Chapter Three
The three companions topped one last rise before Numair pulled Spots to a halt. As Rhiana came up behind him she gasped in surprise. It was enormous; the city spread out like a colorful cloak that the world displayed tauntingly to the sky. Numair saw her amazement and smiled. He announced with pride. "Welcome, my dear, to Corus." They started down the slope to the city.
Rhiana had seen crowds before but they were all the same type of people. Here in Corus the people were varied. You would see a Carthaki on minute and then a Yamani the next. The colors were vibrant, as if they alone proclaimed the city in perfect health. No one spared them a glance. No one, that is, except a young blue eyed boy. That boy seemed very interested in Rhiana, but when he caught sight of her companions he disappeared. She sighed, Seeing a large bird riding on the saddle with a large man would scare her she didn't already know both.
They continued up the hill to the palace. As they reached she was awed by the mere size of the wall. Grooms, who took the now very tired horses to their stables, greeted them. The happy animals were led away without protest. A few others came to welcome the travelers home, and the spared Rhiana only a quick curious glance before returning to the happy hellos.
Rhiana drank up the images off each face like someone stranded in the desert would drink up the water in an oasis. She saw women glowing in there beauty talk and laugh sharing gossip. There were young men the most handsome she had ever seen but she didn't care about that. Everything in this great palace sparkled and shined with a beauty that was beyond anything she ever saw.
Then everything went still. Her eyes were dazzled by to glorious people. They were dressed like the others but they were different. They seem to radiate power and authority. She was so stunned by their apperance that she was unaware that the man was speaking to her, infact she didn't realize that they were stand hand-in-hand infront of her and all eyes were on her. He smiled and she felt her heart melt like butter on a hot afternoon.
"Follow me." He said softly. She did; without hesitation she followed him out of the courtyard and into a chamber were her future was to be decided.
The three companions topped one last rise before Numair pulled Spots to a halt. As Rhiana came up behind him she gasped in surprise. It was enormous; the city spread out like a colorful cloak that the world displayed tauntingly to the sky. Numair saw her amazement and smiled. He announced with pride. "Welcome, my dear, to Corus." They started down the slope to the city.
Rhiana had seen crowds before but they were all the same type of people. Here in Corus the people were varied. You would see a Carthaki on minute and then a Yamani the next. The colors were vibrant, as if they alone proclaimed the city in perfect health. No one spared them a glance. No one, that is, except a young blue eyed boy. That boy seemed very interested in Rhiana, but when he caught sight of her companions he disappeared. She sighed, Seeing a large bird riding on the saddle with a large man would scare her she didn't already know both.
They continued up the hill to the palace. As they reached she was awed by the mere size of the wall. Grooms, who took the now very tired horses to their stables, greeted them. The happy animals were led away without protest. A few others came to welcome the travelers home, and the spared Rhiana only a quick curious glance before returning to the happy hellos.
Rhiana drank up the images off each face like someone stranded in the desert would drink up the water in an oasis. She saw women glowing in there beauty talk and laugh sharing gossip. There were young men the most handsome she had ever seen but she didn't care about that. Everything in this great palace sparkled and shined with a beauty that was beyond anything she ever saw.
Then everything went still. Her eyes were dazzled by to glorious people. They were dressed like the others but they were different. They seem to radiate power and authority. She was so stunned by their apperance that she was unaware that the man was speaking to her, infact she didn't realize that they were stand hand-in-hand infront of her and all eyes were on her. He smiled and she felt her heart melt like butter on a hot afternoon.
"Follow me." He said softly. She did; without hesitation she followed him out of the courtyard and into a chamber were her future was to be decided.