Free The Warlord and the Assassin: A Fantasy Romance Novella by Mia Amano Page A

stone corridor, becoming enveloped in complete darkness. Tarak relied only on the sound of Amina’s light footsteps and the faint tendril of qwi she allowed free, to guide him.  
    He marveled that she could find her way so easily in complete darkness.  
    When they reached Larion Fortress, they met his guards, who nodded in greeting. They eyed Amina with curiosity, but didn’t say a word. The warriors in his service were used to their Warlord’s coming and going.  
    “Everything ready, Sera?”  
    The captain of his Fortress Guard nodded her head, her dark braids swaying back and forth. “General Enkida has prepared the troops.”
    “Excellent.” Tarak clapped Captain Sera on the shoulder in approval. He turned to Amina. “Come, Ami. You must be hungry and tired. Sera, send a message to Cook to have dinner for two sent to my chambers.”
    Sera stared at Amina again, before Tarak shot her a warning glance. She averted her eyes. “Yes, Warlord,” she murmured. No doubt the Akuna camp would be ablaze with gossip tonight.  
    Tarak had never publicly taken a lover before.
    As they made their way down the long, stone corridor, Amina kept in front of him. Tarak couldn’t help but admire the way she moved, every step graceful and economical. She walked with a killer’s stealth. He admired the curves of her toned legs and her well defined ass. Even after the long journey through the Arama Forest, he found himself becoming aroused.
    Tarak led her to his chambers, and signaled to a servant to warm the bath.  
    “A different welcome this time, little Inue.” There was wine and dried fruits on the small table in his antechamber. He poured the wine into a pair of fine Varanese glasses as Amina shed her weapons. Tarak laid his sword against the table.
    “Don’t call me that.” Amina’s emerald eyes flashed, but this time, they were full of mirth. Tarak marveled at the way her face changed, and he realized it was the first time he had truly seen her smile. A gentleness came over her hard features, and he suddenly craved the feeling of her rosebud lips on his.  
    Amina popped a dried berry into her mouth. “What are you planning now, Katach ? Tomorrow, the Eratean army will be at your gates.”
    Tarak sipped his wine. “Your attempt on my life has created a nice opening. One I intend to exploit. The Erateans think I’m dead now, and they’ll act accordingly. But they need to learn that these lands are not theirs by right. I will drive them back to Adalan, Amina. And in that process, blood will be shed.”
    She studied him carefully, and Tarak felt as if he was being watched by a cat, waiting to pounce. He found her scrutiny impossible to resist.  
    From the washroom beyond, a voice called out. “Bath’s ready, Tarak.”
    That was his loyal servant Magden, a matronly Akuna woman who had been a fierce warrior in her time. Now she supervised the day to day housekeeping. She appeared in the antechamber, drying her hands on her apron. Noticing Amina, her eyebrows went sky high. Tarak laughed.  
    Magden was always motherly around him, and now she regarded the Inue with a mother’s scrutiny.
    “Magden, allow me to introduce Amina Sato, of the Inue. She’s my woman.” Tarak said the last words carefully, gauging Amina’s reaction. He was half worried she would reject his claim. Bloody Ourephos, this woman was making him act like a nervous lad who had just hit puberty. But a soft flush had spread across Amina’s cheeks. She stood and bowed, in the Inue fashion. “Pleased to meet you, Magden.”
    Magden looked her up and down, before turning to Tarak. “About time you settled down with a decent woman, Warlord. Goddess knows not many would be willing to put up with the likes of you.”
    Tarak rolled his eyes as Magden smirked. “Pleased to meet you, sister Amina. You’d better keep him in line, now.”
    Amina smiled back. “Oh, he knows I will, don’t you worry about that, sister Magden.”  
    ~~~
    After they