk about!” Turning to Fortune, she grinned. “So, how hard did she have to
twist your arm before you agreed to come here?”

           
“Not much.”

           
The food arrived just then, and Tory
and Fortune began to fill her in with the latest news as Atty dove into the
stew. At one point, she apologized for her appetite. “I can’t seem to get
enough to eat. I know I’ll be as big as a horse by the time this baby’s ready.”
She paused slightly, then told them, “It’s going to be a boy.”

           
Tory squealed with glee and wrapped
her arms about the woman. At the other tables, the soldiers saw the commotion
but ignored it. They were used to Atty’s mood swings.
 
And apparently, they surmised, such erratic behavior was common
among other Mutah women.

           
It wasn’t much later when the
buzzing in the room shifted noticeably, and the entire focus turned to the man
walking purposefully down the aisle toward the head table.
 
The three people sitting near the fireplace
looked up to see the Battle Lord coming their way. By this time Atty had
finished eating, and they had been conversing over steaming mugs of hot cider.
Tory’s experienced eyes noticed how the Battle Lord stopped a few feet away
from his wife, and a small smile creased her face. Somehow she needed to get
the man aside and have a talk with him. The sooner, the better.

           
“I’ve had Tory and Fortune’s things
moved to the new lodge. I hope you don’t mind,” he told her softly.

           
As he knew she would, Atty screwed
up her forehead in confusion. “To the new lodge? Is it ready?”

           
“It’s more than ready, my love.”
Looking to the couple, he grinned. “If you don’t mind I’m absconding with her
for a few minutes. This surprise has been on hold for many months. It’s now
time for me to show my wife our new home. You’re welcome to come view it as
well, if you want, since you’ll be staying below.”

           
He took Atty’s hand and began to
walk her toward the side entrance. Tory continued to watch them. It was
immediately evident to her Atty’s second trimester was more than potent. It was
overwhelming.

           
“Coming?” Fortune placed a hand to
her back. Tory gave him a smile.

           
“Do me a favor?”

           
“What?”

           
“I’m going to need to talk to Yulen
as soon as I can.”

           
“Oh?” Fortune raised both eyebrows
at her. “That bad, huh?”

           
She laughed softly. “I don’t think
either of them have any idea what’s hit them.”

           
“Tory, I don’t think either of them
are complaining.”

           
“No, but it’s only right they both
find out what they’re facing,” she giggled.

           
“All right. I’ll keep Atty occupied
while you speak with him,” Fortune promised, and they followed the couple out
of the lodge.

           
At first it appeared that the new
lodge was as immense as the main lodge, until they walked through the front
door. Then they could see that, although it was as long as the old building, it
was actually much shorter in depth. The downstairs living area, once
dust-strewn and empty the last time Atty saw it, now had new hand-loomed rugs
on the floor and two stuffed chairs near the crackling fireplace.