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hunting buddies to help gather game to supplement our larders,
but these past couple of months, they’ve barely managed to forage enough to
feed all the soldiers.”
    Barely enough? This was troubling news. “What else
did he say?”
    “Not much. You might want to discuss it with him.
He was very apologetic.”
    If Fortune Kalich, one of the best Mutah hunters
she’d ever know, had difficulty obtaining game for the tables, circumstances
had to be bad.
    “Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I’ll go
speak with him.”
    A heavy tug on her hand reminded her Mattox was
getting restless to go.
    “Oh, one more thing. Do you know of anyone who
might offer to be a nursemaid to Iain, Liam’s new baby?”
    Berta’s face lit up. “Ooh, that little darling.
They named him Iain? Darling name. No. I don’t know of anyone at the moment
who’s still nursing who could make the offer. Why? Is the Madam unable to feed
him?”
    “Unfortunately, yes.”
    The head cook nodded. “It’s not unusual, given the
Madam’s age. It’s a miracle the baby came at all. I’ll put out the word you’re
looking.”
    “Great.” Atty gave the woman’s arm a squeeze of
thanks. “I’ll get back with you about the larder. How are we doing in the meantime?”
    “I can serve another three meals. Maybe four, if I
can get some more vegetables to augment it. I’d hate to have to slaughter a
cow. We’re going to need every head of cattle to help us through the winter.”
    The woman was right. If game was scarce now, it
would be practically impossible to find once the snows arrived.
    Leaving the main lodge, Atty debated with herself
whether to first seek out her husband to tell him the good news about Saxon, or
to find Fortune and discuss the food shortage. She was nearly at her lodge when
a familiar voice called out.
    “My grandmother used to call that ruminating.”
    Atty halted and glanced back to see Yulen’s Second
trotting up to join her. “Hi, Mastin! What did you say?”
    He made a circling motion with his hand around his
face. “That deep frown on your face just now. Whenever my grandfather looked
that way, Grandmums said he was ruminating. Thinking hard thoughts. Hey, Matt!
How’s my boy?” He picked up the child and playfully tossed him into the air,
eliciting a delighted giggle from the toddler.
    She gave a tired sigh. “I’m definitely ruminating.
Where’s Yulen?”
    “Over by the north gate. Do you need me to fetch
him?” He put the child back down, but continued to hold onto the length of rope
that was always attached to the child these days.
    “What’s with the north gate?” Normally the man
would be with the Battle Lord, unless he’d been sent on an errand.
    “He’s thinking of widening it, to allow large carts
to pass through.”
    “Have you seen Warren?”
    “He was still on the practice field when I left
there this morning.”
    Atty silently reprimanded herself. That was another
thing she was in arrears with. She hadn’t made time for some decent target
practice in over a week.
    A warm hand clutched her upper arm. She raised her
face to meet Mastin’s concerned gaze.
    “Atty, stop that right now.”
    “Stop what?”
    “Ever since Rafe’s death, you’ve gotten into your
head that somehow you were responsible. You’re trying to take on caring for the
whole compound, but you can’t. Not anymore. It’s too much for one person.”
    She flashbacked to her imprisonment and torture at
the hands of Yulen’s half-brother and his men. “If I had been more diligent—”
    “Oh, that’s bullshit, Atty, and you know it,” the
Second sternly stated. “No one knew what that maniac had planned. No one saw it
coming, not even Yulen, or else he wouldn’t have gone with Batuset back to
Foster City.” He gave her a little shake. “Alta Novis is twice the size it was
when you first arrived. Quit trying to take on all its problems and overseeing
every little detail, and start delegating, or else you’re going