The Journey Begins

Ending of last chapter: 

New Chapter: 

Diantha waited while Atrius knocked. She heard heavy footsteps and then the door flew open with a distinct swoosh. 

A dark-haired woman waved at the threshold, beckoning them in. Pleasingly plump, she had red cheeks and a warm smile.

The dark green dress she sported was modest and simple. It was designed with a bib attached to the top of a skirt that fell to about mid-calf. Under the jumper, the woman had a short sleeved white blouse.

On the front of the bib was a patch with the embroidered image of a baby’s face emerging from a lotus blossom. Diantha found the patch compelling and felt it held a deeper meaning than mere decoration. 

Mary leaned out and touched Diantha's arm. "Come in, child, come in. I’m Mary, the mother of the Burton mob. I can't believe you're finally here. We've been waiting for days. Atrius sent us a message when you first got here asking if it was alright for you to stay with us for a bit.” 

“Naturally, we sent a message back saying to go ahead and bring you, but he seemed to think you needed to rest first."

"He was right," Diantha interrupted. "I was a mess."

Mary acknowledged the comment with a compassionate nod, but continued unabated, "Atrius, my liege, Burke is waiting for you in the garden. I’d offer you some fresh orange juice, but he was insistent I send you right away. Thank you for bringing Diantha.”

"You're quite welcome, my lady," Atrius returned. He winked jovially. "Thank you for being hospitable."

He reached over and touched Diantha's arm. "I leave you in capable hands, my dear. Thank you for your camaraderie the past few days. As I said, I get very little fine company. Usually I'm around a bunch of boarish warriors."

"My pleasure," she said. Her voice sounded more curt than she truly felt. "Thank you for your care and attention. I wish we could have met under better circumstances."

"Under better circumstances, we may never have met."

Diantha nodded her head, and avoided the piercing eyes she knew could look straight into her soul. She didn't want him to realize how lost and sad she was feeling. How could he possibly understand when she did not?

Atrius tilted his head where he could see her downcast face. "Remember, you can always contact me through Burke, and I promise to check in on you now and then."

Diantha responded with the hint of a smile and another nod.

Mary took her by the hand. “Come on, let me show you to your room. It’s next to the nursery. I do hope you don’t mind the noise, but it's cozy as a spring bunny.”

Diantha could hear Atrius chuckling as Mary bustled her off.

What was Atrius thinking? Diantha wondered. Was he glad he'd gotten rid of a nosy intruder, or was his heart thumping as painfully as hers?

Mary paused from her verbal tirade long enough to catch Diantha’s backward glance.

“Child, give up on that one. Every girl in the valley has fallen in love with him at some point, myself included. He's quite handsome, and his heart is strong and brave, but the whole thing is impossible. You might as well face what the rest of us have.”

Diantha tried to pretend Mary had it wrong, but found herself caught up in the woman’s overabundant personality, and had to smile in defeat. She had a good point.

Mary then proceeded to drag Diantha into the spare bedroom and continue her tour of their unassuming, but comfortable, home. 

Diantha’s room sported a queen-sized canopy bed framed in wood, that, Mary pointed out, held a goose down mattress and pillows.

The linens were made of cotton and decorated with a floral pattern. The curtains, hung on a large picture window, matched the bedspread, as did a rug on the floor. 

The rest of the room was charming. There were pictures on the walls, lights everywhere, and stands to support them. The overall effect was relaxing and friendly.

“My little sister stayed here until a few months ago when she got married,” Mary explained. “She left a few clothes in the closet you're welcome to wear. Here, let me get one so you can change after your bath.”

Mary opened the closet in the room, and pulled out a jumper made of a strong, but flexible, material. It had the faint scent of flowers radiating from it, so Diantha figured it was made, at least in part, of the flax flower Atrius told her about. 

Mary also gave her a soft white blouse made of the same unusual material to wear beneath it. 

Although this dress didn’t have an embroidered patch on the front, Diantha could tell one had once been there. She decided to ask someone about them later, as it was becoming more obvious they held some significance in this society.

In the bathroom down the hall, Diantha was surprised to find they had hot and cold running water. Mary explained that the hot water came from natural springs that ran through the center of town and the cold from a water tower nearby. They also had toilets that flushed. She was taken aback by the mixture of 18th and 21st centuries in their society. 

After showing her how to run the bathwater, Mary explained that she had to go check on the kids and get breakfast finished.