A Gift Freely Given (The Tahaerin Chronicles Book 1)
Page 37
“For your service to this kingdom, I grant you all lands and holdings of the Tymek.” She nodded and Symon handed her the sword. Fastening it around his waist, she saw his face was red, but he smiled at her now.
At Symon’s prompting, Zaraki knelt.
She set the coronet on his head, thankful he thought to trim his unruly mop of hair for once. “And for the service you have rendered to me, I grant you the title of Lord of the Tymek.” Leaning over, she whispered in one ear, “I can’t marry a commoner.”
***
After the Convocation and after the feast that followed, Leisha and Zaraki lay curled around each other, limbs entwined. He stroked her hair and ran his hand over her back.
“You need a seal made, you know?” She grinned up at him.
“I’ll have to think of one. Something ferocious.”
“Mine is clearly the best and is already taken, so you’ll have to choose something else. How does it feel to be a noble? A Tahaerin lord,” she asked, running her fingers over his chest.
“I want to see my castle,” Zaraki said, sounding like an excited boy.
To smooth some of the ruffled feathers amongst the nobles, Leisha agreed the Tymek would not become part of the royal demesne if they married. It would always remain an independent holding belonging only to Zaraki. He loved the idea of it.
Leisha laughed. “I do, too. I’ve never been there, only through it once. Well, twice. And now it’s yours to do whatever you want with it.”
Zaraki kissed her, thinking of his life and the events that led him here. Years and miles stretched back to the plains outside Ostrava and the deaths he witnessed. “What I want is to marry you there.”
“And then, after that, I’ll make you king,” she promised.
Acknowledgments
Writing a book, any book, has been a dream come true for me. I could not have done it without the help of an army of people.
Dan – He pretended not to notice how dirty the house was getting when I was head down, hovering over my laptop, for hours on end.
Phil – My first reader! Phil read a romance novel and then gave me amazing feedback and suggestions. The finished product is, in no small part, a collaboration between the two of us.
Travis – He helped me learn about Italian knife fighting and gave me a great stabbing scene.
M$ – She designed my cover and I love it.
Advance Readers – Mom, Penny, Sara, you guys were my guinea pigs and I appreciate your sacrifice. Read the final copy! It’s way better than the first draft.
Naxx – He cuddled with me, no matter where I was writing, and reminded me to take breaks to walk him.
About the Author
J. Ellen Ross lives in Texas with her husband and their four rescue dogs. She works in high tech, which has nothing to do with fantasy or writing. When she’s not busy chasing dogs around or rushing someone to the vet, she loves to read and play video games. She has a hobby of having hobbies, so she’s also been known to do sculpting, beadwork, and painting.
When not referring to myself in third person, I’m really friendly! Please track me down at any of these places:
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www.jellenross.com
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