Blue Ridge: Vol. 2 - The Search Read Online Free Page B

heading up or down. Nadia wanted to stop and stare at the beautiful tapestries that adorned the walls of this main hall, or inspect the carvings of the pillars. Every fifteen feet there were white pillars on either side that arched high above their heads. Each one had different carvings. They seemed to tell some type of story. Not always a pleasant story from what Nadia could see. The end of the hall held two doors with pointed and sloping tops. It reminded her of church doors.
     
    Garth stood back and allowed the ‘guides’ to open them. They stepped into a chamber large enough to hold Nadia’s house plus several more. It was brightly lit with candles and part of the ceiling was made of colored glass that left a pattern of gold, rose, and amber on the floor. It was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. They passed tall slender people, some standing, and some sitting in different places around the great room. Though there were differences in how they looked, one thing was obvious and identical about all of them; they were all painfully beautiful. The soldiers of the castle and most of the people of the market were ugly compared to these. Nadia felt cold and horribly un-attractive as she walked behind Garth. She kept her eyes to the floor and tried to ignore the whispers and snickers.
     
    At the far side of the room was a raised platform. Three large steps led to the top, where a woman was seated in an enormous and elaborate chair. Once Nadia raised her eyes to look at her, she couldn’t help but stare. She was the most beautiful, yet terrifying person, Nadia had ever seen.
     
    The woman’s blue eyes regarded them coldly. She had deeply golden hair pulled back in a tight bun, and her skin was pale and flawless. Long fingers snapped and she motioned them forward. Garth bowed slightly and they took the steps slowly. Once they reached the top Garth knelt on one knee and yanked Nadia down with him. Her eyes scanned the floor in front of her and she could see deer and birds etched into the glossy stone.
     
    “Speak, Garth.” The woman said in crisp short words.
     
    He stood and once again yanked Nadia’s arm, to make her move like some kind of puppet. “I have brought the human, Your Majesty.”
     
    “Yes, I can see that!” she snapped with disgust. “But, why would you bring such a filthy thing into my presence?”
     
    Humiliation and anger shot through Nadia and her eyes narrowed.
     
    “Your Majesty, this is the human that has entered into a relationship with one of the Anak boys.”
     
    “Is that so? Which one?”
     
    “Foster.”
     
    For a moment the Queen relaxed. “Naughty boy, but,” she shrugged delicately, “what can one expect from such an upbringing?” She looked at him with amusement. “Why bring her here? You could have dealt with her. My goodness, his family should have dealt with it!”
     
    “Yes, this is true, but you told me to bring her.”
     
    “ Did I ?”
     
    “Yes.” Garth said. Nadia could hear confusion in his voice. “There are still some who feel that your throne is based on a lie, and there are a few who feel that you should remain on the throne. The girl is meant to be a token of good faith, a token of absolute commitment to the old rules.”
     
    She eyed him shrewdly. “Another war is what they want.”
     
    Garth shrugged. “Perhaps, but war is inevitable if Kheelan and Zuzana try to take their right….their previous place back.”
     
    The Queen toyed with a bead on her intricate gown. “Kheelan is an old fool.” She sighed and stood. “Opening of the Realm was never a good idea, and I suppose that is still his dream; to have it open regardless of twenty-ones, and open to any race besides the humans?”
     
    Garth nodded.
     
    “And let me guess, the Council is upset that young Foster is enamored with a human? Their union could cause a disruption of the old rules? She would have to be allowed access through marriage? Maybe other humans would find