Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 16
Thomias hooked both his thumbs through a perfectly stainless white apron and nodded at a table in the far corner.
“I suspect you would like a corner seat, out of the way, where you can keep not one, but two walls to your back. Am I mistaken sir?” Sekali was impressed at the man’s perception and nodded. He followed Thomias to a table at the far corner of the large room and waited for Thomias to pull the extra chairs from the table. As he did so, two young boys appeared and snatched them up and then vanished through two large swinging doors off to the side, leaving him one seat and ample room to stretch his legs in comfort.
“Now, a waitress will be with you shortly to get you what need. It was a pleasure to meet you sir.” With that, Thomias bowed again and departed to the other side of the room to help a man who simply raised his mug up.
Within moments, Sekali was greeted by a slender woman with long brown hair. Her eyes were of the deepest blue, and her voice, as she greeted him, was soothing and calm.
“What would you like to drink sir?” She warmly smiled as she looked looked him over curiously.
“Water, please. Fresh water.” She nodded and wrote something down on a black slate with a white rock as he unsholdered his pack and sat down.
“And to eat?” Sekali remembered the vegitables being sold on the street earlier.
“I’m not familiar with the names of the foods here. As I entered the city, I saw some vegitables I would like to try. Could you give me a variety to taste?” The waitress grinned at him, nodding as she scribbled something down.
“Did you want it boiled in water or oil, fried, or raw?”
“Please give me a variety of all, if you would be so kind.” She nodded, scribbled on the slate again.
“I’ll get you some water while you wait for your dinner. I’ll be back shortly.” Sekali nodded as she walked away.
He bowed shortly and paid for his stay with coin which the Mystic had been wise enough to add to his backpack. After all the arrangements were made, the woman escorted him to his room, glancing curiously at the make of the pack he carried. At a snap from the innkeeper, a boy appeared out of nowhere and offered to take his gear to be mended and cleaned. Sekali shook his head and continued walking.
"Sir, this way."
The woman shyly curtsied and led Sekali through a crowd of about twenty-five, who were all staring at him and quietly whispering. He followed his hostess to the upper floor, ascending a massive staircase, carved from the great logs of once-living trees. On the way to his room, he studied the architecture and solidity of the Golden Feather. He had to admit to himself he was impressed. Stone-faced and silent, he followed the woman to a door. She turned and smiled at him as she fit a key into the lock. The door swung open and she stepped back, allowing Sekali to enter.
Once in his room, he noticed a large metal container in the middle of a stone-laid floor, screened on two sides by a curtain of straight wooden branches. The container was of a curious nature and craftsmanship, and he asked the woman about it. “What is that?”
She laughed rather merrily, thinking that he had concocted a joke. He was not amused, his face hardened, killing her smile instantly. She soberly walked over to the basin and ran her hand along its edge, deep in thought.
"Sir, this is known as a bath. You strip yourself of all clothing and sit in it while I pour hot water into it, or onto your back, as you please."
The hostess watched him grimace, and almost burst into laughter. Sekali tried to swallow as he looked at the basin, but his throat was too dry. The woman walked to the door and called out. Soon two Human boys came noisily up the stairs and stopped in front of her, elbowing each other. She gave them orders to go and prepare water. They turned and ran down the hall, racing each other to their destination. Sekali stared hard at the -- bath. What was it that could be so grand as a "bath," he could not guess. But if they were willing to put the water in, he would venture. After all, he did come here to learn. He did not take his eyes off it.
Noticing his interest in this, she came over and stood in front of Sekali and bit her lip. "You've never seen a bath before."
Sekali shook his head, looked down at her silently. She could plainly see that something was troubling him.
"Sir, what is it?"
Sekali studied her intently for a minute, which made her uneasy. She was just making up her mind to leave when he spoke.
"Do you use the same water in that," he pointed at the basin, "as comes from the sea? I drank of that water, and I will never bathe in such. It is awful!"
The woman's eye instantly sparkled, and she laughed quietly. "No, sir. Sea water is not to drink or bathe in, but for fishing and sailing, when one fancies. We bathe in fresh water at all times, and I assure you we drink the same." She curtsied and began the preparations for his bath.
Sekali watched her intently the entire time, how she moved, how she acted, the way she prepared the bath. He watched as the two boys helped her pour bathwater.
Soon the bath was prepared. Steam arose from the water, fogging the large mirror set before it. The mists reminded him of his homeland, where his people and family dwelt. He heard the woman speak to him. Slowly he stood and walked over to the bath and looked down into it. Then he shifted his glance to her. She bit her lip and looked at the water.
"You must take the clothes from yourself and then get in. I will be back in a few moments to scrub your back. Is there anything you need, other than a bath? A drink perhaps?" Sekali nodded. "I wish to have some water."
She nodded and politely left the room. After the woman was gone, Sekali's gaze shifted again to the large metal basin. He touched the water and found it warm and comfortable. Undressing, he slipped into the water. It was highly pleasing, and he soon found himself enjoying it thoroughly. He looked at a white square on the basin's edge and took it. Studying it, Sekali wondered what it was for. He smelled it and gagged, quickly replacing it, thinking all the while that this also had been a joke, this time played on him by the humans. With no expression, Sekali lay back against the incline of the bath and closed his eyes. He was weary, but he did not allow himself to fall into slumber. The woman would be back with his drink. He thought of his experiences so far. He was learning about the Living World, and it seemed to him that there would be a flood of knowledge to learn. He relaxed.
Sekali opened his ash-black eyes when he heard a soft knock at the door.
"Come," he stated. The door opened and in walked the Human woman who had tended him at first.
"Ah, I see you are enjoying the evening?"
She walked over behind the screen and handed Sekali his order. He took it and immediately quaffed half the mug. As he set it down, he asked, "I do not know your culture, nor the social ways of the Humans. I wish to ask you a few questions. Is this acceptable?"
He heard her answer quietly behind the screen. The tone of her voice had suddenly become tight.
"Yes sir, you may." He thought for a moment. “You. I wish to know why you are different from other people that I have seen and heard."
"I'm not sure what you mean, sir, but please feel free to ask."
If Sekali could have seen her, he would have seen a flattered smile play across her face. Her eyes brightened and she moved toward the sound of his voice.
"Sir, I understand. My best, I will answer." Sekali nodded, "I come from the Wastelands. I do not know how to gain a Human woman's time. How does a male Human . . . what is the word . . . I cannot speak my thoughts . . . "
“Can I help you then, sir? You wish to know how to officially court a woman. You are afraid that you will cross the line of etiquette. You are wise, sir. What is your name?”
Sekali turned toward the woman he could not see. "Sekali." Behind the screen, the woman mouthed his name slowly.
"Well then, Sekali, do you need more hot water as we continue this conversation? I have some close at hand." Sekali shook his head.
"You. Perhaps if I wanted to court you. How would I go about it the best way?"
The woman blushed, growing very nervous. Her hands started to shake. "I . . . well, I . . . sir, Sekali, I do not know what to say."
Beyond her vision, Sekali’s eyes glittered slyly. But he said nothing. Adding to her suspense, he waited for her to break the silence. And she did, twice, before she finally said what she wanted to say.
"Sir, if I were you,” she bit her lip fiercely, "I would be a gentleman all evening. I would act out the part of an Elf who has just come from the unknown, and drink and eat and tell the tales of your adventures. And I would treat you with dignity and respect. That would make a fine evening for you, and especially for me, would it not?"
Sekali nodded. "I would enjoy some hot water now.”
The woman nodded obediently and seized a pan of cold water, thinking it was the hot. With a smile, she walked around to the back of the bath. She was so taken aback by this rare visit that, before she realized what she was doing, she poured it over Sekali's head and back. With a shudder, Sekali froze, his hands clenching the side of the basin. He expected her to apologize with fervent eagerness. But it did not happen. She replaced the pan and withdrew nervously to the opposite side of the screen.
"Sir, would you tell me about where you come from?"
After the shock of her attack, Sekali silently leaned back against the basin and contemplated. Actually, that blatant mistake was the best of compliments. He knew she thought fondly of him, or at least she wanted to get to know an elf.
"If I told you of my homeland, you might not sleep at night. Let us stay in this Living World. What is your name?”
"Arianna.” He heard her whisper. Sekali's eyes brightened, if that was possible. He reflected on her name. He thought of the Human race and smiled, for the first time.
"I would like cold water now."
Arianna stood, walked over to the small basin and took hold of it. She gasped quietly and quickly put her hand in the liquid. Then she looked fearfully up at Sekali.
"I am so sorry. Sir, please forgive me. I did not mean to . . ." Sekali studied her for a few moments and then spoke.
"It’s fine, Arianna, I just need the hot water now." She arose, stammering, not knowing what to say as she approached him. Shakily she poured the water onto Sekali's head and back.
Turning to the mirror, Sekali watched the moisture gather and spill in riverlets down the mirror's length.
“It is forgiven, Arianna, we were deep in conversation. Think nothing of it.” They talked into the evening until she was called to other duties. After he was alone, he relaxed and closed his eyes . . . and fell headlong into nightmare.