Page 12 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

"Kar, Warlord." Without wasting another moment, he turned his horse to gather the required troops.

"He's a good commander," I told Gryck.

"Let me know how he handles himself. I'm considering adding more strongholds down the coast to keep the Vandalls at bay. He might make a good warlord one day."

His words surprised me. I knew that he was toying with the idea of adding more warlords; I just hadn't realized he would choose them from within our ranks. It made sense though. Because this definitely wasn't a job for a courtier.

"Now, I think it's time for me to meet your lovely lady, Vandor." Gryck turned his gaze to Damaris, who returned it coolly.

"I beg your pardon, Khazar. Please meet Lady Damaris, my mate and King Helmut's daughter. Damaris, this is our khazar, Gryck."

"Your Highness." Since Damaris was still sitting on a horse and unable to curtsy, she bowed her head.

"Well done, Vandor, she is a beauty." Gryck praised. "It's a pleasure to meet you, and please be assured we will do everything in our power to right the wrong that has been done to you. No noble kallini should ever be abducted," Gryck said, and if I hadn't known him any better, I would have thought him enamored by my mate.

No kallini had ever caught our khazar's attention, at least not for long. Thyre and his warlords always came first for him, and the only reason he would ever consider a mate would be to beget heirs. I almost pitied the poor kallini who would become his khazary.

"I sincerely hope Fionbyr's warriors treated you with the respect you deserve." Gryck kept his conversation with Damaris going.

Damaris held her still raw wrists up for his inspection. "Thankfully, my mate, Warlord Vandor, came to my rescue before things got worse." She smiled prettily.

Intrigued by her, Gryck offered her one of the smiles I had seen kallinies swoon over before he turned his attention back to me. "You are a lucky male, Vandor."

"Don't I know it," I agreed.

"We will never catch them this way," King Helmut interjected, turning our conversation back to Fionbyr.

"He is right," I agreed. Chasing through the forests after Fionbyr could take weeks, if not months. The cold season was almost upon us and if Fionbyr kept moving at this pace, our larger army would never catch up to him.

"I'm all ears for suggestions," Gryck offered.

"We know where he's going," Helmut stated. "Back to Slotenburg, his stronghold, to lick his wounds."

I wasn't so sure about that but kept quiet for now, needing time to think my theories through. Fionbyr had taken a hit. He was being chased by his khazar, and he was outnumbered since his little ploy of seeking help from the humans hadn't worked.

A few moments later, I interrupted Helmut and Gryck's discussion about whether they should cut Fionbyr off by riding diagonally through the steppe. "He's going to find help elsewhere."

Both males turned their attention to me, coming to the same conclusion after thinking my words over.

"Who do you think he will turn to?" Gryck asked.

Mentally, I moved through the list of my fellow warlords. Kendryx was too loyal, and so was Brogan.

"Grobhan," I finally said with conviction.

"It would make sense. Both warlords have been vying for our lands since they were given to us humans," Helmut speculated.

"It would be the right compensation. Fionbyr gets your crown, and Kendryx gets Helmut's lands." I nodded.

"I beg your pardon, Khazar," a rider approached us, one of the scouts Gryck had sent ahead to keep on the lookout for Fionbyr's tracks to make sure he didn't lay a trap for us, as well as searching for possible campsites for the night.

As much as Gryck wanted to push on, he had to consider our large army, camp followers, and horses. It wouldn't do us any good for them to be exhausted by the time we caught up with Fionbyr's warriors.

"What news?" Gryck asked.

"Warlord Fionbyr's army is still a good day's ride ahead of us," the scout informed us. "There is a large clearing ahead protected by mountains on one side and the River Dunway on the other."

"Why didn't Fionbyr rest there?" Helmut asked, rubbing his chin.

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