Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Some of the structures were spherical, others square, others a jumble of shapes that fit amongst the tree where it resided.
There were barrels or colorful pots or wicker baskets filled with flowers adorning the ground below or the decks of balconies, or hanging off their railings.
And there were benches and forest stools and swayback chairs also in both places, some around firepits, others set beside meandering streams.
But there was not a single structure on land.
It was visually charming.
It was also, from a defense perspective, incredibly clever.
As they rode, Elena in the lead, Cassius behind her, the others pounding after them, he noted they were receiving attention as Nadirii came out of their homes to their balconies, or appeared on foot or mounted, coming from the trees.
And the sisters watched them ride.
The calls began to sound that he’d heard when in battle with them (as well as at the Nadirii parade at the coliseum in Fire City) as Nadirii upon Nadirii shared their princess was home.
And warned they had visitors.
Cassius had his sword in its hilt on his saddle, his daggers at his belt, another in his boot, but he did naught but keep his gaze on Elena’s back and follow her into what, with the significant increase in treehomes, was clearly the heart of The Enchantments.
He did not expect they’d have any reception but a wary one. Ophelia would see to that.
And he did not think at all about the fact that he, Macrinus and Hadrian were the first Airenzian males to ever be on Nadirii soil.
But if this startling event that made history was going to occur to him, it did not when Elena reined in her mount with Cassius following suit close to the largest and grandest treehome of them all.
And he heard, “Papa!”
His eyes went directly to the sound and his leg instantly moved to swing off Caelus as he saw his daughter’s auburn hair shining in the sunlight while she raced down the steps of the grand treehouse toward her father.
His sole focus his girl, he had enough time to get his boots on the ground, take two quick strides toward her and get into a crouch with his arms extended before Aelia was in them and he was up, lifting her with him and holding his daughter tight to his chest.
“My darling girl,” he murmured, his face stuffed in her hair.
“My darling papa!” she cried, her arms tight around his neck.
As was their way, for he took pains to make certain she had no idea that moments of preciousness would one day be hard to come by, so you should take the time to savor them when you had them, she pulled away first and demanded to know, “Isn’t this land splendid?”
“It is, indeed, my little beauty,” he agreed.
“They live in the trees!” she cried.
He smiled at her. “As I’ve seen.”
“And everywhere is so green,” she carried on.
“I’ve noted that as well, my darling.”
“And you would really not believe what these ladies can do with their bows and swords and staffs,” she shared excitedly.
He actually would.
“Is that so,” he replied.
“It is! It is so!” she exclaimed. “It’s no wonder they always beat Uncle Trajan.”
He grinned at her. “Yes, they are most fearsome.”
“No, they aren’t. They’re lovely to me,” she contradicted.
“I am most glad to hear that.”
And he was. He would never imagine Ophelia or the Sisterhood would be anything less to his daughter.
But he was still pleased to hear, and see from her behavior, that she had been treated well. And he made note to express his gratitude to Ophelia for that.
“I think it was Uncle Trajan they didn’t like,” she decided. “I was only four when he was gone but I do remember him being in a foul mood most of the time. Unless he was being mean to somebody,” she remarked. “He quite enjoyed that.”
And that was his wee Aelia.
She didn’t miss a trick.
Even when she was four.
She abruptly changed subjects, as was her way.
“Did you get me a present?”
“Are you my dearest daughter?”
She giggled and patted his beard. “I’m your only daughter, silly.”
Before he could reply to that, his body locked when he heard the words she spoke as she carried on.
“No, wait! That’s my new sister!” she yelled, twisting in his arms and pointing to the pretty blonde girl he’d seen with Elena many weeks before. “Her name is Theodora and she can already ride a real horse, not just a pony.” She twisted back to Cassius. “And she’s my friend!”
“Well, isn’t that grand,” he muttered, keeping his emotions carefully in check, for he had not informed his daughter any of this was happening.
Though his gaze sliced to Elena, who was standing not close, but not far.
He saw her eyes on him and she appeared torn between some soft emotion that was strong enough not to let go even though the emotion warring with it was the fact that she was exceptionally angry.