Shiara’s Bath

 

Shiara went away, led by the servant women, who carried her boxes.  She was still rather stunned by just being in this incredible place.  She was led to a wooden house built in a pagoda style.  The ceilings were high and vaulted, and clerestory windows softened the noonday sun and brightened the whole bathhouse.  The inside of the house was so clean and spare that the deep grain of the wooden beams became the artwork for the walls.  

 

“Wood,” said Shiara, and she drank deeply of the fragrance in the air.

 

“Where else would we take the Wood Goddess for her bath?” Said Dauphina.  "I am Dauphina, the head servant, and here is Xara, and Xena, and Xeana… Xeana will be giving you your massage later on…”

 

“What beautiful names,” said Shiara. “They sound like tree names…”

 

“Indeed,” said Dauphina.  “Tree Spirits to prepare our new Knower of the Forest!  It may take all of us just get the mud out of your beautiful red hair!”

 

Shiara gasped, and looked down at her tattered clothes.  They consider me important here.  Do they know what an idiot I am?

 

“Relax,” said Dauphina, “There is nothing you can do wrong here… except…” and she got a little sparkle in her eye.

 

“Exept what?” Said Shiara. She hated it when people drew things out.

 

“Let’s go pick out your towels” Dauphina said loudly, and she pulled Shiara away from the wood-nymphs preparing her bath.

 

“Exept what?” asked Shiara again.

 

“It’s not our business who you ally yourself with.  But in case you haven’t noticed, Raynor is in love with you.”

 

Shiara’s mouth dropped open.

 

“Think about it while you have your bath.  You have known his Voice for a long time.  What do you feel in your heart for him?”

“Buh—“

“Don’t say anything now.  I thought it would be wiser to let you know, though I may be chastised for it.”

***

2:35:35 PM