For the Love of Tia: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 4.1 by S. E. Smith

Chapter 1
    Tia sighed as she ran her delicate
fingers over the smooth surface of the scroll. Her eyes stared
blankly at the intricate illustrations and the symbols carefully
describing each legend. Her tiny, light green ears flickered back
and forth at the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps drawing her
out of her trance. She knew immediately who it was – her brother
Tamblin. She quickly rolled the scroll and hid it behind one of the
colorful fabric tapestries she had hanging in her room. She didn’t
want him to know that she had been writing down the stories of
their people, at least not yet. He would be deeply concerned if he
knew and become even more protective of her.
    Tia closed her large brown eyes and
drew in a deep breath in an effort to calm the fast beat of her
heart. Every third beat it would stop and she was terrified it
would not start again. It was happening more often and lasting
longer each time. She opened her eyes and forced a smile onto her
face as her brother swept aside the long curtain door of her
chambers.
    “ Tia, I have need of you,”
Tamblin said in his deep, rich voice. “A creature has been captured
at the entrance to our caverns. It is very large and strange
looking.”
    Tia tilted her head and frowned. “Why
do you need me? Surely you do not expect me to give you my
permission to kill it?” She asked scornfully. “You have never
bothered to ask me before!” She pointed out, reminding him of the
few times when an unknown creature wandered into their domain only
to be killed within moments by the Guardians of the Cavern, two
large Were Beast with poisonous saliva and barb-like
fur.
    Tamblin glared at her before
straightening his broad shoulders. Even though he stood no taller
than twelve inches tall, he was still taller than most of the other
inhabitants of Glitter. As their ruler, he guarded the kingdom and
its populaces with a fierce protectiveness that Tia knew she should
appreciate more. A soft sigh escaped her. With her, he tended to be
three times more protective, rarely letting her travel anywhere
alone.
    “ Tia,” he said, drawing in
a deep breath to calm his frustration. “This creature is different
from anything I have ever encountered before. The Guardians alerted
us and we were able to render it unconscious before they attacked
and killed it. As Keeper of the Stories, I thought it would be wise
to seek your counsel first before I ordered it destroyed.” He
paused a moment and his eyes softened as he studied her. “I do
respect your guidance, sister.”
    Tia lowered her eyes and blinked
several times, ashamed of her unreasonable criticism. “I will come.
Where is the creature now?”
    “ I have had it transported
to the center of the moss field, near the river,” Tamblin said,
gently wrapping his hand around her arm. He frowned down at her in
concern. “You have lost more weight. Have you not been feeling well
again?”
    Tia bit her lower lip with her sharp
teeth and shook her head. “I’m fine, Tamblin. You have more
important things to worry about than me,” she assured
him.
    “ Never, Tia,” Tamblin
responded quietly, guiding her out to the flying creatures they
used as transport throughout the caverns. “You will always be the
most important thing to me.”
    He helped her climb up
onto the saddle that was strapped on the back of one of the
bat-like creatures that lived in the caverns. Tia leaned forward
and petted the body of the flying mammal that was covered in a
thick, dark gray fur with large, black leathery wings. The winged
animal turned and emitted a low humming noise when it saw Tia,
its sharp pointed ears flicking back and forth in affection . Tamblin adjusted the tiny
bridle and checked Tia’s saddle to make sure she was
comfortable.
    “ Tamblin,” Tia said
leaning forward to touch her brother’s shoulder before he moved
away. She waited until he looked at her before she smiled. “Thank
you.”
    “ I love you, Tia,” Tamblin
said quietly.