This Battle Lord's Quest by Linda Mooney Read Free Book Online Page B

time.
     

Chapter
Six
    Omen
     
     
    The rains stopped prior to midnight. Atty listened
to the sound of thunder as it rolled away into the distance. She’d had trouble
sleeping through the night. Anticipation of the coming hunt was like an elixir
running through her veins, keeping her from getting any true rest.
    When it was finally time to get up, she rolled out
of bed and dressed in the adjoining bathroom. Coming out, she heard her husband
turning over.
    “Be safe, Atty.”
    With his back to the window, she could barely make
out his face. Crawling over the covers, she exchanged a warm kiss. “We
shouldn’t be gone more than two days out and two days back. If we get lucky and
fill our brace, we could be back earlier.”
    Yulen reached out and snagged her arm to draw her
down for one more kiss. It was warm and demanding, and nearly made her crawl
under the blanket to see where it would lead. With great difficulty, she broke
away.
    “I love you.”
    “You are my life,” she whispered. “You and Mattox.”
    “I’ll worry for you the whole time you’re gone. I
don’t care if you take half of my army with you.”
    Atty snickered. “I’ll have Warren and Renken, plus
Fortune and our five best Mutah hunters. I’ll be fine.”
    “I’ll still worry. You have an uncanny knack for
getting into trouble, you know.”
    She smiled at him in the predawn light coming
through the reinforced window overlooking the bed. Getting to her feet, she
checked to make sure her Ballock was secured to her outer thigh.
    “See you in four days, my love.” She paused before
she waved goodbye, taking in the way the soft light from outside highlighted
her husband’s hair, until it was almost a halo about his face. He was watching
her, and for a split second she imagined he was memorizing the way she looked,
the same way she was remembering him. Blowing him a final kiss, she hurried
down the spiral staircase. Grabbing her bow and quiver of arrows where she’d
placed them by the front door, she lifted the crossbar and let herself out.
    The guard in the tower a few yards away gave a
whistle to let her know he’d spotted her. Atty waved in acknowledgment.
Normally she would hear him call out “Battle Lady about!” whenever she emerged
from the lodge in the morning. However, at this hour, and with the majority of
the compound still asleep, it was wiser to give a whistle to let her know he
was alert to her presence.
    She met up with Paxton halfway across the compound.
Together, they jogged across the open courtyard to join the others who were
gathered and waiting for them at the east gate.
    Atty mentally ticked off those in the group. Two
Normals and seven Mutah, including her. It was a good group. The hunters were
well-seasoned and trustworthy. And whatever hunting skills Paxton and Renken
lacked, they more than made up for it with their abilities with the sword. She
also noted how Renken moved around to take his place on her other side, bracing
her between him and her Second while Fortune did a quick head check.
    “All right. Everyone’s here. Good. Before we head
out, let’s get a few rules straight. This is as much a search and explore
expedition as it is a hunting party. Rule one, never stray from the group, not
even if you have to pee. Remember the connecting rule, and keep in sight of
someone else no matter what. Rule two, if you spot prey, give the signal. You
get first shot. After that, it’s open to whoever can bring it down.”
    “What’s the connecting rule?” Paxton asked.
    “You should always have two other people in your
line of sight,” Dergus answered. “That way, if one of us goes down, someone
will notice immediately.”
    Fortune continued. “Anyone else have a question?”
    “You said to give a signal if we spot prey. What’s
the signal?” Renken brought up.
    Atty let out with a soft cooing noise. The
ex-soldier nodded and tried to imitate her. “How’s that?”
    “Perfect. It sounds nothing like the real