Page 5
Kerainne clapped her hands together in endearing glee. “Oh, it will be so much fun to show you so many living things. Especially the babies and young ones. They come to me easily. I can show you some kittens now, if you’d like. Unless you have cats in Luminista.”
“Of course we have cats.” I couldn’t help bristling at the notion that we wouldn’t. “They’re the guardians of doorways and all places in-between. There is no realm that could possibly keep cats out. Not to mention the lions in your clan’s lands in Luminista and the wolves of mine.”
“What about dogs?”
“Yes, dogs too.”
“Dragons?”
“No.” I gasped as the realization set in. “I’d completely forgotten that Aisthanesthai has dragons.”
“We didn’t always. They came from Earth.
My mother told me they were among the first of the magical creatures to migrate here.
My father even helped some. Let me introduce you to a dragon family nearby!
” Kerainne tugged my arm, then suddenly stopped, her shoulders drooping.
“I forgot, they just went into hibernation. So we won’t be able to see them for another two hundred years. I’ll be that’s when their eggs hatch.”
“They sleep that long?”
Kerainne nodded. “Most long-lived beings do. Dragons can live three to five thousand years. It’s interesting that they hibernate longer than us, since we live forever. Maybe we can study that together. What about lizards?”
“Lizards?” I asked blankly, trying to keep up with her rapid thoughts.
“Are there lizards in Luminista? Some look like miniature, wingless dragons, though they’re cold-blooded.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
She grinned and once more tugged on my hand. “Then come, I’ll show you some!”
I tried to keep up with her as we dashed out of the throne room, down a hall beside the grand staircase, then turned a corner and went out a door behind the palace.
Kerainne released her wings and I followed suit.
We flew past the gardens and over a forest before landing in a meadow.
She put a finger to her lips and gestured for me to follow her over to some boulders near a clear stream.
Kerainne crouched and seemed to speak to the rocks. “Come out now, little friends. I’d love to introduce you to someone.”
Suddenly, little green things skittered up to the nearest rock. I leaned down to peer closer and gasped. “They do look like little wingless dragons!”
A slightly larger lizard ascended the rock, surveying its younglings before cautiously moving closer. The little ones climbed all over Kerainne’s hand and arm.
“Hold out your hand,” she instructed.
Then the four tiny lizards crawled onto my fingers and wrist. The sensation of their little scaley feet tickled, but the experience was a wonder.
“So these are lizards?” I breathed, tentatively petting one with a fingertip.
“One kind, yes.” Kerainne pet another one, her fingertip so close to my palm that I sucked in a breath. “These are anoles. There are both smaller and larger lizards. Some of them, called chameleons, can change color to blend in their surroundings!”
“Amazing.” I would have to tell my clan about these creatures.
Kerainne took the baby anoles back and returned them to the rock and their waiting mother or father. “They need to warm themselves in the sun, then hunt insects for their supper. Would you like to meet a bear family?”
She showed me a variety of creatures not yet found in Luminista.
Squirrels, skunks, wolverines, raccoons, and so many varieties of bird.
It was fascinating how the young gravitated to her first, then the adult creature would come to her next.
Some allowed me to touch the babies, others bared sharp teeth or hissed with pointed beaks.
It wasn’t until sunset, when we returned to the city that I discovered the reasons behind the phenomenon.
Young luminites flocked to Kerainne as we passed through the city roads.
They hugged her and eagerly tugged on her skirts to tell her about a new thing they’d seen, or something they’d learned to create.
Most luminites have a bond with one type of creature.
Mine was wolves, like our family namesake, which made my mother and great aunt proud.
Kerainne, however, bonded with children of all species.
The anomaly confounded me, and though I was certain such an ability could be used in a hugely beneficial matter, I couldn’t wrap my mind on precisely how.
When we stopped at the cart of the vendor who had those berry drinks, I discovered I’d made a mistake.
“I can’t believe they didn’t want payment for the drink.”
Kerainne raised a brow. “Of course they’ll want payment.”
“No. I tried to offer gold, but they didn’t take it and handed me the drink.”
She stared at me in stunned silence, then laughed. “We don’t take gold from other luminites. Instead, we trade. Usually a creation, but we also accept items acquired in trade. A pretty stone, medicine, a song we learned, things like that.”
The drink vendor smirked at my ignorance. Red-faced, I rummaged through my bottomless pouch and pulled out a stone. “A river rock from the Jagwolfe clan lands in Luminista.”
The vendor grinned and handed over two drinks. My shoulders relaxed. The faux pas forgiven.
When we returned to the palace, Kerainne instructed a servant to show me to the chambers reserved for diplomatic guests. “When you’ve changed, come down for supper. I’ll introduce you to my parents.”
A nervous lump settled in my stomach. I’d been out frolicking and exploring Medicia with the princess before meeting the actual rulers of Medicia.
Would they be angry about that? Quickly, I bathed and dressed in one of my outfits meant for royal functions.
Black velvet trousers, a dark blue velvet jacket embroidered with silver, and a silver undershirt.
When a servant led me down a long staircase to a massive dining room, my stomach dropped further as I was placed at the Queen’s left side at the end of the long, elaborately carved table.
Queen Natalya had the same golden hair as her daughter, but her eyes were a striking shade of copper.
King Kiernen’s shoulder-length hair of metallic bronze and copper had the waves that Kerainne’s had when I first met her.
And he had the same peridot green eyes. The monarchs eyed me with cool interest and the soup and appetizers were served.
Kerainne cheerfully told them about showing Lucian around, seemingly oblivious to her parents’ stoney blank faces. But an impish glint in her eyes when she looked at me made me fairly certain this was her revenge for that unfortunate tea at my mother’s home.
I took a deep breath, resolving to not be humiliated. First, I apologized profusely for not presenting myself to the Queen before going off with her daughter. Then I used every bit of courtly training instilled in me to charm them.
By the time the next course was served, Queen Natalya seemed to be at ease with my presence, even going so far as to say I could visit for as long as Kerainne wished me to be here. King Consort Kiernen remained unreadable, though at least the glint of suspicion no longer shone in his eyes.
Then I looked at the main course on the platter and gasped.
“You eat meat?”
Kerainne nodded. “Sometimes. The half luminites can hunt. And the faelin and humans who come to trade often bring us meat in exchange for our herbs and produce.” She gave him a warm smile.
“This is moose, provided by the Tolonquan tribes. You don’t have to try it if you don’t want to, and if you do like it, don’t eat much, or you’ll get a stomachache. ”
I eyed the dark meat, glistening with butter and encrusted with herbs. What little trepidation I’d had at such an unorthodox thing in my household fled in the face of my curiosity. Wolves were my clan’s namesake. And wolves ate meat.
I placed a small portion on my plate. It fell apart at the touch of my fork. When I took a bite of that first small morsel, I had to hold back a groan of pleasure. I didn’t know what a moose was, but it tasted like my favorite mushrooms, only heavier, more substantial.
I ended up devouring the whole portion and having seconds, despite Kerainne’s warning. After the meal, I did indeed get a stomachache, which made Kerainne laugh, but we ended up having an interesting conversation about the differences between our worlds.
Then I ruined it. “But you didn’t get the chance to fully explore Luminista. Come back with me in a few days and I’ll show you—”
“No,” she cut me off firmly. “My mother is pregnant. I refuse to leave her for the duration.”
Selfishly, stupidly , I argued. “But a luminite pregnancy lasts for two years.”
“Do you have any idea how dangerous a luminite pregnancy is?” she asked sharply.
All signs of warmth left her as she continued.
“The only time a luminite can fully die is before they take their first breath because that’s when the soul enters the body.
Because of this, if the embryo or—fates forbid—a fully formed infant dies, the mother—and often the father too, can experience horrific internal pain, as it is the only time they’re so connected to death. ”
“Oh.” I hadn’t known that. In my two hundred years, only two luminites had been born in all of luminista and to my shame, I hadn’t paid attention to anything but the pregnancy announcements and celebration balls from first announcement to celebrating a successful birth.
I dipped my head in a humility. “I apologize for my ignorance.”
I expected her to ask me to return to Luminista, but instead, her gaze softened. “I apologize for being overharsh. There’s going to be a ball soon. If you care to remain longer as my guest, I’m certain you’ll be invited.”
I nodded, trying to conceal my relief. “I told you that I wish to remain in your company on any terms.”
But I never could have imagined what those terms would be.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5 (Reading here)
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57