Read Online Darkness Risen (The Ava'Lonan Herstories Book 4) by Ako Emanuel - Free Book Online
Authors: Ako Emanuel
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the
egwae, Jeliya entered the receiving lain to wait for their guest.
Right on time, an av’tun bloomed into being and out
stepped...
“Ashmisa!” Jeliya exclaimed. She held her arms out
in welcome.
The Sixth Voice smiled and came forward to embrace
her. Almost unnoticed behind her was the High Family ol’bey’woman, D’rad’ni.
“Heiress. We have missed you; our hearts are filled
with light at your restoration to us,” the Voice said, hugging her hard, then
holding her back to look her over scrutinizingly. Then, instead of commenting
on Jeliya’s state of health, she stepped back and gave the ritual greeting
including all of them. They all replied in kind.
“I bring a missive from your mother, the High
Queen,” Ashmisa said formally. “After D’rad’ni has examined you, I will tell
you her words.”
Jeliya nodded, and for a san’chron submitted to the ol’bey’s
examination. D’rad’ni remained impassive throughout, then took Jahun’no aside
to confer with him. Finally she came back, gave a single nod to the Voice, and
av’tunned away.
“What does the High Queen say?” Jeliya asked formally,
pulling her tired and pained body as erect as she could.
“You are to proceed directly, with my assistance, to
the farthest vacant Lan’mba from the Palace T’Av’li, and incidentally, closest
to your present location. You will remain there and recuperate from your
trial-filled journey until the last turn of Lor’ya waxing. Then she will summon
you to her presence.”
Jeliya stared into Ashmisa’a eyes, looking for
answers to her many half-born questions, but seeing none. The turn before the
beginning of the De’en’nu Festival? That smacked of political intrigue of some
type. Was that why she had not been allowed to go straight to the Palace? Well,
orders were orders. She stepped back, and bowed her head once in formal
acceptance of the High Queen’s words. Questions and explanations would have to
wait until later.
the light
turned...
The av’tun disgorged D’rad’ni into the general
receiving lain of the Palace main floor, where official visitors could av’tun
in unannounced. The ‘tun winked out of existence behind her as she paused a
moment to get her bearings and wave away the official that came forward. She
did not often come here, but she would rather that her presence were not
announced.
“How is she?”
The ol’bey’woman jumped at the tenor male voice,
turned to see the First Voice/Prince Consort standing waiting for her.
“First Voice - I mean, Av’lati,” she said, bowing
and spreading her arms. He returned the courtesy but his eyes were heavy with
impatience. She did not bother to begin the ritual greeting since he had cut
through protocol with his question, which meant that he was more concerned with
information than being properly formal. “I was just about to come to see you,”
she said, stalling a bit to gather herself. He moved toward her like a curious
predator that was not hungry, just - curious.
“How is she?” he asked again. D’rad’ni glanced
around, noting the ubiquitous guards, then made a small motion toward the
doorway.
“Shall we walk toward my suite? I must put my things
away,” she said.
Luyon looked deep into her eyes then nodded. Was
what she had to say that disturbing? Her eyes said it was. They walked a bit
and she wove a subtle rite of privacy around them.
*:She is - seems to be recovering nicely,:* she
began as they moved slowly through the halls toward the upper levels. *:It is
apparent that she was injured and poisoned, but the poison has been purged and
the damage, for the most part, repaired. But - there is something else I must
tell you,:* and the colorlessness of her thoughts warned him that it was
something he was not going to want to hear, much less tell the High Queen. He
stopped her and turned her to face him. D’rad’ni met his gaze then looked down
and away.
*:She is - Jur’Av’chi’n,:* the ol’bey woman
egwae, Jeliya entered the receiving lain to wait for their guest.
Right on time, an av’tun bloomed into being and out
stepped...
“Ashmisa!” Jeliya exclaimed. She held her arms out
in welcome.
The Sixth Voice smiled and came forward to embrace
her. Almost unnoticed behind her was the High Family ol’bey’woman, D’rad’ni.
“Heiress. We have missed you; our hearts are filled
with light at your restoration to us,” the Voice said, hugging her hard, then
holding her back to look her over scrutinizingly. Then, instead of commenting
on Jeliya’s state of health, she stepped back and gave the ritual greeting
including all of them. They all replied in kind.
“I bring a missive from your mother, the High
Queen,” Ashmisa said formally. “After D’rad’ni has examined you, I will tell
you her words.”
Jeliya nodded, and for a san’chron submitted to the ol’bey’s
examination. D’rad’ni remained impassive throughout, then took Jahun’no aside
to confer with him. Finally she came back, gave a single nod to the Voice, and
av’tunned away.
“What does the High Queen say?” Jeliya asked formally,
pulling her tired and pained body as erect as she could.
“You are to proceed directly, with my assistance, to
the farthest vacant Lan’mba from the Palace T’Av’li, and incidentally, closest
to your present location. You will remain there and recuperate from your
trial-filled journey until the last turn of Lor’ya waxing. Then she will summon
you to her presence.”
Jeliya stared into Ashmisa’a eyes, looking for
answers to her many half-born questions, but seeing none. The turn before the
beginning of the De’en’nu Festival? That smacked of political intrigue of some
type. Was that why she had not been allowed to go straight to the Palace? Well,
orders were orders. She stepped back, and bowed her head once in formal
acceptance of the High Queen’s words. Questions and explanations would have to
wait until later.
the light
turned...
The av’tun disgorged D’rad’ni into the general
receiving lain of the Palace main floor, where official visitors could av’tun
in unannounced. The ‘tun winked out of existence behind her as she paused a
moment to get her bearings and wave away the official that came forward. She
did not often come here, but she would rather that her presence were not
announced.
“How is she?”
The ol’bey’woman jumped at the tenor male voice,
turned to see the First Voice/Prince Consort standing waiting for her.
“First Voice - I mean, Av’lati,” she said, bowing
and spreading her arms. He returned the courtesy but his eyes were heavy with
impatience. She did not bother to begin the ritual greeting since he had cut
through protocol with his question, which meant that he was more concerned with
information than being properly formal. “I was just about to come to see you,”
she said, stalling a bit to gather herself. He moved toward her like a curious
predator that was not hungry, just - curious.
“How is she?” he asked again. D’rad’ni glanced
around, noting the ubiquitous guards, then made a small motion toward the
doorway.
“Shall we walk toward my suite? I must put my things
away,” she said.
Luyon looked deep into her eyes then nodded. Was
what she had to say that disturbing? Her eyes said it was. They walked a bit
and she wove a subtle rite of privacy around them.
*:She is - seems to be recovering nicely,:* she
began as they moved slowly through the halls toward the upper levels. *:It is
apparent that she was injured and poisoned, but the poison has been purged and
the damage, for the most part, repaired. But - there is something else I must
tell you,:* and the colorlessness of her thoughts warned him that it was
something he was not going to want to hear, much less tell the High Queen. He
stopped her and turned her to face him. D’rad’ni met his gaze then looked down
and away.
*:She is - Jur’Av’chi’n,:* the ol’bey woman
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