He tore his eyes away from the tree line and went in search of the broken projectile. He found it a few feet away from where Caralas stood. His knife pierced the ground a yard from there. She ran up to him as he picked up the two pieces and retrieved his weapon.
“I saw this coming at you. I had to act. There was no time to shout a warning.” Wiping the blade on his pants leg, he slid it back into the holster.
“So you threw your knife at it and sliced it in two.”
“It was enough to divert it.” He examined the pieces, including the clean break close to the barbed tip.
She grabbed his wrist, squeezing it to get his attention. He turned to look at her, and saw the gratitude on her face.
“Thank you. You probably saved my life.”
He grunted in answer and turned back to the trees. “It came from that direction, but I wasn’t able to see who might’ve launched it.”
“It could have been a stray shot.”
“Bullshit.” He lowered his brows. “The archery range is on the other side of the field. This arrow was deliberately aimed at you.”
“Who could have done…” She went silent, and she bowed her head as if in thought. It struck him as odd, and he pursued it.
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head.
“Okay. I call bullshit again. You have an idea, don’t you?”
“I have an idea, yes, but I have no proof.”
Mattox shook the two arrow pieces in her face. “What do you call this?”
“It’s all supposition, okay? Just something I’ve suspected for a long time, but I can’t back any of it up. Not even with that.” She pushed his hand away. “That doesn’t prove a thing, and you know it. Not unless you can match it up with whoever shot it. And you admitted you didn’t see anyone shoot it, or see anyone hiding in the trees who might’ve shot it.”
“You need protection, in case someone tries to do it again.”
“I’ll go tell Captain Agustus. He’ll inform Borlee, who’ll let my father know what happened if I don’t see Dad first. Agustus will see to it I have someone assigned to me for protection.”
He started to argue that her guards wouldn’t be able to protect her, especially if a Mutah had launched that arrow. His first instinct was to volunteer his services, but that wouldn’t fly. He couldn’t afford to give her his time. Not during the conference. And not when whatever had triggered his Mutah sense of self-preservation still sat on the horizon, waiting…waiting… Slowly but inexorably advancing…
He nodded. “All right. But let me escort you back to your campsite, just to be on the safe side. For my peace of mind.”
“Are you going to let your parents know what happened?”
He checked the two pieces in his hand. “Of course. The safety of our guests is top priority.”
She nodded. Unexpectedly, she leaned up on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you again.”
He watched as she picked up her sections of armor, then walked with her toward the campground. As soon as she disappeared inside one of the tents, he raced back to the rear gate. It didn’t matter what his parents were doing at that moment. It didn’t matter if they were in the middle of one their discussions. He had to pull one of them aside and let them know immediately, before whoever had shot this arrow tried that stunt again. Or worse, succeeded.
He glanced at the pieces in his hand. There was a lot more going on here than what anyone could imagine. And he dreaded to think what they’d discover next.
11
Notified
His father was in the middle of a lecture. Or rather, in the middle of one of those question and answer sessions that always accompanied his lectures.
Mattox looked around the dining hall but didn’t see his mother. Ducking back outside, he grabbed the first soldier to pass by. “Have you seen Atty?”
“No. She’s not in the lodge?”
