Soon.
For centuries Dacians have set fire atop hills. It’s the signal they use to communicate the land is at war, calling for all men able to carry a sword to fight. It’s the signal I’m about to give when I see four men charging up the hill to my left. By their armors, they aren't Romans. I can’t see their faces yet, but my heart pounds in my chest, hope bursting within.
“Need help?” Vipero stops his horse next to mine, a broad smile on his face. Galtys, Ursus, and Zyraxes surround me, their horses stomping around mine in a dance of recognition.
For the first time in days, I laugh. “My life for it.”
The fire jolts. Smoke raises first, then tall flames set the sky on fire. Suddenly a small movement at the base of the hill catches my eyes. It must be Traianus’ man, coming straight at us. That’s the signal we should attack. I lift my fist in the air, but a weird feeling settles in my stomach. The closer the messenger, the stronger the nerves. I shake it away—it must be the excitement.
“Nerva? What are you doing here?” It takes every ounce of control to not drag her off the horse and flog her right then and there in front of my army.
Her horse lifts off its front legs, but she holds onto her ropes, a smile bigger than life on her face. Beautifully crafted armor covers her body like a second skin, horse and rider made for each other. She whistles like a man and lifts her sword in the air. “Protecting the land of our children. Yours and mine!”
*****
Legend has it . . . after Agathyris and Dacians there were Romanians. Romanians lived, worked, and died for the rich land between the Danube and the Carpathian Mountains. They stood tall and proud in the way of Roxalots, Saxons, Turks . . . No matter the army, they all ended up soaking our fields in blood, their putrid corpses a stark reminder that Romanians had no fear, no rival good enough to defeat them. I, Ilias per Decebalus Rex, was here—before you came.
The End
About the Author
I’m a dreamer
I’m a sinner
I love my books
I conjure hooks
And heroes with good looks
Romance is my guilty pleasure
Taking me to places with new décor
Come join me if you dare
I promise not to bore
If you like to read my stories
Pray my husband continues snorin’
For he’s the one who keeps me up at night
Other Books by Camelia Miron Skiba
A World Apart
Hidden Heart
You can find more info about Camelia Miron Skiba at:
www.cameliamironskiba.wordpress.com
https://twitter.com/#!/CamiSkiba
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4864495.Camelia_Miron_Skiba
https://www.facebook.com/#!/cameliamironskiba
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Pete & Tink
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2012 Sherry Gammon for Wordpaintings Unlimited
Copyright 2012 Prose by Design, LLC
Cover Art & Photo by Sherry Gammon
Tags: Young Adult, YA, Contemporary YA, Humor, Faeries, YA Fantasy, Love Story, Romance
Temptation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2012 Jamie Canosa
Copyright 2012 Prose by Design, LLC
Cover art by Sherry Gammon
Tags: YA Paranormal, Contemporary YA, Romance
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright Reneé S. Clark
Copyright Prose by Design, LLC
Cover Art by Reneé S. Clark
Tags: YA Romance, Romantic Drama, Belief, Afterlife, Soul
Seeds of Love
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright J.C. Willibat
Copyright Prose by Design, LLC
Cover Art by Sherry Gammon
Tags: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Symbiotic Relationship, Garden, Contemporary Romance
Note from the Author about Seeds of Love: I grew up in Horseshoe Bend and Garden Valley. I know how hard the Nurse Practitioners in those rural clinics work and how hard it can be to get accepted by the redneck ranchers, loggers and farmers of the area. But if a person lets themselves see it, the same rednecks can be the most generous, loving groups of people you will ever meet. That being said, I want to thank my redneck family, friends and coworkers.
Xeno
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2012 Alyssa LaFever
Copyright 2012 Prose by Design, LLC
Cover Art by Sherry Gammon
Cover photo: Aimy1.blogspot.com
Tags: Romance, Supernatural, Summer, Teen, Secrets, YA
Ye Olde Summertime of Love
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2012 Calvin Kern
Cover Art by Cindy C Bennett
Tags: Romance, Humor, Supernatural
In the Beginning
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2012 Cindy C Bennett
Copyright 2012 Prose by Design, LLC
Cover Art by Cindy C Bennett
Cover Photos by:
Copyright Vilma Puodziuvelyte | Dreamstime.com
Copyright Toddkuhns | Dreamstime.com
Tags: YA, YA Romance, Contemporary YA, Heaven, Soul Mate, Pre-earth, After Life
I Was Here—Before You Came
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2012 Camelia Miron Skiba
Copyright 2012 Prose by Design, LLC
Cover Art by Camelia Miron Skiba
Tags: Ancient Rome, Historical Drama, Romania, Dacia, Ancient Warriors, Decebalus, Traianus, Roman Empire, Conquer, War, Battlefield