Horde (Razorland #3)(12)

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Let’s hear them.”

“We could split into smaller groups, trying to lead them away from the refugees.”

I shook my head. “That would leave them defenseless if the strategy failed.”

“If it comes down to a straight-up fight, we’ve already lost,” Stalker said flatly.

Fade prickled to life. “With that attitude, what’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be saving your own skin? You excel at that, as I recall.”

At the veiled reference to how he’d abandoned his cubs at the first sign of trouble in the ruins and threw his lot in with us because we knew how to fight the Freaks, Stalker narrowed his eyes and took a step forward. While I didn’t want them arguing, I was glad to see Fade getting angry about anything, even strategy.

Still, I stepped between them and shook my head. “We should talk to Morgan. Presumably he’s been fighting the Freaks longer than we have.” He was older anyway, though that didn’t always mean what I thought it should in terms of experience. “Come on.”

The boys flanking me, I joined the guardsman. “Do you have any thoughts on how we can keep these people alive?”

“Pray to all your saints.”

I had no idea what that meant or what a saint might be. This didn’t seem like the time to ask. “Are you being serious?”

“Half,” Morgan said. “But it’s not the most practical approach. A group as large as ours will certainly attract attention. I propose we send scouts ahead to make sure the way is clear and keep sentries moving on the perimeters at all times. I’ll also need a squad to guard our rear flank. That’s the group most likely to see combat.”

“I’ll fight,” I said.

“Me too.” Fade spoke almost as quickly as I did.

Stalker didn’t react to that quiet resurgence of our old dynamic; at least we weren’t broken as a fighting team. “If I’m welcome, I’ll volunteer as a forward scout.”

Morgan glanced my way, probably for confirmation this was a good idea. So I said, “He’s the best Salvation has.”

“Then welcome aboard. Go see Calhoun for your assignment.” Stalker didn’t look at me again, merely went off to the fellow Morgan indicated. That told me he was annoyed that I hadn’t let him hit Fade. To me, the guard added, “I’ll leave my best fighting men with you.”

“You’re marching with the main group?” I asked.

Morgan nodded. “I’m not the best soldier, only the man the colonel trusts the most.”

I could see why. He had a steady air and he gave the impression that he could handle himself in a crisis. That didn’t always equate to raw battle prowess. “Tegan will be staying with you as well. She’s the closest thing Salvation has to a doctor since Doc Tuttle didn’t make it out.”

“She’ll be welcome. And I’ll look out for her personally.”

“Her leg bothers her sometimes,” Fade added.

I frowned at him because she didn’t like people treating her like she was crippled, but in a situation like this, Morgan needed to know. She’d already taxed her thigh getting from Salvation to Soldier’s Pond and back again. Tegan must be hurting but she was more concerned with those who needed her than with her own physical limitations. There was only one thing left to do, so I wove through the milling crowd to check on my family.

Edmund was thin and hollow-eyed from the stress of the situation. As I approached, he put an arm around Momma Oaks, then reached for me with his other one. Up close he smelled of wood smoke and leather, though I couldn’t forget the why of the former. Rex stood slightly apart, wearing the dull, shocked expression of someone who couldn’t credit the sudden loss. I stepped into their embrace, quietly grateful that my family was intact when so many others weren’t.

Momma Oaks kissed my cheek, her hand gentle on my hair. “There were just too many. You mustn’t blame yourself. We didn’t have the ammunition or the manpower to hold the walls.” She must’ve been so frightened, but there was little evidence of it at the moment.

“And then they figured out how to use the torches.”

Edmund nodded, squeezing my shoulder with one arm. “But I told everyone you’d be back with help … and here you are.”

“It’s not enough,” I said softly.

Rex started at that. When he spoke, his tone was incredulous. “It’s more than anyone thought you’d manage. When Elder Bigwater said he’d sent the four of you on a rescue mission, most didn’t think you’d come back. We didn’t expect you to save the whole town, Deuce.”

That was news to me. Maybe it was an impossible task, but I’d set out intending to achieve it. This lesser version of success hurt. Still, I’d take fifty-odd lives over none. I hugged my parents in turn.

“What happened inside?” I asked.

Edmund sighed. “Like she said, we didn’t have the ammo to hold the walls. Smith fell behind on production, and once we started running out, the Muties got bolder. Then one of the monsters threw a brand. It got lucky and the wall caught.”

“That gave others the idea,” I guessed.

“Once a fire takes hold,” Momma Oaks said tiredly, “there’s not a whole lot you can do.”