Chapter Thirty-Eight
Desertion
They ran from the dining hall to the front of the compound and climbed the wall to the parapets. As he hurried to keep up with his father, Lucien stopped one of the archers and confiscated the man’s sword. Feeling the heft of the weapon in his hand gave him a sense of security, even though he didn’t have any of his armor. At least, if they were forced into direct combat, he’d have something to protect himself with.
Renken, Echo, and Paas were already up there when Yulen, Lucien, and Mastin joined them. The sun was still hidden behind the trees to their left, but it already gave out enough light to see the landscape before them.
Lucien paused to stare at the sight of the Bloods standing in a tight cluster about a hundred yards from the main gate. Glancing around, he could see evidence of spilled blood on the ground in front of the compound walls, and splattered over the rocks at the top of the barricade, but the bodies were gone. Carried off before daylight. Everyone knew Bloods ate their enemies, but no one knew if the same fate was dealt to their own kind.
“What’s happening?” Yulen whispered as they joined the others.
“Don’t know, and can’t tell,” Echo replied. “It’s a whole different strategy.”
“You’ve never seen them do this?” Renken questioned his wife.
She gave a shake of her head in answer. Echo was never able to tell them much about Blood behavior, even though she’d spent several years as a slave of one of their leaders. Much of her lack of knowledge was due to the fact that she’d been kept within the tight-knit company of the woman named Mink, a self-confessed goddess who’d met her fate at Echo’s hand. Although she’d heard some of the woman’s discussions with other Bloods, much of it had been incomprehensible to her. And when the woman wasn’t looking, she spent that time hunting for something to eat.
“But I think they’re getting ready to leave.”
That last remark caught everyone’s attention.
“You sure?” Lucien asked.
She pointed to a spot farther away where more Bloods were gathering. This time everyone could see the creatures dragging something in their wake. Yulen placed his hands on top of the wall and leaned forward, squinting his eyes. “Can anyone tell what they’re taking with them?”
“Horses and our wagons,” Lucien informed him. His father shot him a quizzical look but didn’t challenge him. Yulen knew his younger son had slightly better eyesight because of his Mutah half.
“Both wagons?”
“Yeah.” Lucien swallowed hard. “And they’ve piled them both up with dead bodies.”
Renken snorted. “At least they’ve got enough supplies to last them for their long trek to wherever the hell they’re going.”
Lucien didn’t miss Echo’s amused grin directed at her husband, nor the way Mastin bowed his head to hide his smile. Yes, it was a sick joke, but he had to admit it was humorous, especially the way Renken delivered it.
However, Yulen’s face remained passive. “I wonder why they’re giving up.”
“They look like they’re deserting the cause,” Renken observed. “Almost like rats from a sinking ship.” The comparison reminded Lucien of the cockroaches scuttling back into the crack in the wall, and he shuddered.
“Sir?” A soldier Lucien recognized as one of Jarish’s men came up to join them. “Captain Jarish said to tell you we’ve hit water.”
“Was it directly under the clinic?”
“Yes, sir. In fact, it’s an underground spring that flows underneath the main hall.”
“In which direction?”
“East to west, sir.”
Yulen looked pleased. “Thank you. Cole, have your men fill their water bags, then tell Warren to have his do the same.”
“What does the spring’s direction have to do with anything?” Lucien inquired, curious.
“It’s running parallel to the ridge. At some point in time, many years ago, it probably was a much bigger river that carved that gorge behind the compound.”
“At least we know now why this place was built here, and why all those other compounds were also erected almost in a direct line,” Paas commented. “That spring may have been every compound’s main water source.”
Yulen agreed. “It’s very possible.”
“The Bloods are leaving,” Echo remarked.
They watched as the clusters of Bloods began moving westward, as if continuing their trek. More groups emerged from over the last hill leading down to the barren landscape, and it was easy to spot the horses being ridden or led. From where Lucien stood, it was clear by the saddles visible on those mounts that they’d once belonged to the fake battle lord’s army. Bloods always rode bareback. “It would be a miracle if anyone from that D’Jacques imposter’s battalion survived,” he murmured.
“They got what they deserved,” Renken answered unabashedly. The ex-mercenary turned his head to look at Yulen. “That emissary guy. What’s the story about him? A little birdie told me he and that guy may have been in cahoots with each other.”
Yulen nodded slowly. “Pechard hasn’t admitted in so many words, but, yes, he was. We don’t know yet what their entire plan entailed, but I believe their intent was to destroy me and all the treaties Atty and I have made between Normals and Mutah. However, it only took one small hitch to knock the wheels off their wagon, and throw off their entire plan. And that was when I had everyone pitch camp, slowing our progress.”
“I bet they were hoping we’d be defeated at Whiterock,” Lucien pointed out.
“It would have saved them a lot of trouble if we had,” Paas agreed.
Renken pointed to the number of Bloods moving from left to right, staying to the open land and avoiding travelling directly on the roadway. “I can’t believe they’re doing that in front of us where we can see them. It’s like they’re daring us. Why aren’t they wary we’ll go after them?”
“Maybe they’re tired of fighting,” Lucien suggested.
“For someone who’s tired, they’re moving awfully fast,” Echo commented just as the distant sound of horses coming from down the road drew their attention, and the battle lord smiled.
“Or maybe it’s because the cavalry has arrived.” He leaned over and called down to the men guarding the blocked front gate. “Hancock! Remove enough of the debris to give Teeterson and his squad entry!”
They remained standing at the top of the wall and watched the men who’d been sent back to New Bearinger, along with the Mutah survivors from Johna’s compound, come into view. By the time they could be clearly seen, all trace of the Blood army had disappeared from sight, vanished in the distance.
Lucien followed his father down to the ground where a narrow entrance was being prepared for the soldiers. As they waited for the squad’s return, a soldier hurried over. In his arms he carried the battle prince’s soft leather armor.
“It’s been cleaned,” he announced, handing it over.
Thanking him, Lucien put it on. “And my outer armor?”
“Still at the clinic, sir,” the man apologized. Once Lucien redressed, he also handed over Lucien’s sword and dagger. “I also have a message to pass along to you and the battle lord.”
“A message from who?”
“Doctor MaGrath. He says to tell you both that the battle lady and the Mutah woman are awake.”
Yulen appeared at his side, having overhead the soldier’s comment. He gave Lucien a look that needed no interpretation, then turned to direct an order to his second. “Cole, have the gates boarded back up once Teeterson and his men are inside the compound, and have the captain report to me in the dining hall. Garet, go tell Warren to join us inside.”
Without waiting for an acknowledgement, the battle lord took off for the clinic, with Lucien already heading in that direction.