Page 27 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

"I hope you're not afraid of heights," Vandor voiced his concerns a bit belatedly.

I bragged, "I climbed every tree I ever saw just to escape the steppe."

"After having seen the steppe, I truly understand your desire," he admitted. "I fail to see the beauty in it."

"Me too," I beamed up at him. "But some people prefer the openness and the ability to see an enemy coming from miles away."

"That is an advantage," Vandor agreed.

The nearer we drew, the more detail I made out. The stronghold itself seemed to have been made from the same rock as the mountain, as if it had been carved from the mountain itself rather than having been built on top of it.

As the sun was lowering, the last rays reflected off the rock, making it appear a deep dark purple, and the beauty of it took my breath away.

"You like it," Vandor observed, studying my face.

"I love it," I exclaimed.

Even the ride over the drawbridge, which spanned about a quarter of a mile and hung over a several hundred foot drop, didn't scare me. On the contrary, I found it exhilarating.

Mordakay didn't seem as impressed as me and stole all of Vandor's focus to make it from one end of the bridge to the other without going over either side. Vandor was an excellent horsemale and brought the beast easily to heel, just as I had expected he would. Mordakay had only needed a confident, strong hand, which he found in Vandor.

A large metallic gate stood open at our approach, flanked by several guards, who now slammed their fists against their chests in greeting and deference to their returning warlord.

I proudly watched my warlord atop his horse. He sure was a sight to behold, and sometimes I still had trouble reminding myself that he was mine. That we were married, and he was as good to me as he was handsome.

I had always heard that Thyres adored their women, more so than human men, but not in my wildest dreams had I dared hope to find what I now had. And I knew I would do anything to keep it that way.

The gate led into a tunnel that was about as long as six horses walking head to tail, and I wondered if all the walls of the stronghold would be as thick, making Wyrkymburg indeed a formidable, impenetrable fortification.

The tunnel led straight into a circular courtyard from which more tunnels branched off, which I suspected led to the warrior and servant quarters as well as the stables.

"How many people live here?" I asked when Vandor helped me down from my horse.

"I have about a thousand warriors in my employ and about three-quarters of those are servants and livestock- and horse-handlers," he said. "Some of them live in the village we passed."

The village, as he called it, was a city larger than Steppenfort, probably housing at least five thousand people, if not more.

"All the necessary trades apply their craft there," Vandor continued, "from smiths to healers and," he winked at me, "jewelry and dressmakers."

"Don't be too smug yet, Warlord. I may buy you into beggarhood with my taste in dresses and jewelry," I teased.

"Lady Damaris," he replied with an arrogant grin, "you have no idea how deep my pockets are."

Since I had no comeback to that, I conceded. Despite being a princess, my tastes had never run toward the expensive. All the credits coming in were used for the greater good of Steppenfort.

"Come, let me show you our rooms. We can switch them if you don't like them."

Vandor offered me his hand, but before we could take off, the slightest Thyre man I had ever seen stopped us. "It is good to see you home, Warlord Vandor."

"Ah, Dryx, may I introduce Lady Damaris, my mate. Damaris, this is Dryx, the head of the household, the master of the kitchen, the keeper of the livestock… did I forget a title, Dryx? Did you add another during my absence?"

"Not yet Warlord, but he is working on becoming master of the insufferable." A Thyre woman glared at Dryx.

"And this is Fonya, the real master of the kitchen," Vandor introduced, looking fondly at the older Thyre woman.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. I would like to set some time aside and talk to both of you in more detail." Thyres didn't shake hands, warriors did the elbow clasp to seal deals, and weren't shy about hugging upon meeting or saying goodbye, but when strangers met, they usually only inclined their head in acknowledgment. Which is what the three of us did, but I noticed pleased smiles on both of their faces and was hopeful we would find a good working relationship with one another.

I wasn't sure how a Thyre household was run, but I imagined the lady of the stronghold, me, having a larger role to play in it, and I was determined to fill it.

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