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

that? Besides, what if she were to say
no? ”
    Santil watched as his
childhood friend sprinted down the dark tunnel, shaking his head in
resignation. “ How
could she say no? No one ever has to you. Beside even if she did, you wouldn't
listen. ” He
chuckled as he talked to himself before jumping back up onto the
ledge and leaning back against the rocky side so he could stare out
at the bright sky waiting patiently for his friend to
return.

Chapter 2
    Tia stared in disbelief at
the unconscious figure lying on the dark red moss. The stories
flowed through her mind in vivid detail. She would never forget
them. They were a part of her. The legends spoke of a beautiful
goddess with hair the color of white gold that would return life to their
world. Several generations ago, giants from a distant world came in
great ships and took the small creatures that fed on the minerals in the
sand . The creatures, in return, had left their excreta
that fertilized the planet causing the growth of the huge mushroom
forests.
    When the last of the
creatures were taken, their world began to die as there was
nothing to fertilize the seeds buried deep
within the sands. The vasts forests of
mushroom trees withered and died. The great storms that frequently
developed grew worse because there were no forests to buffer their
winds. Soon, the sand began swallowing everything. What was worse
was the giants had brought with them great worms that attacked
Tia's people, killing most of her clan. Their only hope of
salvation was to seek the protective walls of the rock caverns.
Over the last ten generations, they had developed their world until
it was the beautiful kingdom that lay before her. Her body trembled
as her heart jerked uncomfortably in her chest. Her last wish had
been to see her people free to go to the surface but she never
believed that it would happen in her lifetime. Now, she knew that the gods had heard her desperate plea
and were giving her this last gift before she died.
    “ What do you think,
Tia, ” Tamblin
asked quietly as he studied the still figure lying on the
moss. “ Should I
order it destroyed? ”
    “ NO! ” Tia cried out, looking at him in
horror before remembering he did not have the knowledge that she
did, at least not yet. “ No, ” she said in a quieter
voice. “ She has
been sent by the gods and goddesses. She is the one. She has the
knowledge to heal our world above so that we may live once more in
the brightness. ”
    Tamblin looked at Tia in
disbelief before turning his head to look down at the figure that was now beginning
to stir. He raised his hand in a silent command for his soldiers to
be ready for anything. He would order the sharp spears, laced with
the poison of the Guardians of the Cavern , to strike if the creature
tried to attack. How could the Gods or Goddesses send such a large
creature as their salvation? He had listened to the stories his
mother had told Tia when she didn't think he was listening. He
could not see the stories in his head like his sister could but he
knew they were important.
    Tamblin pushed Tia behind
him when the creature slowly sat up. It was obvious the creature
was female. She had many of the same features as their females did.
He watched suspiciously as she blinked several times before she
glanced around her. His soldiers had taken to the
a ir and were making careful
sweep s around her, keeping just far enough
away to stay out of her reach but close enough that they could
launch the spears if need be. He straightened to his full height,
refusing to cower in fear.
    “ Hello,” the golden
goddess said with a soft smile as her gaze settled on him and his
sister.
    Tia stepped nimbly around Tamblin to
get a closer look at the giant female but stopped at the husky
sound of her voice. Tamblin moved swiftly next to Tia, scolding her
to stay behind him. Tia ignored her brother. She knew deep down
that the golden creature wouldn’t hurt her.
    “ She will not harm me,”
she