Ancient Guardians: The Uninvited by S. L. Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

response. “Unless we’re going to be tap-dancing to “Mary had a Little Lamb” at this royal ball, you should probably get busy on giving me some dancing lessons.”

T he days leading up to the Oxley’s trip to Sandari Kingdom passed quickly. Reece, Allestaine, and Elizabeth met with the seamstress every morning to be fitted for the extravagant dresses that were to be made for their trip. Since this was Reece’s first introduction into the royal society of Pemdas, all of her gowns were given the utmost attention, with not one detail unattended to. Allestaine was determined to present her future daughter-in-law in such a way that no one would question her as Levi’s intended wife. Reece was to marry the future emperor, and Allestaine would leave no room for speculation about whether or not Reece was the perfect match for her son.
    Despite everyone’s reassurance, Reece had natural insecurities about meeting the royal families in this land. She had no idea where to start with the etiquette that she knew would be expected of her amongst royalty. On Earth or in Pemdas, Reece was not accustomed to royal lifestyles or traditions. Knowing that Reece was somewhat nervous about the Hamilton’s ball, Levi held to his word and spent a few hours each day teaching her the Pemdai style of dancing.
    The dance lessons turned out to be Reece’s favorite part of the preparations for the celebration. Levi was not only an impeccable dancer, but his way of leading her so properly in this ballroom-style of dancing was quite charming. When Reece teased him about his flawless dancing skills, he laughed and informed her that in Pemdas, it is expected that a young lady or gentleman achieve proper dancing abilities by the time they are of age to court.
    All-in-all, by the time the week was over, Reece had learned the Pemdai way of dancing to the best of her ability, and she felt somewhat ready to step out formally as Levi’s future wife.
    The morning of their departure, Reece and Elizabeth walked out to the waiting carriages together. The maidens, butlers, and other staff had already departed in the carriages that carried their luggage. The previous evening, Reece learned that Levi wouldn’t be along for the first part of the journey. Word had come to Samuel that Michael had been spotted in the dimension of Armedias, and Levi was asked to assist Samuel in learning more about this latest discovery. In a letter he penned to Reece before he left the palace, he expressed his apologies, but assured her that he would likely meet up with the convoy at their first stop on the way to Sandari.
    They walked into the courtyard, which was filled with Pasidian Guards who patiently waited in perfect formation on their horses on front of two luxurious carriages. Navarre led Allestaine to the first carriage before turning to see Reece and Elizabeth being ushered into the second carriage. The emperor gave a final word to one of the guards before he loaded into his carriage; and after a quick shout from the palace’s guards, the massive convoy was on its way.
    They traveled through an area of the countryside that Reece had never seen before, and the terrain that surrounded them was breathtaking. Flowers that were sprinkled throughout the meadows glistened in light of the brilliant sun, while an array of majestic birds flew in lazy circles throughout the cloudless sky. The subtle rocking of the carriage, the crisp, fresh air, and the majestic scenery they were traveling through, filled Reece with utter contentment. Even so, after nearly four hours of sitting in the carriage, she was starting to become weary. She glanced out the window of the carriage, wondering when they were to reach the first city that they would be spending the evening in. Her eyes widened in astonishment when she saw large boulders poking out of the grass, glistening like gemstones.
    Large red rubies, yellow diamonds, and different formations of crystalline spears were scattered