The Battle Lord's Lady by Linda Mooney

happened to our advance
party before we entered the compound?”
    “Yes, sir. They know they were attacked by a
party of Mutah, who almost killed all of our men—”
    “Not a party,” Yulen quickly corrected
him.
    “Sir?”
    Yulen glanced back at the young soldier. “I
said...it was not a party of Mutah who attacked and killed sixteen
of our men. There was only one.” He held up an index finger for
emphasis. “One Mutah.”
    Mastin swallowed hard.
“ One? ” At the Battle Lord’s
nod, he added, “The girl?” Another nod. “With just a bow?” Again,
the nod. “Sooo...we’re taking her back home because of her
skill?”
    Somehow Yulen managed a small grin without
too much pain. “Does that surprise you?”
    “No. Well, yes. What do you plan to do with
her?”
    “I made a deal with her. If she would train
my men how to acquire such skill with their bows, I would spare her
compound.” He glanced quickly at the man riding beside him, hoping
to catch his immediate reaction.
    “So, you bargained their lives for her
servitude?”
    “Correct.”
    “But what if she had turned you down?”
    Yulen made a face. “You already know the
answer to that.”
    “But what if another Battle Lord comes along
and razes her compound? What if Syrus Collaunt discovers it?”
    “That will always be a possibility. But
I promised her I would not
bring harm to her people. As long as I keep my word, she’ll
comply.”
    “And then what will you do once she’s taught
us everything she knows? Will you let her go back to her
compound?”
    “I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Yulen
admitted. These past few hours he’d gone solely on gut instinct. He
hoped the days’ ride back to Alta Novis would give him a clearer
sense of direction. He noticed Mastin’s glance backwards.
“What?”
    “What about Karv? Verris and I—”
    “Where is Verris?” the Battle Lord asked,
referring to the only other man he’d tapped to replace Karv,
besides Mastin.
    “Riding with Karv, as you ordered,” Mastin
reminded him. One would always remain with the defaced Second until
they reached the compound, as per orders.
    “What I plan to do with Karv is none of your
concern,” Yulen snapped suddenly. Kneeing his horse, he jumped
ahead of the line to check the trail. The advance guard he’d sent
before them had yet to return to let them know of any possible
danger. Thinking back, Yulen realized it had been a good hour or
more since Betts had left. He raised his hand, signaling a halt to
their progress.
    Mastin hurried to catch up. Before he could
question his leader’s actions, Yulen whispered gruffly, “Fetch me
three swords.”
    There was not a sound coming from the trees.
For the past few minutes all sounds had ceased, and Yulen cursed
himself for his inattention. Not even a bird flew overhead.
    The Second galloped away to bring back three
men armed with swords. Once, many, many years ago, there had been
guns and all manner of weapons which relied upon explosive charges
and gunpowder. But those weapons quickly became obsolete as
ammunition, the materials to make ammunition, and the knowledge and
ability to make the ammunition and more such weapons was lost or
disappeared. Yulen had seen a gun once, a long time ago, but he had
never held one, much less fired it. People had reverted back to the
ways of their ancestors, using swords and bows and other such
weapons from their history, which proved easier to make and
use.
    The same loss of technology also proved fatal
for cars. And electricity. And telephones. Gone, all gone more than
three hundred years ago.
    Yulen dismounted, motioning for the others to
do as well as he pulled his own sword from its sheath. Mastin slid
off his horse and joined them. Slowly, carefully, they advanced
toward the small rise and disappeared over the crest.
     
    * * * *
    MaGrath felt the girl stirring in his arms,
but it wasn’t until she let out a low moan that he gently covered
her mouth with his hand. At his