The huge hawk circled lazily then swooped down to rest on the uplifted arm of the raven-haired man. He turned to look back at Daenara, grinning. Tall and muscular, the man stood naked to the waist, clothed only in a leather arm covering for the hawk and soft black leather breeches. Strong angular features only served to make Valorin more strikingly handsome. Daenara drank in the sight of him with a tiny sigh of pleasure. Valorin was bonded to Specter, a dove gray stallion that could cloak himself and his rider by taking on the appearance of something he 'killed'. To 'encounter' Specter and Valorin though was a costly endeavor and most paid for it with their lives. Specter had been shunned by most of the human and unicorn population because of his expert ability to kill. The strange thing about Specter was his mimic ability to take on the form of a creature he dispatched. Some said his very existence was proof to some that the Light was anticipating trouble.

Valorin being a somewhat powerful but young illusion Wyn, the bonding had been totally unexpected. Wyn majik and the unicorn majik usually collided and were not compatible. The Light had other ideas and the incredibly unusual bonding took place and was quietly forgotten in the absence of the two. Astrafal immediately moved them both to a remote location and kept them busy learning under his direct tutelage. Mysterious Wyn and equally mysterious unicorn... Daenara was a creation Wyn and her realm of the magic was completely different from Valorin's. She did not understand their job nor their powers, but loved them anyway.

Because of his upbringing on the streets of Pallahade, he was able to make himself unobtrusive naturally. This amazed everyone because of his large frame and good looks. No one expected him to be able to slip into their presence without being noticed. However, he seemed to be able to do it every time. Valorin had been through the Academy ahead of Daenara and just now come back from a duty assignment. She only recently graduated, was asked to stay and help teach the next class session. For Daenara and Valorin it had been love at first sight. Although first sight was a different time for both of them...

Valorin made Daenara promise never to reveal anything about him or his work. She grudgingly agreed Valorin was the best man for the job but Daenara was coming to despise the fact he WAS so good at what he did. That was why she would have to settle for moments with him whenever they could be snatched. With the rumblings of trouble with the dark Wyn becoming more frequent, Valorin was going into danger under cover more often. The very fact Specter was a unicorn would put them in danger if they were spotted in some places. However, Daenara knew Valorin was as crafty as he was handsome and that gave both he and Specter the edge. In addition, Valorin had a pet hawk that was trained to attack on his command. Valorin had Specter and Uba, the hawk to help watch after him, but even still, Daenara's heart trembled with fear each time he left her to return to his duties.

Daenara thought back to the whirlwind romance and how quickly it had all taken place. She wouldn't change it though, for these few moments she was allowed to spend with Valorin were more wonderful than most people had throughout a lifetime. She had been so lonely and feared for years she would remain so forever. She WAS 6' tall and most men were shorter than she was. She simply had given up hope to ever find the right man. Then suddenly, there was Valorin. Daenara thought back to their first meeting and the crazy days that followed.

Daenara met Valorin by a 'carefully arranged accident'. She was wandering the steep slopes of the mountain foothills east of the Academy, as she usually did. Daenara loved to hike the rocky foothills whenever she could. She came upon a clearing and was shocked to see someone there. A very handsome man was working with a hawk. Daenara watched with fascination from behind a tree. The man made her heart pound with excitement!

"Come on out, lovely one. Meet Uba, she seems to be a tad jealous of your beauty." His deep masculine voice came clearly to her ears. Sucking in her breath in surprise, she leaned back against the tree for a second, then stepped out to face him. "Well, you were right Uba, as usual. She IS quite beautiful. What shall we do with her? Spying on us like that?" His rugged face broke into a broad smile. Daenara felt as though a force more powerful than Wyn were unleashed throughout her whole body. She couldn't breathe for a moment.

"Come closer, I want to look at you. I won't bite...at least not until I know you better." He laughed easily. Daenara obeyed immediately. Shivers of excitement ran up her spine as she walked toward him, staring into his deep, blue-gray eyes. She stopped in front of him and kept her eyes on his. His eyes traveled the length of her taking in all of her. "Hmmm...well, maybe I best amend that, beautiful lady. I may just bite at that!" Valorin grinned mischievously at Daenara. "Who ARE you?" Daenara finally found her voice. "I am called Valorin. And you are...?" "Daenara Riordan." She whispered, hardly able to speak. "Daenara, you are most unusual. Uba doesn't let just anyone get that close. Although she seems jealous, she must approve of you." At that, the big hawk spread her wings wide and Daenara tore her eyes away from Valorin long enough to look closely at the magnificent hawk. "Uba has nothing to be jealous of, she is quite breath-taking!" Daenara replied. Valorin laughed, a deep and rich sound. Uba voiced a cry at that moment as if to thank Daenara for her compliment. A deep ring echoed around the rocks. "My Academy classes will be starting in another hour. I'm the assistant teacher, I'm afraid I have to go." Daenara whispered reluctantly. "My loss. The day will seem so withered without your presence." Valorin replied with a twinkle in his eye and a lop-sided smile as he shook his head. Daenara knew she better hurry, she had only one hour to reach the Academy grounds and this hike was a good hour. She turned to start out of the clearing. At the tree line she turned back to look at Valorin. "Will you be here tomorrow?" She asked. "Everyday, for you." Valorin replied, looking directly at her. Daenara found herself hardly able to breathe. 'Valorin,' she thought, what a wonderful name! Suddenly his words came echoing out of the rocks as she hurried down the trail.

"EVERYDAY, FOR YOU!" As Dae rushed down the path, she could barely believe what just happened to her. Her body was reacting in ways she was unfamiliar with and yet it was pleasant. Shivers of excitement would overtake her just bringing his blue eyes to her memory. Recalling the timbre of his voice made her feel like someone had turned her insides to mush. She nearly fell, on a path she knew almost as well as the back of her hand, because of her distracted state. It was a terrible temptation to simply forget the classes and run back up to the clearing and see if Valorin was still there. All the rest of the day she fought to maintain her concentration but to little avail. All she could see were piercing blue-gray eyes and a lazy, lop-sided smile. Daenara closed her eyes dreamily...