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

from sighing and forced herself to focus her attention to the woman on the throne.

"Well," the Queen gestured with her hands, "if you're now in a talkative mood, please speak and explain to all present how it is this girl is in our midst." The woman's displeasure apparent in her tone and eyes.

Kaily didn't know how Moto didn't squirm under the woman's scrutiny. The woman's tone alone made her want to find someplace out of sight. She used all her well-power to force herself not to squirm.

"I found her on Ki with the Agenors at one of the two strongholds they built. Armed men advanced on her and it became clear they intended harm. I helped the girl escape and thought only of getting her to safety. I apologize that my rash actions brought an outsider into our midst." Moto again inclined his head.

Kaily frowned. She wouldn't say he lied to his Queen, but he didn't tell the whole story. She knew for a fact he found her on Earth, although now some questions of her own formed in her mind. She would have added her own scrutiny towards Moto, if she could. How had he known she was with the Agenors and in trouble?

"How did you happen upon her?" The woman asked.

Exactly, Kaily thought to herself.

"By chance," Moto said.

"How?" The woman asked.

Silence followed. Kaily's eyes riveted to Moto. Despite, Shimani still blocking him from her view, she kept her eyes glued on his spot. The silence dragged out, but no one spoke. She could almost feel Moto take a deep breath before he broke the silence.

"I woke early this morning to an intense feeling of fear. I followed it and found the girl to be the source of the intense fear."

The woman leaned forward so she perched on the edge of the throne. "Explain how you went to the girl."

Shimani looked back at her and gave a slight tilt of his head.

Kaily rolled her eyes but forced her attention back to the woman on the throne.

Again silence. It made Kaily both nervous and angry and she couldn't think as to why. Something disturbed her about the whole exchange between Moto and the Queen.

"I possess the ability to move from one place to another on Ki much in the same way we use the portal paths."

Kaily heard and felt an audible intake of air from everyone, except Shimani. She narrowed her eyes on both Shimani and Moto.

The silence dragged out longer. This time no one broke it. They all waited. Kaily's gaze drifted from the spot Shimani and Moto occupied to the dais as she took in the expressions of all. It surprised her how little emotions showed on the males faces. Only the Queen showed any kind of emotion in her face, clearly the situation angered her. She appeared to be working hard to keep from losing her temper. Kaily looked back to Shimani and Moto when the woman finally broke the silence.

"Kaily?" Despite the anger that Kaily could clearly see and temper smoldering below the surface, the woman maintained a level tone of voice.

Kaily heeded Shimani's earlier words and didn't verbalize anything near what she wanted to. She merely turned her attention back to the woman and waited.

"Do you know how you came to be among the Agenors?"

Kaily shook her head.

"Are you from this world?"

Kaily shook her head.

"Do you know how to get back to your world?"

Kaily shook her head. She felt a sudden sadness well up in her. What if she couldn't get back home to Earth?

"I see." The Queen said. Her scrutiny again fell on Moto. "You and I will converse about what you disclosed here today." She turned her attention back to Kaily. "The question at hand is what to do with you. The problem, child, is that outsiders are not welcome among us, and yet it is not our way to knowingly cause harm. From what Moto said, sending you back to the Agenors would do just that. You are not from this world. You have no idea how you got here, and we have no way of sending you back." Silence followed. The Queen leveled her gaze on Moto.

Kaily felt the burning sensation behind her eyes and struggled to keep the tears in her eyes from falling.

"Baridi?" The Queen said directing her attention back to Kaily.

The openly hostile one stepped forward, so he stood in line of sight of the woman. "Yes, my Queen?"

"Is it possible she is Druid?"

Kaily noticed bristling from Kesho at that question. She glanced in the direction of Shimani and Moto. She didn't see Shimani's reaction if there'd been one, and he still blocked Moto from her view. She looked back at the hostile male.

Baridi stepped to the edge of the dais and turned intense eyes on Kaily. She would have taken several steps backwards if she didn't already sit. She could not drag her eyes away from Baridi's. She felt pressure in her head build, and then it disappeared. A dull ache followed. She closed her eyes and tilted her head down. She rubbed her temples with her forefingers. She opened her eyes and focused again on the dais when Baridi spoke.

"There is nothing in her mind to indicate that she is. She does have the coloring for it." He glanced back at her with narrowed eyes. "I haven't heard of female Druids ever existing. The energy of Ki does not flow within her." Baridi looked back at Kaily and then back to the woman. "I don't believe she is a Druid, my Queen." He stepped back behind the throne and took his place next to Kesho. His hostile stare returned to Kaily.

Kaily found herself frowning again. She did her best to ignore Baridi's hostility. She thought about what he said. Druid? She would not expect a term from Earth spoken on a different planet. He spoke as if Druids existed there.

"Kesho?" The woman called. She kept her gaze focused on Kaily.

"Yes, my Queen?" He stepped forward.

"Do you