Authors: Paulette Miller
Each round became more difficult, with more obstacles added and the target shrinking in size. Despite the added difficulties, Tianna continued to advance until there were only two competitors left.
The final round was just one-on-one. Besides additional obstacles, the extra challenge on this round was that the target swung from a pole. Tianna ducked and dived to avoid obstacles while trying to shoot the target. Both competitors managed to hit the target but neither penetrated within the designated circle. They were both down to their final arrow.
Tianna noticed her challenger kneeling between two pillars. He was setting-up for a shot and, from his location, he was at a perfect angle to the target. She snuck up behind him. He was concentrating so hard, that he didn’t see her approach. He was about to shoot and she wished she had a breeze. No sooner did the thought enter her mind, air caressed her cheek and blew through her hair. She knew he caught her scent, when he swayed and his shot went off to the left. He cursed loudly.
Seeing an obstacle about to block her target, she crawled over his back and jumped while taking her shot. The arrow zipped through the air and she knew it hit the target but she wasn’t sure if it was within the circle. Everyone held their breath while a knight stopped the target from swinging so they could see exactly where the arrow hit.
“Dead center!” he yelled and the crowd erupted. Tianna sighed in relief and dropped to her knees exhausted.
Gabriel was the first at her side to congratulate her, others followed his lead.
Since she was the winner, she had no one to kiss; at least that’s what she thought. As she started to walk off the field, Nathaniel grabbed her hand, whipped her into his arms, and kissed her. The crowd started to count. He kissed her thoroughly and could have continued all day.
When he finally chose to release her, her legs had turned to jelly and she was the one that wobbled. Gabriel was there to catch her before she fell.
The crowd erupted again but this time it included ‘Oooo’s from the females. Nathaniel gave the crowd a deep bow.
That night, Tianna had a hard time relaxing. To try to settle in for the night, she pulled out her wizard book and added several entries about the knights of Knightstorm. As she was putting the book away, a kind old female came to the door. When Tianna breathed in her scent, she had a pleasant sense of familiarity, almost a tingling feeling. She knew that she should know this person but she couldn’t place her, brushing it off as being tired from all of the excitement of the day. She had met so many wonderful people, she figured she must have met her during the week and just didn’t remember.
She gave Tianna a small bottle as a parting gift. She told her that it was the fruit drink she had been drinking all week. She was one of the villagers that made it and, when she heard how much she liked it, she wanted to give her a bottle as a special parting gift. She said that if she drank a little before bed it would actually help her relax and go to sleep. Tianna did love this drink and thanked her enthusiastically.
Since the Draaks were all by the fire sharing competition stories and laughing, Tianna walked to the window and stared out at the street below. She planned on taking just one swallow but, before she even realized it, she had drunk half of her bottle. She couldn’t help it. She loved the way it bubbled on the way down her throat. Obviously her body liked it as well since she felt a quiet purr from within her chest. She quickly put the bottle away to save the rest for her continued journey.
Tianna yawned big and stretched as she watched the old female walk down the street. The bright moon flashed in her eyes and when she blinked, the old female had disappeared. Tianna rubbed her eyes and went to bed. As predicted, she had a great night’s sleep.
In the morning, they packed up and said their good-byes. Although they weren’t leaving with their prophesized warrior, they were leaving with a strong ally that Marcus knew they could count on when called.
When Tianna went to mount her horse, large hands appeared at her waist and lifted her. After being placed gently on her saddle, she looked up to see Terom smiling broadly back at her. He said, “Please come back and visit us again. Don’t feel obligated to bring an escort with you next time. I would be happy and honored to be your protector.” Many other knights followed Terom’s lead and gave Tianna a kiss on her hand and wished her a speedy return.
Tianna chuckled and Nathaniel, in his typical response, growled. He was shocked by how protective he had grown during their visit. He now became uneasy when Tianna wasn’t close enough for him to catch her scent, so he would never let her return without being close by her side.
Terom approached Gabriel and said, “My elders have agreed to allow me to travel to your home in Haven. I look forward to watching your Royal Guard to see what they can do. Once you arrive back home, have your Seer contact us so that I may begin my travels.”
Tianna was listening and said in shock, “You know the Seer?”
Terom nodded. “She and Zarin helped strengthen the shield that shelters our home. We’re forever grateful for their assistance.”
Tianna was now anxious to meet the Seer.
Marcus jumped into the discussion by saying, “We’re the ones forever grateful that your people are willing to join us in our fight. I’ll send word as soon as our quest returns home.” Everyone said their final goodbyes and Marcus led his quest out of the castle and disappeared into the neighboring woods.
Suddenly, Tianna turned and stared back at where the castle had stood just seconds before. Seth noticed that she had stopped and called to her. “Tianna, are you alright?” She just continued to stare off into the distance without responding.
Hearing Seth, Nathaniel shifted his attention and called, “Tianna.”
Again, she remained motionless.
They walked their horses next to her and Nathaniel touched her arm, making her jump. Nathaniel stared over at her puzzled asking, “What’s wrong? We’ve been calling you, but you didn’t respond.”
Tianna squirmed in her saddle, looking around anxiously. “Something is wrong. Someone is following us.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
Gabriel went on alert and scanned the trees around them. He couldn’t see or sense any danger. After a more thorough search and they found nothing out of place, Gabriel directed their group to continue forward but to remain on alert.
As they proceeded on their journey, Tianna continued to sense something was wrong. She just couldn’t shake the feeling.
Although her unease continued over the next few days, the group never saw anything to cause them concern. Tianna claimed she was being watched at every turn and would jump at every noise. They would check repeatedly, finding nothing and their frustration grew.
Night wasn’t much better. Tianna was very restless, causing none of them to get much sleep, especially Nathaniel. She would wake him up claiming she heard an odd sound. After a while, everyone found they just stopped reacting to anything she said. They were beginning to think something was wrong with Tianna’s mind.
Tianna’s odd behavior was having an effect on everyone. Their tempers flared and soon no one was talking to anyone else. Tianna stopped playing in her trees, Seth’s lessons stopped, and the Draak’s skipped shifting. Tianna and Nathaniel rarely touched. The quest was quickly falling apart.
On the eighth night, Seth and Tianna tried to maintain their normal night routine of securing the camp, but Tianna found it difficult to concentrate. She wasn’t sure if the spell was in place, and she was so tired from lack of sleep that she didn’t care.
They sat Tianna down to have a long talk. She became very angry that none of them believed her, and she went to bed without allowing Nathaniel or anyone else to sleep within ten paces of her. None of them argued since they were just as tired as she was. She was ready for this quest to be over and contemplated venturing out on her own.
It was an exceptionally restless night for Tianna. The uneasiness within her was like an illness spreading to every pore in her body. She rolled over, closed her eyes, and tried to calm herself. After laying for what seems like hours, she finally fell into a wearied sleep.
*~*~*~*
Tianna sat up from her bedroll with a start, unsure as to what woke her. She groaned as her body sagged in complete exhaustion. Her constant unease was making sleep impossible.
She desperately wanted to be in someone’s arms, to feel their warmth, but she scanned her campsite and found everyone in a deep sleep. If she couldn’t have warm arms hold her, she wanted branches. With everyone still dreaming, she decided this was her chance to sneak away and crawl into a tree to try to get some real sleep.
She quietly snuck passed those slumbering around her and disappeared into the shadows surrounding their camp. As she strode through the trees, she touched every trunk and bush her hands could reach, trying to find the perfect place to curl up in. As she scanned the branches above her, she caught a very pleasant scent and it brought warmth to her body like a blanket.
A male voice called to her, “I’m here waiting for you. Please come to me. My arms ache to be wrapped around you.”
Her pulse sped in anticipation, as she changed directions toward the voice and the scent. She was afraid he would leave without her so she called, “I’m coming, please wait for me.”
He replied, “I’ll wait forever for you, just follow my voice, and it will lead you into my embrace.” She could sense the excitement in his voice.
Quickening her pace, she ran into a clearing and found her dark stranger waiting for her as promised. He was motioning her to come closer. She wished she could see his face but his features were still hidden in shadows.
She continued forward until she was close enough to feel the heat from his body. She watched as the surface of his silhouette began to ripple and dark wings appeared. He opened his arms to her at the same time as extending his wings, letting out a roar. Although she should have been afraid, she wasn’t. She just felt his strength and determination. Her only thought was to have those arms and wings wrap around her to protect her.
As his pulse sped, she could feel every heart beat as a pulse of energy caressing the air. She raised her hand, slowly closing the distance between them and drawing in his energy through her fingertips. When she was about to touch his chest, she heard the sound of a woman’s voice saying urgently, “Tianna, don’t. You need to run.”
A small part of Tianna knew she needed to listen to this voice, but that part was weak and distant. She needed her dark stranger and he wanted her.
The female’s voice grew louder and more desperate, “Tianna, listen to me. You’re not yet ready to face him. You need to run, now!”
For a brief moment, Tianna considered turning around. The thought just as quickly disappeared when she felt a breeze caress her gently. He begged, “Please touch me so I can find you. Let me take you home where you belong.”
She closed her eyes and swayed with her hand now only inches from his body. She could feel tingling in the tips of her fingers from the energy still radiating off his body.
“RUN NOW!” yelled the female voice.
Somehow Tianna suddenly knew exactly who belonged to this warning voice and she yelled back angrily, “No mother, unlike everyone else, he wants me. I refuse to run from him.” She closed the final distance and let her hand press against the figure’s chest.
A jolt of red-hot fire shot through her body, and she screamed as she began to fall backwards. The dark figure threw his arms around her waist to catch her. Tianna glanced up and a handsome man’s face appeared and he said, “At last, I’ve finally found you, mate.” He smiled, pulled her tight against him, and kissed her with lips tasting of wine.
As they embraced, Tianna heard the sound of her mother’s voice saying, “Trust in the gifts I’ve given you. They’ll protect you.” Her voice was cut off abruptly when the dark stranger wrapped his black wings around her
.
*~*~*~*
Tianna could hear Nathaniel yelling repeatedly, “Tianna, wake up!” Although she could feel his desperation as he shook her, she couldn’t respond and her body remained limp. She was tired and just wanted to float back into the darkness of her dream.