Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,74

"Immortals have little need to procreate."

Beyond the people, he could see structures of some kind, though again, nothing he was used to. There were no houses, only platforms built off the ground and strewn with colorful cushions.

"What happened to the homes?"

"There's no weather in Esria," Charlie told him. "No rain, no wind, no snow."

"The platforms are a way to protect ourselves from the night predators," Findris added. "They provide the means to raise magical barriers."

Ilaria touched his arm. "Let me out, Harrison."

He stiffened. "They could turn against you." But as he studied those drawing close, he saw only joy and excitement on their faces.

Cries of "Princess Ilaria!" began to float through the closed windows of the vehicle.

"Let me out, Harrison. They won't hurt me. They need to see me. And I them."

Harrison glanced at Findris, a moment of accord between them. The Esri wasn't any happier about letting her out than he was.

But Findris shrugged. "She's their rightful queen."

With a frown, Harrison opened the door and pushed it wide, then swung one leg out of the car and stood on Esrian soil for the first time. The golden ground beneath his foot had a spongy, alien feel to it. The scents of loam and forest reached his nose, along with an odd scent that made him think of metallic roses. Above him, through the treetops, the sky dome had turned a bright orange.

Watching the Esri warily, he stepped aside and held out his hand to Ilaria.

She placed her palm in his and let him help her out, then moved past him with a regal grace that had his heart swelling with pride.

Those in front fell to one knee, those behind joining them until the entire throng knelt in a wavelike show of loyalty and adulation. Every face held a mix of joy and relief. Nearly every eye held a tear or two.

One man standing in front, a man dressed a little more finely than the others, rose and took Ilaria's hand. "My queen. We have prayed for your return since the day you were stolen from us." Nothing but raw sincerity shone in the man's face.

"I have returned, Gerdin, but I'm not your queen. Not yet."

The man's mouth tightened. "King Rith has no royal blood in his veins. Nothing but greed and cruelty. He and his guards passed through here not half an hour ago."

Ilaria squeezed the man's hand. "Rith is a Caller and has retrieved the stones of Orisis. Even now, he travels to the Temple of the Ancients to free their darkest power."

The man's pale face turned a starker white. "You seek to stop him with this strange magic?" He motioned to the Range Rover.

"We do." She took Harrison's hand with her free one, her flesh warm against his. "But we need your help, Gerdin. We need a clear path and quickly."

Gerdin's eyes flashed and he turned toward the other Esri. "Make way! At once, make way!" He turned back to her. "Everything we have is yours, my queen. Esria shines upon you."

"My thanks, Gerdin." Ilaria turned her gaze to Harrison before ducking back inside the Range Rover.

Harrison slid in behind her and closed the door as Charlie took off, the Esri parting like the sea before them, waving and cheering and crying, "Queen Ilaria! Queen Ilaria!" as they passed.

Harrison glanced at Ilaria beside him and saw the gleam of moisture in her eyes. She'd needed this, the accolades of her people. The confirmation that they believed in her. That they loved her.

He took her hand, twining his fingers with hers, feeling her heart beat against his palm.

Stopping had strengthened her, but it had cost them valuable time.

* * *

Two hours later, they reached the Dark Mountains. Ilaria had been here before, but only once, long ago. Unlike most of Esria, color was nearly absent from these rocky, jagged, inhospitable hills. The dirt was blue, as it was in much of Esria, but a blue so dark as to be almost black. And the stones themselves looked as if they'd come from the human realm, a dark, dull gray. Only the orange sky added color to the dreary landscape.

"How much farther do you think we can drive?" Charlie asked Findris.

"Not far. The paths tend to be narrow and rocky once we rise out of the foothills."

"How close are Rith and the stones?" Harrison asked.

"Close. If I had to guess, I'd say he's - "

"There!" Charlie pointed. "I see them."

Ilaria bent forward to peer out the windshield. Sure enough,