Page 54 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

I rubbed her back. "Our tent should be up soon."

"I should be helping."

"You need rest," I reiterated, keeping her close lest the stubborn kallini decided to rush to the servant's aid, who were doing just fine without her.

"Vandor," she protested.

"Alright," I sighed. "If you promise to stay by Mordakay and not do anything foolish, I will go help."

The wind was picking up even more and was getting icier by the minute. I didn't like leaving her, but she was right about one thing: the servants would need any help they could get to put up all the tents needed before the worst was upon us.

Getting the shelter up for the horses was the hardest part. By then, the wind was fighting us, making it hard to fasten the sides of the tents to the ground. Thankfully, the ground wasn't frozen solid yet, but it did take more strength than usual to drive the stakes in.

When I had my side fastened, I looked up and caught sight of Lynette and Syseann ushering Damaris into our tent. At least there she would be warm and sheltered from the wind, and I had no doubt the two kallinies would not let her leave the shelter again anytime soon. Not in this weather.

Ihatedsittinguselesslyinside the tent, but my back was cramping furiously again as it had since yesterday. It had been hard to hide my discomfort from Vandor, but somehow, I had managed. If the baby was ready to come, there was nothing he could do about it, and him fretting over it wouldn't have accomplished anything. So, I waved off his concerns whenever I failed to hide a particular nasty wave of pain, saying it was just some soreness.

Lynette and Syseann fussed over lighting a fire in the brazier for me and wanted to heat up some food and tea, but I finally shooed them out, knowing they needed to put up their own shelter in time. I might have been in pain, but I could still manage to warm up food and make the inside of the tent more comfortable.

Vandor was out there, and by the howling sounds of the wind, it was getting stronger and colder.

No servants appeared with a hot bathtub today, but as much as I bemoaned that comfort, I didn't want the servants to work on foolish tasks when they needed to concentrate on keeping us and themselves safe.

At some point, I stuck my nose outside the flap but retreated quickly back inside. The wind was howling, and it felt as if it were throwing tiny ice darts at my exposed face. I didn't know how the others were able to stand being outside in that but decided to fix a grog for Vandor when he would finally join me. The hot beverage, a mix of hot water, strong spirits, and honey, would warm his insides quickly and was the preferred beverage during the cold season.

I also took a few furs and placed them as close to the fire in the brazier as I dared to warm them. Another cramp made me bend over and catch my breath, and I barely straightened in time to hide it from Vandor when he stepped in.

"By the gods, that scout has most likely saved our lives," he exclaimed. "Had that storm surprised us, we would be done for." He smiled at me when I handed him the grog and helped him out of the layers of furs that were freezing cold to the touch and layered with snow and ice.

I shook them out close to the fire and was about to hand Vandor the warmed ones when he pulled me one-handedly into his embrace; the other held his grog, careful not to spill it.

"You sure are a sight for sore eyes. Thank you." He sipped on the grog. "I'm already starting to feel better. How are you?" His eyes roamed my face in concern, and I hoped I managed to hide all traces of my cramp from earlier.

"Happy to see you, Warlord," I teased. "You must be frozen. Come closer to the fire." I pulled him forward.

"You have all the fire I need," he grinned and kissed the tip of my nose.

The wind howled against the tent's sides, but they were made from sturdy animal hides and didn't allow even the slightest breath of air in. The flap, however, was a different matter, and Vandor moved over there to secure the bindings and stacked two trunks in front of it to keep most of the draft out.

I was about to grab two plates and fill them with the stew I had been warming by the fire, but Vandor gently directed me to the bed. "Sit. I will get us food."

The Thyres had perfected the method of drying meat and vegetables into thin pancake-like shapes that, when added to water, expanded back to their original size and made a thick, delectable stew within minutes. We always carried dough with us as well that wasfedduring our journey with flour and water whenever we broke parts off. These parts could be placed on hot rocks by a fire or on plates placed directly over the fire where they baked into the most delicious bread. It tasted a bit sour, but mixed with the stew, it made a great meal.

The fire in the brazier heated the inside of the tent up nicely. The smoke traveled to the top where an opening allowed the smoke out. Unfortunately, the opening also allowed some cold air in, but the fire combated it and seemed to be winning. Soon, with our bellies full, we crawled underneath the furs and snuggled, leeching off each other's body heat.

"Everybody is safe and sound?" I asked what I should have asked first.

"Everybody is fine," he soothed me with a grin. "Lynette's and Syseann's tent isn't far from ours. We can call on them anytime we need to."

Lynette and Syseann had been more than stunned when they found out who I really was. At first it had been awkward between us, but after a few days, they got used to it and they were more than happy to stay in my employ. I don't know what I would have done without their help, and I would be eternally grateful to them.

"Good," I leaned back with a sigh and another cramp hit me. This time, there was no hiding it from Vandor.

"Is it the baby?" he asked, concerned.

"I think so," I admitted, biting my lip, but with every cramp, my bravado shrunk a little and fear of what would happen if our son was born now gnawed on me. I had allowed myself the illusion that all would be well, and our son would be born within the sheltered walls of a stronghold, even though I should have known better.

Now I had to face reality though, as it seemed he wanted to come out and see the world soon. Hopefully, he would at least wait until the storm was over.

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