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

Kaily's frown deepened.

"Yes, my Queen."

The woman stood and turned towards Kesho and Baridi. "I thank you both for your assessment. It has been long since a Druid walked among us. You have my apologies for requiring you to relieve such a painful time in our history."

Both inclined their head, but neither gave away their emotions in their expressions or eyes.

The woman turned towards her. "What do you want, Kaily?" It took Kaily a moment to realize that the woman addressed her in the language of the Agenors.

She looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. She tried to keep the tears swimming in her eyes from falling, she failed. She lifted her head to look the woman square in her eyes, despite the tears that fell. "I want to go home. I want to go back to my planet, back to Earth." She made sure she answered in the language of the Agenors as the woman spoke. She noticed the woman's expression softened a little towards her.

"I wish I could give you that, child. It's unfortunate you found your way to this world. There are three Inhabitants of Ki. Kahoali, Agenors and Zaltys, and none are welcoming, although we are not as harsh as the other two," the woman said. The woman looked at her, but Kaily didn't think she saw her at that precise moment. Her eyes appeared lost in a faraway thought.

The woman glanced at Moto before she spoke. Her attention returned to Kaily. "I will allow you to stay, for now. I will not condemn you to death. The Zaltys would not hesitate to kill you, and that would be your fate with the Agenors as well, it would seem." She looked directly at Moto. She looked back at Kaily. "It will not be easy for you here. You will not receive a warm welcome from most, but we will all do what we can to make sure it is not unpleasant, won't we?"

"Yes, my Queen," the four males said in unison.

Kaily should feel comforted by the Queen's statement, she didn't. Too many ways existed to make a person feel unwanted, even with the politest of facades. She was stuck in a place she didn't want to be, with a people who didn't want her among them. More tears fell. She hastily brushed them away.

"Shimani will guide you in our ways. I suspect that as you acclimate to our ways the people will learn to accept you to a point." The woman gave her a small sad smile. "Be at peace, Kaily. No harm will come to you within our villages. Shimani, please show Kaily to a guest hut. Visit the seamstress to get her appropriate attire. Give her something to eat and drink to hold her over until this evening's repast."

Shimani bowed low. "Yes, my Queen."

The woman turned back to Kaily. "Welcome, child, such as it is. Perhaps in time we will find a way to send you back to your home world." She glanced for a moment at Moto before turning her attention back to Kaily.

Kaily bowed her head as she saw the others do, "thank you." Despite her efforts, tears continued to slip out of her eyes as the enormity of her situation settled on her.

Shimani held out his hand to help her to her feet.

Kaily graciously accepted the assistance. She gathered up her long gown and followed Shimani to the back of the room. They exited through the door they entered. She kept her eyes trained on the floor and the ground outside to avoid eye contact with anyone. She didn't like to cry in front of others. It made her feel weak.

They stopped at a hut where Shimani instructed her to wait outside. Kaily felt grateful she wouldn't be required to go inside. She heard voices but didn't bother to make out the words. Her thoughts stayed focused on the fact that she would be with the Kahoali for a while it would appear. She wanted to know if her dark warrior existed and now that she knew he did, she wanted return to her home.

Shimani exited carrying a small bundled pack. Shimani guided her to their destination, this time keeping step beside her. Shimani took her to one of the smaller huts. Still larger than the one she woke up. The hut lay just off of the main group of huts near the Queen's, but on the edge of the forest/jungle. She still couldn't decide if the surrounding area resembled a forest or jungle. The location suited Kaily. It would give her a semblance of privacy.

"It's not much, but it has all the necessities." Shimani opened the door and stepped aside for her to enter first. "The forest is not too dangerous, but it is easy to get turned around."

"So, don't stray too far from home?" Kaily stepped inside.

"Something like that." Shimani said.

Kaily looked around. A dim glow lit the interior and grew brighter after she entered. The light originated from the small elongated windows at the top of the wall where it met the ceiling. She couldn't see any glass in the opening from her vantage point. The hut felt so much cooler than the outside. She didn't see the kind of technology necessary for air conditioning. From what she saw, the Kahoali appeared a simple enough people. The hut consisted of one large room, divided up for sitting, eating and sleeping. A door on the far side of the hut. The sleeping area contained a mat, thicker than the thin mat she'd been placed on, but not as thick as her mattress at home. She missed her bed, her room, her life. She turned away from her thoughts.

"Through that door is the shower room." Shimani walked to the door and opened it as he spoke.

Kaily glanced inside. The room contained a shower stall, sink and a toilet of sorts. It wasn't a large room, but large enough to clean up and dress. She stepped back.

Shimani