Page 44 of The Iron Oath
“What is she to you, warrior? Why are you going through all this trouble for someone who you didn’t even know existed until recently?” Gelisha switched her gaze to Magoza.
“Amuleta is my fated mate, Lady Sesh. I am willing to do whatever I need to do to ensure she is safe and to claim her,” Magoza replied without hesitation.
Gelisha’s eyes widened. She turned back to her daughter and caressed her face.
“Is this true,danhas?” Gelisha murmured.
Amuleta raised her hand and rested it on the back of her mother’s. She gave a slight nod.
“It is true,Banhas,” Amuleta whispered.
Something personal was silently exchanged between the two Sesh females.
“Fine. We shall go with them. You are all I have left in this world. I can’t lose you, too,” her mother whispered. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Amuleta’s forehead.
Relief filled Magoza that Gelisha was now willing to come with them where she could keep both of them safe.
“Go gather some belongings. Whatever you feel you will need to help you settle at the keep,” Magoza said.
“It won’t take us long.” Amuleta gave a nod and stood. She assisted Gelisha from her chair.
The two women held hands and whispered to each other as they left the living room.
Magoza spun on her heel and exited the home. She would give them some time to collect their things.
“Commander,” Aguk called out. He stood at the edge of the cottage and motioned for her to join him.
She strode over to him and took in the grim look on his face. She didn’t like it one bit.
“What is it?” she asked.
They walked around the home to the back of the property.
“We’ve discovered an area where it looks as if someone has been watching your mate’s home,” Aguk said.
Magoza flexed her hand then allowed it to rest on her axe handle. They continued on past Amuleta’s vegetable garden. Pride filled Magoza at the sight of her mate’s hard work. It was perfectly manicured, and the crops were in abundance.
They had entered a lush area of the land where it was wild with tall grass. There was a short distance to where the woods started. They arrived where two tall wide trees were, and immediately Magoza’s eyes were drawn to the ground. It was apparent that someone had been camping out here.
She turned and took in the distance from the campsite to the cottage. She didn’t like how close this person had come to her mate’s property. The grass and dirt was matted from where someone had obviously positioned themselves. She rested her hands on her waist. According to her father, the guards he had assigned to the area wouldn’t have posted up where they could potentially be seen.
“I want a few warriors appointed to the house. I want whoever comes to be captured and brought to me,” she snarled.
“Yes, Commander.” Aguk thumped his fist on his chest.
Magoza took another look around and couldn’t wait to find out who was coming here to watch her mate. They would have much to answer for.
Without another word, she stalked back to the cottage. It was good she was taking her mate away from here. Once at Angarth, she would start convincing her that she belonged there.
The ride back to Angarth had been swift. They entered the stone walls of the keep, and Magoza relaxed slightly. With her mate inpotential danger, she was on high alert. She glanced at Amuleta who sat across from her with her mother. The two women were talking softly amongst each other while pointing at a few things outside the carriage window.
The twin suns had just descended, leaving Udenia under the cover of the moon. There were few people out and about in the courtyard of the stronghold. The carriage drew to a halt. Aguk barked orders at the warriors who had accompanied them. He rode past the carriage on his shukan
“Allow me to ensure everything is safe,” Magoza murmured. She leaned forward and reached for the door handle. Something was amiss outside.
“I thought that was why you’d brought us here?” Gelisha asked.
Magoza paused and turned to her mate’s mother. She offered a smile, trying to appear unbothered by the shouts that were getting louder.
