One Battle Lord's Fate

Chapter One Decision Even with the thick planking and insulation between the rooms, Tory Kalich could hear the baby crying. Or maybe it was just her own natural mothering instinct that caused her ears to pick up on the muffled, tiny wailing that was almost too soft to be heard at this distance. She listened as hard as she could. It wasn’t long before the crying stopped. Atty had gone to care for her son. Silence returned to the bedroom like an unobtrusive guest. Tory continued to lie by her husband’s solid warmth, and listened to the night sounds. Through the partially open window on the other side of the room, she could hear an owl screech as it hunted. Crickets chirped in rhythm. Every now and then, a firefly blinked for his mate, and she replied. Otherwise it was totally still. Quiet in that soothing, comfortable way. Fortune snorted softly and rolled onto his back. Tory reached over and gently put her hand on his shoulder. She didn’t want to think back on the agony of the past few months when she had thought he was dead, killed by the Bloods at Bearinger. The memory was still too recent and too damn painful. Which was why she guessed she was awake. Shreds of those nightmarish days and nights sometimes crept back into her subconscious, and she would wake up shivering, panting from the crushing weight on her chest, her nose running and her eyes puffy from crying. Tonight she’d had another one of those moments. She couldn’t remember exactly what she had been dreaming, but she knew it had to be one of the bad ones. And when she’d jerked up into a sitting position in bed, that was when she’d heard little Mattox’s wail of hunger. “Fortune?” She gave his arm a nudge. “Mmm?” “Wake up, Fortune.” She was rewarded with one open eye. She knew he was using his hunter’s instincts to see if there was any potential danger, but since nothing appeared to be amiss, he fluffed his pillow and shoved it under his cheek, closing the eye. “What?” “It’s time we went home,” she announced. The one eye reopened. “Right now?” “No, silly.” She grinned, giving him another playful nudge. “On the next caravan. I think one’s leaving day after tomorrow.” Slowly, her husband rose up on one elbow and propped his head in his head. “Why this sudden decision? I thought you were happy here.” “I am, but we need to move out of this lodge and let Yulen and Atty have it back. They need their privacy.” “Have either of them said something to you?” “No.” She shook her head. Her long, dark brown tresses flowed over her arms. “But it won’t be long before Atty’s body will begin responding to him again. And when she does, they’re going to want to be alone.” She gathered her hair in her hands and pulled it to one side before lying back down. Fortune scooted closer and drew an arm around her waist. “Homesick?” he whispered. “Kind of. I miss my friends, but I’ve made friends here, too. I know you miss the caste.” “Actually, I don’t. I mean, there’s Bertrand and Zephyr. And Immons. But ever since Dayman passed away, I really haven’t had a close, close friend. There are a couple of the soldiers here I’ve gone out on hunt with, and we had a great time. We have great rapport. I don’t know, Tor. I’m hung both ways.” Nodding, Tory concurred. “Memnor seems to be doing well. At least, there’s been nothing in his letters that makes me think otherwise.” A small smile came over her. “He’s smitten with Corianne Deanders.” “Corianne is a handful. He’ll be a busy boy.” Fortune chuckled. He suddenly lifted his face toward the ceiling. “What? Hear something?” Tory asked. “A little squeak. Coming from the nursery.” He pointed above them. “I think Atty’s up.” “The baby needed feeding.” A yawn caught her unaware. “So, I guess I’ll break the news to them tomorrow about us going back to Wallis.” “You sure you want to do this, honey?” “Why? What do you have in mind?” “Like, maybe moving to Alta Novis?” Tory blinked at him, totally speechless for the moment. “Fortune.” “It’s just something to think about,” he said, giving her a quick kiss and rolling back over onto his other side. “G’night, honey.” The Mutah woman watched her husband slowly sink back into sleep. Placing her hand on his strong back, she let herself drift away as well. Tomorrow would be a busy day.