Rebirth and Second Chances

Chapter 29: Kithain's

This bit of self-reflection helped me realize that retaining my memories may not be all good. My preconceptions, biases, and expectations had followed me to this universe, and they were based on my identity as a human.

I needed to stop identifying as a human; I wasn't human anymore. And to base my assumptions and plans on humanity's history Well, you know the saying about what happens when you assume? And it wasn't safe. Sidhe, no matter the species, were motivated on their own biases and expectations.

I had been equating feudalism with naivety.

Lords, Duke, Kings.

These were outdated systems of governance that Earth had renounced as antiquated. A government for the people, by the people. This was a better way to do things, wasn't it?

Monarchies still existed on Earth. But they had, for the most part, reformed into constitutional Monarchies, and the Kings and Queens were simply figureheads. England, Japan, Monaco. Laws and government were performed by elected officials that held the real power.

And in those countries where Kings still held power, they were considered third-world, provincial, backwater territories. They suppressed their people, ignored civil liberties, and allowed terrorists to proliferate.

But it was just possible, that I was the one being nave. Democracy had its own problems. The truth was there was no perfect form of government. Maybe instead of working and yearning for a Utopia that would never exist, people would be better off living lives honorably.

Leading by example. Becoming a good leader, a person who cared about his country and the countrymen would make a difference no matter the label or type of governance practiced.

Jennie had waited with me patiently and by default the crowd of people following me at the edge of the road. She seemed to be waiting for something, and when she signaled a passing skimmer, I realized what she was waiting for.

A vehicle deftly pulled over, and an opening appeared almost as soon as the vehicle stopped. An entrance with no obvious sign of a door. I wasn't sure how it worked. It didn't retract or open inwards or outwards. An entrance just appeared, as if there was never anything blocking the opening. Maybe there a magic holographic projection that was enabled while moving to make it appear whole?

I entered the vehicle cautiously, not certain how my balance would adjust to a hovering car. Would this be like a boat floating on water and require me to adjust my balance or not? It wasn't. It was exactly like entering a car. Comfortable seats, spacious legroom, and a partition separating the driver from the back.

Jennie had flagged down a taxi. I couldn't help myself and started laughing. My amusement may have seemed strange to those that had followed, and certainly, Jennies face displayed her confusion, but I couldn't help but appreciate the surreal circumstances.

New universe.

New class and rank.

New magic.

But some things never changed, and taxis and taxis drivers seemed to translate across the multiverse.

"Where to Sir?" The driver asked, interrupting my laughter.

"Jennie? Where were you thinking?"

"My family owns one of the best hotels in the area. I thought it would be perfect for you to use. There are larger conference rooms that can be set aside and used as waiting rooms as well as some smaller more intimate rooms that can be used for interviews.

"The food is exceptional, and the dining room has been some of the best staff in the city."

"Sounds perfect," I said agreeing to her suggestion.

"Kithain's," Jenny instructed the driver. She leaned out to quickly inform the crowd of our destination before allowing the opening in the skimmer to shut. I ignored the driver maneuvered adeptly into traffic, more interested in touching the now closed opening.

It was solid, and I was only more confused and still uncertain how it worked.

I eventually ignored the mystery of the door and began noticing my surroundings. I felt like a tourist, gawking at buildings, expressing appreciation for landmarks and parks we passed. The cities architecture wasn't like anything I was familiar with. It certainly wasn't the rustic backwoods I'd been expecting.

The designs were sleek, enhancing the natural and adapting buildings to the landscape, establishing patterns reminiscent of nature. Honeycomb patterns of efficiency and conformity were prevalent in the larger buildings. Instead of clearing trees and land, smaller buildings were included in the branches.

An interconnecting canopy of branches and vines served to create a bevy of footpaths that allowed pedestrians to easily traverse between levels and trees.

Greens and browns were the predominant colors, as architects created businesses and homes that blended. Even the roads resembled the vein-like structure of leaves. Occasionally, there would be splashes of color. Yellows, Blues, Reds, Purples. That highlighted areas and drew the eyes to significant buildings.

Only the Keep betrayed this conformity. It was actually stylized much like those big boxy edifices that might be found on Earth. But it took pride of place. The very center of the sprawling city. All roads began and ended at Lord Kel's estates.

"Caraid, how many people live here in Kel's demesnes?" I asked.

[Lord Kel is the ruler of one of the smaller cities. We consider it a Seelie fiefdom so most of the Government personnel are Seelie. Any other Sidhe you find are probably craftsman and work in service or support roles.]

[Population is perhaps 300,000 Seelie and a million other Sidhe.]

"How many people in the Seelie kingdom?"

[Somewhere between 100 and 200 billion for all races. The Unseelie have, perhaps, twice that amount. The Slaugh and Goblin for the Unseelie and Sprites and Pixies for the Seelie are prolific. They breed like rats. Each live birth done in litters.]

'Damn, just how big was this planet?' I wondered. I really needed to get a moment to myself to have an in-depth conversation with Caraid about this place. At least I needed to find out what served as computers and the Internet here so I could do some serious research.

I was getting ambushed by the information that was common knowledge, and if it weren't for Caraid, I would be in real trouble. It really was becoming impossible to make plans for the future, or at least plans that wouldn't need to be constantly updated, until I understood the dynamics and realities of this world.

As the skimmer pulled up to the entrance of Kithain's, I was once again confronted with the difference between my expectations and realities. I'd assumed by a hotel, Jennie meant a quaint lodging. Maybe a tavern that served food on the main floor with a set of rooms on the second for guests to lodge in and a conference room.

Kithain's was a twenty-story hotel.

Fresh with security checks, armed guards, and imposing gates. Valet's and butlers greeted those arriving and anticipated guests needs and privacy. Kithain's was a jewel of understated wealth and refinement. Elegant, cherished, and luxuriously decorated.

"This is the family's main business in Kel fief," Jennie explained.

"Even though guests are charged, we adhere to the rules for guest rights. We consider this hearth and home and those who visit are treated like family.

"Staff, guards, and formation arrays are in place to protect those that honor us with their patronage. We take our duty seriously," she promised.

"Welcome to Kithain's," a uniformed butler greeted me as he moved to open the towering set of double doors. The foyer led to a standard reception desk with an attendant. Familiar and suitable settings you'd find in any high-class luxury hotel. A young woman's smiling face beamed at me waiting patiently for me to approach and register. A sense of pride and accomplishment emanating from her and all the visible employees.

"Kattie," Jennie said as we approached the service desk, "Prince de Belenos will be staying with us for an uncertain amount of time. He needs a suite for personal use, a large conference room, and a meeting room. Reserve the conference room A and the adjoining small reception room for him to use while he is staying with us."

"Yes ma'am," Katie agreed, her hands moving elegantly, making gestures in the air that allowed her to access instruments and screens that only she could see. With a final movement, a panel slid open on the desk and a small box was presented. "If you could place your finger in the identity scanner, we'll finish your registration," she directed.

Focusing my perception on the scanner, not sure what was about to happen, I placed my finger in the opening. I felt a small tingling sensation as a magic signature seemed to scan and take a sample of my own magical and life energies aura.

I had been correct in thinking that energy signatures were unique, it was why I had kept the destroyed charms and arrays after my battle in the Summerlands. I was hoping I could identify and track that signature. Or I could hire a person whose abilities were more suited to tracking.

The machine finished its scan by absorbing an infinitesimal amount of my magic, funneling that energy into a crystal that was ejected from the top and made available for me to collect.

"Your room crystal, sir," Kattie said, "we have placed you in Suite #17. Would you like us to set you up with a credit account or will that be gold?"

"Gold. I'm not sure how long I'll be staying. Let's do rental by the week."

"That will be 55 gold then," she informed me.

Removing the money from my ring, I did a bit of mental math. If 100 gold were a month's wages for three people, then 55 gold for a week certainly explained how this hotel could be so luxurious. I may have been able to find cheaper, but the amenities came with the conference room, and from what I'd noticed a well-equipped and alert staff that included very formidable looking guards.

Plus. This place felt welcoming and safe.