Free The Quest for the Heart Orb by Laura Jo Phillips

about it over and over.”
    Caral approached with a tray laden with refreshments, while Lashi brought tea.  While they poured the tea and passed out plates, Ren took the chance to study the other three women.  They were all so beautiful. 
    Karma had long dark brown hair and striking gray eyes.  She was the shortest of the three women, but not by much.  She moved with an unconscious grace Ren had never seen before, and exuded such confidence that Ren was nearly mesmerized by her.  Kapia’s hair hung to her waist in a fall of glossy black silk, and although she looked very young, her eyes were serious beyond her years.  Where Karma’s grace was poised and calm, Kapia’s grace made her think of a great cat.  Smooth, almost boneless, and powerful.  Tiari was the tallest of the three, but she was also the thinnest and most delicate looking.  Her black hair fell down her back in a cascade of curls that caught the light whenever she moved, and her smile was bright and unaffected.  But it was her eyes that caught Ren’s attention.  They were the palest blue, with a dark blue ring around the iris, and they contained no pupil.  For a moment she wondered if Tiari could see, but watching her study the fruit on a tray before selecting a slice indicated she had no problem in that regard.
    “These two ladies are Lashi, and Caral, our attendants,” Karma said as the two older women retreated to the far side of the room with their sewing.  “The six of us are all the women of the Orb Quest.”
    “The rest are men,” Ren said, reaching for her cup.  “I might as well tell you that I have very little experience being in the presence of males.” 
    “There aren’t any where you come from?” Kapia asked.
    “There are many in the village, though I had almost no contact with them.  There are some boys in Sanctuary, but no men.”  Seeing the curiosity on the other’s faces she added, “Sanctuary is an orphanage and school on Nu Senna .  It’s where I grew up.”
    “I see,” Karma said.  “Is that where you learned of the Sphin?”
    “Yes,” Ren replied simply.
    Karma tilted her head, sensing that Ren wanted to say more but held herself back.  Instead of questioning her further, she decided to continue with the first subject.  “The majority of the men are warriors.  They are good men, and honorable, but if anyone makes you uncomfortable, please do not hesitate to let me or Kapia know.”
    “I thank you,” Ren said, wondering if Karma really had the authority or influence to stop anyone from causing her harm once the truth about her was revealed.  She was married to Prince Zakiel, so it was possible, and from her studies she understood the power a Lady Techu could wield in her own right.  Then again, once Karma learned the truth, she’d probably change her mind about protecting her.  Ren struggled to push the unhappy thoughts from her mind as she sipped her tea.  “It feels strange to me to be sitting here, on the Hidden Sister ,” she said, changing the subject as she set her cup down.
    “Does it?” Kapia asked, then laughed softly at herself.  “Silly question.  Of course it must seem strange since, until a handful of days ago, it didn’t exist.”
    “Exactly,” Ren said.  “I have often sat atop Nu Senna and looked down upon the empty valley where legend said the Hidden Sister had once been, trying to imagine what it would look like.  And then, suddenly, it was here.”
    “Actually, it was always here,” Karma said.  “Vatra Gariel shifted it to a different space-time plane, and please don’t ask what that means because I’ve no idea.  I just know it was here, but not.”
    “But why?” Ren asked curiously.  “Why hide a mountain?” 
    “Because the Sun Orb was hidden here,” Tiari said.  “In an enormous cavern inside the mountain.”
    Ren smiled, an expression that lit up her entire face.  “I’ve asked that question, and others like it, for years, but no one,