She arched a delicate silver brow in response.
Lily was momentarily distracted by the faint shimmer glinting from her lifted brow. She studied Ziri’s hair again now that they were in close proximity and saw that it too shimmered as though a spray bottle of glitter had somehow attached itself to the follicles of her hair.
“How do…” Lily stopped herself and forced her mind back to the task at hand. “Verakko told me you know about me and him, and I have to say how sorry I am. I didn’t know he was engaged— Er— I mean, under contract.”
Ziritha grinned at her like she’d just said something adorable. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. Verakko is the one who crossed a line. But if what they say about humans is true, I can’t blame him.”
Lily thought she saw a brief flash of jealousy light Ziri’s eyes. “So, you’re really not upset?”
Ziri sighed and leaned back in her seat, twirling a lock of her hair around a long finger. “Another female might’ve taken more offense and exposed the breach, but I don’t feel that way. In all honesty, I’m curious.”
Curious? The door to the pod suddenly slid open, preventing Lily from questioning her further.
She followed Ziritha out of the floating ball and froze in place. Until that moment, she’d forgotten how Verakko had described the old city as being located in a pit. Before her was a massive, sheer drop-off circling a tall cylinder of land, like a waterless moat around a medieval city.
She imagined that long ago the city would’ve been carved directly into the rock, but now the addition of stained-glass windows many stories high, jutting lavish balconies, and sprawling vines made the column of a city an Architectural Digest’s wet dream.
Colossal ornamental mirrors placed on each side of the divide acted as sun catchers, directing the light from above down into the shaded lower levels of the city. Lily squinted, trying to see the bottom of the perfectly round trench, but could only see layers upon layers of draped fabric extending from a sprawling green balcony that circled the whole base of the column.
“Are you ready?” Ziri said, rousing her.
Lily could only nod with wide eyes.
A single bridge connecting the two pieces of land was bordered on either side by large statues of stern, fanged men and women. As she walked with Ziritha along the bridge, she felt their eyes on her. She focused on the other people crossing the bridge, more out of her depth than ever. A large majority were men, mostly Swadaeth, but many were other races. A few, with their overlarge heads and four arms, looked different enough that she assumed they weren’t Clecanian at all. Any lingering worry that she’d stand out as the only “alien” vanished.
The people on the bridge walked in silence for the most part or chatted seriously to one another. Lily glanced toward Ziri and saw that her expression had changed. The chatty, bubbly woman she’d shared a ride with was now impassive.
A man and woman walking by dipped their heads toward Ziritha and tapped their left shoulders with a thumb. A sign of respect perhaps? As Ziri returned the gesture, then tilted her chin upward imperiously, Lily saw it. A queen in the making. Ziri looked as regal as anyone she’d ever seen.
From the way Verakko had spoken, Ziri would become queen whether or not she married him. How long had she been training for her role?
A few of the people walking in their direction wore clothing similar to her own. White billowy fabric with relatively few accessories compared to the decked-out, fully dressed majority. Lily rejoiced as she examined the odd, intricate makeup and hairstyles sported by not only the women but men. A short woman with a sunflower-yellow structured suit and matching lace mokti caught her attention. Her lids were painted a bright purple, and small objects that looked like pearls dotted her eyes from the inner corner up to and above the brow. Her bright blue hair had a faint shimmer as well.
Alex would have a field day here. Lily smiled, forcing herself to remain positive, and daydreamed about the day when she and Alex could walk side by side, gossiping about all the crazy fashion and alien species they saw in the city.
Lily started to ask Ziri about the treatment she’d need to make her hair sparkle, but then scanned the quiet crowd again and thought better of it. Was it rude to speak in public spaces like this the way it was in some countries on Earth?
Deciding she should take her cues from Ziri for the time being, she remained silent.
After walking through a towering archway, they entered a large public square of sorts. Vendors milled about, projecting holographic signs advertising their wares, which were nowhere in sight. Lily decided they must be the equivalent of those arrow holders on city corners directing customers to shops located somewhere else.
Still silent, Ziri guided them to a long line of large glass tubes. As she approached, a portion of glass slid open, and Ziri stepped in, indicating Lily should do the same. Willing her nerves about entering the small space to dissipate, she stepped in.
“Floor twenty,” Ziri said to the space at large.
A soothing male voice repeated, “Floor twenty,” and they moved downward.
All at once, Ziri’s stoic expression morphed. She faced Lily, smiling, and pointed out through the glass. “You’ll be able to see each floor as we pass them. Tell me if there are any you’d be interested in visiting later.”
Lily’s brows drew together, and she stared at Ziri for a moment longer before looking back out through the glass. The elevator was moving quickly, and she barely had time to register one incredible view before another replaced it. A whole floor of colored
