archers taking the roofs, they could do untold damage to any invading army before my men even got the chance to face the survivors.”
“All right. I trust your judgment. Let me know how I can help.”
“You’re doing plenty,” he assured her and gave her a buss on the cheek. “Now, if you don’t mind, I want to go upstairs and see what my wife thinks about my decision.”
* * *
Madigan followed him as far as the stairs. As he ascended the steps, she let herself out of the lodge and went back to the clinic where she knew Liam would be winding things down.
What the Battle Lord planned was a bold and daring move. But, like she had told him, she trusted his instincts and his judgment. Alta Novis was growing at a daily rate, and it already surpassed any compound she had ever been to. What was considered the norm in the past would no longer apply here.
It would very interesting to see how far and how large the D’Jacques Dynasty would become.
Now, and in the future.
Chapter Twelve
Overview
Madigan looked up from the chair where she sat knitting, and stared in surprise as Atty slowly making her way down the spiral staircase. The fact that she was wearing her usual pants and tunic told her mother-in-law that she wasn’t prepared to go back to bed.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m going stir crazy. I need some air. Watch after Mattox, would you?”
Madigan was waiting at the bottom by the time Atty stepped off the last step. She could feel the woman’s eyes inspecting her, studying and judging.
“You need to be upstairs in bed.”
“I’m tired of being bedridden. I need to get out and get some exercise.” To hold off any more of the woman’s protests, Atty placed a hand on her shoulder and met her glare eye-to-eye. “There are hundreds of soldiers out there. Every one of them will be watching me the same way you’re looking at me now. Trust me, Madigan. If I start to feel weak, they’ll see to it I’m brought back immediately.” Smiling slightly, she added, “Promise.”
The older woman sighed loudly and nodded. “Very well. I’ll take Mattox over to the clinic.”
“Thanks.” Atty gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then turned and made her way to the front door. Despite the ever-present pain in her back that reminded her she still had a way to go before she was completely healthy, the rest of her felt eager to get back outside where she really belonged.
As she’d expected, the hustle and bustle was more pronounced once she stepped over the threshold. A sense of dejá vù swept over her, and she was reminded of the first time she’d exited the safety of the main lodge to visit the market. Back when she was a newcomer to Alta Novis. A new and unwanted visitor. That had been a little over a year ago. At the memory, she smiled to herself.
But today wasn’t Saturday. Plus, the compound was bigger, and growing at a noticeable rate. Also, the nearly frenzied activity surrounding her had nothing to do with that growth, and everything to do with the audacious plan she and Yulen had been discussing these past months.
“Battle Lady about!”
The call came from somewhere behind her. Most likely from the sentry tower nearby. But it caught the attention of several people who paused long enough to give her a nod of acknowledgement before continuing on with what they were doing. Atty decided to check out the new wall.
As far as she could tell, the majority of the activity was taking place on the other side of what used to be the old boundary wall. She briefly debated whether to climb up one of the ladders to the catwalk, or to go through a security gate and see for herself. Another twinge of pain reminded her she wasn’t one hundred percent yet. If she remained on ground level, there was a good chance she could be jostled accidentally, maybe even ripping open the stitches in her back. Her decision was easy.
Slowly, she climbed the narrow wooden ladder up to
“All right. I trust your judgment. Let me know how I can help.”
“You’re doing plenty,” he assured her and gave her a buss on the cheek. “Now, if you don’t mind, I want to go upstairs and see what my wife thinks about my decision.”
* * *
Madigan followed him as far as the stairs. As he ascended the steps, she let herself out of the lodge and went back to the clinic where she knew Liam would be winding things down.
What the Battle Lord planned was a bold and daring move. But, like she had told him, she trusted his instincts and his judgment. Alta Novis was growing at a daily rate, and it already surpassed any compound she had ever been to. What was considered the norm in the past would no longer apply here.
It would very interesting to see how far and how large the D’Jacques Dynasty would become.
Now, and in the future.
Chapter Twelve
Overview
Madigan looked up from the chair where she sat knitting, and stared in surprise as Atty slowly making her way down the spiral staircase. The fact that she was wearing her usual pants and tunic told her mother-in-law that she wasn’t prepared to go back to bed.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m going stir crazy. I need some air. Watch after Mattox, would you?”
Madigan was waiting at the bottom by the time Atty stepped off the last step. She could feel the woman’s eyes inspecting her, studying and judging.
“You need to be upstairs in bed.”
“I’m tired of being bedridden. I need to get out and get some exercise.” To hold off any more of the woman’s protests, Atty placed a hand on her shoulder and met her glare eye-to-eye. “There are hundreds of soldiers out there. Every one of them will be watching me the same way you’re looking at me now. Trust me, Madigan. If I start to feel weak, they’ll see to it I’m brought back immediately.” Smiling slightly, she added, “Promise.”
The older woman sighed loudly and nodded. “Very well. I’ll take Mattox over to the clinic.”
“Thanks.” Atty gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then turned and made her way to the front door. Despite the ever-present pain in her back that reminded her she still had a way to go before she was completely healthy, the rest of her felt eager to get back outside where she really belonged.
As she’d expected, the hustle and bustle was more pronounced once she stepped over the threshold. A sense of dejá vù swept over her, and she was reminded of the first time she’d exited the safety of the main lodge to visit the market. Back when she was a newcomer to Alta Novis. A new and unwanted visitor. That had been a little over a year ago. At the memory, she smiled to herself.
But today wasn’t Saturday. Plus, the compound was bigger, and growing at a noticeable rate. Also, the nearly frenzied activity surrounding her had nothing to do with that growth, and everything to do with the audacious plan she and Yulen had been discussing these past months.
“Battle Lady about!”
The call came from somewhere behind her. Most likely from the sentry tower nearby. But it caught the attention of several people who paused long enough to give her a nod of acknowledgement before continuing on with what they were doing. Atty decided to check out the new wall.
As far as she could tell, the majority of the activity was taking place on the other side of what used to be the old boundary wall. She briefly debated whether to climb up one of the ladders to the catwalk, or to go through a security gate and see for herself. Another twinge of pain reminded her she wasn’t one hundred percent yet. If she remained on ground level, there was a good chance she could be jostled accidentally, maybe even ripping open the stitches in her back. Her decision was easy.
Slowly, she climbed the narrow wooden ladder up to
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