This Battle Lord's Quest by Linda Mooney Page A

you. Find out what
they learned while at New Bearinger.”
    They kissed a final time before exiting their home
and parting ways. As Yulen rounded the side of the main lodge on his way to the
barracks where his soldiers bunked, he was surprised to find MaGrath casually
leaning against the wall. He started to comment, when the physician got into
step with him.
    “Well, it’s nice to know that misunderstanding’s
been patched up. Although, I will say, it took longer than usual. Or maybe I’m
getting to the age where I’m less patient.”
    “What are you talking about, Liam?”
    “I was about to knock on your door, but I heard the
shouting, so I decided to wait. I knew that sooner or later one of you would
emerge.”
    When Yulen didn’t respond, the man continued.
    “You shouldn’t have yelled at her.”
    “I was angry.”
    “And scared. It’s understandable,” MaGrath added.
    Yulen halted and turned to face the man. “She
disobeyed my orders.”
    “She was only following through with a request.”
    “Which you did not clear with me.”
    MaGrath’s eyes widened, and the man reared back
slightly. “Oh, my. You were upset,
weren’t you?”
    Yulen huffed, decided not to answer, and started to
resume walking to the barracks when MaGrath reached out and grabbed his arm.
    “You have to let it go.”
    “Again, what are you talking about, Liam?”
    “You can’t keep beating yourself up whenever she’s
away.”
    “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Liam, but the
world is a fucking dangerous place out there.”
    “And you two have found your share of it in the
short number of months you’ve been together,” MaGrath admitted. “The sad truth
is, the world won’t change. At least, not in our lifetimes. And if, or when, it
does, it may not change for the better.”
    “Get to the point, Liam.”
    “You can’t turn yourself into a ball of raw nerves
every time she’s out of your sight.”
    “She’s my wife. I have that right.”
    “I kno—”
    “She’s my life, Liam. My heart doesn’t give me any
other choice.”
    MaGrath stared at him in surprise at the unexpected
admission. This was a side of the Battle Lord he knew existed but rarely saw,
even though he was as close as a father figure to the man.
    Patting the man on his shoulder, the physician
smiled sympathetically. “Trust her, Yulen. Give her room to be the woman you
love. That’s all I’m saying.”
    Trust her, Yulen. Give her room to be the woman you
love.
    “Okay.” Sighing heavily, Yulen nodded to the two
other men in the main hall. “Okay. One week. I’ll give her one week to follow
her hunch. But if she’s not back at this time next week, I’m gathering my men
and going after her.”
    He looked at Fortune and Mastin, daring them to
argue or try to talk him out of his decision. Instead, they remained silent.
    Now that he’d made a choice, he felt the weight
dissipate like the smoke from the fire in the fireplace. He would wait. He
would put his faith and trust in her, although it would cost him emotionally.
    Picking his son up off the table and placing him on
his feet on the floor, Yulen took the child by the hand.   
    “Come on, Matt. Let’s go see if Berta has any
butter cookies she’ll let us have.”
     

Chapter
Twelve
    Connection
     
     
    The air was cool. The night was clear. Yulen paused
on the parapet and looked up at the multitude of stars and the three-quarter
moon. The huge crack in the orb made it look like the eye of a wild animal
glaring down at them.
    Breathing in the sweet air, he surveyed the area.
He loved the beauty of the compound, especially late at night when the glowing
lanterns and torches ringed the perimeter like jewels on a crown. Taking in
another deep breath, he continued his slow stroll. Walking the catwalk around
the compound late at night was a habit he’d developed whenever Atty was gone.
Whenever the bed was too cold and empty to allow him any real rest. It also
gave him the chance to think,