Free The Realms of Ethair by Cecilia Beatriz

phrased.
    “We are already here.” He shrugged.
    Their surroundings became hazy. She had to
blink a few times before her vision cleared. Karina’s eyes
registered a fountain bubbling happily at the middle of the once
empty space. The ground had evened out underneath the carpet of
leaves. Flowers bloomed at every tree and bush around her. Its
floral scent filled the atmosphere.
    The courtyard was the first glimpse she
had of Kelor-dan’s palace. All the while, it had been under her
nose. Karina sensed invisible eyes on her. This became
inconsequential as she heard the quick and light footfalls of a
person descending the steps. She knew he could be as silent as a
hunter stalking his prey. The sound of his footsteps was an attempt
to let her know that the prince himself had come to receive
her.
    She found her legs again and took the last
remaining steps, closing the distance between them. Overwhelmed
with relief, she hugged Kelor-dan. The prince briefly stilled at
her impulsiveness; then, placed his arms about her. Karina breathed
in the scent of sunshine and of the forest, which clung to him like
perfume, just to ascertain it was really him. The sound of his deep
voice reverberated in his chest. He was speaking to one of his
people – the rider, from how he framed his questions.
    The rider answered deferentially. He had
assumed his previous demeanor.
    “ Wait,” Karina called when the rider
mounted his horse. “What is your name?”
    He glanced at the prince. Then, stated: “I am
called Pellinor.”
    “ Pellinor,” she pronounced. “I won’t
forget.”
    He bowed his head and left.
    “ You have done well, Liyanna,” Kelor-dan
whispered. “In a handful of words, you have won the respect of one
of the Sentries’ captains.”
     
     

Chapter 11
Arturion
     
     
    Let her be. Give her time. He had anticipated her
departure. She had wanted his honesty. He had given it to her
because she deserved to know. Karina had received it too well – too
self-composed. She was definitely in shock. She had yet to grasp
her situation fully. So, he let her go. Later, he would realize too
late that he had misjudged the impact of his news.
    Arturion did not follow her. Karina would not take it kindly
if she discovered he was shadowing her. He remained in the kitchen
and entered into a trance. It was part of his training to
discipline the mind and enable him to endure the harshest
circumstances. Almost at once, his Higher Self separated from the
limits of his physical awareness and his consciousness expanded
outward. He felt other creatures’ life force and…Karina’s.
Immediately, he cut off his connection. He would not intrude on her
privacy.
    There were still a number of rooms left to
explore on the upper level. Sleeping quarters awaited him. One of
these belonged to his mother. The traditional bed consisted of a
futon, a bolster, and blankets. In his mother’s room, however,
stood a low bed frame with intricately carved whorls on the
headboard, a mattress, pillows and a covering.
    He resumed the use of his extended senses.
A whiff of lavender permeated the air. Karina must have used it on
a number of occasions. He thought of his house in the third
dimension. The furniture and fixtures were almost the same, apart
from how the humans generated energy to power their technology. She
must have been homesick.
    Arturion sat at the edge of the bed, allowing
the scent to soothe him. He nearly overlooked the papers hidden
underneath the bed covers. Moving it to the other side of the bed,
he lay on his back. His eyelids fluttered open once, twice;
finally, closing as he succumbed to exhaustion.
    Dusk had fallen when Arturion woke to the
sound of his name being called downstairs. The voice was
Kala’s. Why
would she be looking for him, when she should be with Karina at
this hour? Anxiety
pulled him to his feet.
    He rushed towards the door and would have
collided against Kala as the girl walked in. A glow globe hovered
inside,