left.
I turned my attention to the food beside me. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I had barely eaten anything last night. There was a pitcher of cool crisp water, a dark and dense loaf of bread, cheese, fruits, nuts, butter and a small pot of golden honey. I tore off a chunk of bread, smothered it with honey and took a bite. It was heavenly. The bread was still slightly warm and practically melted in my mouth. I could taste the nectar of the flowers in the honey. Even the water tasted better than anything I had ever had before. I ate several more slices and a few bites of fruit before making my way to the wardrobe.
What I found hanging there resembled pajamas more than clothes. Thin gossamers and sheer dresses in every shade and color of the rainbow hung in neat rows. There was no way I was going to walk around wearing them. I would feel so exposed, so naked. Shaking my head I kept looking. I was just about to give up and just wear the blue cotton that I had slept in when my hand brushed against what felt like leather in the very back of the wardrobe. Shoving the dresses aside I pulled out a light brown leather vest and a pair of deep blue leather pants. Finally something that I recognized! With a little more digging I found a pale cream linen shirt. Shedding my pajamas I pulled on the leather pants and shirt, which was obviously made for a much larger person. I tucked it in as best I could and pulled the vest over the top, buttoning it to help hold in the voluminous shirt.
I had just closed the last button when Cassia entered the room once again, knocking briefly on her way through the door. “You’re wearing that?” she asked shaking her head and mumbling something about being indecent. I looked down, not sure how the modest leather was indecent when the sheer gossamer would have shown off everything. Motioning me to a small vanity table I sat and let her pull on tug on my tangled hair.
With no mirror I sat in silence, not sure what Cassia was doing behind me. There was lots of pulling and tugging and several sharp pins were painfully affixed around my scalp. Finally pleased she stepped back and furnished a small mirror. Several large and elaborate curls were pinned around my face while the rest of my hair was woven into three or four braids behind me. I looked ridiculous, but not wanting to offend Cassia, whose hairstyle resembled mine, I nodded my appreciation.
“Thank you Cassia it looks very nice” I forced a smile.
“You hate it.” She said looking deflated.
“No, no, it’s just not something I’m used to. I usually just pull it into a pony tail.”
“Very well.” She harrumphed and once more went to work on my hair. It wasn’t long until she was thrusting the mirror into my hands once more. “Here.”
Cautiously I raised the mirror and looked at myself once more. The large curls were gone, replaced by more braids, which were then braided in a thick plait down my back. It was definitely more my style. Smiling I handed the mirror back to Cassia.
“Thank you. It’s perfect.” She didn’t say anything, but I detected a small smile on her lips. I stood and crossed the room, rummaging through the wardrobe for some sort of footwear. My hiking boots had been carted off with the rest of my dirty laundry. “Cassia, are there any shoes in here?” I asked behind the muffled silks. Feeling someone’s presence behind me I moved thinking to give Cassia better access to the wardrobe. Maybe she’d be able to find things faster. So I was surprised when I was greeted by Cerus’ pale skin and blue eyes instead of Cassia’s brisk yet matronly countenance.
“Good
I turned my attention to the food beside me. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I had barely eaten anything last night. There was a pitcher of cool crisp water, a dark and dense loaf of bread, cheese, fruits, nuts, butter and a small pot of golden honey. I tore off a chunk of bread, smothered it with honey and took a bite. It was heavenly. The bread was still slightly warm and practically melted in my mouth. I could taste the nectar of the flowers in the honey. Even the water tasted better than anything I had ever had before. I ate several more slices and a few bites of fruit before making my way to the wardrobe.
What I found hanging there resembled pajamas more than clothes. Thin gossamers and sheer dresses in every shade and color of the rainbow hung in neat rows. There was no way I was going to walk around wearing them. I would feel so exposed, so naked. Shaking my head I kept looking. I was just about to give up and just wear the blue cotton that I had slept in when my hand brushed against what felt like leather in the very back of the wardrobe. Shoving the dresses aside I pulled out a light brown leather vest and a pair of deep blue leather pants. Finally something that I recognized! With a little more digging I found a pale cream linen shirt. Shedding my pajamas I pulled on the leather pants and shirt, which was obviously made for a much larger person. I tucked it in as best I could and pulled the vest over the top, buttoning it to help hold in the voluminous shirt.
I had just closed the last button when Cassia entered the room once again, knocking briefly on her way through the door. “You’re wearing that?” she asked shaking her head and mumbling something about being indecent. I looked down, not sure how the modest leather was indecent when the sheer gossamer would have shown off everything. Motioning me to a small vanity table I sat and let her pull on tug on my tangled hair.
With no mirror I sat in silence, not sure what Cassia was doing behind me. There was lots of pulling and tugging and several sharp pins were painfully affixed around my scalp. Finally pleased she stepped back and furnished a small mirror. Several large and elaborate curls were pinned around my face while the rest of my hair was woven into three or four braids behind me. I looked ridiculous, but not wanting to offend Cassia, whose hairstyle resembled mine, I nodded my appreciation.
“Thank you Cassia it looks very nice” I forced a smile.
“You hate it.” She said looking deflated.
“No, no, it’s just not something I’m used to. I usually just pull it into a pony tail.”
“Very well.” She harrumphed and once more went to work on my hair. It wasn’t long until she was thrusting the mirror into my hands once more. “Here.”
Cautiously I raised the mirror and looked at myself once more. The large curls were gone, replaced by more braids, which were then braided in a thick plait down my back. It was definitely more my style. Smiling I handed the mirror back to Cassia.
“Thank you. It’s perfect.” She didn’t say anything, but I detected a small smile on her lips. I stood and crossed the room, rummaging through the wardrobe for some sort of footwear. My hiking boots had been carted off with the rest of my dirty laundry. “Cassia, are there any shoes in here?” I asked behind the muffled silks. Feeling someone’s presence behind me I moved thinking to give Cassia better access to the wardrobe. Maybe she’d be able to find things faster. So I was surprised when I was greeted by Cerus’ pale skin and blue eyes instead of Cassia’s brisk yet matronly countenance.
“Good
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