The Battle Lord's Lady (32 page)

“In a way. Once I contact my men I have
planted inside the compound, they will be the ones who’ll secret
her away from wherever Collaunt’s keeping her. They’ll hand her
over to me outside the walls, and we’ll meet you and the rest of
the company back here.”

“Then why bring all these men if you’re just
going to have a little midnight raid?” asked Verris.

MaGrath spoke up. “Exactly. Unless you were
planning on using them in another way?”

“In a sense, you’ve figured it out,”
Yulen told him. “If Collaunt discovers me, I need you for back-up.
If things really get sour, you might need to come in to
rescue
me
, as well as Atty.
But I know that if Collaunt’s sentries haven’t already spotted us,
they soon will, and Collaunt will have every available man at his
station, prepared and waiting for us.”

“So, what you’re saying is you suspect
Collaunt is getting ready for an all-out war, when in fact you’re
going to slip in under the cover of night, grab Atty, and rush
right out of there, almost the same way Wougen did?” Verris shook
his head. “That’s pretty bold of you, sir. Have you thought about
having the men provide a diversion while you go in?”

“Yes, I’d thought about it. But this was to
be a voluntary mission. I don’t want any of my men injured or
killed if it can be helped.” Yulen paused for a moment, then added
in a softer voice, “Atty has already had to suffer the blame for
the deaths of sixteen of my soldiers. I never want to force her to
face any more because of her.”

Getting to his feet, the Battle Lord thanked
them for their loyalty. “We’ll be leaving at first light. Once we
get within hailing distance of the compound, and Collaunt can see
us, we’ll make camp in plain sight, which should be right around
sundown. He won’t expect us to attack in the night. Bearinger’s too
fortified. No, he’ll expect us to make our move right before dawn,
but by the time the sun rises, I hope to have Atty back and all of
us a fair distance down the road.”

His Seconds nodded in affirmation before
leaving the tent, but not before MaGrath snagged Mastin’s sleeve on
the man’s way out.

“I want a private word with you, Cole.”

Curious, the Second followed the physician
out of the tent and over to where the man had set up his campfire.
He sat down as MaGrath motioned and waited to see what the man
wanted. Although the physician had no power or ability to order
him, all of the soldiers paid the man deference because MaGrath had
served under the previous Battle Lord, Yulen’s father, as a
combination physician, friend, and advisor, the same way he now
served under their present commander. But mostly it was because
they all knew their lives would some day, if they hadn’t already,
depend on this man’s skills and wisdom.

MaGrath pulled out his medicine pouch and
proceeded to check his supplies. Mastin stared at the man,
patiently expecting the physician to say what was on his mind.
After several minutes, the Second finally opened his mouth, when
MaGrath signaled him for silence. Mastin’s eyebrows lifted in
surprise, but he obeyed.

Another good fifteen minutes went by before
MaGrath slung his pouch diagonally over his chest and got to his
feet. “Ready?” he whispered.

Mastin nodded, curious, and proceeded to
follow the man into the forest, away from the encampment. They
followed a path crowded with dead underbrush. It was pitch black
and difficult to see where they were heading until MaGrath took the
small packet he had in his hand and clapped it between his palms.
The bag began to give off a soft, green glow. Not a lot of light,
but enough for their adjusted eyes to be able to follow the small
signs left for them.

At one point a low growl came from behind
them. Mastin drew his sword, and MaGrath eyed it gratefully.
Keeping mum, they continued on.

They finally reached a small, undetectable
clearing. Inside waiting for them was Yulen and another man dressed
in regular clothes and without a weapons belt.

“I was beginning to think you’d gotten lost,”
Yulen whispered with a hint of a smile in his voice.

“Yeah, well, I’m not the forest type,”
MaGrath argued.

“Any chance you were followed?”

“No,” Mastin spoke up softly. “Not with that
wolfen close behind us.”

In the pale green glow MaGrath’s face looked
sickly. “Wolfen?” he echoed.

Chuckling, Yulen motioned for them to sit. He
turned to the Second.

“You are the only man we trust with what
you’re going to hear tonight, Cole. What will be said here will
only be between us three once we leave this place.”

“Three?” Mastin looked pointedly at the
stranger.

“This is Chase Dion, my man inside
Bearinger,” Yulen introduced him.

“What about the other man? Why me, sir?”
Mastin whispered.

“Because at Foster City I saw you had already
accepted Atrilan.” Yulen gave him a hard stare. “That alone has won
you my gratitude and my trust. Which is why you were brought here.
There is no second man in Bearinger. I said that in the tent,
knowing it would eventually get out to whomever is the mole among
my troops. In fact, everything I said back there was a lie.” He
turned to Dion.

“Tell them what you told me.”

Dion sighed loudly. He was slight,
nondescript man, who could easily blend into a crowd without
catching anyone’s eye. “Collaunt has her in the dungeon, waiting
for you to arrive.”

“Is she all right?” MaGrath asked. “Have her
injuries been tended to?”

Dion shook his head. “No, but at least
they’re feeding her, which is more than they do for the other Mutah
prisoners.” He gave the Battle Lord a questioning glance, and was
answered with a nod.

“Go on, Dion. All of it.”

“Well...it seems Collaunt has heard about her
skill with the bow. About her taking out the ferret and the pennant
at Foster City. There was some word just before I left about three
targets, but I didn’t get the gist of it before I came to seek you
out. But Collaunt was especially excited about the fact that you
and her are...umm...”

Yulen nodded. “We’ve pledged ourselves to
each other. Go on.”

“He’s also been told about the rumor that
she’s still a virgin, and how she’s remaining a virgin until she’s
passed her knowledge of archery and hunting on to your men.”

Mastin’s eyes widened. Yulen caught his
expression.

“That’s true, Cole. Atty is still
untouched.”

“But, she’s—” Too late, Mastin caught
himself. However, the Battle Lord didn’t appear upset.

“Yes, she’s been sleeping in my bed, but I
have not taken her.”

“Tell him why,” MaGrath said grimly. “Tell
him about her belief she’ll lose her skills if you do.”

“Atty has been told all her life that once
she gives herself to a man, all her skills and abilities will
disappear as well.”

“But she was willing to be your wife, sir,”
Mastin pointed out.

“Collaunt knows of this, too,” said Dion.
“That’s why he decided to throw the big party.”

“What party?” MaGrath asked.

“Collaunt’s invited all his deviant friends
to Bearinger to witness Atty’s aptitude.”

“For what purpose?” the physician probed.

Dion took another deep, shaky breath and
glanced at Yulen for confirmation. “He’s going to bring her out
into the main hall during the games and have a doctor check to see
if she truly is a virgin.”

MaGrath shuddered at the thought. “In front
of the assembly?” he demanded, his voice rising.

Yulen quickly shushed him. “It gets worse,
Liam.”

“How much worse could it get?” the physician
demanded angrily.

The little man licked his lips nervously,
bowing his head. “If she is a virgin, Collaunt plans to have her
publicly deflowered by some men he’ll have waiting nearby. Some of
his...specially selected, handpicked men.”

“Oh, God...” MaGrath wilted at the news.

“Liam.”

He looked up to see an equally devastated
look on Yulen’s face.

“He’s then going to give Atty a test to see
if she still has her skills,” the Battle Lord told him.

“What if she doesn’t?” Mastin whispered,
still in shock. “What if she can’t save herself?”

“She has to find a way,” Yulen said tersely.
“We have to get her out of there before Collaunt can do her any
more harm. But if we can’t, Atty has to manage to stay alive long
enough for us to reach her.”

“You’re going to have to do more than that,”
MaGrath told him. A sudden coldness seemed to have crept into his
bones. He found he was unable to stop from shivering
uncontrollably.

“What’s that, Liam?”

“You’re going to have to go in there, find
out where she’s being held, and you’re going to have to take her
virginity before Collaunt’s men do.”

Yulen lifted his chin, unable to respond.
Without giving him a chance to think it over, MaGrath pressed his
point.

“You are the only one who can do it without
demoralizing or traumatizing her.”

“I... Liam...”

“Either way, it’s you or it’s
Collaunt’s men. And then she’ll have to prove or disprove the
stories. Think about it. If you go in there, at least you’ll be
able to leave her with the frame of mind to face what that madman
has planned for her. But if you don’t, those men won’t be gentle.
They’ll rape her, and they could very well destroy her emotionally
and mentally, as well as physically.
Then
what kind of chance will she
have?”

“Can you get him inside?” Mastin asked the
mole.

“Not a problem, but it’ll be getting him to
her cell that’ll be tricky.”

“Any idea when would be the best time?” Yulen
asked.

“The noon shift change is the best. The
guards coming on are tired from having to practice, and the ones
going off usually skip out a few minutes early. Collaunt’s party is
starting this evening and going on all night. Word is he’ll have
the Mutah woman brought to the grand hall tomorrow afternoon. With
any luck, I can have you back outside the compound walls before he
sends for her.”

“Isn’t early afternoon an odd time for such
an exhibition?” Mastin questioned.

Dion gave the Second a caustic look.
“Collaunt expects D’Jacques to ride in tomorrow evening and attempt
a rescue under the cover of darkness. By then, he wants it all over
with so he can gloat.”

MaGrath covered his face with shaky hands.
“Oh, sweet mother of heaven. Can there be a more disgusting bastard
on the face of this earth?”

“You’ll have to leave your weapons outside
the compound,” Dion expressed to Yulen. “If I take you into the
dungeon, it has to look like you’re just another subject gone to
visit an imprisoned relative. I can get you a coat to help cover
you. Make you look more like one of us.”

Yulen nodded slowly, still unable to grasp
the enormity of what was about to happen. A hand reached over to
grasp his shoulder. He looked up to see Mastin staring intently at
him.

“Are you sure I can’t accompany you, sir, to
watch your back?”

“No!” Dion adamantly whispered. “It’s going
to be dangerous enough as it is.”

“When do you want me to come with you?” Yulen
asked.

“Meet me at the northernmost fringe of the
forest, closest to the compound walls. You’ll see a small door
there. I’ll come for you right at shift change at noon.”

“I’ll be there,” Yulen promised. A moment
later, the little man had left them, melted into the blackness of
the forest as if he’d been swallowed alive.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Yulen ran his hands
through his hair. “Liam...I don’t know if I can do this.”

MaGrath watched the turmoil of emotions play
over the Battle Lord’s face. He didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.
There was no other choice, and Yulen knew it. MaGrath knew it. They
all knew it.

“Might...might I make a suggestion?” Mastin
quietly interjected. He waited until both pairs of eyes turned to
him. “Frankly I think this whole story about Atty losing her skills
is hogwash. I think she can find a way out of her dilemma, but not
without some help.”

“What are you trying to say, Cole?” Yulen
asked softly.

“Well, it’s going to mean a little trickery
on our part,” the Second told them. “It’ll also mean having you
surrender to Collaunt, to get you closer to Atty. In the meantime,
I’ll be leading the men to the compound in the morning.”

“Go on.”

Leaning closer to them, Mastin roughly
outlined what he thought might be a possible plan. To his surprise,
both the Battle Lord and the physician found it feasible. Together,
the three of them continued to devise what they hoped would be a
solution, until Yulen determined it was time for them to head back
to the encampment and make ready to continue on toward
Bearinger.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Wait

In the dark, pre-dawn hours, two men made
their way by horseback to the northern edge of the forest
overlooking Bearinger. Leaving their horses tied a safe distance
away, Yulen and MaGrath advanced on foot through the dense forest
to where they could see the small side door in the compound wall.
Standing guard over it, the sentry appeared restless but awake.

MaGrath looked over to where the Battle Lord
was bent down behind protective covering, assessing the layout of
Collaunt’s domain. Yulen sensed the physician’s intent stare, and
glanced over at him.

“Are you going to be all right?” MaGrath
asked, keeping his voice low and soft to avoid detection.

Yulen turned back to watching the compound.
“I wanted our first time to be special. I wanted her to
feel...loved. Cherished. I wanted to shower our wedding bed with
morning glory petals. Not...not like this,” he admitted in a tight
voice.