“All right. So?”
“That’s Mom’s crest,” Mattox informed his uncle. “Someone stole that arrow from Mom’s collection.”
The physician gasped. “What? Are you sure? I mean, what if someone else has the same crest? Is that possible?”
“It’s possible,” Atty admitted. “But look at the tip. That’s a Mutah barb. My own design. Mattox, you need to tell Yulen as soon as possible.” Handing him the pieces, she started out the door.
“Where are you going?” he called out to her.
“To check my quiver and stock,” she answered. “I’m the only one who makes my arrows. I know exactly how many I should have. I’m going to see how many are left. I need to find out if any of them are missing. If not, then someone is imitating my design, accidentally or on purpose.” She left without further word. Mattox heard the sound of the clinic’s front door slam.
“Do you need me for anything?” Iain asked. “Do I need to go see if the young woman is all right?”
Mattox shook his head. “No. She’s fine. A bit shaken, but that’s understandable. I’m going to fetch Dad and tell him.” Giving his uncle a clap on the shoulder, he left the examination room and ventured through the narrow hallway that led to the main hall.
Opening the door underneath the stairs, he exited into the dining area to find the battle lords and representatives broken into small groups. Platters of mugs and jugs of drink, along with some cheese and fruit, sat on various tables. They were taking a break.
Mattox found his father on the far side of the room. Rather than call out to him, or give a whistle like he normally did to catch the man’s attention, he waded through the throng to approach him. Yulen caught sight of him and recognized the expression on his son’s face. Excusing himself, he met Mattox halfway, and they stepped away from listening ears to talk.
“Something’s happened. It’s urgent. Mom knows.”
Nodding, Yulen turned to face the crowd. “I have some business to attend to. We’ll resume our discussions after lunch!”
The men acknowledged him and began drifting toward the front door. Mattox and his father took the side exit. The battle lord said nothing as his son led him to their lodge. Needing that amount of privacy told him it had to be of utmost importance.
As soon as they were inside, and Mattox shut the door behind them, he handed the two pieces of the arrow to Yulen. He quickly repeated the conversation he’d had with Atty. “She’s gone to check her store of arrows, to make sure no one’s absconded with any of them.”
Yulen pressed his lips together. “If not for your extraordinary eyesight and Mutah reflexes, that woman could be dead right now. And once word got out it was your mother’s arrow, or one that resembled it, there could have been hell to pay.”
Mattox saw his father’s jaws clench as the man contemplated their next move. At the same time, the battle lord’s words washed like cold water through him.
“That woman could be dead right now.”
“You sure she’s all right?”
Mattox started, unaware his attention had drawn inward. “Yes. She said she’d let her father know of the incident.”
“Then I’d better go talk to Edge personally. I’ll offer extra security at his campsite.” Resting a hand on his son’s shoulder, Yulen smiled. “Thank you.”
“For what? I almost got her killed!”
His father gave him a surprised look. “Since when did you assume responsibility for someone else’s actions?”
“I’m the one who took her out there.”
“So what? If whoever is behind this hadn’t shown his hand then, he would have tried later, and maybe succeeded that time.” Yulen held up the broken arrow. “Because of you, we’ve been forewarned, and that gives us time to check this out and possibly prevent anything worse from happening.” He placed the pieces on the small table by the door. “I’m going out to notify Cole and Warren, and have them inform the men so they can be on the lookout for anything suspicious.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“No. I want you to go find Misty and Luc, and tell them about this. Then come back here to find out what your mother’s discovered, if anything.”
“And then what?”
Yulen let out a deep sigh. “And then…we have no choice but to wait for our mystery person to make his next move.”
12
Theft
