This Battle Lord's Quest Read Free

Troit. Even
back then, he stood out among his peers. He showed me how to use the
pharmacopoeia from nature’s bounty, rather than rely on manmade chemicals.”
MaGrath suddenly realized he’d forgotten to introduce their new guest. “Forgive
my rudeness. This is Dr. Manderly Saxon. He prefers to be called Saxon.”
    “The same way you prefer to be called MaGrath.”
Yulen smiled. He held out a hand to the elderly gentleman. “I’m Yulen
D’Jacques. I’m the Battle Lord of this compound, Alta Novis. And this...” He
waved a hand in Atty’s direction. “...is my wife, Atty.”
    Saxon bobbed his head at her, then paused. “Might I
ask you a question, young lady?”
    “Sure. Why not?”
    “Is that a fashion statement, or is your hair
actually two distinct colors?”
    She realized what he was talking about and laughed
as her hand involuntarily went up to touch the braid. “It’s normally blue. I
had to dye it—”
    “Excuse me. Did you say your hair was normally blue ?”
    Before she could answer, MaGrath stepped in. “Atty
is Mutah.”
    She carefully watched the older man’s face,
especially his eyes, to see what kind of reaction he would have. To her
astonishment, he reached out and held a hand over her crown.
    “May I?”
    She nodded, and Saxon ran his fingertips over her
scalp. His touch was almost too light to feel as he traced the grown-out
portion until he reached the blackened ends.
    “Incredible,” he murmured. Withdrawing his hand, he
explained. “We have Mutah up north, but with few exceptions, they all sport
what we refer to as vestigial body parts.” The man chuckled. “Of course, extra
eyes, or a second nose, or ten thumbs doesn’t quite fit that definition in my book, but who am I to argue? Just accept it and forget it, I say.” He bent over
to look directly into her face to examine her features, including her eyes and
skin and ears. “Extraordinary! I’ve heard of some Mutah being referred to as
‘near normal’, but I have yet to meet one. You’re the closest I’ve encountered.”
    “Bet you did meet a near normal. You just didn’t
know it,” she countered.
    Saxon chuckled as he straightened. “You’re probably
correct, Atty. I take it the majority of your Mutah abilities are inherent? As
in the way you handled that bow a few minutes ago?”
    “Atty’s ability with the bow is legendary,” MaGrath
bragged. “You should also see what she can do with a knife.”
    The door at the end of the clinic waiting room
opened, and Mattox ran out, heading straight for his father. Yulen laughed and
picked his son up to perch him on his hip.
    “Saxon, this is my son, Mattox. If you want to talk
inherent, he spotted you on horseback when you were still so far away, I needed
a spyglass to see you.”
    “Extraordinary!” Saxon leaned closer to the child, who
clung to his father’s jerkin and warily watched the stranger. Atty could see
her son’s eyes slowly darken to a cherry red color. As far as she knew, Mattox
had never shown any fear of any kind, no matter what he saw or what he
encountered. Instead, the child exhibited a combination of curiosity and anger
that intrigued her. It was as if the boy challenged everything and everyone to
prove themselves worthy of his attention.
    MaGrath tugged on the man’s coat. “Saxon, this is
why I sent for you. May I present my wife, Madigan.”
    Everyone turned around to see the woman standing in
the doorway leading into the inner chambers where she and MaGrath lived. In the
brighter light, Atty noticed how badly the pregnancy was going. There was no
blood in her face. Her cheeks were sunken, and she appeared to be much older
than her years. She walked slowly, but the warmth in her eyes and in her smile
were unflagging.
    “Dr. Saxon.” She held out a pale hand.
      Saxon took
it and bowed. “Madam.” Turning around to MaGrath, his expression became stern.
“Take this woman and lay her out where I can examine her.” The words were harsh
and