Page 26 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

Ahead of us, the two males seemed to have reached some kind of agreement, as they clasped each other by the elbows and finally parted.

"What did he say?" Kendryx probed the moment our khazar was in earshot.

"Fionbyr has agreed to pay a large wergild, by not demanding tythes from Helmut for the next ten years so the king can replenish his army, and has sworn to obey by the new laws I put into place. He will also pay a large sum as reparation to each of you and me," Gryck summarized.

"So that's it then? He pays, and all is forgiven and forgotten?" I exploded.

"Forgiven, not forgotten," Gryck's eyes rested beseechingly on me. "He wronged you and your mate, but it doesn't serve anybody to keep this feud going. I have received alarming news from my spies that the Vandalls are readying themselves for an attack during the cold season. Meanwhile the Udruns have been attacking human and Thyre outposts while we were distracted with Fionbyr."

"Until the cold season is over, I'm ordering you to keep the peace and not seek vengeance on your own," he added, and I growled.

"Vandor, I need your oath of honor. We're too close to the cold season. If the Vandalls don't attack, I promise you, next year will see Fionbyr's end."

"It will only take a couple of months to get rid of the bastard," Kendryx argued.

Gryck shook his head. "I need both of your oaths."

"Next year, all bets are off," I verified.

"You have my word, unless we're dealing with the Vandalls. I would like to dispatch the bastard just as much as you do," Gryck assured us.

"You have my word," I grunted out.

"And mine," Kendryx rolled his eyes.

"Good, I knew I can count on you." His features lightened some. "Now to the good news. We can all return to our strongholds and prepare for the cold season."

That was good news indeed. I burned to show Damaris her new home. She had told me how much she looked forward to seeing the Dark Sea, and I could hardly wait to see her expression when she finally did.

I missed the Dark Sea as well, the steppe had never held any particular beauty for me, and I didn't like either the heat nor the dry air here that made my nose itch.

Wyrkymburg had been built atop a mountain that rose out of the waters of the Dark Sea. Only a drawbridge connected it to the mainland. It was so high up that on some days, I swore I could see the lands of the Vandalls at the end of the horizon, as impossible as it was.

The cliffs surrounding Wyrkymburg were rugged, but a long stretch of beach on the other side allowed for lengthy rides along the shoreline. The mountain Wyrkymburg stronghold was built on stood far enough in the water that on some days we could watch families of wharosses swim through the waters.

Most of the time they were peaceful, but when they were close to Wyrkymburg, not many fishing boats dared to set sail.

With a derisive snarl at Fionbyr, who still sat on his horse watching us where Gryck had left him, I turned my horse, but not before I saw Fionbyr's smirk, And in that moment, I realized he would not live up to his promise. There was not an ounce of honor in this male, and I barely suppressed the urge to turn Mordakay around and run him through. Only the oath I gave Gryck stopped me.

Afteratearfulgoodbyeto my father, we set off on another journey. This one would take me to my new home, and I very much looked forward to it.

At my father's insistence, I took Pria and Carol with me, surprised my father had suggested it and happy to have some familiar faces with me.

The only reason they hadn't been with me on the first trip was because Pria took sick, and I didn't want to just take Carol. The plan had been to have them join me later when Pria was better, and that at least seemed to have worked out just fine.

"We will reach Wyrkymburg tonight. Are you ready to see your new home, czira?" Vandor asked when we resumed our journey after a quick break around noontime.

"I can't wait," I admitted. It seemed that with each passing day, Vandor and I grew closer. I was hesitant to use the word love just yet, but I was sure that was where we were headed.

I worried I had built up Wyrkymburg already too much in my mind after how Vandor had described it to me, but then, even from a distance, my chest expanded at the sight of it.

It was strange. I grew up in Steppenfort, but for some reason I had never truly considered it my home. The way the steppe stretched endlessly in all directions had always seemed more oppressive to me than free.

On the rare occasions Adrian or my father took me on a hunting or fishing trip to the forest, which was a good day's ride from Steppenfort, I had felt more at home in the woods than in my real one.

Now though, after laying eyes on my new home for the first time, I knew that it truly would be that. A home.

Some people might have recoiled at the sight of a large mountain far out into the sea with a steepling stronghold on top of it, but not me. I could hardly wait to climb the highest tower I spotted from here to take in the view, which I already knew would be different in any direction I turned.

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