loud to her.
“That was one of several steps where food is grown for our people. That particular step grows what is called the Bay Berry. It’s used to make wine, clothing dye, or can just be eaten plain. It’s a favorite among the children.”
“Oh,” she replied. She didn’t want to give the impression that she was interested in his world, and as soon as she could get off the planet the better. It might take her some time to find someone willing to betray Jahan, but like any culture, there was always someone out there willing to do the dirty stuff for the right price.
For the rest of the drive, she kept her eyes forward. It felt as if they were ascending back up into space since they were going so high up the mountain. Eventually, the vehicle turned off the main road and headed down a short stone driveway. They stopped in front of an enormous three storied fortress that sat on the edge of the mountain. Dumbfounded by the sheer size of the building staring her in the face through the windshield, she stared at it in amazement.
Jahan and Niko exited the doors of the vehicle as soon as they opened. A cold, sharp breeze swept into the vehicle and instantly chilled her to the bone.
“Come one, little one,” Jahan instructed when he held out his hand for her to take.
Reluctantly, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her out. His skin was warm as it encased her smaller one. For some odd reason, it felt right to touch him, and for him to touch her, even though her brain was screaming to let his hand go. Once on her own two feet, she tried to dislodge her hand from Jahan’s grasp. She tugged to get her hand free but the more she tugged, the more Jahan squeezed.
“You can let go now,” she said with an attitude.
Jahan turned to look back down at her. “I could, but I won’t.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. The man infuriated her to no end. Last night he had been gentle and soft-spoken with her, but today was an entirely different story. Ever since Jahan woke her up that morning he had been nasty to her. What had caused his changed in attitude towards her? She didn’t do anything that she could recall, and wondered how she could get him to change back. She had no desire to live with a man who was prone to brooding all the time.
Jahan gave her one last look then pulled her behind him when he headed to the double doors that led into the building. She breathed a sigh of relief when the warmth of the building warmed her chilled body. Jahan continued through the foyer of the building, down a long hallway that finally opened up into a large eating room. A huge stone table and chairs were the only furniture in the massive room. A large window looked out over the edge of the mountain to reveal how high they were.
“Ah, my lord! It is wonderful to have you home again!”
Sam turned at the sound of a different male voice. A man, not much taller than she, crossed the room from another door off to the side.
“Harro, it is good to be home.” Jahan slapped the little man on the back.
“I see you have brought someone home with you.” Harro turned his attention to her. “I am Harro. It is a great pleasure to meet you.” He bowed in front of her, making her feel uncomfortable.
“Harro, this is Samantha, my wife.”
Harro’s eyes sparkled with the sudden news. “Your wife! My lord, I am happy for you!”
“Would you please see to the evening meal, and inform me when it is ready. My wife has not had a decent meal in a long
“That was one of several steps where food is grown for our people. That particular step grows what is called the Bay Berry. It’s used to make wine, clothing dye, or can just be eaten plain. It’s a favorite among the children.”
“Oh,” she replied. She didn’t want to give the impression that she was interested in his world, and as soon as she could get off the planet the better. It might take her some time to find someone willing to betray Jahan, but like any culture, there was always someone out there willing to do the dirty stuff for the right price.
For the rest of the drive, she kept her eyes forward. It felt as if they were ascending back up into space since they were going so high up the mountain. Eventually, the vehicle turned off the main road and headed down a short stone driveway. They stopped in front of an enormous three storied fortress that sat on the edge of the mountain. Dumbfounded by the sheer size of the building staring her in the face through the windshield, she stared at it in amazement.
Jahan and Niko exited the doors of the vehicle as soon as they opened. A cold, sharp breeze swept into the vehicle and instantly chilled her to the bone.
“Come one, little one,” Jahan instructed when he held out his hand for her to take.
Reluctantly, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her out. His skin was warm as it encased her smaller one. For some odd reason, it felt right to touch him, and for him to touch her, even though her brain was screaming to let his hand go. Once on her own two feet, she tried to dislodge her hand from Jahan’s grasp. She tugged to get her hand free but the more she tugged, the more Jahan squeezed.
“You can let go now,” she said with an attitude.
Jahan turned to look back down at her. “I could, but I won’t.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. The man infuriated her to no end. Last night he had been gentle and soft-spoken with her, but today was an entirely different story. Ever since Jahan woke her up that morning he had been nasty to her. What had caused his changed in attitude towards her? She didn’t do anything that she could recall, and wondered how she could get him to change back. She had no desire to live with a man who was prone to brooding all the time.
Jahan gave her one last look then pulled her behind him when he headed to the double doors that led into the building. She breathed a sigh of relief when the warmth of the building warmed her chilled body. Jahan continued through the foyer of the building, down a long hallway that finally opened up into a large eating room. A huge stone table and chairs were the only furniture in the massive room. A large window looked out over the edge of the mountain to reveal how high they were.
“Ah, my lord! It is wonderful to have you home again!”
Sam turned at the sound of a different male voice. A man, not much taller than she, crossed the room from another door off to the side.
“Harro, it is good to be home.” Jahan slapped the little man on the back.
“I see you have brought someone home with you.” Harro turned his attention to her. “I am Harro. It is a great pleasure to meet you.” He bowed in front of her, making her feel uncomfortable.
“Harro, this is Samantha, my wife.”
Harro’s eyes sparkled with the sudden news. “Your wife! My lord, I am happy for you!”
“Would you please see to the evening meal, and inform me when it is ready. My wife has not had a decent meal in a long
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