by Judith Leger
atmosphere of the island. A thin mist floated close to the
ground, coating the floor of the forest. If she pretended, this
place might be the Amazon jungle or even the swamps in
Louisiana.
“Why isn’t it more muddy after all the rain last night?”
She asked, staring at the ground beneath the broad hind feet
of Paladin’s dragoon. “Where are the puddles?”
Paladin glanced over his shoulder. “The plants drink the
rain in through the roots. Do you see the thickness of the
leaves?”
She looked in the direction he pointed. All the plants they
passed were coated with the same shiny glaze like the one at
Largin’s back door.
“It is their protection against so much rain. They draw
every drop into their roots. What they don’t catch runs off
into streams then the sea, or to the island’s interior which
empties into one of the many lakes.”
“This place is like paradise.”
A puzzled look crossed Paladin face.
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Before she had the chance to answer, the dragoon crested
a ridge. A large valley extended to towering mountains on the
other side. Off to the left, at the bottom of the valley, a green
meadow stretched to a drop in the land. Out past where the
meadow ended, the ocean, with its white tipped waves, rolled
toward land.
The beauty of the view took Seren’s breath with its
postcard perfection.
Paladin moved his mount to her side. “If you look there,
on this side of the meadow, you’ll see a Felerian village. We
will stop for a visit.”
This pristine land made her pulse race with excitement.
Seren smiled and nodded, willing to discover more of this
alien world. She thought about the explorers of the Americas.
They had to have felt the same thrill she was experiencing.
After another hour of traveling, they reached the edge of
the village. Round vertical huts nestled in a natural indent
along a sloping hillside. Upright poles held the straw cone
roofs in place. Each hut sat on stilts above the ground and
wooden steps led to the small blanket covered doorways. The
blankets, made from multi-colored threads, cast a cheery
atmosphere.
Felerians, smiles splitting their long, narrow jaws, came
forward. The women wore bright reds, blues, and yellow
sarongs while the men had on natural toned shirts with
leggings. Some of them had nothing on except deep blue loin
clothes, leaving their muscled chests, arms, and thighs bare.
The villagers approached the new arrivals in a sea of
color, calling out greetings. She marveled at these people
with round, slit-pupil, feline eyes and pointed ears on the
upper side of their heads. Their slender fingers with sharp
claws on the tips joined with palms much like her own.
She looked out at the growing crowd and stopped on one
young girl not far from the front. Her features were more
human than cat, yet she still had the ears, dark tipped nose
and rounded green eyes.
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Unique, even beautiful, the strange feline eyes were
focused on Paladin. A sharp, jealous pang shot through
Seren’s stomach. Who was this girl? What was her interest in
Paladin?
A path opened in the middle of the gathered villagers. An
aged male in a zagged design yellow sarong, wobbled
forward, a tall, heavy staff in his hand. The feathers
decorating his crown fluttered in the gentle breeze.
The reddish fur on the elder Felerian’s face was sprinkled
with white hairs. He raised the staff and announced in a
voice no different than a human’s, “My Lord, your visit is a
great blessing to our village. A feast we will serve as a
welcome gift.”
Paladin lifted a hand, shaking his head, “No, Muggoossa,
it is not necessary. We cannot stay. The storms will come
once more today. We must return to Master Largin’s before
they do so.”
“Then you will break the mid-rise fast with us. This we
offer you in welcome,” Muggoossa responded. He glanced to
his left then to the right nodding. Several females hurried
away, giggling in excitement. Seren assumed to prepare the
meal.
Paladin stepped from the saddle to stand beside the
dragoon. He extended his left arm, clasping the Felerian
leader’s.
The girl Seren had noticed earlier moved forward and
knelt at Paladin’s feet, her head bowed, hands held pressed
together above her. “My Lord, is it time now for me to leave
my home. I have passed through to my adulthood. Will you
take me with you this time?”
Surprised at the girl’s actions and words, Seren’s mouth
fell open before she snapped it shut. She never considered
jealousy a part of her emotions, but the possessive reaction
she experienced at what had just happened seemed to be the
only explanation. Years ago when she and her husband were
still married, he’d flirted with other woman, but she’d never
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had heat crawl up her back like it did now. Just thinking of
Paladin with another woman made Seren see green.
The sudden heated anger which rose inside her surprised
her. Had she grown so attached to Paladin? She tried to
understand what she felt for him. Not love, no, not that, but
something else. He belonged to her. Right now, while she
stayed on this planet, he was hers. In return, he possessed
her, too.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the raging desire to
jump off the dragoon and pull Paladin away.
“Leala, it is good to see you have grown, but the time is
not right. You must stay with your clan a bit longer.” Paladin
reached out and ruffled the top of the girl’s head.
She lowered her arms to look up at him with bright,
round eyes. “But, my Lord, I am older...”
Muggoossa cut her off. “Be still, it is true what Lord
Paladin has said. The time is not now. Go now, child. Help
with the meal.”
Leala sighed and stood. Throwing a hopeful glance over
her shoulder, she shuffled off in the same direction the other
females had gone.
“She wants to travel so she might view Avaris’ wonders. I
too desire to do so with her, but these old bones will not
allow it,” the Felerian leader commented as he watched Leala
make her way into one of the huts.
“It is best she remain here. There is much turmoil
brewing in the world. I fear war is bearing down on us.”
With an understanding nod, Muggoossa faced Seren.
“Welcome to our humble village, my Lady. I am Muggoossa,
village elder.”
Seren smiled, her jealousy fading after their conversation.
“I’m Seren.”
“Ah, so you are the one who has come to Avaris from the
stars. Even your name means star.”
Eyes wide, Seren stared at him in amazement. “How d
o
you know that?”
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“Our mystic healer saw it in the smoke of the sacred fire.”
He held out his arm. She clasped it the same way Paladin
had. “Have no fear, my Lady, you will return to visit us once
more.”
Confused by his comment, Seren tried to keep her face
empty of any emotion. She glanced over at Paladin to see if
he understood, but he didn’t meet her stare. Leo stepped
from behind her to greet the leader. He looked over at her
and shrugged.
Muggoossa led the way into the village, pointing out
different lodges, one was set up for healing, another larger
one for community assemblies, and last, his own home. He
introduced her to many of the villagers. Every female smiled,
reaching out to touch her hand. The males nodded, chins
lifted in pride, arms crossed over their chests and legs braced
apart. Their bright colored clothing stood out against the
greens of the foliage surrounding the village. Their hair
varied. Some had long, thick, curly hair while others wore
theirs shorter, thinner and much straighter.
They stopped not far from the elder’s lodge when Paladin
spoke to the elder. “Muggoossa, I wish to show Seren the
meadow. We thought to break our mid-fast there.”
The elder nodded. “Very well, the morning is good. The
walk is not far. So be it.”
With a slow smile, Paladin placed his hand on her lower
back. “We will go ahead and wait for you.”
“Yes, yes. We will follow soon,” Muggoossa agreed. “Leo,
will you go also?”
“No, sir. I think I’ll stay to walk with you.”
Paladin’s smile shifted into a grin. He winked at Leo
before he took Seren’s hand. With a tug, he hurried down a
dirt path cutting through the tall, slender trees with the
grayish-bark topped with light green leaves which bordered
the village like official guardians, watching and protecting.
Smiling, Seren glanced over at him. “Why do I have the
impression that you planned this?”
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He answered over his shoulder. “And if I did? What
harm is there? I desire to show you the meadow. Alone.”
That’s what worries me. She shook her head, letting
let him guide her along the narrow dirt path. Winds pulled at
the leaves with a rush, dancing over their tops and creating
delightful music to add to the beauty of the place.
The trees ended, opening up into a meadow. Green grass
carpeted the land broken by patches of yellow and red wild
flowers that bloomed across the expanse. Seren gasped at the
beauty before her. The sky, a deep azure, dotted with
brilliant white clouds, hung above them. Breaking free of
Paladin’s hand, she raced through the ankle high grass. She
twirled, savoring the fresh air along with all the vibrant life
around her.
When she stopped, her gaze met his. He walked toward
her and stood at her side. Curiosity drove her to ask. “Who is
Leala?”
A gentle smile formed on his lips. His eyes softened
around the edges. “Her father sailed with me. He died last
annual. She feels she must complete his duty to me. I do not
want this. She owes me nothing.”
Seren reached out and ran a finger down the center of his
chest where his shirt gaped, revealing the sleek golden skin.
Her mouth watered. “She’s infatuated with you.”
He lifted his hands up, cupped her jaw, bringing her
attention to his face. The deep melodious tone weakened her
knees. “Do you know how difficult it was for me to lay by
your side last evening and not touch you?”
Stepping back, she pulled away from his touch, and
turned from him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have slept with you.
It won’t happen again.”
“Seren...”
She whirled to him, placing one finger on his lips to stop
his words. “Don’t misunderstand me. I want to, but I can’t.
My time here is temporary. I don’t want any attachments to
you. It’ll be too hard for me to leave if I allow anything to
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happen between us.”
His tongue tasted her fingertip. Liquid heat gathered in
the vee between her legs. She shook her head. The passion
overwhelming her, she pulled away. “No. Please...”
He let her go. “And if you find you do not care to leave?
Could you come to want me—Paladin—the man?”
After considering for a moment, she nodded. “From my
time with you, I believe you’re a man I could grow to love.
I’m just not sure I should.”
“You do not believe in love at first sight then?”
With a gust of laughter, she shook her head. “Maybe lust
at first sight. I do lust after you.” He stared at her, his
expression serious as he contemplated her. Her smile faded
as her attempt to keep the conversation light failed. He was
serious. “Why? Do you believe in it?”
“In the ability to look at a woman...” He tilted his head in
acknowledgment, “or one man, and know in your heart this
person is the one for you? The other side of your spirit? That
your heart is lost to him or her?”
Yes, she could understand the concept, but was unsure of
where he was going with these questions. Deep inside,
though, she wanted to know. Her heart raced in anticipation.
She needed to discover if she was the one person for him.
“When at the moment their eyes first meet, to see a future
bright with happiness and love for the rest of their lives? This
happens in a flash, branding onto their minds for eternity. I
believe this is very possible. Is it because you are from Earth
you do not believe thus?”
Not ready to explain or even to look too close at how she
felt for him, she asked, “Did you love your wife?”
His expression changed—hardened and his body
stiffened. With his reaction to her question, she regretted
asking. Lifting a hand, needing some kind of contact to help
him understand she didn’t mean to pry, she reached for him.
He stepped back. A deep sense of loss came over her.
“No. I am only honor-bound to her. The marriage was
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arranged. No links with our souls were involved.”
Seren studied him for a moment. His expression
remained blank, unreadable. “Yet you made love to her. She
became pregnant with your child.”
Pain flickered in his eyes. It flashed for a second to
disappear, leaving the blue unreadable. His grin was tight
and false when he answered. “Two people need not love to
create a child.”
The painful reflection in his gaze gave her a vital piece of
information. He had wanted to love his wife, but for some
reason, the dead woman had rejected his feelings.
Paladin had remained at Seren’s side the entire time
since she had come to this planet. He didn’t take h
is
responsibilities lightly. “Are you honor-bound to me?”
He raised a hand and touched the tip of her hair. “No. I
keep you close to me out of choice, not duty. Even before I
knew of the child, I wanted you to remain near to me.”
“Why?” She had to know his reasons. Had he experienced
what he’d described? Toward her?
“I wanted you. From the first moment.”
Relieved he hadn’t fallen in love with her, she leaned into
his palm. He slid his hand to her throat. He leaned nearer
and whispered. “I do desire you.”
Seren’s heart accelerated. “I loved my husband. When my
daughter died, the love ended. I often wondered if I even
knew what love was. And now, with you, all I can think of is
having you hold me, touch me....”
She shook her head and stepped back. “But it’s not love
though, it’s lust. Not a good basis for a relationship.”
“You affect me much more than in a physical way. You
lightened my days. Brought laughter and joy into my life
after I believed they had deserted me.”
Her heart clenched. When had her ex-husband ever told
her something so sweet? The answer was simple. Never.
Now, this beautiful man, the one whose child she carried,
touched her to the center of her heart with just his words.
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She blinked away the sudden burning in her eyes. She
wouldn’t cry in front of him.
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Chapter Twelve
She twirled away, hoping to hide how much he had
affected her. “Then my work here is done. Come on. Let’s
enjoy this place without anyone else around.”
Running ahead of him, she sent what she hoped was a
come hither look over her shoulder. He grinned, following at
a slower pace. Sunlight flowed over her while the breeze,
coasting in from the ocean, caressed her face. Coming to stop
along the edge of the bluff overlooking the water, she waited
until he stood next to her.
“You never did tell me why you’re not a king anymore.”
“My brother took the throne in my place.”
This caught her attention. “Why? Is he older than you?”
“No. The oracles declared he would rule, so the throne
went to him upon my father’s death.”
She looked over at him. His face revealed nothing. “Are
you okay with that?”
“We were both raised to rule.”
“Is he a good king?”
