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

a bit here and there until then. We each have a purpose and a place within the villages. Ceremonial observances, such as the evening repasts, are one way that we honor our duties and responsibilities to each other and our positions within our society."

Kaily squeaked as she was startled by a child running up to her. It was the same young girl Shimani gave something to just moments before then.

"This is Niele," Sari explained putting a loving hand on the child's head. "Did you bring something for our guest?" She asked Niele.

Niele giggled and nodded. She pointed to the item and looked expectantly at Kaily.

Sari leaned close to Kaily and whispered. "She wants you to take a taste of it." She indicated the item the girl placed in Kaily's lap.

Kaily smiled at the girl as she picked up the item. It looked and felt like a plum but was white with tiny brown specks. She took a bite. She made a face, her eyes watered, and juice dripped down her chin. As it turned out, the item was extremely sour. She tried to catch the drippings with her hands without dropping the item the child gave her. Niele giggled and ran in the direction of Shimani. Kaily set the plum like fruit on her plate and looked around for something to clean up with. "Shimani has a mischievous strike." She glanced at Sari, "and seems you do too."

Sari handed her a damp cloth. Kaily didn't know where Sari came by it, but she was grateful for the assistance. "We do. I'll make it up to you. May I?" Sari asked pointing to the discarded fruit.

"Yes," Kaily said. "Have at it."

Sari picked it up and cut it in half with a knife, again Kaily didn't know where she came by the item. She would swear Sari didn't have either with her when she sat down.

"This is maka'nakua." Sari announced holding the two halves, one in each hand. She handed one to Kaily. "Or as the Agenors would call it, eye of the gods."

Kaily shook her head and tried to refuse. "That's morbid."

Sari laughed. "It will be worth it, I promise." Sari placed one of the halves in Kaily's hand.

Kaily looked at the half Sari gave her. "You ask for trust but didn't warn me about how sour this is." She held up her half.

Sari smiled. "Yes," she nodded. "It's a rare delicacy. There are only a few bushes which grow this delicacy. They are ripe for a very short time and only once in an annual cycle. The secret to complete enjoyment of this treat is to take a bite of the darker center and the outer light part at the same time."

Kaily looked at Sari, skeptical. She watched Sari take a bite of her half, searching for any sign of an adverse reaction from her. She didn't see one. Kaily finally took a bite of hers in the same way Sari instructed. She was surprised by how much better it tasted. The dark center was as sweet as the outer part was sour. It tasted nutty chocolate and not something she would expect from what looked like a plum of sorts. "Wow, that is good." It was unlike anything she ever tasted. Not even the delectable desserts back on Earth could compare to the taste.

"Aren't you glad you trusted me?" Sari took another bite.

Kaily nodded. "Does it bother you that when cut in half it really does look like an eyeball?" She took another bite.

Sari laughed "And now you know why the Agenors call it eye of the gods."

Kaily shook her head. "Truly is morbid." She finished the last bite. "Is this considered a treat by the Agenors as well? I didn't see anything like the food I've seen here, when I was among them."

Sari finished hers. "To be honest, I don't know. We have stories of old when our people went out among other Inhabitants of our world, but they are so far removed from our reality now who knows what the Agenors consider a treat. It was in one of our stories about them that I learned that tidbit and it always stuck with me. As it is now, we keep an eye on the other Inhabitants from a distance."

"Why do the Kahoali keep to themselves?"

"It's ready." Shimani told Sari interrupting their conversation. He gathered up their discarded dishes, winked at Kaily and left.

Kaily frowned. "What's ready?"

Sari stood. "Come." She held her hand down to help Kaily stand.

"I don't think I should." Kaily shook her head. "You and Shimani are not to be trusted." She said in as good-humored a way as she could. In truth, she felt more trusting of Sari and Shimani than she felt comfortable being, and that bothered her. She did not trust people, and yet both inspired her to trust them, despite, their mischievous sides.

"Have I steered you wrong so far?" Sari asked. "Besides, it's rude to refuse the request of a Shanees."

"You're not like the other Shanees." Kaily said. She took Sari's hand and allowed Sari to help her stand. She liked Sari. She was easy to converse with, and Kaily felt welcomed in her presence much in the same way Shimani made her feel. She didn't meet the other Shanees, and truth be told, she couldn't say who they were. Neither could she imagine that any of the others would be as welcoming as Sari. No one else came over, after all. Except for Niele. Kaily smiled to herself.

"What makes you say that?" Sari linked her arm with Kaily’s and started walking closer to the activities of the evening repast.

"For one you're not wearing a headdress which tells me you don't need to impress, and you made me feel welcomed in a way that I don't think the others would." Kaily gave a slight nod of her head in the direction of the women sitting with the Queen and the others near her dark warrior. "How many of them are Shanees?"