Page 66 of In Violent Waves
She rolled her eyes.
A tiny elf female with daisies in her periwinkle hair stood with an armload of fabrics. The female beamed at her, and the kindness in her smile had Lyra narrowing her eyes.
“My name is Daisy, and I’m here to tend to you, my lady. I’ll draw you a bath first, and then we can go through these dresses.”
She had never had anyone attend to her before, and she had preferred the movement the pants afforded. “I don’t require your assistance. You may leave.”
Daisy pursed her lips and gave a slight shake of her head. “I am under orders from the king.”
Lyra placed her hands on her hips. “It isunnecessary.” She hadn’t expected a servant to argue.
“I’m sure where you came from it is. But here it is arequirement. Now—if that is all. How do you like your water?” Daisy dropped the pile of fabrics on the bed and then shuffled to the bathing room.
Lyra stared in shock before gathering her wits and following Daisy. She hadn’t been rude, but she had handled Lyra with a firm hand. Lyra respected that.
Leaning against the doorway, she watched as Daisy turned a copper handle. Water started pouring from a pipe beside a large tub. Lyra leapt from the door to study the contraption.
“There’s water behind the walls?”
Daisy straightened and took a step back. The action had Lyra’s excitement sputtering out. She had frightened the poor girl.
“S-sorry, my lady,” Daisy muttered.
“No, that’s alright. You should be afraid. You don’t know me or my intentions. I like my water hot—scorching even,” Lyra replied before taking a step towards the mirror across the bathing chamber to give Daisy room to work.
It was a beautiful room. There was a worktop below the mirror with two of those copper things that Daisy had used to turn on the water. Lyra found herself curious and turned the knob. Water began pouring from the copper again. She stuck her fingers beneath the stream and smiled to herself. Now this wasmagic. Her movement caught her attention, and she looked at her reflection.
It was frightening. Dark shadows bloomed beneath her eyes, and her pale skin looked horrifying, like all the life had been drained from her. Streaks of auburn hair stuck to her forehead, and matted waves hung limply down her chest. She didn’t look like a princess anymore.
A heavenly scent wafted from the steam rising behind her, and she turned to find Daisy pouring an array of vials into the tub. It seemed to be quite a lot of work to draw her a bath. Lyra found herself hoping that was common and not extra effort because of her current appearance.
“What is that?” she asked, watching as Daisy spooned something granular into the water.
“This is mineral salts,” she looked over at Lyra, “it’s good for sore muscles and weary bones after traveling.”
“And what was that other stuff?” Lyra gestured to the array of vials near the tub.
“A variety of oils. Eucalyptus for energy, almond oil for dryness, and argan.”
“What’s the argan for?” Lyra asked when Daisy didn’t provide an explanation.
“It’s to help with your hair. It’s quite matted, my lady.”
Lyra appreciated her honesty and directness, even if her delivery was timid. The water filled the tub nearly to the rim before Daisy shut it off.
“I can step outside—” Daisy began.
Lyra had shucked her shirt and was pulling a pant leg off. There was an eagerness in her to return to the water that she hadn’t expected. It wasn’t that the water smelled amazing, but the grime of the last week clung to Lyra like a bad dream she could awaken from if she could only wash it off.
She moaned with ecstasy as she slipped one foot into the hot water. It was divine. Lyra sank deeper into the tub and could feel the anxiety and stress melting away.
When she dunked her head under the surface, she contemplated staying there forever. It was home, the water and her soul belonged to it.
Panic tightened her chest as fear gripped her; she could never go back. Lyra lurched out of the water, spluttering.
“Are you alright?” Daisy squeaked out, reaching for a towel and dabbing Lyra’s face.
“I can’t breathe underwater.”
