Druidess Found (Druidess Trilogy Book 1) by Machelle Hanleigh (interesting novels to read txt) 📕

fit for a Queen. As they drew closer to it, Kaily became more uncomfortable and lightheaded. Her nausea threatened to return.

Shimani opened the door. "Be respectful," Shimani advised in a low tone, and gestured for Kaily to enter. She entered a large room with a high ceiling which contained fans and made the room feel much cooler than outside. Benches sat arranged in a semi-circle at the far end in front of a dais and throne. An older woman sat on the throne she and Shimani approached. Kaily didn't think the woman elderly, but something about her gave her the impression of a wise, old woman. Behind the woman and to her left stood the one she recognized as Kesho, and another which appeared older than Kesho stood by him. That one displayed a hostile expression towards her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and focused her attention on the woman. She maintained a regal bearing, that left no doubt in Kaily's mind she ran things around there.

Shimani stopped Kaily just in front of the dais and made a low bow towards the woman. "My Queen, Kaily, is ready for questioning."

Kaily glanced at Shimani and frowned.

"You can understand us?" The Queen asked.

The question clearly directed at her. Kaily focused her attention on the woman and nodded.

"Good." The woman looked her up and down. "Do you know where you are?"

Kaily glanced back at Shimani. The woman's obvious scrutiny of her, made Kaily nervous.

"I've advised that she is among the Kahoali on Ki, my Queen." Shimani said.

"Does that mean anything to her?" The woman asked Shimani.

"No, my Queen," Shimani said. "She speaks the language of the Agenors but doesn't seem to be one of them."

"I see." The woman said. She studied Kaily long enough to make Kaily squirm.

Kaily glanced at Shimani. Her heart felt as if it would leap right out of her chest, and she felt lightheaded. She felt too hot, too over dressed, too tired beyond imagining, and confused. What did the woman want from her? She didn't know where she was or how she got there. Not to mention she wasn't supposed to speak at all. Just head nods and shakes, isn't that what Shimani said? Did the woman want her to respond? She wished she could sit down. Sweat beaded on her forehead. She needed to sit down.

"Do you know where you were when Moto found you?" The woman directed her question at Kaily.

Kaily shook her head. She didn't know what happened, so how would she know where she had been? Okay, so Shimani told her, but his explanation meant nothing to her. Almost nothing, she ignored the fact that her early childhood language matched the Agenors'. She wouldn't give any information which could worsen her situation. Her head swam with dizziness. She turned to Shimani. "I don't feel good." She hoped she said that in the Agenors language.

Shimani grabbed her before she fell to the ground. Kaily maintained consciousness, but not without a great deal of effort. The room spun. Shimani guided her to the closest bench and helped her sit.

"Baridi, get the girl some water," the woman said.

Kaily didn't look to see the reaction of the one who left the dais. One hostile look from that one would be enough for her lifetime.

"Apologies, my Queen," Shimani bowed his head towards the woman. "The walk must have been too much for her in her heavy dress."

"No apology necessary, Shimani."

Baridi approached with a cup in his hand. "Much thanks." Shimani took the cup from him and handed it to Kaily. For which, she was grateful.

Kaily drank down the contents and savored the coolness of the water. She closed her eyes, happy to be seated. She would be happier to be in her own bed and left to sleep for a week or so. She felt that tired.

"Better?" The woman asked.

Kaily nodded. Her eyes met the woman’s eyes for a brief moment. The woman, their Queen, and Kaily at her mercy. She didn't know what to say or what not to say. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact she somehow left Earth to find herself on another planet.

The woman turned her attention to Shimani, "Where do you think Moto found her?"

Shimani didn't answer right away. In fact, he held silent long enough that even Kaily frowned at him.

"Shimani?"

Shimani stood and walked to his previous spot before the dais. "My Queen, I would hesitate to give such an opinion." He said with a low bow.

"I see."

Kaily didn't know what to make of Shimani's answer or the woman's response.

"I found her on Ki." A male baritone voice answered from the back of the room.

The voice startled Kaily. Her heart beat faster and she felt flushed. She turned to find her dark warrior, Moto, standing just in the doorway. She knew the voice belonged to her dark warrior even before she turned around to see. She felt the change in the room with his presence. He shut the door behind him and strode towards the dais. She would admit, he commanded a presence. She wondered if others thought the same or if only her.

"You were not invited." The woman glared at Moto.

Kaily heard the displeasure in the woman's voice, but she couldn't take her eyes off Moto as he strode between the benches to stand in front of the dais beside Shimani. His long stride covered the distance to the dais in short order. She frowned. He didn't spare her a glance.

Shimani did spare her a glance and gave her a minute gesture of a tilt of his head and raised eyebrows. Kaily got the impression he wanted her eyes forward.

"I meant no disrespect, my Queen, but I found the girl." Moto inclined his head. "I should be the one to provide the answers you seek."

Shimani moved subtly, affectively blocking Moto from Kaily's view, as if he knew the perfect spot to keep her from getting an eye full of her dark warrior. She took a breath to keep