The Winds of the Past [Rune Factory 4]

Chapter 69

A moment later, we appeared in our bedchamber in Selphia. I hastily led him out the back door, stopping on the way to return Baldur back to his stable, and we headed over to see Arthur. As usual, he was working, despite the lateness of the hour. I gave him a very brief summary of the afternoon’s events and assured him that Avani was fine, then I left Rishi there to talk with Arthur while I returned home. I packed clean clothing for both of us, as well as pyjamas and a few sundry items I thought Avani would want or like to have. On the way back to Arthur’s office, I stopped at Dylas’s room and packed a few things for him, as well, shoving them into a bag I found next to his desk. I hurried as quickly as I could, wishing to return to Avani as soon as possible. As I bounded down the stairs leading into Arthur’s offices, he and Rishi both stood, recognizing my urgency. We said our farewells, and a few moments later we were back in the village green.

Once we rejoined our companions, I tossed Dylas’s bag to him, catching him by surprise, then Sharmila led me through the maze of halls and rooms to the bathing room. Stepping inside, I found Avani more than half asleep, her head resting on her arms as she leaned against the tiled edge of the bathing pool. I dropped the bag I’d packed on a bench nearby, shed my clothing, and showered as quietly as I could before sliding into the lukewarm pool next to her. The gentle rocking motion of the water caused by my entry startled her awake, and she quickly turned to look at me. I thought that her thoughts or dreams must have been troubled—possibly reliving recent or past events—from the relief in her eyes when she saw me by her side.

I sat and soaked alongside her for a while, though admittedly the water was much too cool for my taste—though perfect for her needs. We didn’t talk, though I had a hundred questions in my mind, but simply sat in congenial silence. After a time, we exited the pool and toweled off, dressed in the clean clothes I’d brought, and rejoined the others. A few minutes after we sat down, Sharmila appeared to call us to dine.

Tucking Avani’s hand into my arm, we followed Sharmila and Rishi to the dining room—a large room with a cool, tiled floor covered in thick, patterned rugs. Colorful paper covered the walls between the tall windows hung with saffron-yellow curtains, and in the center of the room was a long, low table surrounded by cushions in all shapes, sizes, and colors. A crimson and dark yellow patterned cloth was spread over the table, reaching the floor on all sides.

Rishi stood at one end of the table with Sharmila to his right, and she called us to come and sit where we pleased as they seated themselves on the cushions. Avani sat between her brother and me, and a few moments later, two girls began to carry in platters and bowls of food. Steaming, fragrant dishes of vegetables in heavily spiced sauces, golden rice mixed with finely chopped vegetables, flat breads, and one dish of some white cubes in a thick, green sauce. It was entirely unlike any food I recognized either from my youth or from recent experience, except perhaps a slight resemblance to the curry dishes I’d tasted at Porcoline’s restaurant or from Avani’s home cooking. However, nothing she cooked was like this, as she had evidently forgotten the food of her homeland in her amnesia.

She looked delighted by the food set before us now, though, and Sharmila smiled at her enthusiasm. “I asked the cooks to prepare all of your old favorites,” she commented, “in celebration of your homecoming. Speaking of which….” And she looked up at the open doorway behind us. Avani and I turned and looked, and a small crowd of men and women, boys and girls were jammed into the doorway, peering in at her in delight. Laughing, Sharmila said, “The servants were all so overjoyed at your return that they just had to come and see you with their own eyes. No, no—please stay seated. They know that you are tired and also that you are well along in pregnancy. They just wanted a look, not to disarrange you in any way.”

Avani blushed as she turned back to the small group, nodding and saying hello to each of them in turn as they peeped over and around each other to get a better view of her before smiling with a pleased reply to her greetings and departing. She looked at me afterwards, still rosy-cheeked, and explained, “Many of them were my father’s servants, and some of them have been here since before Rishi and I were born. The rest were boys and girls I’ve known since their births.”