The scars were fading faster than the memories, she thought wondering if she would ever be able to forget what Tai Tek had done to him.
“What is it?” Jazin asked quietly in her ear. “What upsets you?”
“We still don’t know where Tai Tek could have gone,” Star said quietly. “How are we supposed to find him if he keeps disappearing? The guy scares me, Jazin. I don’t ever what him to hurt you again.”
“We will find him, my little warrior,” Jazin murmured in her ear as he pulled her close to him as the transport drew to a stop. “Dakar, Armet, and Jarmen are working on it. Those three can find anything. Dakar knows all of Tai Tek’s hiding places and Jar, well, let us just say he has talents few others possess,” he added as he let his hand slid behind her back to massage the curve of her hip.
“I hope so,” she answered softly as the door opened for them to get out. “I really, really hope so.”
The small group was escorted up a series of wide, polished steps. The walls of the palace were polished so smooth that the surface resembled a highly polish mirror. The only light came from what was reflecting down from the large windows. Star reached her hand out to touch the surface with her finger and gasped as threads of gold blossomed from where her fingers touched it. She touched it again and more threads of gold shimmered before fading.
“The stone contains a natural chemical,” Ristéard’s deep voice explained from the top of the staircase. “Run your hand along it.”
Star looked up at the huge blue man in awe before doing as he suggested. She ran her hand in a large wave along the wall. Hundreds of gold threads appeared, flowing outward to make brilliant designs before fading again.
“That is so awesome,” Star giggled as she did it again. “River, you have got to try this!”
River and Madas reached over and ran their hands over the wall. “Okay, we’re happy. You guys can go talk the boring stuff. We’ll stay and play with the walls,” River said as she looked over her shoulder at Torak.
“This is better than when we saw all that phosphorescence when we were crossing over to Europe that time,” Star exclaimed excitedly.
Jazin, Torak and Gril each wrapped a beefy arm around their respective mates and tugged them away from the wall that had them so fascinated. They were never going to get anywhere if the giggles the females were emitting were anything to go by.
“Come, you can play with the walls another time,” Jazin said with a chuckle.
All three women groaned but followed the men as they ascended the stairs until they were even with Ristéard. They followed the huge ruler down several different corridors until they came to a set of huge, solid black doors with intricate cravings etched into it. The doors must have weighed a ton because it took two warriors on each side to open them. Even then, Star could see the men’s arm muscles straining to pull the doors open.
Ristéard escorted them into a lavishly decorated room. Huge tapestries depicting different events covered the mirrored black walls. Along one wall, a huge fireplace stood empty. Over the mantle of it was another tapestry. The figure of two men stood side by side. One slightly older than the other. In the picture, they each held a bloody sword and the area around them was littered with the remains of dead warriors. It wasn’t something Star would want hanging in her living room but since this wasn’t her house she wouldn’t say anything. Instead, she continued her observation of the room. Windows from floor to ceiling graced the west wall. Heavy curtains were pulled back with thick ropes of silver and gold. A large round table that could sit at least a dozen men sat near the center of the room. Two large, silver couches with twin matching chairs were arranged in front of the vacant fireplace. Six matching end tables made of the black stone sat on each end of the furniture.
Ristéard stood to one side as they entered. The moment Star walked by him, he reached out to touch her hair. She turned when she felt the slight tug on her hair but relaxed when she saw he was looking at the strands he had gathered with a fascinated expression. She was used to people doing the same thing when the circus used to tour Asia and parts of the Middle East. Jazin carefully pulled Star away but the Grand Ruler wasn’t finished with his analysis of her hair. He followed them into the room touching the silky wave repeatedly until Jazin reached out and gripped his wrist. A member of Ristéard’s elite guard stepped forward at the violation to his ruler. Ristéard studied Jazin’s taunt face for a moment before he flicked his hand, dismissing his guards. Ristéard tilted his head ever so slightly to let Jazin know he understood silent warning before he walked over to where Ajaska, Torak, and River sat at the end of the table. Jazin placed his hand protectively on Star’s lower back and guided her away from the huge blue leader toward the two couches where Gril and Madas sat.