Yulencontinued. “The infectedMutahdidn’t know they were carrying a deadly disease. They thought they’d been granted a reprieve and allowed to return home. By the timeHighcliff’sruse was discovered, it was too late.”
“You’re correct,”Pechardinformed the battle lord. “To make things worse, these Damaged are highly intelligent at the outset. They’re stillMutah, until the lingeringaftereffects of the virus finally manage to eat away what’s left of their humanity. That’s why they’ve been able to plan and scheme, and come up with different ways to bring down Normal compounds.” He looked back over the group. “We’re not sure, it’s only supposition on our part, but we suspect the Damaged have split up into small pockets. Instead of attacking one compound as a whole, they’retargeting several compounds at the same time with each little group.”
“It’s a brilliant plan,”Attyremarked, looking up at her husband. “We’re used to fighting Bloods and other battle lords, with their massive armies. We’d never suspect a smallMutahfamily, and maybe a couple ofMutahmerchants of such deceit.”
“And once a compound is overwhelmed by the disease, there’sno way of warning the next compound because they, too, may also be in the grips of the virus.”Yulenscratched the thick scar on the side of his face. “Which brings me to my reason for calling you here tonight. As of this moment, treat every stranger we meet as if they are a carrier of this virus. Even if they appear to be Normal, don’t let down your guard, because you know someMutahdon’t showobvious overt marks.”
Lucien mentally squirmed at the remark, but no one in the tent gave him a look.
“What are your orders if and when we encounter someone?” Echo queried.
Yulen’slips twisted into a wry grin. “Well, first off, try not to get within spitting distance of them until we can determine their motives. That also goes for touching anything they’vetouched.”
“And what if they insist?” the woman warrior persisted.
“Then we must err on the side of safety,” the battle lord told them. “If they show any sign of wanting to get near one of us, or to pass along something they’ve touched, then we have no choice but to assume they are among those Damaged who are determined to destroy us. Cole, Warren, please inform themen that in those instances, they are to immediately kill everyMutahin that group. After which, they must sterilize their weapons in fire to prevent the spread of the disease.”
Lucien noticed that not a single person in the tent objected to the battle lord’s decree. But what was more surprising was that, as heartless and ruthless as it sounded, he agreed with his father’s stance.They could not take chances. Not anymore.
Years ago, when their worst enemy was the Bloods, it had been easier to tell who was friend and who was foe by their appearance. Now they were forced to fight an invisible enemy who could invade at will. One that they never saw coming until it was almost too late.
A shudder went through him as he thought of what the days aheadmight bring.
