The Giving-Part 9
Disclaimer in part 1
Harper looked around in dismay. Nearly every part of the Maru was broken, battered or just plain beyond repair. If he didn't know just how much this pile of junk meant to Beka he would simply throw his hands up in despair. Still, he was never one for walking away from an engineering challenge. Rolling up his sleeves, he turned to Rommie.
"Let's get this show on the road Rom-doll. Stand back and let Seamus Harper show you just how much of a genius he really is."
"Whatever you say Harper," Rommie said with a sigh.
Beka was grateful when the riding party came to a stop before the palace. As unsure as she was about being brought here, she did not think she could ride for another minute. But then as she dismounted she was equally unsure if she could stand at all.
"Are you all right my Lady?" a woman from the palace asked. She appeared to be only slightly older than Beka.
"Sure, just a little saddle sore." Beka replied looking up at the young woman. "You look very familiar. Do I know you?"
"This is my daughter Reenia." Replied Neffa proudly. "She is the palace doctor."
"I am pleased to meet you Goddess. I am here to serve you and to help you in the coming times."
"What exactly do you mean by "the coming times"? I am not staying here. I have to return to my ship and my friends." Beka was becoming extremely agitated. The uneasy feeling she had been experiencing was now a full-blown desire to get as far from these people as possible. 'Exactly what need am I to have for a doctor?' she wondered.
"Ahh, but my dear, surely you would not deprive us of a beauty such as yours. Especially before we were even properly introduced." Said a soft male voice from behind Beka.
Turning, Beka saw what she could only describe as 'the most beautiful man alive'
He was well over six feet tall and broad of shoulder. His skin held a deep bronze glow. He had shoulder length jet-black hair that ended in soft curls. And his eyes were so green she felt as though she were staring into the depths of a lush jungle. He wore leather pants and a soft silken shirt that was the same color as his eyes. A small gold crown circled his brow and a cape embroidered with gold trim completed the outfit.
"I am Tourk." He said taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. "And you must be our Sky Goddess, come to us when we need you most."
For a brief moment Beka was speechless, just gazing into his eyes. Then she quickly collected herself and standing taller she answered him in her typical abrupt fashion.
"Actually I am Captain Rebeka Valentine. I am not a Goddess, Sky or otherwise and the only needs I am concerned with at this moment are my own."
Instead of being offended, Tourk threw back his head and laughed. It was not an embarrassed or condescending laugh but one which was deep, rich, and full.
Dylan and Tyr walked into the village with their weapons at ready. There had been no choice of approaching stealthily as only open fields and meadows surrounded the village.
The people came out of their cottages to stare openly at the two strangers but no one challenged them. When they reached the center of town they waited uncertainly to see if anyone would speak. After a moment of silence Dylan spoke.
"I want to speak to someone in authority. Who is your leader?"
At first no one answered him. Then the young boy who had assisted Neffa in helping Beka spoke up.
"My grandmother, Neffa, is our leader but she is not here."
"Where is she then? Dylan asked.
"She has journeyed to the palace with the Sky Goddess." Another villager replied.
"The Sky What?" Dylan and Tyr asked simultaneously.
Disclaimer in part 1
Harper looked around in dismay. Nearly every part of the Maru was broken, battered or just plain beyond repair. If he didn't know just how much this pile of junk meant to Beka he would simply throw his hands up in despair. Still, he was never one for walking away from an engineering challenge. Rolling up his sleeves, he turned to Rommie.
"Let's get this show on the road Rom-doll. Stand back and let Seamus Harper show you just how much of a genius he really is."
"Whatever you say Harper," Rommie said with a sigh.
Beka was grateful when the riding party came to a stop before the palace. As unsure as she was about being brought here, she did not think she could ride for another minute. But then as she dismounted she was equally unsure if she could stand at all.
"Are you all right my Lady?" a woman from the palace asked. She appeared to be only slightly older than Beka.
"Sure, just a little saddle sore." Beka replied looking up at the young woman. "You look very familiar. Do I know you?"
"This is my daughter Reenia." Replied Neffa proudly. "She is the palace doctor."
"I am pleased to meet you Goddess. I am here to serve you and to help you in the coming times."
"What exactly do you mean by "the coming times"? I am not staying here. I have to return to my ship and my friends." Beka was becoming extremely agitated. The uneasy feeling she had been experiencing was now a full-blown desire to get as far from these people as possible. 'Exactly what need am I to have for a doctor?' she wondered.
"Ahh, but my dear, surely you would not deprive us of a beauty such as yours. Especially before we were even properly introduced." Said a soft male voice from behind Beka.
Turning, Beka saw what she could only describe as 'the most beautiful man alive'
He was well over six feet tall and broad of shoulder. His skin held a deep bronze glow. He had shoulder length jet-black hair that ended in soft curls. And his eyes were so green she felt as though she were staring into the depths of a lush jungle. He wore leather pants and a soft silken shirt that was the same color as his eyes. A small gold crown circled his brow and a cape embroidered with gold trim completed the outfit.
"I am Tourk." He said taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. "And you must be our Sky Goddess, come to us when we need you most."
For a brief moment Beka was speechless, just gazing into his eyes. Then she quickly collected herself and standing taller she answered him in her typical abrupt fashion.
"Actually I am Captain Rebeka Valentine. I am not a Goddess, Sky or otherwise and the only needs I am concerned with at this moment are my own."
Instead of being offended, Tourk threw back his head and laughed. It was not an embarrassed or condescending laugh but one which was deep, rich, and full.
Dylan and Tyr walked into the village with their weapons at ready. There had been no choice of approaching stealthily as only open fields and meadows surrounded the village.
The people came out of their cottages to stare openly at the two strangers but no one challenged them. When they reached the center of town they waited uncertainly to see if anyone would speak. After a moment of silence Dylan spoke.
"I want to speak to someone in authority. Who is your leader?"
At first no one answered him. Then the young boy who had assisted Neffa in helping Beka spoke up.
"My grandmother, Neffa, is our leader but she is not here."
"Where is she then? Dylan asked.
"She has journeyed to the palace with the Sky Goddess." Another villager replied.
"The Sky What?" Dylan and Tyr asked simultaneously.