Druidess Found (Druidess Trilogy Book 1) Machelle Hanleigh (best ebook reader under 100 .TXT) 📖

although he wanted to demand answers. He would not show that kind of weakness in front of Kesho. It was bad enough he couldn't stop himself from pacing.

After what felt like an eternity, Kesho stood and turned to Moto. "She'll live."

Moto didn't like that Kesho didn't elaborate. He refused to give Kesho the satisfaction of asking for details. Instead, he waited for Kesho to leave. Once alone he intended to take her to some place away from the Kahoali Center Village before anyone else became aware of her presence. He fully expected Kesho to go straight away to the Queen and advise her of the situation which would buy him time to get her away from his people. He didn't know where, but anywhere other than his village would be preferred. He needed space and time to figure out what he wanted to do with her. He wanted, needed to be the one to decide her fate, not turn that decision over to the Queen.

Kesho showed no sign of making it possible. To Moto's surprise, he bent and lifted the girl into his arms.

Moto stepped forward to protest. "How dare he touch her!" Moto felt far more protective over the girl than he should. Anger coursed through his veins so fast, he didn't recognize his temper flaring before he kept from lashing out at Kesho.

Kesho glowered at him. "Control yourself! You are in enough trouble as it is."

Moto held his ground and tongue. He found it difficult to stand there and allow Kesho to hold the girl so intimately in his arms. Doubly hard to leave her fate to others. He cursed his weakness for not taking her back to her home world the moment he found her on Ki. Whatever happened to her here on out, was his fault, and his alone.

Kesho stepped up to the door and waited for Moto to open it. "I am taking her to the holding hut and then we are going to advise Queen Shakti of the situation."

The last thing Moto wanted to do. He didn't have a choice. He inclined his head towards Kesho. He no longer had a say in the matter, and it would do no good for him or the girl to not cooperate. He hoped his cooperation would help the girl. He kept that consolation in the forefront of his mind, even if it wasn't accurate. The thought helped him contain his temper. He didn't have full control over it there and then. Moto opened the door.

Moto followed Kesho outside. He closed and latched the door behind him. Kesho turned to him with the girl still in his arms, "after you." Moto didn't like that Kesho wanted him to go first. He wanted to keep an eye on the girl in Kesho's arms, but he couldn't do that with Kesho following him.

They walked in silence to the holding hut. The holding hut wasn't used often and stood on the very edge of the village in a secluded clearing. No other huts could be seen from the hut. It remained isolated from the others. He stood outside while Kesho laid her on the pallet kept inside. A thinner pallet than he would prefer she be laid on, but he didn't protest. He'd shown enough weakness for the girl and he refused to show more.

He cursed himself again for not taking the girl back home to her world. What had he been thinking? He didn't bother answering his silent question. He already knew what he thought, what he felt. He just didn't understand it.

Kesho stepped outside and secured the door from the outside. "After you," he gestured with his hand for Moto to precede him to Queen Shakti's hut to advise her of the situation.

Moto got the distinct impression that Kesho didn't trust him.

On the way to Queen Shakti's hut, Kesho stopped a young village girl and whispered something to her. She turned startled eyes towards Moto and ran off. Moto didn't need to hear what Kesho said to know Kesho sent the girl ahead to forewarn the Queen of their situation. He knew it would not bode well for him or the girl. They went straight to the throne room. It wasn't the first time Moto found himself escorted to an audience with the Queen against his will. He and Kesho stopped in front of the dais, clasped hands behind their backs, and waited.

To Moto the wait felt like an eternity. He wanted and needed to check on the girl. He needed answers from Kesho about what was wrong with her. He needed to see for himself that she would be okay. That she would wake from her ordeal. He didn't need to be standing there waiting for an audience with his Queen. The time ticked by.

In reality, it only took moments before Shimani and Baridi filed into the throne room. They took up their places on the dais behind and to the side of the throne. The Queen arrived a few moments after and took her place on the throne. Moto didn't bother acknowledging Shimani's quizzical look. He would know soon enough the enormity of Moto's transgression.

Queen Shakti leveled Moto with her steely gaze. It spoke volumes just how displeased she was with him. "Am I to understand correctly that you brought an outsider to the midst of Center Village?"

Baridi narrowed eyes at Moto and Shimani raised an eyebrow, and curse Shimani if he didn't look a little bit amused. Moto ignored both. "Yes, my Queen." Moto could tell the Queen fumed with anger. It wouldn't be the first time, and Moto knew it would not be the last. He had a way of trying her patience, although, this time he knew he went too far.

"Am I also to understand that she is not well? Kesho?" Queen Shakti directed her questions and gaze to Kesho.

"Yes, my Queen."

"What's wrong with her?" Queen Shakti asked.

"She is unconscious. From my examination it appears that she recently experienced a traumatic episode, my