tenderness covered Vincent’s face.
“You have a trant , don’t you?” Vincent asked, even knowing the answer already. Immediately, Shan Lin’s cheeks pinked then turned vivid red.
Shan Lin stood in front of his brother with Shari held tightly in his arms, and watched as Vincent, the one whom Shan Lin would kill and die for, the brother of his mother’s womb and his own heart, began to laugh uproariously at him.
A growl escaped Shan Lin’s throat as he took a step toward his brother. Before he could take a second step, he remembered the weight he held in his arms. The scowl curling his lips quickly turned into a look of joy as he juggled Shari’s unconscious body to free up one of his arms. The anger drained from him as he cradled the woman’s head on his shoulder as if she were a sleeping child, and used his free hand to stroke her face.
“She is truly lovely. I don’t think we could have found a better bride for this mission if we had scoured the seventy-five Realms for a decade.” The softly spoken voice came from Vincent and had Shan Lin lifting his head.
Smiling now, Shan Lin stopped stroking the woman’s face and used his free hand to lightly sock his brother on the shoulder.
“Seems I’m not the only one with a trant .”
Vincent, loath to admit aloud what his brother already knew he felt, gave a snort and started for the road leading to their horses.
And further on to Naralin. Home.
Yes, brother. It’s time our bride saw her new home. Us as well.
His emotions too close to the surface for further conversation, Vincent set off to reclaim their beasts.
* * * * *
Theresa set a pounding pace as she and her crew made their way toward Camp Grenlak. She knew they would pass through the town of Naralin on their way back to the camp, and she also knew she was going to call upon her family to accommodate her and her crew for the night.
Besides, it was not much further, she and her crew were tired, and they deserved a night of fine lodgings and amenities. It would be a long time before any of them got anything better than barracks or a tent. At the rate her aunt sent missives to General Kristoky for battle movements, Theresa knew this war could drag out long after her own grandchildren had left the Realm.
Grandchildren.
Theresa shook her head and grimaced. It was so unlikely she would ever have children of her own, grandchildren would never even enter into her life. Shaking off the melancholy, which so easily crept in with those thoughts, Theresa spoke to her crew through the earmics the team always wore when on duty.
“We ride for another hour. We’ll stop in Naralin where we’ll find suitable lodgings. In the morning, we should have sufficient time to reach Camp Grenlak.”
“Aye, Sir.” The affirmatives came as Theresa cleared her thoughts of personal baggage and concentrated on what the report she had sent to the general hadn’t said instead.
Yes. Her aunt indeed had much to answer for.
* * * * *
The modest lodge stood before the riders, a fence with a locked gate surrounding it. Shan Lin, barely reaching it before Vincent, spoke a few words, and the gate opened before them.
Still mounted on their horses, Shari tucked securely against Shan Lin’s massive chest, both men rode toward the home they’d shared for the better part of twenty years.
I wonder if she’ll see it as we do? Vincent asked Shan Lin absently as they rode through the cultivated lawn.
Shells of tarkey fish crunched under their horses’ hooves along the flower-bordered drive as they made their way to the front door.
Don’t know. Shan Lin shrugged causing Shari to mumble, but not to wake.
Hushing the woman, Shan Lin looked once again at his home and wondered just what she would see.
From where he sat, he could see what appeared to be a modest hunting lodge. Spacious, not nearly the size of a palace, and it would undoubtedly fit into Queen Sara’s personal chambers with room left over.
The outer walls were
“You have a trant , don’t you?” Vincent asked, even knowing the answer already. Immediately, Shan Lin’s cheeks pinked then turned vivid red.
Shan Lin stood in front of his brother with Shari held tightly in his arms, and watched as Vincent, the one whom Shan Lin would kill and die for, the brother of his mother’s womb and his own heart, began to laugh uproariously at him.
A growl escaped Shan Lin’s throat as he took a step toward his brother. Before he could take a second step, he remembered the weight he held in his arms. The scowl curling his lips quickly turned into a look of joy as he juggled Shari’s unconscious body to free up one of his arms. The anger drained from him as he cradled the woman’s head on his shoulder as if she were a sleeping child, and used his free hand to stroke her face.
“She is truly lovely. I don’t think we could have found a better bride for this mission if we had scoured the seventy-five Realms for a decade.” The softly spoken voice came from Vincent and had Shan Lin lifting his head.
Smiling now, Shan Lin stopped stroking the woman’s face and used his free hand to lightly sock his brother on the shoulder.
“Seems I’m not the only one with a trant .”
Vincent, loath to admit aloud what his brother already knew he felt, gave a snort and started for the road leading to their horses.
And further on to Naralin. Home.
Yes, brother. It’s time our bride saw her new home. Us as well.
His emotions too close to the surface for further conversation, Vincent set off to reclaim their beasts.
* * * * *
Theresa set a pounding pace as she and her crew made their way toward Camp Grenlak. She knew they would pass through the town of Naralin on their way back to the camp, and she also knew she was going to call upon her family to accommodate her and her crew for the night.
Besides, it was not much further, she and her crew were tired, and they deserved a night of fine lodgings and amenities. It would be a long time before any of them got anything better than barracks or a tent. At the rate her aunt sent missives to General Kristoky for battle movements, Theresa knew this war could drag out long after her own grandchildren had left the Realm.
Grandchildren.
Theresa shook her head and grimaced. It was so unlikely she would ever have children of her own, grandchildren would never even enter into her life. Shaking off the melancholy, which so easily crept in with those thoughts, Theresa spoke to her crew through the earmics the team always wore when on duty.
“We ride for another hour. We’ll stop in Naralin where we’ll find suitable lodgings. In the morning, we should have sufficient time to reach Camp Grenlak.”
“Aye, Sir.” The affirmatives came as Theresa cleared her thoughts of personal baggage and concentrated on what the report she had sent to the general hadn’t said instead.
Yes. Her aunt indeed had much to answer for.
* * * * *
The modest lodge stood before the riders, a fence with a locked gate surrounding it. Shan Lin, barely reaching it before Vincent, spoke a few words, and the gate opened before them.
Still mounted on their horses, Shari tucked securely against Shan Lin’s massive chest, both men rode toward the home they’d shared for the better part of twenty years.
I wonder if she’ll see it as we do? Vincent asked Shan Lin absently as they rode through the cultivated lawn.
Shells of tarkey fish crunched under their horses’ hooves along the flower-bordered drive as they made their way to the front door.
Don’t know. Shan Lin shrugged causing Shari to mumble, but not to wake.
Hushing the woman, Shan Lin looked once again at his home and wondered just what she would see.
From where he sat, he could see what appeared to be a modest hunting lodge. Spacious, not nearly the size of a palace, and it would undoubtedly fit into Queen Sara’s personal chambers with room left over.
The outer walls were
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