Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
White flowers embellish nearby bushes while gorgeous clusters of pink and yellow drip from low-hanging branches on surrounding trees. Bamboo stalks protrude between groves of trees. Everything is deep green and smells sweet here, like the air has permanently been fragranced with honey and flowers.
We pass the lagoon, where children play and giggle. Some levitate rocks in the air, while others fling splashes of water with rapid flicks from their dry hands.
Wow. The stories and curated art do not do this place justice. Not even the greatest artist in all of Thelanor could capture the grace and beauty of this place.
The tribe queen doesn’t stop until we reach two interconnected huts built on stilts with cone-shaped roofs. The elementalists assisting Thane, Rynthea, and Kelrean lead them into the building.
I start after them, but the queen stops me with an arm to my chest. Her forearm is wrapped in a fingerless gold gauntlet. Swirls of ink on the warm skin beneath it flow to her nimble fingers.
“You two will stay with me,” she says. Definitely an order and not an option.
I look from her to Algar, who now has Zephra cradled in his arms.
“Will they be okay?” I ask, glancing at the hut where the other three have now disappeared.
“They will be taken care of by our healers. Speaking of which…”
She gestures for a woman near the hut to come our way.
“Heal them, please,” the queen commands.
The woman takes hold of my wrists. Her hands warm up like a stoked hearth, and the heat transfers to me. An odd tingling sensation crawls under my skin, and right before my eyes, the stinging scrapes and visible rawness on my palms disappear.
“Gods, thank you,” I murmur in awe.
The healer bows her head before grabbing Algar’s wrists and doing the same. Once finished, Algar thanks her as well. She gives a quick bow before returning to the hut.
“Better?” the queen asks.
“Yes,” I answer, rubbing a thumb over my healed palm. “Thank you.”
“Good. Follow me.” The queen strolls past several more huts until she and the muscular man approach a stone building. The first floor of the building doesn’t give much away, but on the second floor is a platform wrapped with wooden railing, along with several tables and benches for dining. The queen enters the building, and the muscled man (who I assume is her partner) holds the door open, waiting for us.
I walk past, forcing a smile at him as Algar trails behind. He unexpectedly returns a smile and a nod.
We’re greeted with a dining hall, where nearly everything is made of wood and stone. A hearth is built into the center of the room, and an archway reveals a massive kitchen where a group of people cooks. Steam rises in front of their faces as they use fire from their hands to boil water. Delicious scents waft through the hall, teasing my nose.
“Please sit.” The queen gestures gracefully to an open table. We pull out our seats, and once we’re settled, she claims a chair on the opposite side of us. The muscular man joins her. “Shall we start with your names?” She examines Algar and me closely now.
I clear my throat before telling her mine.
Algar follows suit.
“Zaira and Algar.” She stares at us, unblinking. “And the names of the others?”
“The prince is Kelrean, as he told you,” I say. “He’s from Bernwood.”
She nods. “I am fond of King Draedor. We’ve traded with him many times.”
“The minotaur is Rynthea Kamtaur,” I add. “She’s a good person.”
“She must be if that combat-heavy sorcerer is willing to save her,” the woman notes. “What is his name?”
“Thane Valkor,” I answer, my voice a little quieter now.
“And why do you travel with him?” She looks at both of us expectantly, her dark eyes narrowing.
“He’s helping me get somewhere.”
“And I’m assisting,” Algar tosses in.
The queen drops her eyes to Zephra, who is already studying her. “You care for creatures. For nature,” she notes after a brief silence.
“Of course I do.” Algar strokes Zephra’s back. “Nature is beautiful, and creatures like Zephra are the best parts of it.”
Her mouth twitches as she studies Zephra a bit longer. Then she sticks out her hand, and Zephra wiggles out of Algar’s arms to climb onto the table.
As Zephra climbs up the queen’s arm, the queen puts on a full smile—teeth and all. Not that I’ve known her for very long, but she doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who offers lots of big smiles.
“What a beauty you are,” she coos as she holds Zephra to her chest and strokes her soft head. Zephra makes a pleased, throaty little noise, and even the muscled man smiles at the maobi. I understand. It’s hard not to adore Zephra.
“She should be roaming freely.” The queen turns her attention to Algar, still rubbing Zephra’s head.