Only One Bed

“Oh my, this feels so good,” Diane sighs as she sinks deeper into the large bathtub. It’s been a rough couple of days, and every muscle in her body is aching.

After they left the Main Hall they’d been taken to the village inn, where she’d enjoyed a rich soup together with oven-hot bread. Aster practically inhaled a turkey-sized grilled bird. The chef must have known about his dietary allergies. After dinner, he’d gone off to a meeting with the mayor and the village elders while she’d been whisked away to the bathhouse by a group of young girls. Now relaxing in the pleasantly warm water, Diane thinks she definitely got the best of the deals.

“More hot water, Miss?” The young girl who had stayed to help her in the bath is looking expectantly at her. Hands clutching the handle of the still steaming bucket she had just emptied into the tub.

“I could go for a little warmer. Thank you.”

“Of course, Miss.” She scurries over to the giant cauldron in the corner to refill the bucket with boiling water. She slowly pours it into the far end of the tub, smiling as Diane sighs happily. “Would you like some scented oils in the water?”

“That sounds lovely. And maybe some soap?”

“Right away.” She opens the door, gives a few commands and a minute later another girl enters carrying a small basket.

“Would you like for us to wash you?” The casual offer startles Diane, but she manages an awkward smile.

“No, thank you. I prefer to do it myself. You can take a break if you like. Maybe have some tea or something.”

“Of course, Miss. Thank you. We’ll be back soon.”

As Diane reaches for the basket, the girls notice the rows of small but dark bruises on her arm. Teethmarks. A reminder that it had really happened. The beast is real.

Not wanting to scare the girls, she quickly hides the arm under the water. But instead of looking frightened, they share a long look, wink, and burst into giggling. Still chuckling, they exit the room, leaving Diane feeling confused and slightly offended.

She studies her arm, but can’t see anything remotely funny about it. Nevermind. After everything that’s happened, a couple of giggling teenage girls isn’t worth getting upset about. She’s gotten very good at shaking off strange things lately, her stern inner voice points out, but Diane ignores it. She’s much too tired to try to find logical explanations for her present whereabouts. Instead, she spends some pleasant minutes uncorking and sniffing the little vials in the basket.

She uses a rosy scented soap on both her hair and body and is done just as the girls return with a pile of towels. Diane insists on drying herself, but lets them brush her hair and help her into the new dress they also brought. It’s a plain blue, with wide sleeves and long enough that it brushes the floor when she stands. It was clearly made for someone taller than her, but she doesn’t mind. The fabric is soft against her skin, she’s warm, well-fed, and clean. And about to fall asleep standing. She stifles a yawn.

“You look beautiful, Miss,” the first girl exclaims, and the other one agrees only to start giggling again, eying the arm with the now hidden bruises. “We’ll show you to your room now. Your bag should be there already, and we’ll wash your clothes and bring them to you in the morning.”

“Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

“The young master is probably there already too…” The girls blush and burst out giggling once more.

The young master? Why would that be…

Oh.

***

The room she’s taken to is small but cozy. A set of drawers, a small desk, a comfortable-looking armchair, a fireplace with glowing embers spreading a pleasant warmth. And a bed. One bed, and not a very large one either. Aster is indeed already there, sitting at the foot end of it, sporting a fresh shirt, and his still-damp hair has been forced into some semblance of order.

“You did good today,” he says and pats the bed next to him. “If you’re not too tired, we should talk. You must have many questions.”

“I do.” She does, but she’s too tired to think of most of them. Looking around, she waves her arm vaguely, “So this, all of this, it’s really real? I’m not dreaming?”

“It is. I’m real. This world is real. You are real, and so is your magic.”

“That… monster, the beast that brought me here, it’s real too, then?”

“Yes.”

“But how? And why me? I’m nobody.”

He smiles at that. “You underestimate yourself. As for the how, the Mystics in Hinokawa, our capital city, cast the spell.”

“Spell?” She blinks owlishly at him. He’s clean-shaven now. It suits him. He smells good too, from some woodsy soap. And for the first time, he seems genuinely willing to share information. She wants to know more, so much more, but her eyelids are getting so heavy.

“When the kingdom is in dire need, they have a Ritual that’ll locate a great warrior or mage from another world. Then a champion is sent to find them and bring them here.”

A great warrior or mage. She’s neither. It makes no sense.

“But…”

“It’s said that the Chosen’s memories and knowledge of our world and what it needs unlock at arrival… I’m not sure why it didn’t work that way for you. Perhaps it’s more of a gradual process.”

“That’d be nice,” she mutters, then brightens. She’s not the first to go through this. “Are any of them still here? Then we can ask them.”

“Afraid not.” Aster runs a hand through his hair, and his smile fades. “It’s been several generations since the Ritual was last needed. Everybody involved has long since passed on.”

“Oh.”

“There are detailed records though, but we’d probably have to go to the royal library to see them.”

“That’s something. But, wait. What’s this ‘dire need’ you need help with?”

“The curse. You’ve seen enough of it to understand the threat. We have no efficient counterspells. And the healers…”

“The healers are missing. I heard that. I guess it’s not a coincidence then.”

“No. The curse is an attack from the kingdom of Kagemure and their dark mages. It makes sense they’d try to eliminate those who could pose a threat to their main weapon.”

Diane’s eyes widen. “And I'm a nurse. A healer.”

“Don’t you worry. You’re safe with me.”

“I feel safe with you, but…” She chews her lip nervously.

“And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought this up now. Didn’t mean to frighten you.” He rubs at his eyes and temples. He must be as exhausted as she is.

“No, I appreciate it. I want to know. Everything.” She laughs, unsuccessfully trying to hide a yawn. “But not tonight. We need rest.”

“You’re right.” He gets up and drags the armchair in front of the door, then brings the small stool from the desk as well.

“I’ll sleep here. You take the bed.” He kicks off his boots and settles in the armchair, legs stretched out with his feet resting on the stool. Efficiently blocking the door.

“Oh, okay. Thank you.” Diane gets up too, hands him one of the blankets before she crawls under the other. “Are you sure you’ll be comfortable there?”

“Don’t worry about me, I’ve slept in a lot worse places.” He places one hand on the hilt of the sword. “It’s safer too. Not only for your reputation.”

“My reputation?” She must be even more tired than she’d thought. “What do you mean?”

“Us sharing the room. As an unmarried couple. I hope you don’t mind too much. I decided it was safest this way, but gossip can be troublesome.”

“That’s sweet of you, but no, I don’t mind. Is it really such a big deal here?”

“For some more than others.”

“We spent last night together. You weren’t concerned about my reputation then.”

“Well, the birds tell no tales,” he chuckles. “Villagers on the other hand…”

Diane sighs and rolls her eyes. “So that’s what all the long looks and giggling were about. Oh well… not too much we can do about it, I guess.”

Diane pulls the blanket over her and blows out the candle next to the bed. Head spinning with the last days’ events and excitement, she doubts she’ll be able to sleep easily, but between one deep breath and the next, she drifts off.