inner debate as to whether she should question Rhea further about who she really was. Rhea held her gaze, trying to look as innocent as she could, waiting to see if she would answer.
Bella considered her answer carefully.
Rhea had a feeling she knew Bella's thoughts. She probably sensed Rhea was hiding something.
Bella nodded after a long pause. "For one thing, it's a long hard trip to get there and back. And, I hear their beliefs are different ... maybe not compatible with ours. Because of that, little is known. That's why I asked. I hoped to learn more."
Not compatible? What does that mean? Rhea still had so many questions, but she'd already pressed her luck. She wasn't going to push further—better to wait and change the subject. "Oh. Sorry I can't help you." She leaned in towards Bella. "Is there someplace I can freshen up?"
At first Bella didn't seem to understand Rhea's question but then smiled. "Through the kitchen door and down the hall to your left."
Rhea wasn't sure what to expect. This world was not unlike the world in which she was raised, just more rustic. Given the mix of architecture and services they'd seen so far, she wasn't sure what she would find.
Their kitchen had running water, a wood-burning stove, and what looked like an antique cooler. Rhea had seen a similar cooler used as a lamp stand in a friend's house as it was an antique her mother thought was interesting.
Bella followed her to the hall. When she pointed to a door, Rhea was relieved—indoor plumbing! It wasn't as sophisticated as the bathrooms at home, but she was thankful that it was inside. There was running water, a tub, and a toilet. An oil lamp hung on the wall, burning low, just like the lamps she'd seen throughout the house. She found it odd that a world alive with energy wouldn't have electricity.
~~~
Daen noticed that Rhea had helped clear the table but hadn't left the kitchen. Then Aurea had come to inform her older brother that her mother wanted them to get ready for bed. He hoped all was okay.
"Papa, please, just this once?"
"You heard your mother. Go get ready."
The disappointed look on Raumsy's face was priceless, and it reminded Daen of his own childhood, when he so wanted to sit with the adults.
Randell sat in the chair slightly behind the pair in front of the fire where Marc and Daen were seated. The chair afforded him a better view of the home.
This was such a new world to him, yet he felt like he knew it. So far, life in Luxatra was made up of snippets from different time from his own world: from medieval sword fighting to early 19th century plumbing. The building architecture varied as well. It was as if, over time, people from this world had visited his world and brought back designs and technology they could use. Whether that was true or not, it seemed a reasonable explanation for the diversity he had seen so far.
After Raumsy left the room, Marc glanced between Daen and Randell. He noticed subtle differences between them, including their clothes, their accents, and their level of comfort in his home. Randell appeared intrigued while Daen was comfortable, but cautious.
Marc looked at Randell. "Where did you say you were from?"
Randell pulled his eyes from the details of the furnishings around him and considered Marc's question.
Before he could answer, Daen jumped in. "We are traveling on guardian business ... you understand." Daen stripped all emotion from his face as he sent Marc his message.
Marc nodded. "Of course."
"On our travels, we noticed Laundan warriors riding freely across Taulomi. Have you heard such news?" Daen asked.
"Maybe. I don't get into town much, but last time I was there, I overheard talk about raiders dressed in black attacking travelers. I didn't hear anything about Laundan warriors, but I supposed they could be the same, seein' as their uniforms are black."
Daen glanced towards the kitchen door. "I wonder what's keeping Rhea."
Marc started to stand to check on his wife when
Bella considered her answer carefully.
Rhea had a feeling she knew Bella's thoughts. She probably sensed Rhea was hiding something.
Bella nodded after a long pause. "For one thing, it's a long hard trip to get there and back. And, I hear their beliefs are different ... maybe not compatible with ours. Because of that, little is known. That's why I asked. I hoped to learn more."
Not compatible? What does that mean? Rhea still had so many questions, but she'd already pressed her luck. She wasn't going to push further—better to wait and change the subject. "Oh. Sorry I can't help you." She leaned in towards Bella. "Is there someplace I can freshen up?"
At first Bella didn't seem to understand Rhea's question but then smiled. "Through the kitchen door and down the hall to your left."
Rhea wasn't sure what to expect. This world was not unlike the world in which she was raised, just more rustic. Given the mix of architecture and services they'd seen so far, she wasn't sure what she would find.
Their kitchen had running water, a wood-burning stove, and what looked like an antique cooler. Rhea had seen a similar cooler used as a lamp stand in a friend's house as it was an antique her mother thought was interesting.
Bella followed her to the hall. When she pointed to a door, Rhea was relieved—indoor plumbing! It wasn't as sophisticated as the bathrooms at home, but she was thankful that it was inside. There was running water, a tub, and a toilet. An oil lamp hung on the wall, burning low, just like the lamps she'd seen throughout the house. She found it odd that a world alive with energy wouldn't have electricity.
~~~
Daen noticed that Rhea had helped clear the table but hadn't left the kitchen. Then Aurea had come to inform her older brother that her mother wanted them to get ready for bed. He hoped all was okay.
"Papa, please, just this once?"
"You heard your mother. Go get ready."
The disappointed look on Raumsy's face was priceless, and it reminded Daen of his own childhood, when he so wanted to sit with the adults.
Randell sat in the chair slightly behind the pair in front of the fire where Marc and Daen were seated. The chair afforded him a better view of the home.
This was such a new world to him, yet he felt like he knew it. So far, life in Luxatra was made up of snippets from different time from his own world: from medieval sword fighting to early 19th century plumbing. The building architecture varied as well. It was as if, over time, people from this world had visited his world and brought back designs and technology they could use. Whether that was true or not, it seemed a reasonable explanation for the diversity he had seen so far.
After Raumsy left the room, Marc glanced between Daen and Randell. He noticed subtle differences between them, including their clothes, their accents, and their level of comfort in his home. Randell appeared intrigued while Daen was comfortable, but cautious.
Marc looked at Randell. "Where did you say you were from?"
Randell pulled his eyes from the details of the furnishings around him and considered Marc's question.
Before he could answer, Daen jumped in. "We are traveling on guardian business ... you understand." Daen stripped all emotion from his face as he sent Marc his message.
Marc nodded. "Of course."
"On our travels, we noticed Laundan warriors riding freely across Taulomi. Have you heard such news?" Daen asked.
"Maybe. I don't get into town much, but last time I was there, I overheard talk about raiders dressed in black attacking travelers. I didn't hear anything about Laundan warriors, but I supposed they could be the same, seein' as their uniforms are black."
Daen glanced towards the kitchen door. "I wonder what's keeping Rhea."
Marc started to stand to check on his wife when
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