Page 394 of Kingdoms of Night

“The way you talk about trees … I don’t know if I can ever feel all right about sailing in a wooden ship or walking in my wood-heeled boots.”

Viridi put his warm hand over hers, and her skin tingled at the contact, making her heart beat faster. His strange fingertips brushed the side of her wrist, just a faint touch, and a fantastic trail of goosebumps ran up her forearm.

He lowered his gaze on her, his wavy black hair slipping over his smooth forehead. “They live to serve those who appreciate the gift. They are not like you or me, or any other living creature in any realm. Their sensibilities are quite different. Don’t be sad or tentative about working with wood as long as you are deeply grateful.”

Isa exhaled in relief at that information, but as he pulled away gently she found herself disappointed and wishing he’d left his dryad hand on hers. How interesting he was … how different…

A beam of sunlight slipped past his sharp cheekbones and made his skin show a subtle green.

“You’re lovely,” she blurted, her face heating.

A quick grin stretched his lips, his eyes dark as night but glittering as if stars shone in their depths. How was she ever going to fall for a human after this experience? She was ruined.

“Thank you, Lady of the Sun.” He glanced toward the door. “Calva? Can you please help the lady bathe?”

Calva appeared, bowing low with a fold of thick cloth draped over her arm.

“Bathing sounds amazing,” Isa said. “Thank you very much for all of this. For helping us.”

“Of course,” Viridi said, giving her a hand out of her chair. “I will return shortly to talk with you if you are willing.”

“Definitely.”

Viridi left, and Calva led her into a side room she hadn’t noticed. A large wooden tub filled with steaming hot water sat in the very center, and there was a stool beside it.

“How did you manage hot water here? I didn’t see anyone coming or going.” She looked for another entrance to the room, but saw none.

“We use runes to heat the water.” She pointed at the bottom of the tub, and sure enough, a set of runes were worked into the wood there. “Water magic isn’t our strength, but the trees help us work small miracles.” Calva helped her undress, then the woman took the salt-crusted clothing and threw it in a heap in the corner while Isa climbed into the tub.

“Ah.” It was exactly as glorious as she knew it would be. “It’s been years since I’ve had a hot bath. Oh, don’t look too affronted.” She smiled. “I did manage very cold baths when I could in Khem and on the Brunes’ ship.”

Calva used a tiny bucket to draw up water. She poured it carefully over Isa’s hair, then began to work in a sweet-smelling soap. “If you’d like, you can tell me what you went through. We night dryads are quite happy to listen.”

“What are night dryads?”

“Most dryad elves must sleep during the day to gain energy from their home trees, trees with which they have a close relationship, built over time.” She rinsed Isa’s hair and squeezed out the excess water. “My kind rest at night in the moonbloom trees by the river. We are a rare type and we gain our strength from the sun’s reflection off the moon. We are born with different magicks and different ways. Most of us choose to serve the royal family. It is tradition, and they offer us feasts and great rewards. My family has been serving the royals for over a thousand years, so the scrolls say.”

“Fascinating. They are lucky to have you.”

Calva smiled widely and began scrubbing Isa’s back with a woven circle of what seemed to be linen.

“What does the prince’s name mean? Thorned One? Is it because of his hands and ears? I noticed he doesn’t look exactly like most of the dryad elves.”

“Yes, but he also has great power. It hasn’t yet bloomed in him, but we all know it will. He will be a mighty dryad and the protector of this island for centuries to come. We have waited ages for a powerful one like him to keep intruders away.”

“Intruders like me?”

“No, you and your party are well-mannered. But in the past, we have seen greedy humans and felt their fires and axes.”

“I’m sorry for that.”

“You didn’t do it.”

“But I’m human.”

“Yes, but you are not responsible for your kind as a whole.”

“I still feel bad that humans can be so terrible.”

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