One Battle Lord’s Fate (25 page)

It’s because she is tainted. I want to fuck her like all men are drawn to those Mutah bitches who sell themselves to the man with the most to give her.

He was convinced that was the only reason she was here. She’d used some kind of power to entice D’Jacques to her bed, and keep him there, the same way she’d tried to lure him. No doubt, she’d done bizarre and sick things to D’Jacques to convince him to make her his wife.

She'd even preyed on his wish for an heir.

“Sir? You called for me?”

Slamming the Ballock’s tip into the upper corner of the paper lying on the table, Rafe waved for his Second to look.

“The time has come, as it always does, when my allies have become my enemies. I need to dispose of the Battle Lords who’ve lent me their aide.”

Moiven Sees’ eyes lit up. “How? You have a plan?”

Rafe grinned. His Second was capable and loyal to a fault. One of those faults being eager and ready to do whatever the Battle Lord requested without question.

“It will be relatively simple. Tomorrow morning, they will come into this hall, expecting to find a wealth of riches I’ve confiscated from this compound. I need you to do three things. First, I need as much material as can be found brought here and displayed on these tables. Next, I need you to assign ten men to come guard these riches, but before you do, be sure they know their true assignment.”

“Which is?”

“On my signal, slay the Battle Lords.”

Sees didn’t flinch. “How do you plan to explain the carnage?” he asked, as if doing such a heinous deed was an ordinary occurrence.

“That’s where your third order comes in. Send some men outside the compound walls to recover three or four Mutah bodies, and a couple of our dead soldiers. Bring them in here. I’ll arrange to be the sole survivor of this carnage, and explain that while the Battle Lords were looking over the spoils, we were attacked by the Mutah, who had somehow managed to sneak into the compound while we were under siege, and were hiding inside the main lodge. They killed the Battle Lords before our guards managed to slay them. No one will question it.”

Sees nodded and turned to leave when a soldier rushed into the hall from the side door. He quickly saluted, but didn’t wait for permission to speak.

“The fire has grown! It’s already burning the compound walls in some locations!”

“What are you waiting for?” Rafe almost roared at the man. “Set up a water brigade!”

The soldier blanched. “H-how? Where would we get the water?”

Rafe pounded a fist on the table in exasperation. Grabbing the Ballock, he started for the door when the main entrance behind him suddenly opened, and two more guards burst into the room.

“Sir!”

“What!”

“The Mutah are attacking again!”

“In the middle of the fire?” Rafe yelled in anger.

“No, Sir! At the main gates! They’re attacking as one large force! There’s hundreds of them!”

“Awaiting orders, Sir!” the other guard added.

“What do you need me to say that you can’t figure out for yourselves?” Rafe asked. “Have our forces gather at the main gates!”

“Who will help put out the fire?”

Fuming, Rafe strode out of the side door and stopped to look around. The main thoroughfare was empty. There was no one he could collar to help put out the fire. Smoke already filled the air, and thick black clouds blocked the sun. He could hear the roar of the flames as waves of heat signaled its approach. Light flickered between the huge posts that comprised the wall. Even the coming sunset appeared to be part of the conflagration threatening to burn the fortress to the ground.

Three more soldiers ran up, joining the one who had followed Rafe outside. “Find buckets,” the Battle Lord ordered. “Start wetting the posts to keep the fire from penetrating all the way through.”

“Yes, Sir!” all four barked in unison. Then each one ran off in different directions. Rafe stared at their disappearing figures in surprise, followed by frustration. Why would well-trained men suddenly turn into half-wit imbeciles? How hard was it to grab buckets from kitchen, not ten feet away, and form a line to the wall?

A scream of raw anger got his attention. It came from the direction of the main gates. He took off running, drawing his sword as he headed toward the sounds of the battle. By the time he reached the large double doors, he could tell the majority of his forces were gathered here. Most of them were on the catwalk running along the top of the wall. They were beating down the Mutah who were scrabbling their way up the sides. Meanwhile, his archers were firing from the tall observation towers.

Rafe raced to the nearest ladder and climbed up to the walkway. One glance over the wall confirmed his suspicions. As far as he could see, mutants were pouring out of the forest on the other side of the main road and advancing on the compound, teeming like enormous ants and covering the land with milling bodies. The creatures screamed and shouted, yelling gibberish with mouths that defied description. Their wild-eyed expressions were devoid of emotion, and many bore slits for noses. Many brandished tree branches and other crude clubs. A few had spears. But the majority were empty handed, and they repeatedly fell over each other as they tried to claw their way up the posts using their long, animalistic nails.

He and his men were vastly outnumbered. Given that the north wall of the compound was going up in flames, it wouldn’t be long before those things would discover a way inside, through the burnt timbers. He scanned the compound behind him, and a stark truth suddenly made itself clear. Yulen D’Jacques' men were nowhere to be seen. The cowards had deserted the compound in the face of the Mutah attack.

So much for the great Battle Lord of Alta Novis.

Rafe hurried back down the ladder and headed straight for the main lodge. Once inside, he ran for the stairs leading upstairs to the bedroom.

“Mother!
Mother!
”

Janelle threw the door open and stepped out onto the landing. Thankfully, she was still dressed.

“Grab a coat. We’re leaving.”

“What? Leaving? Now?”

“Shut up and do as you’re told! And hurry!”

She vanished inside the bedroom, emerging a moment later with her fur wrap. Seeing the look of desperation on her son’s face, she ran after him as he exited via the side door.

Rafe was waiting for her outside. Grabbing her arm, he almost dragged her toward the stables in his rush to get to the horses. The smoke was thick and intense. Embers danced overhead. Some landed on the dry grass inside the compound, until the area was spotted with tiny flames. The heat was enough to have them sweating profusely before they’d taken a dozen steps.

They rounded the side of the stables, when Rafe nearly ran into a solid block of Mutah. Janelle screamed in fear as Rafe faced them. Nearly a dozen in number, they stood in silent formation, makeshift weapons and spears in their hands. They acted as if they were expecting him. Rafe instinctively reached for his sword, then realized he couldn’t defeat them all. Grabbing his mother’s hand, they fled back in the direction of the main lodge.

At one point, his mother jerked on his hand. She was coughing from the smoke, and tears ran down her cheeks from reddened eyes. “Rafe! Rafe, stop! What are you doing? Where are we going?”

He swiped at his eyes and forehead with the sleeve of his shirt and glanced back the way they’d come to see if the mutants had followed after them. So far, he couldn’t detect any movement in the haze, but he wouldn’t put it past those disfigured bastards to go into hiding and ambush without warning.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” he rasped. Like her, his throat felt raw from breathing the smoke. Rafe coughed. “The compound’s being invaded. The north wall is on fire. If we don’t leave now, we’ll never make it.”

“What about your people? What about the townsfolk?”

“Fuck the townsfolk! If they’re so eager to make peace with the Mutah, let
them
face that horde and broker a peace treaty! These people brought this upon themselves.”

She bent down to hastily brush a burning leaf from her skirt. “How are we going to escape without a horse?”

Rafe stopped and tried to concentrate. There had to be other exits from the fortress. Even Alta Seran had a few small doors which allowed individuals to come and go from the compound without having to use the big main gates.

“Doors,” he murmured.

“What?”

“Side doors! I’m betting Alta Seran was built with the same specs as Alta Novis. If it was, then there should be a side door close by that we can use to get away from here!”

He glanced upward, finally spotting a lookout tower not too far away. The doors he sought were usually located just below the towers, giving the person leaving the added benefit of overhead protection while he was outside the walls.

“Come on!” He gave Janelle’s arm a tug. “This way!”

They had barely taken a step toward possible freedom when a sharp, clear tone broke through the noise of the battle and fire. It pealed loud and repeatedly, forcing Rafe to freeze in his tracks. Stunned by the sound, he could feel his heart racing, sending his blood to pool in the center of his chest.

It was the sound of the bell ringing from atop its tower in the center of the main courtyard, less than a hundred yards from where he and his mother were standing.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Fate

Janelle cried out. Rafe looked at her and found her staring white-faced into the smoke. She raised a hand to her mouth, as she often did when frightened, and stepped away from him.

Lifting his sword, he held it ready for whatever was coming toward them. His watery eyes made his vision blurry, and the continuous tolling of that damn bell masked all sound. It could be two, five, or a dozen men approaching.

Or those mutants, who had found a way inside the compound.

He never anticipated the tall figure dressed in blood-splattered armor to appear from out of the smoke like a wraith. A figure with golden-red hair, and a long scar etching his face from his eye to his mouth. The shadows of flames danced across his breastplate and shoulders, giving the impression of a creature rising from the fire itself.

Yulen D’Jacques stopped a few yards away from his half-brother. His weapon was in one hand, but with the tip down. Miraculously, the courtyard bell stopped ringing. The silence allowed Yulen to speak.

“Rafe D’Jacques! Hear me, and all people within the sound of my voice! I am Yulen D’Jacques, rightful Battle Lord of this compound, Alta Novis! And I challenge you, brother, for possession of it, and custody of all who inhabit within its walls.” His voice was loud and deep. Rafe knew it carried as far as the shops and markets.

Once his initial shock was over, he could smile at the man standing not far away. “I’m delighted to see you, dear brother. I was wondering how long it would take you to return and try to wrest this place from my grasp.”

Yulen returned the smile. His weapon never wavered, but he took the stance of a man about to do battle. “You took something of mine. I’m here to take it back.”

Something exploded nearby. It sounded like one of the main poles in the compound walls reacting to the fire. Rafe’s smile widened.

“Tell you what, Yulen. After some consideration, why don’t I just give this place back to you? It’s a bit too big for my purposes. And, besides, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to rid it of the stench of Mutah.”

Yulen laughed lightly. Lifting his sword, he grasped the hilt with both hands, flexing his fingers for a firm grip. “Fleeing like the rat I knew you were the moment I set eyes on you. A rat and a traitor.”

There was an unexpected movement to the side. Janelle launched herself at Yulen, dagger raised over her head, when another sword slapped her hand with the flat of the blade. The woman shrieked in pain and anger as she fell to the ground. Two soldiers appeared out of the smoke to grab her by the arms and haul her to her feet.

“Let me go! Get your fucking hands off me! I’m the Lady of this compound! You do as I say, or I’ll have your heads for this!”

Despite her struggling and threats, the two men remained calm as they held her prisoner.

“Release my mother,” Rafe ordered the men. “Release her now.”

“No.” Yulen took a step forward.

The simple answer made Rafe pause. “No?”

“Not until I’ve paid you back for the excellent hospitality you’ve shown my people, my men, my friends, and my wife.”

Rafe sneered. “Your friends and your wife are Mutah. They’re no different than those nightmarish creatures attacking this compound.” He paused as he realized something. “How did you get in when the exits are covered?”

Unexpectedly, he saw several figures emerge from the haze. They were his soldiers, coming in to watch his back. Rafe tilted his head in Yulen’s direction. “Attack the Battle Lord!” he ordered loudly.

His men remained where they stood. They neither responded or moved to follow his orders. Rafe almost gaped at them, when a man stepped up behind each soldier and placed a knife at their throats. It seemed Yulen had covered all his bases.

“I see the rats did not desert the burning building. Instead, they were hiding as I thought all along.”

“Not hiding, Rafe. Waiting to be released from the dungeon where you put them. The rest of my men are following
my
orders. At this moment, they’re surrounding the Bloods and attacking them from the rear.”

“Too bad that leaves no one to watch the fire.”

Yulen chuckled and shook his head. “Look around you, Rafe. Do you see the smoke dissipating? Have you noticed the fire is slowly diminishing?” At Rafe’s disbelieving expression, he pressed the point. “You refused to listen when I was explaining the difference between Mutah and Bloods. The creatures attacking are Bloods. They are as different from Normals and Mutah as the mutated animals. The Mutah are us, only better. Stronger. They have enhanced speed and eyesight and hearing. They can throw farther and aim with better accuracy. If they are injured, they heal faster than Normals, plus their pain tolerance is higher. The Mutah are us, but better.” He tilted his head in the direction of the wall. “They are the ones fighting the fire. They’re defending the homes you drove them away from.”