They studied the four large manticores, heavily armed with long, wide swords, as they rode toward them on animals that looked like huge dogs with tusks. One manticore growled something to his mount in a language Asahi didn’t understand, but he knew it was a command. The canine underneath him shook its head, but followed the manticore’s order, slowing to a stop.
Asahi warily watched as the manticore dismounted. Long, thick claws protruded from massive lion paws. This manticore had a tail with foot-long spikes on the end. The others had scorpion tails. Dark brown leather pants covered the Manticore’s densely muscled legs and a tan cotton shirt, open halfway down his chest, was tucked inside them. His head was in the shape of a lion, with a thick, brownish-black mane curling down and forming a vee under his chin.
“Empress, my apologies, but we need to be sure that you are not infected,” the manticore said.
“There is no need to apologize for protecting your people, Reese. I understand. We came to warn you of the danger presented by the alien, but I see word has already reached you,” she said.
“Yes, Empress. Pai arrived early this morning to see if you had passed through the valley yet,” he explained.
“Pai! That is good. It grows dark soon, and we will require lodging,” she replied.
“Of course, Empress. Forgive my inquiry, but who is this with you?” he cautiously asked.
Nali clasped Asahi’s hand. “This is Asahi Tanaka. He is a human from another world. He is no threat—except to the alien,” she reassured Reese.
“Human—we’ve heard of them. The Dragon King is married to one,” Reese said with a nod.
“As is the Sea King, the King of the Giants, Princess Gem, and Ashure,” she chuckled.
“Ashure Waves? The Pirate King is married?” Reese exclaimed with an expression of astonishment.
Nali laughed in delight at Reese’s reaction. “Yes, Ashure Waves has finally met his match,” she said with amusement.
Reese shook his head, then looked back at the other three manticores, and motioned to them. They guided their mounts closer and dismounted. Asahi nodded to them in greeting when they looked at him in curiosity and at Nali in awe. He grinned when Reese told the others about Ashure Waves marrying a human. He didn’t know who the man was, but Ashure’s marriage was hilarious to the men.
“I apologize again, Empress. We’ve had a bit of fun betting on whether a woman could ever capture that rogue—I mean—the Pirate King’s heart,” Reese said, wiping a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye.
Nali laughed again. “Yes, believe me, I understand.”
“If you’ll follow us, we’ll take you to the village. The hippogriff will be happy to see you,” Reese said with a wave of his hand toward the village in the center of the valley.
Chapter 8
Isle of the Pirates
“What is it? You’ve been lost in thought and distracted all day,” Tonya Maitland-Waves said.
Ashure Waves smiled when she wrapped her arms around him from behind and rested her chin on his shoulder. He should have known that she would realize that something was bothering him. He looked at the woven bracelet he was rolling between his fingers. Originally the three beads were white. Now, one had turned completely red and a second one was half red. The dark red color stood out starkly against his wrist.
“It is Nali. She—had an encounter that did not go well with the alien creature I told you about,” he replied.
“Is she okay?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Tonya walked around the chair he was sitting in and sat down on the footrest in front of him. He gently stroked her cheek.
“I think so. I’m worried though. One bead has turned red and another is partially discolored,” he replied with a worried frown.
“Hey, don’t you have this really cool mirror that will take you to your heart’s desire?” she suggested, biting her lower lip and looking back at him with an expectant expression.
“Yes—and no. I told you that Nali thinks it is best that she handles this alone,” he responded in a disgruntled tone.
Tonya sat back and raised an eyebrow at him. “Since when has anyone ever stopped you from doing what you wanted to?” she dryly inquired.
A wave of pride and anticipation washed over him. The indecision and frustration that had been building inside him since Nali returned to her kingdom melted away. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss against Tonya’s lips.
“Nali’s going to be furious,” he murmured, pulling back and looking into her eyes.
“She loves you. She’ll get over it,” she reassured him with an encouraging smile and a little shrug.
“I love you. I don’t want you to—” he began.
Tonya pressed her fingers against his lips and leaned into him. “I love you, too. I’ll monitor things here. You never know what Dapier might decide to give away. Just… just promise me that you’ll be careful and come back to me safe and sound,” she whispered.
“Always,” he vowed.
Valley of the Manticores and Centaurs
“Pai,” Nali called out when she caught sight of the old hippogriff talking with a centaur.
Pai turned around, his sharp eyes scanning her before he responded. “Empress, it is good to see that you are still in one piece,” he said.
“You sound almost disappointed,” she dryly replied.
Pai snapped his beak and shook his head. “I’m surprised,” he retorted before his sharp eyes rested on Asahi and narrowed. “Who is this creature?”
Nali cast a sharp glare of warning at her old friend. “Pai, meet Asahi Tanaka,” she said with a wave of her hand at Asahi.
“Pai. I saw you in the forest. You helped the injured troll. I hope she is recovering,” Asahi said with a polite bow of his head.
“You saw—How could I miss him? I don’t miss anything!” Pai grumbled.
“If you remember, we were caring for Medjuline and dealing with an alien,” Nali reminded Pai.
Pai shook his head again and glared at Asahi. “I still
