Read Online The Realms of Ethair by Cecilia Beatriz - Free Book Online Page B

Arturion. Please extend my
gratitude to the Black Guards, as well. If you’ll excuse me, I need
some fresh air.” She didn’t wait for his response. Karina got to
her feet and left the house.
    Among the trees, her vision blurred with
tears. She swiped it away, yet it kept flowing. Karina walked on
without any real destination. She stumbled on a tree limb, her arms
flailing wide. She landed face first on the forest floor, the
carpet of leaves cushioning her fall. She sat up and looked around
trying to get her bearings. She was at the center of a large
clearing, the trail nowhere to be found. It was eerily
quiet.
    Sara had allowed her to wander in the
forest as long as she stayed on the path. The Devatas were not the
only creatures of the forest. There were still wild animals roaming
deep within. The footpath was not only for convenience’s sake, it
served as a guide away from predators.
    The snapping of twigs echoed ominously in
the clearing, making Karina jump in alarm. The instinct for
fight-or-flight overtook her senses, momentarily sobering her from
all the crying she’d done. She groped for any object that could be
used as a makeshift weapon and came up empty-handed. If it was a
wild beast, she had no means to protect herself and running would
only delay the inevitable.
    A winged creature with a lion’s head and
tail and talons for feet emerged from the foliage. It sniffed the
air and licked its chops hungrily. Its eyes rested on hers. She
stood frozen on the spot as it approached her slowly.
    Suddenly, a shrill note pierced the air. The
thunder of hooves advancing towards them shook the earth. An arrow
whistled past the trees and struck the ground near the creature’s
forelegs.
    The beast recognized the danger for its life.
It backed away a few steps and took flight.
    Men and women on horseback entered the
clearing and circled her. They wore the colors of the forest’s
greenery. A bow and a quiver of arrows were strapped across their
backs. A rapier and a short sword hung at their side.
    One of them held his bow across his horse’s
withers. He addressed her in a strange language. When she didn’t
reply, he switched to Merleinan. The woman beside him spoke in
their tongue. She recognized the words human and mortal in the
rider’s speech.
    “ What is your name, child?” The man asked
Karina in English, the universal language of her world.
    She had acquired a number of names during her
stay and had to pick one that would grant her safety.
    The riders and their steed displayed an
impressive amount of patience and discipline as they waited for her
answer.
    In a small voice, she managed to say the name
the Devatas have given her.
    The man nodded his acknowledgement. He turned
to the woman, once again, shifting back to their language. The
conversation ended quickly. Commands were given. The riders filed
out westward, leaving their leader behind. The latter slung the bow
on his back and descended from his horse.
    “You are a long way from home, Liyanna. Come,
I shall take you back to your people.” He motioned to the
north.
    “ I have no home,” she said dejectedly.
“They’re not my people.”
    “A manner of speech.” He tilted his head,
unperturbed. “Is there a place you wish to go?”
    “Are you a Devata?” she asked to confirm her
suspicions of the rider’s identity.
    “We have been called many things. Gods,
entities, the Good Folk, nature spirits, elves, diwata, engkanto,
Devata. Merleinans call us by that name.” He grinned. His stance
straight and proud, he bowed to her with the litheness of a hunting
cat.
    “Do you know where Kelor-dan lives?”
    “ Everyone knows he rules these parts, thus
he is likely to reside here,” he said mischievously, a nature of
his race. His personality had taken a turnabout; from the serious
and commanding soldier, he seemed to enjoy playing with her now
that there were just the two of them.
    “ Please take me to Kelor-dan’s palace,” she
carefully