BUY ON KINDLE
A
week passed and Jael was on a large ship headed to Hy-Brasil to meet
her future husband. She was nervous about the meeting, and after many
talks with her father, she knew regardless of her feelings for Sarik she
would marry him for the clan.
Once
the ship left dock, Salima told Jael her image was not her true form.
Before Jael’s eyes, Salima changed. Her skin turned blue as the sky
and her eyes looked more cat-like than human. Instead of the shock
Salima expected, Jael asked if she could conjure fire. In a single
motion, a ball of fire appeared in Salima’s hand. She moved it back and
forth between her fingers before out stretching her arm over the side
of the boat and allowing the fire to roll into the water. Jael’s eyes
widened in amazement.
The
ship moved swiftly across the sea. Its black sails shimmered with tiny
strands of gold woven throughout the oddly slick fabric. When Jael
inquired, she was told it was a solar sail, and although Salima
explained how it worked, most of what she said was as foreign as
Hy-Brasil itself.
As
the boat approached the island, Jael looked out over the rail taking in
the magnificence. The city was beautiful and unlike any she had ever
seen. It was made of concentric rings of land that surrounded the
harbor. Plants, flowers, and trees covered every inch, including many
of the houses, and in the center of the rings sat a massive city of
metal and glass that was beautiful beyond belief. Moments later the
ship laid anchor in the harbor of Atlantis, the capital city of
Hy-Brasil.
A
delegation from King Varen was waiting for them at the dock. Most of
the people were older men, advisers to the King, but one stood out among
them. He couldn’t have been more than five years older than Jael. He
was tall with raven hair and eyes bluer than the sea. He was the most
handsome creature Jael ever set eyes on. He noticed her stare and
smiled. Jael lowered her eyes and blushed. It was unladylike to look
at a man that way, especially while on her way to meet her future
husband… but, the gods be damned, this man had gotten to her already.
He walked over, kneeled down, and kissed her hand.
“Welcome to Hy-Brasil, Lady Jael. I hope you will decide stay with us.”
His
eyes looked into hers and Jael lost herself in them. Her heart raced
as a shiver went down her spine. Jael had to remember her place. She
pulled her hand away reluctantly. If she would be future queen, this
type of behavior was not acceptable. She addressed the man in front of
her. “Where I come from it is treason to be so bold to a lady
betrothed, especially one betrothed to one’s prince,” she retorted,
almost ashamed of his behavior, and yet, she could not forget the
feeling of his touch.
“Then
I should introduce myself.” Standing up inches from her face, he said,
“I’m Prince Sarik. Sorry to have startled you, my lady.” He nodded
his head in a slight bow.
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