The Lost Knight (Volume I)

Chapter 25: Powdered Water

Albína happily prattles on about castle life as if the ordeal on the roof had never happened. She walks us through so many corridors, upstairs and then down, that I'm thoroughly confused and totally lost when we finally reach a room that might be mine. There's got to be some mistake though because there's no way this room is for one person. It's huge.

The room is a maze of alcoves just like the castle. The entire place is awash in bright reds, deep greens, and royal blues in patterns I've never seen before. The whole effect is both beautifully intimidating and pleasantly cozy.

Behind the sitting area, in the center of the room, is a stone fireplace with a roaring fire. Beyond that is a canopy bed draped in thick soft fabrics of midnight blue with heavy gold fringe and so many pillows I can barely see the bed.

My eye travels up to the ceiling that is painted with a beautiful sky and small multicolored birds flying around big fluffy clouds.

"Those birds are moving!"

She looks up. "You don't have birds on Earth?"

"Yes, but those aren't real birds. They're painted and they're moving. How are they moving?"

"Those aren't real birds. You don't need to be frightened."

"How are they moving?" I ask again. "Seriously, I need to know. It's paint on a ceiling. There's no television screen or projector."

Albína speaks slowly as if she's talking to a frightened child. "Those are Latuus Birds. When they stop moving it's time for sleep, and when they sing, you wake up."

I give up. I've seen a lot of weird things in the past few days and this is just another oddity. Flying painted birds are what they have here, and I'll have to get used to it.

The room is round, so we might be in one of the towers. "I have a balcony," I announce as I gaze out the French doors to the enormous patio. "A gigantic room, in a castle, with a balcony. My life has changed so radically in less than a month."

I rip open the doors and dive onto another of the inviting sofas that matches the two inside. I flip to my back and stare up at the unmoving blue sky. This is what happy feels like. I laugh even though nothing is funny.

Noises from below make me walk over to the rail to investigate. The sidewall matches the up-and-down pattern of the wall on the roof, only this one is shorter so I can easily see over it into the surrounding village.

Elves are dancing in the street. There are tables set up with food and drinks, and a band is playing in front of a clothing shop. Everyone is having a fun time. This must be the celebration the Queen was talking about.

I walk back inside. "My room at home could fit on the bed. Heck, the entire apartment could fit in this room and we'd still have space left over for those giant sofas."

Albína ignores my comment. "Would you like a bath, Miss?"

"Yes!" I answer a bit too excitedly.

Albína leads me into one of the alcoves on the other side of the bed and my heart does a little leap. I might have done a few dance steps, too. "I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have a fully functioning bathroom. I was worried that I'd have to use an outhouse like they did in the olden days."

She chuckles like I made a joke.

When she asked if I wanted a bath, I didn't think she meant an actual bath. I've never been in a bathtub before. This one is the size of a small pool and has its own alcove with arches. Exotic painted sea creatures swim across the walls and ceiling. I watch one swim over the stained glass window and dive to the bottom before swimming out of the casement. How is that possible?

She rummages through the cupboard and pulls out two glass jars, one with light green powder and the other with pale yellow. She measures out two scoops of the green powder and throws it into the tub. Then she adds a scoop of the yellow and the tub instantly fills with water.

I'm speechless. Three scoops of powder fill a gigantic tub with water in under a second. I want to ask her about it, but it'll be like the birds; it's just what they do here.

She pulls out some fluffy towels and a thick fuzzy robe. "Well, you're all set," she says. "There's a tray of toiletries in the corner. Did you need anything else, Miss?"

"No, I'm good. Thanks." I'm anxious to try out the tub.

"Very well. After you get in, close the curtains to keep it warm," she says over her shoulder as she leaves.

I run my finger through the water. I was expecting it to be thin like drinking water, but it's lighter, almost fluffy. The tub is wonderfully deep. When I sit the water reaches to just above my shoulders. It's difficult to scrub the dirt of the past few days off me because my body wants to float around, but I manage.

Once I'm clean, I give in and let the water push me wherever it wants. I end up floating on my back just below the surface with my arms outstretched. Only a small portion of my face is out of the water. I'm surprised I'm so relaxed because I don't know how to swim and water usually makes me nervous.

My body unwinds as the fish swim overhead, through the window and over the curtain. I wake up some time later and briefly panic, but settle down quickly after I remember where I am. I jump out of the tub; maybe they could install a shower for me.

Albína is waiting for me outside the door. "Sorry. I fell asleep. How long was I out?"

"Not long, Miss," she says as she walks into the closet and pulls out an elaborately embroidered gown and holds it up for my inspection.

"I'm not wearing that!" I blurt out a bit too harshly before I can stop myself. "I'm sorry." The gown is pretty, but it's also fussy, and big, and uncomfortable. "I'm more of a jeans and sweatshirt kind of girl. Do you have anything close to that?"

She puts the dress down and stands quietly, tapping her finger against her mouth. "There are pants used for riding and warring. Would you want that?"

"Yeah, thanks. That would be nice. I like to be comfortable." I'm glad she didn't force me to wear the gown.

Albína rushes from the room and returns a short time later with a more fitted version of the men's breeches, tall brown boots, an embroidered purple jacket and a yellow frilly shirt. I'm much happier with this selection, even if the clothes are still too flashy for my taste.