Once Upon a Ren Faire by A. C. Castillo

Author:A. C. Castillo [Castillo, A. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-05T06:00:00+00:00

13

Dining In

I slipped out of the simple nightgown given to me by the dryads and went to the bath. The large clay tub opened into a flower shape, like one of those curved bluebells one might see as a faerie hat in vintage illustrations, but with the opening tipped upward.

Water streamed through a spout on the wall. Apparently, a pump brought in water from a hot spring outside. I shut off the water with a little knob on the side and eyed the steam rising from the tub. Should probably wait for it to cool.

Creamy flower petals floated on the water. I picked one up and rubbed it between my fingers. A heavenly scent flooded my senses, like honeysuckle but stronger. Hopefully I’ll smell like that after the bath.

A set of little stairs led to the lip of the flower-tub, and I climbed them and sat on the edge. I slid in slowly, toes first, body adjusting to the hot water. The little cuts and scrapes I’d accumulated on my journey through the woods had mostly healed, but some of the deeper ones protested.

Renti had informed me the dryads had given me sponge baths while I was in my coma, and I bandied back and forth between feeling mortified at the thought of being bathed unawares and relieved that I didn’t stink like four days’ worth of filth.

The tub, if one could call it that, was deep and wide enough for floating. I drifted on the water, enjoying the sensation of hair swirling around my face.

Despite the alleged sponge baths, debris from the giant's castle, leaves, twigs, and even rubble from the exploded walls floated around me. A twinge of guilt assaulted me for the wash the dryads would have to give their tub, but I let it go. Their people practically lived in the woods, and if they attracted flora, they must deal with this all the time.

The dryads I’d seen were exceptionally tall. I’d been invited to join basketball teams all through high school, but Renti towered several inches above me. Was my mother tall like that? Was she taller than my father?

Mother. I closed my eyes, trying to imagine what she'd been like. I'd done so a thousand times of course as an adopted child, but now I had more clues to go by. Did she look like Renti's mother, whom I hadn't met yet, but was apparently my aunt? Renti had assured me I'd meet her at lunch today. Real family. The thought was terrifying and wonderful all at the same time. But what a family!

I never in my lifetime dreamed… but who ever would?

The realization hit me. I was accepting this. I believed that I was part dryad.

It hit me surely, like that first day I’d gone through the portal and accepted it wasn’t all a dream.

Could that have truly been a full week ago, as Renti insisted? Where is Briary? I’ll ask to see her after the bath.

My poor parents. Had they given up hope? Surely these people, my people, could help me get back home.

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