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

but Shimani wouldn't let her. He said it was important that she become a part of the village as much as possible. She made the mistake once of pointing out the people didn't want her there. He lectured her on how she needed to be the one to change their minds. In truth, all she wanted was to see Moto. She didn't speak the words aloud, but somehow it was as if Shimani heard the words not spoken. He sat with her during that repast and explained to her how important the people were to Moto. He then proceeded to point out things about his people she missed seeing. Maybe she didn't want to see those things. There was happiness there and a feeling of family that even with her parents she never quite experienced for herself. A part of her hurt seeing it, since she wasn't a part of it. Shimani reiterated that she needed to attend the repasts and give the people a reason to include her. He also pointed out that it would be easier on Moto if she could gain his people's acceptance. She knew in her heart he was right on all accounts, and that she needed to attend them despite her desire not to. Still it hurt.

If all that wasn't enough, she somehow began to lose her mind. At times she thought she heard Moto talking to her, but when she turned around, he wasn't there. She decided she imagined it. It wasn't long conversations, just words here and there. Things like telling her good night just before she fell asleep or a query of what she was doing, not in words, more a sense of what he wanted to know. It became often enough it bothered her. It made her jumpy and restless. She asked Shimani if Kahoali were telepathic. He told her they were empathic, and then asked why in a way that concerned her. She said she was curious. He seemed satisfied with the answer since they were talking about different Kahoali abilities at the time. In fact, they had several conversations to that point. She still wasn't sure what to make of it all. She couldn't deny what she saw. She saw some strange things since coming to Moto's village. It just seemed too far-fetched to accept as reality everything Shimani shared with her as possible.

One bright point from the day before, Shimani took her to cliffs which overlooked an ocean. The view was breathtaking. He used a type of portal to get them there but made her promise to keep that information to herself, even from Moto. Apparently, with all the things some of the Kahoali could do, creating a portal was not one of them. Kaily knew Moto could open a portal since Shimani explained how he brought her to the village. Moto didn't feel the need to tell her to keep the information to herself. Perhaps he wasn't as private about his abilities as Shimani, although from what she thought she knew of Moto, she found that unlikely. More like he didn't think she needed to be told because no one talked to her.

She felt the painful point of fact, she was an outsider. Despite attending the repasts, no one spoke to her. She wasn't comfortable talking to them. Sari didn't attend any of the repasts, and neither did Moto. Shimani kept closed mouth about why neither attended. She wanted to be strong enough to remain visible to the villagers so they would not be allowed to pretend that she didn't exist. It was hard. It forced her to face the fact she was an outsider each and every day. It took its toll on her. Which was the reason she now sought solace at Crystal Lake. The calling touched her soul, and she wanted to feel like she belonged, if only for a little while. In some bizarre way, Crystal Lake felt comfortable despite her previous experience with its waters. The surrounding meadow and forest soothed her soul.

She woke early to make her way behind the Queen's hut before any of the villagers woke and began their day. It surprised her when the portal opened for her. The finding of the portal wasn't as easy as the first time. She couldn't hear the water like the first time. She relied on the temperature change Shimani told her about to locate the entrance to the stationary portal. Now that she knew what the shift and dizziness came from, she wasn't as unsettled by the sensations. She knew at some point she would need to return to the village, before her absence became noticed. Not that anyone would notice, with the exception of Shimani. She imagined he would be the one to notice her absence and at some point, come looking for her.

She turned her eyes skyward. It was the one place so far that she saw the open sky at all. Not a lot of it, but enough to provide comfort. In the village, the canopy of trees blocked out the sky. She could tell when it grew bright with the morning light and when it faded. A curiosity of many Shimani didn't explain to her, at least not to her satisfaction. The surrounding light appeared as if the sun shined down on them, but the canopy prevented that kind of brightness. She would expect dark and dreary shadows, not the light that shone without the harshness of a bright sun. The light simply existed, much like in her hut and then it faded until it grew dark. A curiosity that maybe in time she would come to understand. She certainly didn't expect to get a straight answer from Shimani, and he had once been so helpful! She didn't know what changed. Maybe he was still being helpful and she too stubborn to see that.

She turned her eyes back to the lake and the gemstones. She took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. She