Chapter 3
Presea jerks up and felt her heart beating frantically inside her chest. She is lying on an enormous bed, with golden décor and pearl encasings. On the walls hang tapestries and masterpiece paintings, the like of which she'd never gazed upon before. Only a small candle lights the room; it sits on a small end-table next to the corner opposite of her.
The girl thinks nothing of her surroundings, merely moving off of the bed and landing rather ungracefully on the ground beneath her. She walks to the door, which has on it engraved strange carvings and markings, and grasps the handle. Turning it slowly, she peers out through the exit into a grand hallway, with beautiful decorations and ornaments hanging about.
Gazing about her, she slowly begins to take steps toward the opposite end of the lengthy walkway, taking notice of the doorways and possible exits. As she reaches the end of the hallway, a large piece of headwear shows itself from a doorway, and then under it appears a man, who promptly begins to walk briskly toward Presea. His eyes open wide and he seems elated to see her...
"Ah, there you are, young one!" he exclaims. "Please do come with me. Oh my, oh my..."
The girl obeys instantaneously and follows him through a set of gigantic wooden double doors, into what appears to be a throne room. This area is the most highly decorated of the places she'd seen thus far. Miscellaneous decorations are strewn about the chamber haphazardly, but in a stark array that seems natural to the eye.
"Sir," says the man, exuding joy. "She is here! She is complete, finally!"
Presea looks to the largest chair, set in the middle of the room, in which sits a man of high stature and appeal. He sports a long, trimmed, brunette beard and wears robes as such that make him appear of a higher status than the others accompanying him. On his head rests a rather immodest crown, implanted with jewels and precious stones.
He stands and walks to Presea, placing a strong hand upon her left shoulder.
"My girl," says he. "I'm glad you're finally done and here to serve. You will be treated well. Your new position is that of the highest respect that can be placed upon non-royalty in this Kingdom of Tethe'alla."
He moves his other hand and points to a thick wooden beam, shaved clean and shined to an unparalleled perfection, a coat-of-arms carved into the side facing toward the ceiling.
"Those pieces of lumber are your duty from now on in your life," says the exalted man grasping her. "You are to be the Carrier of the Sacred Wood, and such shall be your title. Bring the lumber to me now, so that I may approve of your strength and willingness."
Presea eyed the man for a moment before pulling away from his grasp, which had weakened, and walked to the perfectly manipulated stalks of wood. She knelt down and examined a small handle which had also been carved into the trunk, and touched it. Presea tightened her grip around the handle and felt her body tense and she pulled upon the lumber.
She, to the surprise of all those in the room, hauled the titanic trunk to the king. He smiled in approval, and nodded slowly.