Read Online Earthbound: An Otherworld Novella by Yasmine Galenorn - Free Book Online
Authors: Yasmine Galenorn
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and while Menolly was still a little shaky at it, practice made perfect.
Chase stared up at her, looking unnerved. I offered him a chair and he slid into it, tapping his fingers on the table. “I can’t think of anything I’ve ever seen that would fit your description. Definitely nothing found Earthside — at least nothing that I know of, but that’s not saying a lot. So many things have come out of the woodwork since you guys opened the portals that it’s hard to say. But it sounds like something from your side of the fence. From Otherworld. Not that I’ve ever been there.” A wistful note echoed in his voice.
“Do you ever want to visit there?”
He shrugged. “I think so. If I had a good guide. I wouldn’t want to do anything against local customs and get myself in trouble. And frankly, I can see that happening.” He let out a long sigh and cautiously leaned on the table as he stood. “You girls need furniture. I see you’ve gotten a start on the place, but this is a big house and it’s going to take some time for you to fill it up.”
Delilah let out a snort. “Trust me, I think we’re going to have the time. I don’t foresee as being recalled soon. If you want your men to spread out and check the yard, that’s great, but given how strong this creature is, you might want to take Menolly and me with you.”
“Right,” Menolly said. “And nobody goes out alone. Don’t take this the wrong way, but if we couldn’t handle it, then it doesn’t bode well for your men going out there on their own. We’re a lot stronger than most FBHs. And we don’t want to see a body count from this.”
Chase looked relieved. “I appreciate the thought. And I’m sure my men will, too. Ever since the portals opened, we’ve been facing a lot of situations in which we’re not sure what to do.”
“It’s a learning curve for all sides.” I grimaced as I realized how stiff my legs and back were. “Sheesh, those cuts put a damper on me.”
Chase paused at the arch leading into the foyer. “Listen, I wanted to warn you about something. I don’t think you fully realize how much of an effect the portals opening have had on our society here.”
“How so?” I asked.
“It’s polarized society. On one hand, you guys are rock stars—celebrities—in case you’re not sure what that means. On the other hand, some people see you as demons. Which is their right, as long as they keep their hands to themselves. But there are some hate groups rising who are preaching action rather than rhetoric. I don’t trust them. We live in a violent world. Earthside has seen so many wars that we can’t even count them. And in this country, the answer to a lot of people’s problems seems to be found in the trigger of a gun. I’m not sure what you’re used to over in Otherworld. I don’t know whether it’s faerieland—all happiness and joy, or what. I assume not, given you are part of the military.”
I glanced at Menolly and Delilah. That seemed to be a common misconception.
“Trust me,” I said. “We’re used to plenty of violence. While we may not have guns, we have magic and swords, and both of those can be lethal. Otherworld is rife with its own form of hate groups. Rather than a utopia, Otherworld is filled with prejudice, assault and murder.”
Menolly cleared her throat. “Drug abuse is both common and legal. Slavery is legal, as well as servitude.”
“Sounds like a barrel of laughs. So you really aren’t any more progressive than we are?” Chase frowned, looking a little disillusioned.
“No,” I said softly. “Really, our worlds aren’t terribly different. We have magic, you have technology. But even there, the divide isn’t all that wide between the two. And even now the elfin mages are working on ways to combine the two.” I walked him to the door. “Go around back with your men. Menolly and Delilah will meet you there. It’s better if I stay inside. Trust me, I’m not the athlete my
Chase stared up at her, looking unnerved. I offered him a chair and he slid into it, tapping his fingers on the table. “I can’t think of anything I’ve ever seen that would fit your description. Definitely nothing found Earthside — at least nothing that I know of, but that’s not saying a lot. So many things have come out of the woodwork since you guys opened the portals that it’s hard to say. But it sounds like something from your side of the fence. From Otherworld. Not that I’ve ever been there.” A wistful note echoed in his voice.
“Do you ever want to visit there?”
He shrugged. “I think so. If I had a good guide. I wouldn’t want to do anything against local customs and get myself in trouble. And frankly, I can see that happening.” He let out a long sigh and cautiously leaned on the table as he stood. “You girls need furniture. I see you’ve gotten a start on the place, but this is a big house and it’s going to take some time for you to fill it up.”
Delilah let out a snort. “Trust me, I think we’re going to have the time. I don’t foresee as being recalled soon. If you want your men to spread out and check the yard, that’s great, but given how strong this creature is, you might want to take Menolly and me with you.”
“Right,” Menolly said. “And nobody goes out alone. Don’t take this the wrong way, but if we couldn’t handle it, then it doesn’t bode well for your men going out there on their own. We’re a lot stronger than most FBHs. And we don’t want to see a body count from this.”
Chase looked relieved. “I appreciate the thought. And I’m sure my men will, too. Ever since the portals opened, we’ve been facing a lot of situations in which we’re not sure what to do.”
“It’s a learning curve for all sides.” I grimaced as I realized how stiff my legs and back were. “Sheesh, those cuts put a damper on me.”
Chase paused at the arch leading into the foyer. “Listen, I wanted to warn you about something. I don’t think you fully realize how much of an effect the portals opening have had on our society here.”
“How so?” I asked.
“It’s polarized society. On one hand, you guys are rock stars—celebrities—in case you’re not sure what that means. On the other hand, some people see you as demons. Which is their right, as long as they keep their hands to themselves. But there are some hate groups rising who are preaching action rather than rhetoric. I don’t trust them. We live in a violent world. Earthside has seen so many wars that we can’t even count them. And in this country, the answer to a lot of people’s problems seems to be found in the trigger of a gun. I’m not sure what you’re used to over in Otherworld. I don’t know whether it’s faerieland—all happiness and joy, or what. I assume not, given you are part of the military.”
I glanced at Menolly and Delilah. That seemed to be a common misconception.
“Trust me,” I said. “We’re used to plenty of violence. While we may not have guns, we have magic and swords, and both of those can be lethal. Otherworld is rife with its own form of hate groups. Rather than a utopia, Otherworld is filled with prejudice, assault and murder.”
Menolly cleared her throat. “Drug abuse is both common and legal. Slavery is legal, as well as servitude.”
“Sounds like a barrel of laughs. So you really aren’t any more progressive than we are?” Chase frowned, looking a little disillusioned.
“No,” I said softly. “Really, our worlds aren’t terribly different. We have magic, you have technology. But even there, the divide isn’t all that wide between the two. And even now the elfin mages are working on ways to combine the two.” I walked him to the door. “Go around back with your men. Menolly and Delilah will meet you there. It’s better if I stay inside. Trust me, I’m not the athlete my
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