Page 36 of Ancient Rising

Harwin took one, and it sprang open.She clasped it to her right wrist and then did the same on her left.

She turned and looked at Addy.“How is the makeup coming?”

“Holy shit.That’s...you look like you just walked off a temple wall.”

“Excellent.”

“What is that on your arms and chest?”

“Oh, the mark of Ra.He decided that I would be tempting to other elder Hmrain, so he wanted to make sure I was marked, as he didn’t have the type of glyph the others had.He was a prototype.”

“Right.The team mentioned it.”

Harwin turned slowly and walked to the bathing room, laughing as she surprised herself.She snickered and turned to walk with Addy.

“Come on.I can feel the shuttle arriving.”

“You can?”

“Sure.In the time since I arrived, my mind has spun a fine web of senses across the area.The shuttle changes the pressure that tells me when anything moves.That includes entering the atmosphere.”

She looked at Addy.“I am going to cheat the stairs.Walking like this is difficult.”

“Uh, sure.Whatever you need.”

Harwin floated gently down the stairs, realizing that she had forgotten shoes.She glided across the floor and went outside to see those Ra was welcoming.

Ra stood in front of the pyramid and held his hand out to her as she glided toward him.She took his hand and smiled.“I forgot my shoes.”

He looked at her, paused, and stared.“You look spectacular.”

“Thank you.You look shiny and very handsome.”

He chuckled.“Our guests are here.”

“Are...they aren’t Hmrain.”

“No.They are descendants.Third generation and fourth.”

“What is he wearing?”

“A cold suit.”

She turned her head toward Ra.“You called in a strike on Lucinda?”

“She cannot live in a freezer.”

“What about the other one wearing the deep hood?”

“He is for Ariadne.”

“What?No.”

Ra looked at her.“Yes.It is up to her whether they reside here or leave.”

She was about to argue, and then, she said, “What?”

“He is a trained guardian; she needs additional training.They will have quarters in the new city, and if they are agreeable to each other, they will be the first mated citizens.”