end of a short hall-type closet that connected his room to Leo’s. With room for clothing on either side it was rather large for a closet but short for a hallway.
The bed was large and looked comfortable . There was a cushioned bench at the foot of the bed which he suspected was also a storage unit. The bed rested against a wall with a door on the far side. Glancing around, he saw another door. Located beside the closet, it was clearly the bathroom with a deep tub and other normal bath fixtures. Two draped walls began where the wall to the bathroom ended and extended to the corner and then back toward the wall the bed and door were on.
Walking around the bed he found the door locked . Thinking this door led to Princess Kalea’s room or sitting room, Bryan left it alone. Turning back toward the bed he noticed yet another door, this one at an angle between the closet and the wall that the bed was on. After testing it he discovered that it too was locked. Thinking that it must lead to the sitting room and the other directly to her bed chamber, Bryan took a deep breath and turned back toward Leo’s room.
Leo was standing in the doorway , and seeing the look on Bryan’s face he simply waited. Bryan didn’t say or do anything right away he just stared at some imaginary point on the wall beside Leo.
Shaking himself mentally back to the moment, Bryan looked around and noticed the draped walls again. Pointing he asked, “Why did they decorate the walls like that, I wonder?”
“ They are windows, Your Highness,” Leo explained as he walked toward the small table beside the bed. He bent slightly and pushed a button. The textured green floor to ceiling curtains began to open and the sight drew their attention like a magnet.
Bryan stepped closer to the window at the foot of the bed as the curtains parted revealing a panoramic view that seem ed to go forever to the horizon. There were no cross frames or bars to obstruct the view; it was just one giant sheet of clear glass. Reaching out his hand Bryan jumped back when he felt the bite of the energy field.
“Sorry , Your Highness. I forgot to explain. The window is reinforced with an energy field so that it cannot be broken. It is a safety feature, please forgive me.” Leo apologized.
“No need Leo , I should have known. My, what an amazing view!” Bryan replied still taking in the lush garden with flowers, trees and fountains. Looking farther out, the gentle rolling slope disappeared into dense forest for as far as the eye could see. Light danced on the blue surface of a distant pond. Slowly walking over to the other window he saw a deep ravine, and then a distant valley. Looking down, Bryan saw that the Palace was located only a few meters from the edge of a steep cliff. His room, on the third level, added to the distance but also increased the view. Suddenly a shuttle appeared below and like a flash it turned to the left and darted up and over the valley walls in the distance and was gone.
“There must be an entrance to the shuttle bay in the cliff below.” Bryan murmured as he watched the shuttle disappear.
“Yes Sir.” Leo answered softly. “But I was informed that access is restricted and defenses are in place to protect the palace.”
“Of course.” Turning , he faced Leo and asked, “So, what exactly is on my schedule other than a tour of the palace and grounds?” He walked to the bench at the end of his bed and sat down.
“Well Sir ,” Leo replied. “As I mentioned, today’s schedule is very light. Tomorrow morning you meet Princess Kalea’s parents and brothers at breakfast. Edward will be there to translate. All other family members, the Royal Council members and other guests will be at a pre-wedding gathering on the grounds. Lunch will be served and the reception will continue until an hour before the wedding. Then the wedding is to be held in the Sanctuary at sundown. Apparently it is
The bed was large and looked comfortable . There was a cushioned bench at the foot of the bed which he suspected was also a storage unit. The bed rested against a wall with a door on the far side. Glancing around, he saw another door. Located beside the closet, it was clearly the bathroom with a deep tub and other normal bath fixtures. Two draped walls began where the wall to the bathroom ended and extended to the corner and then back toward the wall the bed and door were on.
Walking around the bed he found the door locked . Thinking this door led to Princess Kalea’s room or sitting room, Bryan left it alone. Turning back toward the bed he noticed yet another door, this one at an angle between the closet and the wall that the bed was on. After testing it he discovered that it too was locked. Thinking that it must lead to the sitting room and the other directly to her bed chamber, Bryan took a deep breath and turned back toward Leo’s room.
Leo was standing in the doorway , and seeing the look on Bryan’s face he simply waited. Bryan didn’t say or do anything right away he just stared at some imaginary point on the wall beside Leo.
Shaking himself mentally back to the moment, Bryan looked around and noticed the draped walls again. Pointing he asked, “Why did they decorate the walls like that, I wonder?”
“ They are windows, Your Highness,” Leo explained as he walked toward the small table beside the bed. He bent slightly and pushed a button. The textured green floor to ceiling curtains began to open and the sight drew their attention like a magnet.
Bryan stepped closer to the window at the foot of the bed as the curtains parted revealing a panoramic view that seem ed to go forever to the horizon. There were no cross frames or bars to obstruct the view; it was just one giant sheet of clear glass. Reaching out his hand Bryan jumped back when he felt the bite of the energy field.
“Sorry , Your Highness. I forgot to explain. The window is reinforced with an energy field so that it cannot be broken. It is a safety feature, please forgive me.” Leo apologized.
“No need Leo , I should have known. My, what an amazing view!” Bryan replied still taking in the lush garden with flowers, trees and fountains. Looking farther out, the gentle rolling slope disappeared into dense forest for as far as the eye could see. Light danced on the blue surface of a distant pond. Slowly walking over to the other window he saw a deep ravine, and then a distant valley. Looking down, Bryan saw that the Palace was located only a few meters from the edge of a steep cliff. His room, on the third level, added to the distance but also increased the view. Suddenly a shuttle appeared below and like a flash it turned to the left and darted up and over the valley walls in the distance and was gone.
“There must be an entrance to the shuttle bay in the cliff below.” Bryan murmured as he watched the shuttle disappear.
“Yes Sir.” Leo answered softly. “But I was informed that access is restricted and defenses are in place to protect the palace.”
“Of course.” Turning , he faced Leo and asked, “So, what exactly is on my schedule other than a tour of the palace and grounds?” He walked to the bench at the end of his bed and sat down.
“Well Sir ,” Leo replied. “As I mentioned, today’s schedule is very light. Tomorrow morning you meet Princess Kalea’s parents and brothers at breakfast. Edward will be there to translate. All other family members, the Royal Council members and other guests will be at a pre-wedding gathering on the grounds. Lunch will be served and the reception will continue until an hour before the wedding. Then the wedding is to be held in the Sanctuary at sundown. Apparently it is
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