Page 14 of Tribute to the Alien Warlord

I slid down the cool rock wall with my back until I sat, legs straight out in front of me.

"I'm a fool," I told my horse. "A fool and a coward," I added.

I leaned my head back against the wall, listened to the soothing sound of Samju chewing on his dried grass, and closed my eyes.

My mind was still racing from today's events, but my body was growing more tired by the minute and soon I was curled up on the warm, clean hay. Something nuzzled my head, and I opened my eyes to see Samju's giant mouth nibbling my hair.

"Hey," I reached up to stroke his long nose, and he snorted his grass-scented breath into my face.

"You and me, buddy," I whispered, closing my eyes again, and drifting off. It wasn't the first time I fell asleep next to Samju, who I knew would stand watch over me, sleeping with alert eyes and ears.

ThemeetingwithGrian,my steward, took longer than I had anticipated and liked. But it had been a necessity I had been putting off for days now, driven by the desire to spend the last of the good days outside before the cold season took over and locked us inside.

Of course Grian had everything under control as usual, but it was still my responsibility as warlord to make sure we had enough food stored for the winter to feed all the hungry mouths who decided to stay at my stronghold for the duration, as well as our horses and other animals.

Many of the courtiers had already returned to their own holdings or would tomorrow, but a few stayed on as cold-season guests and then there were my warriors and servants.

I also always ensured to have enough extra in case some families in the town surrounding Grymburg fell on bad times and needed to be fed as well, otherwise the denizens of the town of Grymburg were on their own when it came to planning for the frozen tundra our land would soon become.

Sometime in between going over the accounts, Aine, our healer, arrived, undoubtedly called by Cassair, who had not, contrary to me, forgotten about the nasty cut on my arm.

We compromised that she would sew it while Grian and I finished our business.

"You need to be more careful, Warlord"—she tsked in between stitches—"this should have been cleaned right away."

I grunted a required reply and asked Grian about why our corn supply was so low this year.

When Aine was done, I gave her a wan smile and thanked her, frowning at the bandage she had wrapped around my arm, making me look more like an invalid than a fearsome warlord.

It was dark by the time Grian and I finished crunching all the numbers. I had missed dinner and ordered food to be brought up to my chambers.

Full of anticipation at being greeted by a warm, luscious body, which I intended to explore to my cock's content in a few moments, I sprinted up the stairs, taking two at a time.

I found my chamber warm and cozy from a hot fire burning in the gas fireplace, food had been brought up and sat untouched on the table. There was no trace of the kallini who had taken over constant residence in my mind.

I wondered if she had been tired and missed dinner. Expecting to find her asleep in my bed, I turned to it, only to find it empty except for a pile of clothes strewn over it, which I had ordered to be brought up for her earlier.

A hot bath then, I nodded to myself. The nights were getting chilly so it made sense. My cock stiffened even more at the thought of creamy skin in my tub and images of an erotic bath filled my mind when I moved purposefully through the short corridor connecting the tower housing my bedchamber to the other tower holding my bathroom.

The entire setup was an extravagance I barely allowed myself, but I had been tired of walking down the stairs every time I needed to take a piss. Granted, I could have resided in the massive chambers my parents used to call their own, the chambers designated for the warlord and his mate, but ever since I was a youngling, I preferred the tower room meant for the lookouts to use.

I loved the freedom the chamber offered with its windows all around. Loved to listen to the sound of the crashing waves and the smell of salt in the air.

First it had been the lookouts and I sharing this chamber, but when I grew older, and my father realized this wasn't just some fancy of mine but a genuine passion, he ordered the other tower to be built for the lookouts to use and to give me the privacy my status deserved.

After my father's death, I ordered two more towers to be built for more lookouts while I turned my father's addition into my private bathing chamber and never looked back at the cost of this extravagance.

The lights were on in the bathroom and a fire roared as well, but there was no trace of the human kallini.

Irritated by her absence, I climbed back down the stairs, thinking I might find her in the dining hall. But only a few guards were there, enjoying a late drink and a game of cards and dice.

My pride stopped me from asking if they had seen her, the same pride that didn't allow me to turn into full-blown panic mode yet as I stormed to the kitchens.

A few maids were working on the dough for the next day's bread, but none of them were Alahna.

"Dryck," I cursed while a jolt of dread rushed through my stomach and heart.

I had made her status clear, so I wasn't worried about her safety or somebody touching her, but a small voice inside me worried she might have run away.

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