Fort Squall

Tamara sat with her eyes fixed before her. This was entirely challenging. Even though she faced forward, her attention wandered to the man beside her. She studied him, straining against the edges of her vision. He sat comfortably upon the bench they shared, leaning back so that his elbows rested behind him atop one of many trestle tables arranged in Fort Squall's dining hall. His long legs stretched out before him and crossed at the ankles. Fine long legs they were too, with muscles accentuated by well-fitting trousers. Even sitting, he was a whole head taller than she.

Her gaze darted towards his face, stealing nothing more than a moment's glance. She saw his golden hair and amber eyes. He looked so much like his father, Lord Davi, though there was a little of his mother, Lady Emmy, which could be seen in his fine straight nose and prominent cheekbones.

Byron caught her glance and winked. Heat flooded her cheeks. She immediately returned her attention to the front of the room, scolding herself inwardly. This time she made an extra effort to focus on the matter at hand—that of Lord Davi and his speech.

Lord Davi was Fort Squall's leader. His mate, Emmy, stood beside him. Their son, Byron, was Tamara's intended mate. "Our recent loss has been devastating for everyone," Lord Davi said, his modulated voice permeating the hall. "Something must be done! I have decided to call a kingdom-wide meeting, and representatives from each fort are to attend."

This meeting was the first since their awful tragedy. Death hung over the fort like a dark cloud, haunting its very existence. Losing five Drengr-Rider pairs was a heavy blow. To know they died at the claws of brutality burdened Tamara's heart. No one deserved to die the way they had, torn to shreds and eaten by wild dragons.

As Lord Davi's voice washed over her, calming her, her mind began to drift again. She strained to see more of Byron beside her. She saw so little of him these days. As the fort leader's son, he had many obligations, and with her special lessons, she too struggled to find the time.

Ever since discovering her bond with Byron, she had been taking private lessons with Lady Emmy, learning all about Dragonwall, its politics, its history, its secrets...

So much had changed in the last few weeks. She had gone from being a lord's daughter to Rider-In-Waiting (or so she called herself). Her father, Lord Redwynn, who was Lord-Governor of Warslie, had intended to marry her against her wishes to Lord Rahl, the lord of Squall's End and Lord-Governor of Shaldorna. When she had learned of the marriage, she had fled her family and her home to seek out Fort Squall. Upon arriving she had posed as a volunteer with a fake identity using the name of Amber, in hopes of someday becoming a Rider. As luck would have it, a Touching Ceremony had occurred several days after her arrival. That was when she had touched Byron's scales. When her skin had touched his scales, their souls had greeted each other in profound recognition. Fate had meant for them to be mates, and upon discovering this, she had never been happier. The only problem was, she was late in reaching her womanhood, and Byron would not mate with her until well after that occurred.

If only they could already be mated! She continued to ruminate over this. Once they were mated, their minds would be connected. She would always know what he was thinking, where he was, what he was doing. She longed to feel the connection. What would it be like? How would it change her? For now, she was forced to speculate.

"One thing is certain," Lord Davi's voice cut through her thoughts. "We must prepare for war. Dragons will attack sooner rather than later."

The idea of an attack frightened her. With such an event imminent, it seemed prudent to seal her bond. If the dragons attacked before she and Byron were mated, life could take a terrible turn. Numerous scenarios flashed through her mind. What if they became separated during the attack? What if he flew out to meet the dragons in combat without her? What if he died in the battle? She so desperately wished they might seal their bond, even if the method of if left her face burning with embarrassment.

The sound of scraping benches nearly made her jump. All around Tamara and Byron, occupants of the hall were rising to their feet. The buzz in the room rapidly increased as voices greeted one another to discuss recent developments. Tangled up in her mind, she had failed to notice the meeting's end. She looked at Byron. He sat watching her with a knowing expression. Once more she blushed.

"You look guilty of something. Would you like to share your thoughts?"

Pursing her lips, she shook her head. It was a very good thing he could not read her mind...yet.

"Very well. You won't always have your mind to yourself." The corner of his mouth turned up. Her eyes latched upon his face, studying his crooked smirk. He had fine lips. They opened to speak, "I thought I might ask you something, Tamara. Perhaps you would indulge a poor fellow in a walk tonight?"

"I—of course. Right now?"

He chuckled. "Actually, I was thinking next month."

Her eyes fell to the ground. Sometimes it felt as if he teased her too much, which left her wishing all the more for their minds to be linked. Maybe then she might know what he meant by his little jokes.

Together they stood and made their way from the hall.

As they walked towards the stairs—which would take them to the fort's battlements—Byron casually took her hand and placed it around his arm. At the touch of his skin, tingles erupted on her own. It was often that way.

They first exchanged pleasantries. "It is a beautiful night," he said. She agreed, though it was only beautiful because she was in his company.

"How are you finding your lessons with my mother?" he asked.

"Your mother is a blessing. They are going well, I think."

"Good. It pleases me that the two of you can spend time together. Once your true training begins, we will be busy."

How she longed for that time to come!

They continued like this, speaking of inconsequential things, until there was nothing on which to comment. After that they fell into a comfortable silence. Once more she found herself stealing glances at him from beneath her eyelashes.

At last they came to a stop overlooking the city of Squall's End. The glittering of lanterns and torches made the place look like a jewel in the darkness. It was then that Byron spoke of heavier matters, matters that left her anxious. "Tamara, I brought you out here tonight because we need to discuss your family."

"My—my family?"

"Indeed. Both your mother and father wish to see you."

She grew quite cold. "How can you know they wish to see me? My father cares nothing for me. He would have sooner sent me to live with a man I do not know. And my mother did nothing against it."

Byron sighed. "I know they wish it because they have sent multiple requests to my father."

Amidst her anxiety, fear and anger towards her family arose. "Do you not see it? Do you not understand their motives? Why they wish to see me?"

"They miss you, Tamara. You are their only daughter. Can a parent not miss their child?"

"No, that is not why."

"Tamara, I had thought you would be gladdened by their requests. Surely you miss your parents, your brothers?"

She did miss her brothers, and her mother, but it was hard to admit to missing her father. After what he had done, giving her up without a care, she did not think she could ever forgive him. "I—I do miss them. But..."

"But what?"

"Everything will be ruined! Do you not see? That is the way of my father. He wishes to bring me back so that he can lock me up, so that he can steal me away and force me to marry Lord Rhal. He will trick you and convince you that he misses me, only to see me returned safely to him."

"Tamara!" Byron's scolding voice left her conflicted. She hated to upset him—she longed to please him in all things. But shouldn't he, as her future mate, take her side? Or was she being childish?

In her heart she felt fearful, even terrified, and she could not ignore such feelings. "I worked so hard to get here," she whispered. "He—he would take it all away. He would never allow me to return to you, and I would never see you again. I would never become your Rider."

Byron's demeanor changed in an instant. He perceived her disquiet and took her hand into his, then kissed her fingers. The tender gesture was enough to send every emotion far from her mind. Somehow, even his simplest gestures had a powerful effect upon her. "Your father could never keep you from me. Besides, I will be with you the whole time. You think I would send you alone?"

"I—"

"You have much to learn about a Drengr and his Rider, Tamara. No, I would not let you out of my sight for something like that."

"You—you would come with me?"

"I would! How in the name of the gods do you expect to get there if not upon my back?"

A most glorious feeling trickled through Tamara's body when she heard that. It sent tingles across her skin, straight to her heart. "We would—we would fly there? Together?" She had dreamt of flying together every waking and sleeping moment since they first Touched.

"Ah. I see now how I can manipulate you in this." Byron's amber eyes sparkled in the darkness. "You hate the idea of paying your family a visit, but by bribing you, I may convince you to accept."

She began scrunching her toes in her slippers, biting the insides of her cheek, and fidgeting. Was flying worth seeing her family? She dearly wanted to fly. She dearly wanted to please Byron; this was something he wanted. Better still, she would have Byron all to herself while they were in the sky. It would be nice to see her brothers again, and her mother. Perhaps the awkwardness of confronting her father could be made easier with Byron by her side. "You are sure my father will not tear us apart...since we are not yet mated?"

"A smart man should never come between a Drengr and his beloved. A stupid man suffers the consequences."

She chewed on his words for a moment before asking, "How long does it take to fly to Redport from here?"

Byron chuckled. "You are weighing the benefit of flying with me; I can see that. If I told you that it takes a full day, might I convince you to say yes?"

"And does it? Does it take a full day?"

"It does indeed."

A full day of flying! Two if she counted there and back.

"What is your answer?"

"And...I only have to see them this once? I need not go back again if I do not wish to?" She asked not because she disliked her family, but because she wanted his assurance just in case things did not go well with her father.

"If you so choose, I will never ask you to make this journey again."

"And you truly believe that they are asking me to come because they miss me?"

"Tamara, from the look of their letters, they were worried sick. Your mother thought you had died. I believe they do miss you. Come now, give me your answer."

"Very well. I will do this, but only because you will be with me; I do not think I could brave them alone."

"I will be with you every step of the way, my dear." He placed his hand in hers and captured her fingers.

The warmth of his skin traveled through her own, driving away the chill brought about by her fears. It was hard to fear anything with him by her side, even if it meant confronting her family after running away. There they stood staring out into the darkness beyond. It was then that she realized she could do anything so long as Byron lent her the courage for it, and that was a happy thought.

⭐🌟 DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!🌟⭐