Spirit of Empire 4: Sky Knights Read Online Free PDF Page B

consider her. She was as human as Galborae, and he felt no discomfort at meeting her.
    He stood up and bowed, wincing only a little. “Thank you,” he said, peering deeply into her eyes to communicate his heartfelt thanks.
    Her mouth widened in a smile. “Those are the best words a healer ever hears. You are welcome, and be welcome to our home.”
    “My wife is our healer. She asked me to thank you for her. She would like to meet you and perhaps learn from you.”
    Natai nodded. “All things are possible, or at least we like to think they are. Right now, you are our focus. I’m the easy one to meet. Some of the others will require as much fortitude from you as you needed when we showed you your world. Are you ready?”
    “I am ready for whatever it takes to free my world from the demons. Get on with it.”
    Doctor Natai nodded. “We’ve considered this and believe it’s best for you to meet them in the dream. You’ll know their feelings and emotions, meaning you’ll know they intend you no harm.”
    Galborae looked to Washburn. “You told me everyone on this ship is a warrior. I will meet them man to man.”
    Washburn’s brow furrowed. “It might work for you, but Limam is a problem. Some of our warriors resemble ferocious beasts, and to their enemies they are ferocious.”
    “Then I’ll meet them first, without Limam. I’ll introduce her when I’m able to gentle her.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Limam stayed in the room when Galborae followed Washburn and Doctor Natai down passageways which they referred to as corridors. The white walls disappeared as soon as he left the healer’s area, replaced by warm, comfortable surroundings. He quickly became lost, but that was the least of his concerns.
    He believed he could accept whomever he was about to meet, but his admiration for Washburn had grown during the past days. If Washburn was worried, he should probably worry as well.
    No amount of preparation could have prepared him for what awaited him. On the right side of the room, five enormous, vicious looking cat-like creatures lay on the floor. A sixth cat sat on its haunches before them, its gaze locked on Galborae. Beside the cats, a dragon—a real dragon—stood with his head brushing the ceiling. Shiny purple scales tipped in yellow adorned the dragon from head to tail. When he moved, light reflecting from the scales made it look like he was flowing.
    Eight people stood beside the dragon, each of them instantly recognizable to Galborae as regular people. On closer inspection, their hardness convinced him they were soldiers. Beside them a man and a woman towered over them. He would have considered them regular people except for the fact that they each had four arms. Despite that, he recognized them as soldiers as well.
    Two people stood in front of the line-up: one a tall, spare, black-haired woman; the other a tall, muscular, blond-headed man. In front of them, a creature he could only describe as an insect about four feet long with brown shriveled skin, multiple legs, two long antennae, and sharp mandibles stood or lay on the floor. Because of its short legs, it was not readily apparent whether it was standing or lying. Bulbous eyes stuck out from its head, and its forward hands feverishly preened the whiskers covering its head.
    Galborae let out a long breath and felt his body deflating along with his mind. He had managed to keep his wits about him through everything that had happened to him aboard the ship, but this final item had him teetering on the edge. He sensed Limam’s anxiety and her need to come to him, and he sent her the most calming thoughts he could conjure, though he knew it was a feeble attempt. His hand moved of its own accord to the hilt of his sword, but he deliberately pulled the hand back. These creatures, regardless of how they looked, had saved his life.
    Everyone gave Galborae time to deal with his feelings, then the leader cat sauntered over to him and sat, the silence in the room