There was an empty chair I wasn't quite sure would hold my weight, but I took it anyway looking forward to the meal I just now began to smell. White rice and a chipped porcelain dish containing an amazing curry sauce made with pumpkin and lentils began to be passed around and I heaped the native food onto an identical porcelain plate that had seen years of abuse.
A bread, similar to the one filled with egg, was also passed around and I was delighted to find this one filled with potatoes and onions. I followed the example the ladies set by tearing pieces of the bread apart and using it to pick up the rice and sauce together.
The meal was completely satisfying and despite the silence of the room, I began to relax. The stewards were comfortable to be around and completely gracious. Even the driver, who I could see through one of the open windows, making his bed in a shed where the car was parked, was easy to be around. One other person was out there with him; an elderly woman with floor length, graying, black hair and a delicate yellow sari, dishing up a plate of food for him from a heavy iron pot. I recognized her as the cook of this magnificent meal and if I weren't worried about breaking tradition I would have demanded that she write down the recipe so I could replicate it at home.
After dinner, the youngest of the stewards began to clear our plates. I stood up, joining her. There was a small basin of water off to one-side of the one room shanty and I knew it would take no time at all if we tackled the dishes together.
I began to move the plates to the counter the basin was sitting on; when I heard the first sound any of the women had made the entire trip. The oldest of the stewards gasped in horror at my attempts at helping and reached out to grab my arm and stop me.
I anticipated some resistance and so I looked down at her with the sweetest smile I could and bobbed my head in the back and forth motion that I had seen countless times in the last few days. I knew I didn't pull it off correctly. The Indian people were born with a sort of rubber neck that let them display their indifference at any given moment. I just hoped to replicate the idea in a stiff and awkward movement.
The second sound of the evening came from all five of them breaking into laughter at my attempts at cultural relevance; I had to laugh, too. The laughter, like dainty wind chimes, floated into the cool evening in a refreshing sound of relaxation. I was allowed to help with the dishes, and like I predicted, we were finished in fifteen minutes.
After dinner, mats were rolled out across the floor and mosquito nets hung from hooks in the ceiling. I crawled under my tent-like netting ready for sleep. I hadn't done much the last few days but the hours of traveling had completely exhausted me. I decided to check in with Avalon who had been silent in my head since the jet.
Where are you? I asked, hoping he was close.
I am close. He replied answering my emotions. And then I felt that he was close, out in the jungle, but with several other Immortals. They had set up camp and were eating a dinner not all that different from mine. I have never heard of the stewards laughing, Eden. Not ever.
Oh really? I was happy with myself, feeling like I had the right to be proud of a unique accomplishment.
Actually, I think you are a completely new kind of Immortal for them. He said passively. Avalon was relaxed and enjoying the wilderness. The jungle was completely his domain and I could feel in every fiber of his being how relieved he was that the trip had been uneventful so far. When I reported back to Amory, he said that most of the younger Immortals use their magic the whole trip. You know you don't have to be so hot, and you don't have to be so uncomfortable on the floor, right?
Damn it. I always forget about the magic. I laughed, realizing Avalon was right, I was positive no other Immortal would let themselves get that sweaty or that hungry. I rolled my eyes at myself, but not really regretting feeling India at the human core of what it really was.
You know what, that is exactly how it would go. Avalon reflected, amused. Of course, the most powerful Immortal of probably all-time would struggle to even remember she has any magic at all. He rolled his eyes, laughing good naturedly at me.
Shut up. I grumbled back. You're just as powerful and you never forget. So that makes up for it.
Well, probably more powerful. So I guess you're right. I'll give it to you. I felt him smile and noticed from his point of view Jericho give him a curious glance from across the fire.
So, are we good? I mean nothing out of the normal as far as this whole Walk thing goes? I asked, remembering my journey was far from over.
It would appear that way, so far at least. By tomorrow night you will be at the palace and we should know more. He said with his characteristic tone of authority he used every time he was in a leadership position.
"Avalon," I heard Jericho call from across the fire. "What are you doing? Thinking about a girl?" he laughed and others joined him.
I found myself smiling at Jericho, and not just from his sense of humor.
"Something like that," Avalon called back. Ok, well, get some rest; you've got a big day tomorrow. Let me know how much fun riding an elephant for ten hours is. He finished with dark amusement.
That sounds awesome. I sighed and rolled over, leaving Avalon's head and entering mine. The elephant ride was just the beginning of a seemingly impossible few days ahead of me.
I closed my eyes remembering a trip to the zoo with Aunt Syl when I was little. They had elephant rides for zoo members and Aunt Syl was so excited to let me experience something so exotic. I bounced around on top of the ginormous, leather mammal as it walked slowly in a circle, thinking that would probably be the last time I would get so close to such an enormous creature.
I had been wrong. I fell asleep with the memory of Aunt Syl smiling excitedly and waving while taking pictures from the ground. I had been too afraid to let go and wave back, but the smile had never left my face. When had elephants become an actual mode of transportation for me and not just a kiddie ride at the zoo? This was not at all how I envisioned my life turning out, and I wasn't exactly sure what to do with that.
Chapter Twenty-One
A knock on the door to my palace room pulled me from my musing. I did not bother to answer and the source of the knock did not bother to wait for a response. The five stewards entered my room in differing but equally exquisite purple saris. Their hair was all styled with matching purple ribbons, except for the eldest woman who wore a purple head scarf with gold stitching.
I had been awake for at least an hour, but I wasn't allowed to leave the overly-soft king-sized bed for twelve hours, so I laid there, staring out the latticed window at the glory of the Indian palace.
My room was tiled with marble from floor to ceiling and tall white pillars seemed to hold up the expansiveness of the private bedroom. I was wrapped in silk sheets and blankets, lying on silk pillows and the softest down mattresses, I had no idea even existed. My bed was surrounded by billowy, sheer curtains in a shiny white, matching the purity of the room.
Through my window I witnessed the layout of a palace I did not know reality was capable of creating. Golden rooftops glistened in the sun, tumbling down the mountainside in a glamorous layout of opulence. Between the rooftops, displaying the expansiveness of the palace, were exotic gardens housing every type of blooming flower imaginable. Monkeys climbed mischievously from garden wall to golden rooftop with a nonstop chattering that had become India's music to me.
One of the stewards turned the water on to an elegant ivory bathtub in the corner of my room and another one brought in flower petals of every color and smell. The fragrant perfume from the vibrant petals filled my nostrils and I was suddenly very excited about the ceremonial bath portion of today's festivities.
I struggled to stand up out of the pillow soft bed. I stretched my sore muscles and released some magic on my frayed bones. Yesterday's elephant ride proved to be torturous by the end of the day. As accommodating as the basket sitting on top of the giant animal had been, filled with colorful pillows and a tent overhead to block the sun, the continual bouncing and fear of falling two stories to my death kept me tense and uncomfortable for the entire ten hours.
By the time we reached the palace, the day had turned to night and I knew why they required twelve hours of sleep. I had been completely exhausted and hadn't noticed an ounce of detail before collapsing in the bed and passing out.
This morning with luxury surrounding me, I had to wonder why the trip thus far had seemed to mirror poverty.
The youngest of the stewards walked over and took my hand, with a gentle smile, but not a hint of shyness, pulling me towards the bath and gesturing that I needed to undress. I stood there awkwardly, trying to figure out how to get in the bathtub without exposing my nakedness to all of the women and scarring them for the rest of their steward lives.
I cleared my throat, hoping that wasn't against the rules and when I began tugging at my sticky, filthy shirt; the women graciously turned their backs to me. With the little privacy I was allotted, I finished peeling my cargo pants off and practically belly flopped into the bathtub.
I had expected regular water, hot or cold; I had expected to land in water, but upon entering the bathtub I realized it was anything but. Treated with something much like menthol, the liquid was hot and cold at the same time, both relaxing and refreshing. It smelled sweet but minty at the same time and the liquid was thicker than usual, more caressing than regular water. It clung to my skin, wrapping me gently in the circling current of the tub.
I sunk deeper in the tub, letting the unique liquid wash over me. The steward with the flower petals began sprinkling them across the expanse of the ivory bathtub. The fragrance continued to perfume the air in a sweet, exotic way and the petals floated around me with the swirling water. The eldest steward took my hair in her hands and worked at getting the hair tie out of it. I reached up to help her, knowing I could rip it out much faster, but she gently pushed my hands down, conveying in a gentle way, that this was her job.
I closed my eyes, allowing myself to be pampered. Eventually, my hair was free and the elderly woman took a silver pitcher, filling it with water and pouring it gently over my head. I could almost guarantee they had never had to work with a mess of hair as bad as mine, especially after three days of not washing it in the most humid of conditions; but they worked silently, massaging another heavily perfumed oil through it and rinsing thoroughly when they were satisfied.
I was disappointed when the drain was pulled and a big white cotton towel was held up for me. I stood up, embarrassed by my nakedness, but not knowing how else to escape the bath and let the steward wrap me in the plush towel.
The women directed me to a vanity with a cushioned bench and when I sat down, they began to work on my hair again, brushing it gently out and braiding it with silken, cream colored ribbons and matching fresh flowers. Some of my curls were left out to frame my face and the braid wrapped intricately down my back.
Once my hair was finished, I was directed to stand again and they removed the towel. My face flushed red, standing completely naked in front of open windows while the women worked quickly to dress me. I was wrapped in a sheer ivory sari that wrapped around and around so that it would not be see-through. I marveled at myself in the vanity mirror, imagining myself to wear something this exquisite on my wedding day.
The silky skirt flowed around me, while my midriff was bear, but for the elegant sash that crossed from shoulder to waist and was intricately woven with golden thread. I was stunned at the richness of the fabric and had never felt more beautiful.
