Shelby woke up in a small stone room. There were two doors, one on the left, and another on the right. Across from the bed she laid on was a small hearth. A few embers flickered as they died inside it. Slowly Shelby sat up and took inventory. There was a bed, a small table with matching chair, and a chest. It looked like it was made of freshly stained wood. It was the only new thing in there. The rug on the floor was a dingy red hue, and the thick wool blanket looked like it had once been a magnificent green color but now it was faded almost too gray. Shelby threw it off to the side of her. She was about to put her feet on the floor when a sound like a dying pig came from under her bed. Shelby's eyes widened. She heard scratching noises and then the sound of scrambling. Slowly a fuzzy black blob waddled out from under the bed. She squealed in excitement. She hefted the black dog onto her bed.
Prada, as Shelby had named her, was an over weight Chihuahua. Her coat was a lovely mix of black and gray with a Rottweiler's brown points. She had thin legs and a barrel shaped midsection. She was a loyal, easygoing creature. Prada stood on Shelby's crossed legs and proceeded in licking her entire face. Shelby laughed and hugged her dog. Prada was heavy in her arms but Shelby was grateful for a little familiarity. Setting the dog on the bed Shelby stood up and stretched.
That's when she noticed she wore a plain night gown. She would ask who had changed her later. Thinking back to the other night she tried to remember what happened. She had vague memories of Michael and a bright light. Shelby shrugged and figured it would come back to her eventually. Shelby searched for her bags. When she couldn't find them she opened the chest. There they laid neatly with a small envelope on top. Shelby leaned down and picked up the envelope. It wasn't sealed. She poured out the contents into her hand. There was a heavy iron key on a leather thong and a small letter explain the key and the witched lock. According to the letter she had to insert the key and press her right thumb to the lock. Only then would the key turn and unlock the chest. Shelby smiled and hung the key around her neck.
Out of the chest she pulled out the jeans she had worn the night before and a loose T-Shirt. When her feet touched the cold stone floor she turned back for her boots. Dressed to her satisfaction Shelby began to explore her doors. The one to her right led the privy. Shelby grimaced. She would miss indoor plumbing. Next, the door on the left.
This door led into a large common area. It was a beautiful mess. Towards the back of the room was a magnificent hearth. She could she gold inlay on the fine masonry. Matching blue velvet seating rested in front of the fire so its occupants could feel warm and still talk with one and other. Two desks, one on the right one on the left, were covered in paperwork and colored strings. There were books on shelves just above the desks with papers sticking out of the them. In the center of the room is where Shelby was drawn to. There was a large table under a hanging light, lit by magic. On the table several maps were sprawled out, but only the top one was completely visible and unrolled. Tiny colored stones made two half circles around a square. She didn't have time to try and figure out their meaning though.
There were two other doors in the room besides the one leading to her room. The one on the far side of the room opened. She smiled at the person who came through the entrance.
Michael returned the smile with his own warm one. He was dressed simply in riding boots, gray breeches, white shirt and a deep blue tunic. He had his gray cloak in hand as he entered. He threw it over a hook by the door. The much taller man yawned as he walked over to Shelby.
"Nickolas wanted to see you last night. I told him you needed rest, but I don't think I can hold him much longer," He said with a weary smile.
Shelby shook her head. "That's alright. I'm as rested as I'm ever ganna get here." Shelby could already feel the eagerness to explore and look over her world. Michael eased wearily into a chair by the desk closest to her. Shelby went to him and leaned against the desk in front of him.
"What exactly does he want to talk about though?" Shelby asked Michael with a slightly confused face. She had remembered more of last night but she wondered why Nick even needed her at all.
Michael shrugged. "Gods only know. I tried getting him to tell me but he's refused to since he came up with that crack brained idea."
Shelby could tell he was talking about the night before. She could tell by the look on his face he didn't like interworld traveling. The thought made Shelby giggle. Michael the Magnificent afraid of traveling. Michael looked at her, a single dark brow raised.
"Nothing, I just remembered something funny." She didn't want to hurt his gentle pride. "Well, shouldn't we be off?" Shelby wanted to get the boring stuff done so she could go find her other creations.
"If we must." He said. Michael slowly raised himself from the chair with a moan. Shelby studied his face. Had he gotten older, or was it just the dim lighting in the room?
Michael threw on his cloak and sauntered over to the door. He opened it for Shelby as she eagerly stepped out.
- - -
Shelby cursed at herself for making Michael so damn tall. She nearly had to jog to keep with his leisurely pace. As they made their way to Nickolas's study Michael explained he had come to her when the days in both their worlds were the same so time had not changed for them. That meant it was the third of March. He also told her it was a ridiculously early seven am. Or, at least is was ridiculous to Shelby. She glared at the ground. She didn't even get up this early for school. Suddenly Shelby had the sinking feeling she'd miss online school and being able to sleep until ten.
Most of the nobles were still sleeping or just waking up. Maids and man servants rushed silently through the halls, readying baths and bringing fresh clothes to the occupants of the huge castle. The Pages and squires were up. They were just beginning practice with staffs. Shelby had heard their teacher's instructions and the clacking of wood on wood when they came to the level just below Michael's rooms. His quarters were stationed conveniently above the indoor practice yards with the outdoors ones right in front of his windows. Shelby didn't like the idea of being woken up by a man's bellows every morning.
They headed straight for Nickolas without delay. Shelby was grateful for that. Those who did take notice them, the maids mostly and few early rising nobles, stared at them in a way Shelby was not used to. They looked at her like she was some alien creature. She felt alien. There was an old regalness to the faces she caught glimpses of. Shelby envied them specifically for their chiseled cheek bones which were so unlike her round ones. Her clothes also brought attention. The stared at her jeans with curiosity and many looked confused and nervous when they saw that her jacket had words on the front. She zippered it up and stashed her hands in its pockets. Let them stare, She thought. I'll be in breeches and boots soon enough. Shelby tugged on Michael's sleeve. He looked down at her with those soft gray eyes and smiled.
"Yes, my kitten?" Shelby stared at him with wide, obviously confused eyes. Michael chuckled and slowed down a bit. He tugged at a spotted strand of hair on Shelby's head. She blushed. She had dyed leopard spots in black and pink on a strip of her hair on the left side. She had forgotten about her unique styling until now. She had always used her hair to make a statement but now she felt embarrassed about it. Her bangs were dyed a dark black as well as the under layers of her hair. Her hair had been bleached to a snowy white. She grimaced. She felt more out of place in the world she had created than the one she had never chosen to be born into. She pushed it aside and focused on what could at least be fixed.
"Is it possible for me to get some, um, clothes that are-"She paused to think of an appropriate word. "Better suited for, well, here? I know I don't have any money but I'm sure Nick could find some work for me and I could pay-"He cut her off with a shake of his head.
"I'll get you whatever you need kitten. Don't worry about money now, just focus on what Nick needs you for."
Shelby smiled up at him. She was glad to have to big knight for her friend. The had to go down they made two left turns and one right before coming to Nick's rooms. His door was placed in an open hall. On the right were doors to rooms of varying use. On the left was a low wall, and then beyond that the royal gardens. Shelby sighed in admiration. Even in the dead of winter the flowers were blooming magnificent colors. She had no doubt magic was involved. They walked half way down this half before Michael stopped at a heavy wooden door.
The door had no plaque on it and looked very plain. Shelby made a face. Nothing ever seemed to be the way she had imagined it. She shook her head and turned to Michael.
"Wait here, I have to let him know I've brought you." He said before knocking on the door twice and entering. She let out a large breath of air. She expected Michael to be quick, but after five minutes in the hall Shelby's thought began to wonder. She was considering hoping the low wall and taking a quick look at the gardens when she heard a commotion around the corner. She hurriedly strode down the hall and around the corner, but whatever had transpired was over now. A girl of about seven years laid in the middle of the walk way. She was wet and an empty pitcher and matching silver platter lay in front of her. The girl looked as if she were biting back tears as she used the few dry spots on her tunic to wipe up the little water that had made it onto the floor.
Shelby's mouth was tight as she walked over to the girl. Wordlessly she picked up the pitcher and placed it on the platter. When the girl was done mopping up with her tunic Shelby helped her onto her feet. That when Shelby got a serious reminder. This girl was not like the servants and few nobles her and Michael had passed. She was of the more usual type of Tishian. From the back her smoky locks had disguised her true being, but facing her now Shelby could see this girl was not- "normal". From the eyes up her bone structure was very human. But below that was definitely canine. A short muzzle protruded from her face, tipped with a small, wet, black nose. Shelby smiled as she finally noticed two rounded ears protruding from the girl's curly mass of hair. Her face was covered in a soft, luxurious looking fur.
Shelby saw that she came from high breeding. Some may have mistaken her to be from the royal wolf line but Shelby noted that her stark white muzzle was dead give away. She was full husky. The darker fur that covered her forehead and cheeks was steel in color, same as her hair. But what Shelby was surprised to find was that the girl was of pure blood. If she had mixed blood it would have been obvious.
The dogs, closely related to the royal line of wolves, made up a large part of the nobility in Tishian. They often had to mix bloods to keep producing healthy off spring, but this girl's family had kept their lines clean. She didn't know whether to respect such fine planning or pity the poor souls who had probably had to be married for blood, not love.
Finally Shelby noticed she was staring and blinked as her cheeks turned a rosy pink. But the girl had been staring too. She eyed the odd clothing that Shelby wore. It didn't look- Natural. Shelby did the first thing that came to mind and offered her hand.
"Hi, I'm Shelby." For a minute the dog child only stared at Shelby, then Shelby's hand. Finally she shook it. A slow, teeth filled smile spread across the girl's dog-like lips.
"Hullo, I'm Sarene." There was a pause before the two released hands. Shelby handed the platter back to the girl.
"Thanks." Sarene whispered as she took the platter. It was as wide as her shoulders, and even bigger in length. Finally she repositioned the shiny thing so it rested on her hip.
"No problem." Shelby said. There was a moment of awkward silence. Shelby was about to go when the girl spoke again.
"Where are you from?" She asked bluntly.
Shelby paused. How was she supposed to answer that question? Thinking on her feet, and from what books she had read, and the stories she had made up she came up with the vaguest answer ever.
"I'm the realms over the roof of the world." Shelby bit back laughter as Sarene's eyes nearly doubled in size. She looked at Shelby admiringly.
"Really?! What is it like? Are their demons there? Do they really have three headed dogs? Did a knight from your realm really take the Dominion Jewel?" The questions came faster then Shelby could answer. She laughed as the girl came up with the most absurd ideas of what she had been told is on the other side of the Roof of the World.
Sarene had finally run out of breath when she heard her name. The two both looked the way Shelby had come. Michael stopped abruptly at the mouth of the hall, grey cloak fluttering behind him. She felt her heart flutter. He was a magnificent piece of flesh. But nothing made her heart skip like Nickolas did as he slid to a stop next to Michael. He was more beautiful then Shelby had imagined.
Being that he was king, and from the ancient royal line of wolves Shelby immediately recognized the famous bloodline in him. But unlike Sarene who had a mixture of human and animalistic features in her face, Nickolas was all wolf. He had the perfectly sloped forehead. On top of his head were two beautifully curved ears that swiveled to catch every sound. The only thing not wolf like on his large head was his eyes. Those were of the deepest sapphire color that Shelby had ever seen. He strode down the hall towards her with grace unlike any wild thing Shelby had ever seen. Even dressed plainly in scarlet hose, undyed shirt, and black vest he was a regal sight.
Shelby gulped as he sauntered over to her. He smiled and gave a nod to Sarene who bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry Lady Sarene but I need to borrow Mistress Shelby here for a time." Sarene smiled sheepishly at Nickolas, before scuttling away quietly.
"Now Shelby, I would be honored if you would join me in my study."
His wolfish grin sent chills through Shelby She could only smile and nod as he whisked her down the hall.