“We were just talking about it,” another hunter remarked. “We don’t think it’s going to pass over us quickly. It’s already moving slow. We’re sensing it could linger a bit.”
“It doesn’t look like it’ll bring much rain,” Nallt said, adding, “We smell its darkness.”
“If it stalls, then seek shelter in the most central part of your home. If you can, throw several blankets or a mattress on top of you for protection,” Mattox offered.
The men thanked him for his advice and began gathering up their weapons. Mattox left that section and found himself walking toward the Normal campsites. He doubted Caralas had gone back to the main hall for that afternoon’s lecture. But to be on the safe side, he wanted to make sure in case she’d decided to remain at her tent. Yes, she’d get the word once her father returned to their site, but he needed to warn her. He wanted to be the bearer of bad news, so she could begin to make preparations.
“Find a way to be with her. Find any excuse. Enjoy the time you share together.”
He smiled. A good son always obeyed his mother.
He eyed the tents as he drew closer. Damn him for not paying closer attention to which tent she entered, but it didn’t matter. He’d grab the first soldier passing by and ask for its location.
Another hard gust of wind rattled the trees. Mattox took a deep breath to taste what was in the air—
The smell of something foul blew past him. It was a rank odor, and unmistakable.
Mattox stopped in his tracks, but he didn’t turn to look in the direction where it had come from. He didn’t need to. The trees were off to his right, and so was the thing that had made the mistake of getting upwind from him.
Dropping to one knee, he picked up a twig and pretended to examine it as he waited for the wind to bring him another lungful of the creature’s stench. For confirmation, if anything. He glanced upward, then across the tree line at the advancing wall of blackness. The storm was already massive, and getting wider and taller.
Nature gifted him with another strong blow. In it, he caught more of the thing’s stink. He hadn’t been mistaken the first time, but this time shredded any doubts.
Slowly, he rose to his feet. Sliding his sword from its sheath, he held it up in front of him, made a few practice swings, then held it aloft again. He narrowed his eyes as he searched for sign of the intruder in the highly polished steel. A lunge, a pirouette, and an overhead, arching slash, and he checked again from a different angle.
A flash of movement. The thing adjusted itself in the tree where it was perched. It wore brown clothing, blending itself into the wood. Mattox growled to himself. It was obviously waiting for another clear shot. Even if he had a bow, he knew he wouldn’t be able to take it down. He didn’t have the skill. His mother, on the other hand…
He briefly debated with himself whether to send a silent plea for help, and just as quickly squelched it. No, he couldn’t run to her whenever things got hairy. The time would come, as much as he hated to admit it, when his parents would no longer be around. He would become the new battle lord,and it’s time I start acting like it. Acting and thinking like one.
He checked his blade one more time, hoping to get another good look at the archer, memorizing what he saw. Re-sheathing his sword, he continued toward the tents. With the storm bearing down on the compound, the thing wouldn’t be hanging around much longer.I wonder where it’ll take refuge?
Nearing the first set-up, he spotted one of Edge’s men. He was about to hail the soldier, when the figure he sought exited a red-striped tent. He automatically moved to place himself between the archer and her.
“Caralas.”
She whirled around, and a smile lit her face. “Mattox! Why are you here?” She glanced in the direction of the compound. “Has something hap—”
“Your father is safe,” he assured her and pointed to her tent. “Go inside. We need to speak in private.”
She silently did as she was told. Mattox made sure the door flap was closed before he spoke again. “First off, there’s a major storm brewing. You may have seen it heading our way.”
“I heard a couple of soldiers mention it. When do you think it’ll hit us?”
“I first estimated late tonight or early morning, but the thing’s getting bigger by the hour. It could be here right after nightfall. Maybe sooner. You need to have your men reinforce every tent. Add double the stakes, or rope ‘em down, just to be safe. Douse all your fires, too. If it gets too bad, you can take refuge inside the compound.”
“Can the compound hold us all?”
“It’ll be crowded, but at least it’ll be more secure.”
She reacted the way he’d hoped she would, with a calm but determined demeanor. Not an ounce of panic mirrored on her face or in her voice.
“I’ll get on that immediately. What else did you want to tell me?”
This time he had to hedge a bit, and settled on the original theory his family had discussed. “We believe the person who shot at you is a Mutah disguising himself as Normal. We think he may have been hired by another battle lord to take out you, or your father, or the both of you.”
“Why? To take command of Vega City?” Her eyes widened to where he noticed a golden ring on the outer edges of the iris. They seemed to glow in the lantern light.
“What other purpose would there be?”
