One Battle Lord’s Fate Read Online Free Page A

look at her friend.
    “What’s wrong?”
    Atty bit her lower lip, wondering how to answer. Without realizing it, she turned back to the sight of the two men. Tory followed her gaze. It was good to see Yulen almost back at his peak. It had been a hard road they’d traveled these past few months.
    “Atty, you know you can talk to me about anything,” she whispered in a low voice.
    A silent tear appeared at the tip of her lower lashes. “I...I don’t go see Liam for another week,” she began, pausing. Reaching up, she trailed gentle fingertips down her son’s back. “It’s going...it’s going to be h-hard to wait that long...or longer,” she finally admitted with a soft hiccup. Another tear appeared, and both crystal droplets fell onto her cheek.
    “What happened, Atty? Are you starting to get those feelings again?” Tory tilted her head to whisper, “Are you wanting to make love to your husband again?” At Atty’s silent nod, she grimaced. “Why not go see the doctor now? Why wait?”
    “Be-because it may be too soon. We’re afraid.”
    “But if your bodies are calling to each other, doesn’t that tell you something? Go to the man and have him check you out, Atty. You have nothing to lose. The worst he can say is you’ll have to wait a little while longer.” She flashed her another bright smile. “Look, when did you last feed Mattox?”
    “About half an hour ago. Why?”
    “I think I’d like to take him for a little stroll around the compound. Let him get a good look at all he’s going to inherit. Then maybe by that time Fortune will be finished with whatever nonsense he’s involved in over at the soldiers’ barracks, and we can take in lunch.” Her eyes twinkled. “Go to Dr. MaGrath and find out, Atty. If the news is good, don’t forget to lock the front door.”
    Atty’s answering stare was priceless. “Are you sure?”
    Giggling, Tory gave her a quick peck on the cheek and left her to fend for herself. Atty watched her friend walk away, then turned to see her husband still in mock battle. Without waiting for him to finish, she took off for the clinic at her top speed.
     
    * * *
     
    For the third time, Yulen’s blade barely passed over Renken’s arm. The near miss earned a chuckle from the ex-mercenary, and shouts and cheers from the crowd.
    “You’re tiring, D’Jacques,” he panted. “Your arm doesn’t appear to be solid.”
    “I’m just getting my second wind,” Yulen assured him. He would never admit that his muscles were aching from the workout. He would pay for his overexertion tonight when his body refused to let him get any rest.
    Avery called another time out, and Yulen went to get a drink from the waterskin. Some distance away he saw Tory talking to Atty as she took Mattox from his wife and put him across her shoulder. He smiled. The woman had been a godsend for them, and especially for his wife. She was the mother to replace the one Atty had lost, plus a very good friend.
    Wiping the sweat from his face with his tunic, Yulen continued to watch them until time was called. Picking up his wooden sword, he turned to face Renken for the next round. By this time, he had the man’s moves down pat. Renken had a habit of dragging for a split-second whenever he started to lunge. The next time he tried that stunt again, Yulen would have him.
    They sparred, watching for the next opening, when Renken’s eyes suddenly focused over Yulen’s shoulder. Their movement alerted him, and Yulen pivoted under the man’s swing to glance behind him. Atty was running at full tilt away from the practice field, heading for the interior of the compound.
    A sword flashed past his nose. “Eyes on me, D’Jacques.”
    “Hold,” Yulen called.
    “You can’t call a hold,” Renken snapped back.
    “Damn it, I said hold! ” Yulen froze, showing his irritation at the man.
    Too late to check his swing, Renken’s blade struck the Battle Lord on the upper arm, smacking the biceps with a flat