Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Yes, indeed. For you are an honored guest—of course you must have ladies to wait on you,” Sambla said smoothly. “Do come this way.”
He led Addie into what looked like a medieval castle built of rough black stone. Overhead the light was dim—Addie thought they must have come just at twilight. The outline of Grimm, which was the name of the ringed gas giant planet that Crimson Moon orbited, could be seen taking up half the purplish sky as the castle in front of them loomed in the gathering dusk.
She was aware of Drago stalking along behind her, but again, she resolved to put the big Drake Kindred out of her mind. Instead, she turned her attention to studying the vast structure they were walking into. The front gates were dull silver metal shaped into something that looked almost like a spider web, she thought.
“These gates—they have such an unusual design,” she remarked, to make conversation with Sambla.
"Ah yes—they are a symbol of Sheelash—whose home this palace is. She is the Goddess all Vargans worship," the ambassador explained. "In fact, we only use this palace one solar month a year, during the Choosing Ceremony where the Queen of Night is chosen. Most of that time is spent preparing for the Quenching Ceremony in the inmost sanctum—the Room of Sighs, we call it," he added.
"So you actually have two separate ceremonies—one to choose the Queen of Night and then the Quenching Ceremony afterward?" Addie asked.
“Exactly, lovely one.” He nodded. “I extended the invitation for you to view the first—the Choosing Ceremony. The Quenching Ceremony is much more secretive, I’m afraid.”
“How fascinating! I wish I could see the second ritual, too,” Addie said wistfully. “Though I suppose I probably wouldn’t be allowed,” she added, not wanting to give offense.
“Well now, you never can tell.” Lx Sambla gave her a charming wink. “I might be able to get you an invitation. I’d need to speak to the Council of Aged Ones though.”
“Oh, would you?” Addie squeezed his arm with excitement. She absolutely loved learning about new cultures, which meant that her job always felt more like fun than work. The Vargans were turning out to be such interesting people—she couldn’t wait to write a paper on them and hopefully get it published in Xeno-Anthropology Quarterly.
“For a lady as lovely as you? Of course I would.” Sambla put a hand over the one she had laid on his arm and squeezed her fingers possessively. “In fact, I’ll introduce you during the pre-ceremony feast tonight. I’m sure the Aged Ones are going to love you. Now let’s get you inside and dressed for the feast, shall we?”
He nodded at someone Addie couldn’t see—a hidden guard presumably—and the dull silver gates parted and swung soundlessly open.
Arm-in-arm they strolled inside with Drago bringing up the rear like a thundercloud that might split open and pour out a storm at any moment, Addie thought. Then she reminded herself that she was ignoring the big warrior and focused on looking around the castle she found herself in instead.
Inside the Palace of Sheelash was even more like a medieval castle. The rough stone walls, covered in tapestries woven in dark jewel tones, soared upwards to a high, vaulted ceiling. The designs on the intricately woven rugs were difficult to see since the lighting in the palace was all candlelight and torches placed in wall scones at varying intervals, but Addie did her best to make the pictures out.
Most of the tapestries seemed to depict a large insect with many legs, like the pin that Lx Sambla wore at his throat. Addie thought it looked a little like a spider with a fat, segmented body. But it had a strangely human head and face. Its features were pale and it had long, blonde hair almost the same color as the Ambassador's. Its eyes were big and dark with blood-red pupils that stood out, even in the dark cloth of the tapestries.
“This is lovely art you have on your walls,” she ventured, hoping to get some information.
Lx Sambla didn’t disappoint her.
“Ah yes—that is Sheelash herself. She who lives forever in our hearts and is reborn afresh each year,” he remarked. “Since this palace is her home, most of the art here depicts her in all her glory. In fact, I am a descendant of hers,” he added.
“You are?” Addie asked doubtfully. Unless Vargan biology was much different from human biology she didn’t see how the charming ambassador could claim the Spider Goddess depicted in the tapestry art as an ancestress.
"Of course—you can tell by my hair color. Only true descendants of Sheelash have it," he said, pointing to his head. "It is a sign and symbol of our ruling class. Though of course it's not nearly as beautiful as your own lovely flame-colored hair," he added, meeting Addie's eyes and giving her a warm smile.