Anne Bishop owns the world I own Zalean.
The rather harsh crash landing was nothing compared to the surprise Zalean got when she had brushed herself off and looked around. The room she found herself in was not as much of a room as it was a temple, and the two women- one laying unconscious in a pool of blood- were nothing like the people she knew. They looked like they'd been taken right out of medieval times. Although perhaps it was Zalean that was out of her element, maybe she wasn't even in South America anymore. But how was that possible?
Shakily the older woman - not laying unconscious on the ground- walked over to a dais that immerged from the center of the room and took from behind it a package. Then to Zalean's astonishment, came forwards and extending a small feeble arm handed it to her. "My gift to you. Keep it safe." The woman said to Zalean motioning for her to take it, but Zalean didn't.
"What is it? Where am I?" Zalean watched blindly as the lady hid the parcel in her shirt with the Sophia bread.
"Keep it safe." The lady reiterated before running out of the room, leaving Zalean behind with the unconscious woman.
When the lady on the ground began to stir Zalean was still looking around amazed.
"That crooked little wench." The lady climbed to her feet not noticing Zalean behind her. "Oh, my no-o-o-se!" A hand flew up to cradle the offending nose and when it was removed Zalean saw the bleeding had stopped.
There was such a thing as magic in fairy tales and whimsical songs but this was life and as Zalean stood gaping the woman, with a wave of her hand, vanished the blood that stained her dress and the floor another magical feat. Fear told her to run but where to? If the woman noticed Zalean she would certainly be reprimanded, this stranger would be no more pleased of her presence then the blood and Zalean feared she too would been vanished. As if on queue the lady stiffened and turned around catching Zalean up with her cold eyes. Zalean was propelled backward as if by force the distance between the two increasing, but the woman remained motionless.
"Who are you?" The woman whispered nastily. "Where did you come from?"
Tentatively- her voice small compared to this woman's- Zalean answered, "I'm Zalean, I come from South America."
These words turned the ladies scowl into a smile as she inquired, "Is South America a section of Kaeleer or Terrielle? Certainly not in Hell."
"No its on Earth you know the 'blue planet'." Zalean was beginning to doubt the sanity of this woman but then again, she looked around, maybe she wasn't on Earth anymore. A famous line came to her mind; 'I don't think we're in Kansas anymore'. "Where am I?"
"Oh, sweet darling you're in Terrielle, I'm Dorothea." The sweetness was laid on too thickly and Zalean smelt a phony but she didn't want to be rude. " It seems you've come through this gate from a distant land."
Zalean turned and faced the now solid wall that she had just come through. "I don't understand."
"Here we've never heard of Earth except for in legends. The land of the Blood, or our world, consists of three different lands, which are connected by these gates. The gates allow us to travel out of space and into the other lands; you just passed through one that I've been trying to open. A gate to Earth." A gleam of triumph cascaded into Dorothea's eyes and she seemed distracted by images Zalean couldn't see.
"Why were you trying to open a gate to a world that you thought was a legend?"
The gleam hardened and the woman seemed to turn icy cold. Zalean felt the bitterness seep into her very soul as if she was caught in something. Tears spilled down Dorothea's cheeks; tears that tugged at Zalean's heart.
"I did it because I'm afraid." The ladies stony mask began to crack and feel with emotion, "I did it because there is an evil man after me, a man who will hurt me if he ever finds me. I was looking for a place where I could hide from this villain, Daemon."
Dorothea turned away and covered her face sobbing quietly into her palms.
"Could I… could I help with anything?" This wretched soul touched Zalean's pity button and she couldn't help but try to console her. As soon as she asked this though the woman Dorothea swung about, face dry sorrow gone.
"You are in my land now, lost and alone. I, Dorothea, will help you." She held her hands out to Zalean palms down and waited. Not familiar with court customs Zalean shook one hand and then the other.
"Well yes." Dorothea forced a laugh, " We have a lot to learn." The arm placed around Zalean drew her out of the room.
Dorothea sent a mental thread to her Master of the Guards: Get me another priestess. That door must open!