Levtirest Book 1: Intrus

Chapter 4: Waking Dawn

Adafwyne, Kunesuch, Victoria, and Emily all ate dinner together in the large dining hall of the castle. On special occasions, Adafwyne explained, banquets were held there, which was why the room and table were both so large. Adafwyne and Kunesuch gave them more information on Levtirest and its people. Victoria and Emily were very interested and ate as they listened to what they were told. The castle was able to acquire some clothes for the girls to wear, and the girls happily accepted them. They were beautiful, long dresses. The dresses weren't tight, had long sleeves, and were neutral colors. The dresses themselves were loose, but the women of the castle explained that they had garments to put over the dresses for the daytime activities. Emily and Victoria saw they were similar to corsets. They fit the girls perfectly, and after they'd changed, Kunesuch requested that they get up early the next morning. He wanted them to see the sunrise from the top of the castle. The girls agreed to it, so he put in a request that they be woken before dawn. The servants of the castle happily obliged.

Before dawn, Victoria and Emily joined Kunesuch in the courtyard just outside the palace where Adafwyne lived and they'd spent the night. On the eastern side of the courtyard, there was a balcony where one could overlook that half of the city. Kunesuch stated, "Every single day, the sun rises in the east, much like in your world. In all my life, I still have yet to see a more beautiful sight."

The trio waited for a few minutes, watching the skyline begin to fade from a black, star-filled sky to a red glow. As the red grew brighter and brighter, they continued to watch with more intensity. Finally, just as the red had turned to a bright orange, the sun broke the surface of the earth. The entire sky seemed to suddenly become brighter and bluer. The warmth that hit them with the sunlight was unlike anything they'd ever felt before. Kunesuch asked, "Is that not amazing?"

Victoria stated, "I don't think there's any place like this back home."

Emily replied, "If there is, we definitely haven't been there." Victoria nodded her head in agreement.

Kunesuch then stated, "Li luiste sep."

"What does that mean?" Victoria asked.

Kunesuch replied, "It is beautiful."

Emily nodded her head again and replied, "It is. It most certainly is." The trio watched the sun continue to rise for a little while longer before Kunesuch took them back to their rooms. There, they were fitted with the garments for the day, which they found to be equally as comfortable as the dresses. Emily stated, "Oh my word, the back support these things have." Victoria laughed but agreed. The girls were then taken to the dining hall for breakfast. The girls happily ate the food, even though they had no clue what it was. It tasted wonderful, though, so they ate. They had a lovely conversation with Adafwyne, who was delighted that they were going to be staying with them. At one point during the breakfast, a man, seemingly a messenger, entered and whispered something to Adafwyne.

Adafwyne asked, "See? I told you this would happen. Le kilunter sep." Emily and Victoria exchanged glances, and Adafwyne explained, "Diplomacy issues. Le kilunter sep means 'He is trouble.'" Adafwyne returned her attention to the man and said, "You know what to do. Put him in a holding cell. I shall speak with him after breakfast." Emily looked over to Victoria to see if she'd caught on, which she clearly hadn't. Emily wondered if the diplomacy issue involved their arrival. Just as the man turned to leave, another man burst into the room. Adafwyne groaned and rolled her eyes. She yelled at the man as she stood, "Cuis je nic yiles? Nur cuyenlar jurendallu."

Kunesuch by this point had leaned over near the girls, and he whispered, "What are you doing here? Leave my sight." Both of the girls realized that he was translating what the two were saying for them, and they felt grateful.