D’Jacques emerged from the mountainside and into the bright sunlight. Shielding his eyes, he gazed out at the flat terrain and the handful of men who stood several yards away, watching and waiting for him.
He noticed how their eyes went directly to his face, and knew why. He saw their reactions when they realized he was their Yulen D’Jacques, and not the man who’d taken his place for the past several days.
They came toward him as he sheathed his weapon. D’Jacques scoured the faces, and noticed one was conspicuously missing.
“Where’s Karv?”
The men glanced at each other, reluctant to answer. Probably wondering who should step up to tell him.
D’Jacques stared at Mastin. “You and Paxton are my seconds now?”
Mastin nodded. “Yes. At least, we were when the other Yulen was here.”
“So wher
